The Last Lesson Questions And Answers

The Last Lesson By Alphonse Doudet 

Q1. What was Franz expected to be prepared with for school that day? Why was he in great dread of scolding?

Ans. Franz had not prepared his lesson. His teacher. M. Hamel, had said that he would question the students on participles. But Franz didn't know even the first word about them. He  had a fear of being scolded by M. Hamel. Moreover, he was quite late for school that day. For a moment he thought of running away and spending the day out of doors 

Q.2 What did Franz notice that was unusual about the school that day?

Or 

How was the scene in the school in the morning of the last lesson different that on other days?

Ans. During the school days there used to be a great hustle and bustle in the morning. The opening and closing of the desks could be heard in the street. The sounds of the students repeating the lessons in unison and the teacher's ruler could be heard out in the street. But that day it was quiet and still like a Sunday morning. The whole school looked strange and solemn.

 Q.3. What had been put up on the bulletin board?

Ans.There was a notice about the order from Berlin which announced that from the next day only German would be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. The new teacher would join the school to teach German.

Q.4. What changes did the order from Berlin cause in school that day?

Ans. The order from Berlin caused the following changes in the school that day

The school and all other things were quiet like Sunday morning

The whole school seemed very strange and solemn.

M. Hamel had put on his finest dress which he wore only on inspection and prize days of school.

The village people came and sat silently on the back benches in school to thank the teacher for his forty years long services.

It upset all the students and their teacher.

Q.5. How did Franz's feelings about M. Hamel and school change?

Ans. After 40 years of faithful service M. Hamel was going away. Franz felt all this must have broken his heart. He would never see him again. This idea was quite painful to Franz. He forgot all about his ruler and how cranky the teacher was.

Q.6. Franz thinks, "Will they make them sing in German, even the pigeons?" What could this

mean?

Ans. Franz thinks that a person's native language comes to him naturally. Any other language imposed upon someone cannot be effective. Such a forceful imposition may be possible on humans, but not on nature. All natural elements including birds like pigeons always prefer to behave in their natural manner only. They cannot be forcefully made to act, behave or speak in any other manner.

Q.7. Why did Franz think of running away and spending the day out of doors?

Ans. Franz started for school very late. His teacher. M. Hamel had said that he would question them on participles. Franz know nothing about them and feared a scolding.For a moment he was tempted to run away and spend the day out of doors. The weather was warm,The day was bright, Woods, open Fields and chirping of birds tempted him. But he overcame his temptation and hurried off to school.

Q.8. Why was there a crowd in front of the bulletin board at the town hall?

Ans. A crowd in front of the bulletin board at the town hall was a usual sight in Alsace those day's All the bad news had come from there for the last two years. But that day another bad news shocked the residents of the town. An order had come from Berlin saying that French would no more be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine Instead, German language was to be imposed on the people there. 

Q.9. Why did Franz feel surprised on entering the classroom? 

Ans. There was a pin drop silence in the school When Franz entered the classroom. M. Hamel asked him politely to take his seat. He was wearing a special dress. Franz was surprised to see old people of the village sitting on the back benches. They seemed shocked, sad and troubled. There were the former mayor, the former postmasters and several others. They were pained to know that French would no more be taught in the French districts of Alsace and Lorraine

Q.10. What shocking news did M. Hamel give to the students and the villagers and with what effect?

Ans. M. Hamel mounted on his chair. He spoke in a grave and gentle tone. He made it clear that is was his last French lesson. An order had come from Berlin that all the schools of Alsace and Lorraine would teach only German. A new teacher would replace him the next day. The news left everyone shocked and grieved.

Q.11. Why were the old men of the village sitting there in the back of the classroom?

Ans. The old men of the village had come there to show their sympathy and respect to the teacher. It was their way to thank M. Hamel for his forty years of faithful service. They had also come to show their respect to France and their most beautiful language, French.

Q.12. How did Franz perform when his turn came to recite? How did M. Hamel react?

Ans. It was Franz's turn to recite. In spite of his best effort, he got mixed up. His heart was beating and he did not dare to look up. M. Hamel assured him politely that he would not scold him. He was not the only one who had neglected learning French. Many others in Alsace shared his fate.

Q.13. What did M. Hamel tell the people in the class about French language? What did he ask them to do and why?

Ans. M. Hamel went on to talk of French language. He told that it was the most beautiful language of the world. It was the clearest and the most logical of all languages. He asked the people to guard among themselves and never forget it. As long as people 'hold fast to the language they have the key to freedom.He appealed to people if they forgot their Language means to forgot their identity.

Q4.What do you know about linguistic Chauvinism?

And.Linguistic chauvinism is the belief that one's own language is superior to all others, often leading to discrimination or prejudice against speakers of different languages.

Q15. Write character sketch of M Hamel

Ans.M. Hamel was a true French man.He had taught  for forty years in the school of Alsace. He was an honest teacher. He did not blame his students alone for poor learning. He also held himself responsible for the same. He was very patriotic as he appealed to his countrymen to hold fast to their mother tongue to be free from the Prussians.According to him the French language was the most beautiful, the clearest and

the most logical language in the world.He appealed to his countrymen to guard it and never forget it. He was emotionally attached to the school and all his students. However, he was very

brave and strong. He was really sorry for not making sincere efforts to teachFrench to his countrymen.