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Important Ques. From

The last lesson
2019
1. Who did M. Hamel blame for the neglect of learning on the part of boys
like Franz? (1-1-1)

In the short story 'The Last Lesson' by Alphonse Daudet, the French
teacher, M. Hamel, firstly blamed himself for neglect of learning on the part
of boys like Franz. He did this because he used to send his students to
water his plants and take holidays whenever he wanted to go fishing.

Next, he blamed the people of Alsace for not giving due attention to their
mother tongue and putting off learning till the next day. He blamed them
for not being concerned enough to have their children learn their native
language, French and opting to put them to work on their farms or at their
mills instead.

2. Why did the village elders occupy the back benches in the classroom to
attend the last lesson delivered by M. Hamel? (1-1-2)

In the short story 'The Last Lesson' by Alphonse Daudet, some elderly
people were occupying the back benches on the day of the last lesson as
they were attending the French class as a mark of respect for their native
language. They wanted to thank the French teacher, M. Hamel, for his
 significant contribution in teaching their mother tongue to their children for
more than forty years.

3. How did M. Hamel make his last lesson a special one? What did he
emphasize in it? (1-1-3)

In The Last Lesson, M. Hamel made his lesson special by focusing o the
native language - French.
He made the students understand how they missed out on giving attention
to their native language.
He emphasized that even if people becomes slaves, their native language is
one thing that nobody can destroy.

Hence, he started teaching them a grammar lesson so that the children

could learn their native language properly.
4. Everyone during the last lesson was filled with regret. Comment. (1-2-1) (6
marks)
Yes, M Hamel is filled with regret because he had not taken enough interest
in teaching French, as he often sent students for petty errands and gave
them a holiday when he didn’t want to teach. Franz regretted that he had
not been learning his lessons, but skipping school for enjoying other
activities. He also regretted that M Hamel was going away, that he would
never see him again, despite his strictness and crankiness. The villagers
regretted that they did not utilize the opportunities given to them for
learning French when it was possible; that is why they had turned up in full
strength for the last lesson. Thus, all of them regretted that this was their
last lesson in French.
5. Everybody during the last lesson was filled with regret. Comment. (1-2-2,3) (6
marks)
Same as above
6. What was unusual in the market and in the classroom on the day of the last
lesson? (1-3-1, 6 marks)

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That day, Franz noticed the absence of the routine commotion caused by the
opening and closing of desks, repeating of lessons in unison and rapping of M.
Hamel’s ruler on the table. The usual hustle – bustle was replaced by a unusual
stillness. It seemed like school on Sunday morning.

7. The last lesson shows that people suddenly realised how precious their
language was to them. Comment. (1-3-2, 6 marks)
On that day in school, M Hamel said that French language was world’s most
beautiful, clearest and logical language and therefore it should be guarded by its
speakers and should not be forgotten by them.
He added that the love with one’s own language can be proven as the key to the
prison for the people who are enslaved.
Then the people in this story suddenly realize how precious their language is to
them. It shows people’s love for their own culture, tradition and beliefs.

8. How was M. Hamel different in his last lesson? Who did he scold and for
what? (1-3-3, 6 marks)
In the last day of school French class Mr. Hamel became highly sentimental, he
wholeheartedly involved himself in giving a lecture in the teaching and learning
session. He followed every lesson attentively and motionlessly sitting in the chair.
When the church bell struck 12, he stood up, pail and wrote Viva La French and
with a tearful look he communicated that the school is dismissed.

9. How and why was M. Hamel dressed differently that day? (1-4-1)
M. Hamel dressed differently that day. M. Hamel was wearing his beautiful green
coat, his frilled shirt, and the little black silk cap, all embroidered. He wore them
on inspection and prize days. He wore this because it was their last lesson in their
mother tongue, French. From the next day, they were going to be taught German
in place of French because the order had come from Berlin to teach only German
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in the school of Alsace and Lorraine and that it was their last lesson in French. The
new master came the next day.

10. The order from Berlin banning teaching of French stunned everyone.
Comment. (1-4-2, 6 marks)
The order from Berlin aroused zeal and patriotism in the hearts of the residents of
Alsace and Lorraine. Most of the villagers came to attend the school after the
order; they wanted to say good-bye to their beloved teacher M. Hamel. The order
made them serious. Earlier when everything was normal, they avoided learning
French; but now when their mother-tongue was being deprived of them, they did
not want to lose it. They were feeling patriotic; they wanted to learn French. Even
Franz wanted to learn. To him M Hamel was looking like a great teacher. But
earlier he used to consider him cranky. Even M Hamel was feeling so much
patriotic. He wanted to teach them the entire French language; he was very sad
as he had to leave the school and the village where he had taught for forty years.

11. Why were the old men of the village sitting in the classroom on the
last day of the lesson ?(1-4-3)
In the short story ‘The Last Lesson’ by Alphonse Daudet, some elderly people
were occupying the back benches on the day of the last lesson as they were
attending the French class as a mark of respect for their native language. They
wanted to thank the French teacher, M. Hamel, for his significant contribution in
teaching their mother tongue to their children for more than forty years.
2017 ALL INDIA
1. Why were some elderly persons occupying the back benches that day ?
(1-1)
In the short story 'The Last Lesson' by Alphonse Daudet, some elderly
people were occupying the back benches on the day of the last lesson as they
were attending the French class as a mark of respect for their native language.
They wanted to thank the French teacher, M. Hamel, for his significant
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contribution in teaching their mother tongue to their children for more than forty
years.
2. ――What a thunderclap these words were to me!‖‖ (Franz). What were
those words and what was their effect on Franz ? (1-2)
M Hamel told his students that it was their last French lesson, as an order had
come from Berlin that henceforth only German was to be taught in the schools of
Alsace and Lorraine. This announcement seemed to be a thunderclap to Franz. He
was left in surprise and shock to learn that a new master was going to arrive the
next day and they would learn German instead of their mother tongue.
3. How were the parents and M. Hamel responsible for the children‖s
neglect of the French language ? (1-3)
In the short story ‘The Last Lesson’ by Alphonse Daudet, the French teacher, M.
Hamel, blamed the people of Alsace for not giving due attention to their language
and putting off learning till the next day. He blamed them for not being anxious
enough to have their children learn French and preferring to put them to work on
their farms or at their mills.
He also blamed himself for sending his students to water his plants and taking
holidays when he wanted to go fishing.

2017 Delhi
1. Why did Franz not want to go to school that day? (1-1)
Franz was afraid to go to school that day because he had not prepared the test on
participles in the least and Mr. M Hamel was a strict teacher. So he was scared of
being embarrassed and punished by his teacher.
2. Why was Franz not scolded for reaching the school late that day? (1-2)
Franz was not scolded for reaching the school; late on that day because everyone
was very sad because of the notice. As per the notice, it was instructed that
French would not be taught in the schools, instead, German would be taught from

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the next day onward. It was M.Hamel’s last lesson in French and because of this
reason, there was a sense of grief and sadness everywhere.

3. What did Franz wonder about when he entered the class that day? (1-3)
When Franz entered class that day, he was expecting a scolding from M Hamel he
spoke very kindly and asked him to sit. Franz also wondered at the presence of
senior villagers occupying back benches of the class.

2016 All India

1. Our native language is a part of our culture and we are proud of it. How
does the presence of village elders in the classroom and M. Hamel’s last
lesson show their love for French? (1-1,2,3, 6 marks)

In the story’The Last Lesson’, Alphonse Daudet has beautifully remarked

the importance of own’s learning native language as it is a part of our
culture.
Some elderly persons had come to to attend the french class to show
respect to their native language and salute M.Hamel who gave his forty
years of faithful service. They were regretful of not being able to to learn
the french language properly but it shows their love for their language as
they came on the last day of the french lesson and absorb as much as they
could in one day.

2016 Delhi
1. Our language is part of our culture and we are proud of it.
Describe how regretful M. Hamel and the village elders are for having
neglected their native language, French. (1-1,2,3 6 marks)

Same as above
2016 Foreign
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1. The entire classroom, M. Hamel as well as those present in the
class, is full of regret. For what and why ?(1-1,2,3 6 marks)

M. Hamel mounted his chair, and, in a grave and gentle tone said, “My
children, this is the last lesson I shall give you. The order has come from Berlin
to teach only German in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. The new master
comes tomorrow. This is your last French lesson. I want you to be very
attentive.” Franz was horrified with M. Hamel's declaration. His last French
lesson when he could barely write. He lamented that he would never be able
to learn more. He was sorry for not learning his lessons. His books that
seemed such a nuisance before now were like old friends that he couldn't give
up. Even the villagers were regretting for not going to school regularly. M.
Hamel was also reflecting on his past and on his forty years of service. He was
looking all around the class room as if he wanted to capture it and immortalise
the nuances of the school on his memory.

#MAKEITHAPPEN

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