LAST LESSON

Question 1. How was the scene in the school, on the morning of the last lesson, different from that on other
days?
OR
How was M. Hamel’s class different the day Franz went late to school?
Answer: Generally, there would be a great bustle, closing and shutting of desks, lessons repeated loudly in
unison, rapping of the teachers’ ruler on the table, all of which could be heard out in the street. But that
everything was quite different. There was no noise. All were in their seats, Franz walked in late and M.
Hamel let him calmly. He then noticed that his sir was dressed in his best clothes and there were the elders
of the village seated in the class. It was a bit later that Franz realised why the day was different. It was their
last French lesson.

Question 2. How does M. Hamel pay a tribute to the French language?

OR
What did M. Hamel tell them about the French language? What did he ask them to do and why?
Answer: M. Hamel went on to talk about 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 it among
themselves and never forget it. As long as people ‘hold fast to their language, they have the key to freedom’.

Question 3. One order from Berlin changed the scenario of the school. Comment.
Answer: The order from Berlin led to the announcement that French would not be taught anymore, and
instead, German would be taught by a new master. This was to be their last French lesson. The class was
quiet as it was a Sunday morning with no hustle and bustle. The teacher, M. Hamel was patient and calm but
inwardly emotional. He was in his special dress. The sad villagers were sitting on the last benches like the
other students and the teacher explained the lesson very patiently.

Question 4. “What a thunderclap these words were to me!” Which were the words that shocked and
surprised little Franz?
Answer: M. Hamel said, “My children, this is the last French 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 will come tomorrow. This
is your last French lesson. I want you to be attentive”. These words of his teacher were a thunderclap for
Franz.

Question 5. Who did M. Hamel blame for the neglect of learning on the part of boys like Franz?
Answer: M. Hamel blamed the parents for the neglect of learning of French language as they engaged the
boys in farm work. He also blamed himself to some extent as he too assigned the work of gardening to boys
like Franz. He also gave them a holiday whenever he wanted to go for fishing.

Question 6. “This is your last French lesson.” How did Franz react to this declaration of M. Hamel?
Answer: The announcement made by M. Hamel left a great impact not only on Franz but all the other
citizens. Franz was shocked to hear that M. Hamel was leaving and that it was his last lesson. He realised that
he would not be able to read and speak his own mother tongue and regretted his lack of interest and
carelessness.

Question 7. How did M. Hamel say farewell to his students and the people of the town?
Answer: M. Hamel looked very pale and tall when he stood up in his chair. All the students were quiet. The
village people old Hauser, the former Mayor, the former postmaster and several others were present in the
schoolroom. The teacher told the villagers that French was the most beautiful language in the world. He
ended the lesson by writing Vive La France on the blackboard. He made a gesture with his hand to indicate
that the school is dismissed and students could go home.
Question 8. Why had the bulletin board become a centre of attention during the last two years?
Answer: For the past two years, the news of lost battles, the draft and the orders of the commanding officer
were displayed on the bulletin board. People thronged the bulletin board to read all this information. This
was the reason why it had become a centre of attention.

Question 9. What was tempting Franz to keep away from school ‘that morning’?
Answer: Franz was supposed to learn participles as part of his schoolwork, which he had not done.
Therefore, he was afraid of being scolded by M. Hamel. Also, he wanted to spend the day outdoors as it was
warm and bright. The sight of the chirping birds and the Prussian soldiers drilling appealed to him more than
the rules of participles.

Question 10. What was unusual about M. Hamel’s dress and behaviour on the day of his last French lesson?
Answer: Whenever Franz arrived late, he was met by an angry teacher. This time however, he was
astounded when he was welcomed by a kind and polite M. Hamel. This was quite contrary to his nature.
Moreover, he was dressed in his best clothes, a beautiful green coat, frilled shirt and an embroidered black
silk cap, which he wore only on inspection and prize days.

Question 11. Why had M. Hamel put on his fine Sunday clothes? Why were the old men of the village sitting
there in the back of the classroom?
Answer: The back benches were occupied by the people of the village. Old Hansar, who had his three
cornered hat, the former Mayor, the former post master and several other elders. They had come to express
their respect and regard for M. Hamel and sorrow that he had to leave from their midst.

Question 12. How did Franz perform when his turn came to recite? How did M. Hamel react?
Answer: Franz’s name was called and he was asked to recite. Despite his best efforts, he got mixed up on the
first words. He stood there holding on to his desk. His heart beat fast. And he did not dare look up. M. Hamel
told him in a polite tone that he would not scold him as he was not the only one who neglected learning
French. Many others in Alsace shared his fate because of procrastination. He said that every one had a great
deal to reproach themselves with.

Question 1. What is ‘linguistic chauvinism’? Analyse the order from Berlin in this light. How do you justify M.
Hamel’s views about French and the new-found love of the people towards their language?
Answer: Carrying pride in one’s language too far leads to ‘linguistic chauvinism’. We can analyse the order
from Berlin in this light. It is nothing but a pure example of linguistic chauvinism. The imposition of German
language over the French-speaking population can’t be justified at all. It is the worst kind of colonialism.
M. Hamel’s love for French is genuine. The shocking order from Berlin arouses patriotic feelings in him. He
loves French and feels it to be the most beautiful language in the world. He calls it the clearest and the most
logical language too. He regrets that the people of Alsace did not pay much heed to the learning of this great
language. He asks the people to safeguard it among themselves.
It is the key to their unity and freedom. The people of Alsace, particularly the village elders, suddenly realise
how precious their language is to them. Students like Franz too are not immune to patriotic feelings. Franz
feels sorry for neglecting the learning of French. He hates the idea of German language being imposed on
them. He remarks sarcastically, “Will they make them sing in German, even the pigeons?” The last lesson
was so impactful that it helped to revive the love for the language among the people of Alsace.

Question 2. How can you estimate M. Hamel as a man with a ruler and as a man with a gesture?
Answer: In ‘The Last Lesson’, Alphonse Daudet presents M. Hamel’s character with due sympathy and
respect. Initially, he is presented in the mould of a traditional schoolmaster. He used his terrible ruler under
his arm. Everyone could hear the rapping of the ‘great ruler’ on the table even outside in the street. Franz
reminds us ‘how cranky’ M. Hamel was. The students used to dread their schoolmaster. Franz was scared of
being scolded as he had not prepared his lesson on participles. For a moment, he even thought of running
away from school. Mr Hamel was a hard task master. He maintained discipline in the class.
The other side of Mr Hamel’s character is seen after the order from Berlin came. He had been transformed
now. He became soft and gentle towards his students. He didn’t scold Franz for coming late. He did not even
use his ruler when little Franz got mixed up and confused when his turn to recite came. He declared that it
was his last lesson in French as from the next day German would be taught in the schools of Lorraine and
Alsace. He would leave the next day. A new teacher would come in his place. He wore his best dress in
honour of the last lesson.
M. Hamel was given respect not only by his students but even by the village elders. He was totally dedicated
to the cause of teaching. He had been teaching for forty years in the same school. The village elders came to
pay their respect to such a grand teacher. They sat on the back benches to listen to his last lesson.
M. Hamel loved France and French from the depth of his heart. He regarded French as the most beautiful
language in the world. He told the people to guard it among themselves and never to forget it. On hearing
the sound of trumpets of the Prussian soldiers under his window, patriotic feelings overpowered him. He
mounted the chair and tried to speak, however something choked him. He wrote “Vive La France” with a
piece of chalk on the blackboard and dismissed the class.