GT GROUP OF INSTITUTIONS

The Last
English Class 12 Prose
Lesson

Question 1.
What was the mood in the classroom when M. Hamel gave his last French lesson?
Answer:
When M.Hamel was giving his last French ; lesson, the mood in the classroom was solemn and
sombre. When he announced that this was their last French lesson everyone present in the
classroom suddenly developed patriotic feelings for their native language and genuinely regretted
ignoring their mother tongue.

Question 2.
What had the narrator counted on to enter the school, unnoticed?
Answer:
The narrator (Franz) had counted on the hustle and bustle that was usual when the school began
in order to enter there unnoticed. He had thought he could depend on the commotion to get to his
desk without anybody noticing that he was late for the class.

Question 3.
“This is your last French lesson.” How did Franz react to this declaration of M.Hamel?
Answer:
When M.Hamel declared that it was their last French lesson a grim realisation dawned on Franz
that he had so much more yet to learn. He felt sorry for whiling away his time and skipping his
lessons. Now he did not want to part with his books, which he had earlier consi¬dered a
nuisance. He was also deeply pained at the thought that M.Hamel was leaving.

Question 4.
“What a thunder clap these words were to me!” Which were the words that shocked and
surprised little Franz?
Answer:
When M.Hamel mounted on the chair and announced that he was there to teach his last French
lesson that day, Franz was shocked and surprised. He felt very guilty for deliberately ignoring to
learn his native language and he suddenly developed a strange fascination for his language and
his school.

Question 5.
What changes came over little Franz after he heard M.Hamel’s announcement?
Answer:
When M.Hamel announced that this was to be their last French class a grim realisation dawned
on Franz that he could hardly write his language and now he was being deprived of the
opportunity to learn it. He felt very guilty of neglecting his classes and escaping school. The
thought of losing his teacher, M. Hamel, also pained him.

Question 6.
What was tempting Franz to keep away from school That morning?
Answer:
Franz was very late for school ‘that morning’. M. Hamel was to question the students on
participles and Franz knew nothing and feared a scolding. The bright weather, woods, fields and
chirping of birds tempted him to spend the day outdoors.

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Question 7.
What was unusual about M. Hamel’s dress and behaviour on the day of his last French lesson?
Answer:
On the day of his last French lesson M. Hamel was unexpectantly kind. He had put on his
beautiful green coat, frilled shirt and an embroidered black silk cap that he normally wore only on
inspection and prize days. In his last lesson he explains everything with unusual patience as if he
wants to teach them everything he has ever learned in their last French class.

Question 8.
Why had the bulletin-board become a centre of attention during the last two years?
Answer:
The bulletin-board had become a centre of attention because for the last two years all the bad
news had come from there. It was the source of all bad news-the lost battles, the draft and the
orders of the commanding officers.

Question 9.
What was Franz expected to be prepared with for the school that day?
Answer:
Franz had started very late for school that morning. He feared facing his class-teacher, M.
Hamel. Because he was expected to be prepared with his grammar lesson on participles and he
did not know even the first word about them. So he feared a scolding.

Question 10.
What had been put up on the bulletin board?
Answer:
A notice had been put up on the bulletin board informing the people about the order from Berlin
which declared that only German was to be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. They
had also been informed that the new German teacher was coming on the following day.

Question 11.
Who did M.Hamel blame for the neglect of learning on the part of boys like Franz?
Answer:
Mr. Hamel blamed various people for different reasons for neglect of learning on the part of boys
like Franz. First he blamed the parents for not being anxious to have their children learn and
rather engaging them into household work. He blamed the boys themselves for preferring to work
on mills and farms. He also blamed himself for sending boys on errands for his convenience.

Question 12.
Franz thinks, “Will they make them sing in German, even the pigeons?” What does this tell us
about the attitude of the Frenchmen?
Answer:
During his last French class Franz hears the pigeons cooing and wonders if the Prussians would
make them sing in German too. His thought reveals the Frenchmen’s fear of complete
domination by the Germans whereby they would try to enslave even their minds.

Question 13.
“What a thunderclap these words were to me!” – Which were the words that shocked and
surprised Franz?
Answer:
When M.Hamel mounted on the chair and announced that he was there to teach his last French
lesson that day, Franz was shocked and surprised. He felt very guilty for deliberately ignoring to
learn his native language and he suddenly developed a strange fascination for his language and
his school.

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Question 14.
“What announcement did M. Hamel make? What was the impact of this on Franz?
Answer:
When M.Hamel declared that it was their last French lesson a grim realisation dawned on Franz
that he had so much more yet to learn. He felt sorry for whiling away his time and skipping his
lessons. Now he did not want to part with his books, which he had earlier consi¬dered a
nuisance. He was also deeply pained at the thought that M.Hamel was leaving.

Question 15.
What did M. Hamel tell the people in the class about French language? What did he ask them to
do and why?
Answer:
M. Hamel told the people in his class that French was the most beautiful, the clearest and the
most logical language in the world. He advised them to guard it among themselves j and never to
forget it because it would prove to be the key to their prison when they were I enslaved.

Question 16.
What was the mood in the classroom when M.Hamel gave his last French lesson?
Answer:
When M.Hamel was giving his last French; lesson, the mood in the classroom was solemn and
sombre. When he announced that this was their last French lesson everyone present in the
classroom suddenly developed patriotic feelings for their native language and genuinely regretted
ignoring their mother tongue.

Question 17.
What changes did the order from Berlin cause in the school?
Answer:
The shocking order from Berlin that only German would be taught in the schools of Alsace and
Lorraine saddened and hurt the pride of the French people. So as a gesture to express their
solidarity for their language the village elders also attended school for the last French lesson. The
usual hustle and bustle was missing from school and it was unusually quiet. M. Hamel was also
dressed in his formal suit which he wore only on special occasions.

Question 18.
How did M.Hamel say farewell to his students and the people of the town?
Answer:
To bid farewell to his students and the people of the town M.Hamel wore his formal suit on the
day he gave his last French lesson. He assumed the role of a mentor and advised the villagers to
safeguard their language, which was the most beautiful and logical language in the world. Being
rimmed up with emotions, he wrote “Vive La France” which mean Tong live France’ in order to
inculcate a feeling of patriotism within everyone.

Question 19.
What were Franz’s regrets after M. Hamel’s announcement of his last lesson?
Answer:
When M. Hamel announced that it was their last French lesson, Franz realised he had so much
more to learn. He felt sorry for whiling away his time and skipping his lessons. He was also
deeply pained at the thought of M. Hamel leaving the school.

Question 20.
What change was there in Franz’ attitude towards M. Hamel?
Answer:
Franz’s attitude towards M. Hamel underwent a complete change on the day of the last French

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lesson. He developed a strange fascination for his school and the French language. When M.
Hamel read out a grammar lesson to the class, Franz was amazed at how well he understood it.
All M. Hamel said seemed so easy to Franz and he genuinely regretted ignoring M. Hamel’s
classes and lessons.

Question 21.
Why did M. Hamel not scold Franz when the latter fumbled with the rule for the participle?
Answer:
Since it was M. Hamel’s last class in Alsace, he did not scold Franz when the latter fumbled with
the rule for the participle. He told Franz that he would not scold him as he knew that Franz was
already feeling terrible enough and reproaching himself a great deal.

Question 22.
How did Franz react to the declaration that it was their last French lesson?
Answer:
When M.Hamel declared that it was their last French lesson a grim realisation dawned on Franz
that he had so much more yet to learn. He felt sorry for whiling away his time and skipping his
lessons. Now he did not want to part with his books, which he had earlier considered a nuisance.
He was also deeply pained at the though that M.Hamel was leaving.

Question 23.
“What a thunderclap these words were to me !” What were the words that shocked and surprised
the narrator?
Answer:
When M.Hamel mounted on the chair and announced that he was there to teach his last French
lesson that day, Franz was shocked and surprised. He felt very guilty for deliberately ignoring to
learn his native language and he suddenly developed a strange fascination for his language and
his school.

Question 24.
What did M. Hamel tell them about the French language? What did he ask them to do and why?
Answer:
M. Hamel told the people in his class that French was the most beautiful, the clearest and the
most logical language in the world. He advised them to guard it among themselves j and never to
forget it because it would prove to be the key to their prison when they were I enslaved.

Question 25.
What was the order from Berlin and what changes did it cause in the school?
Answer:
The shocking order from Berlin that only German would be taught in the schools of Alsace and
Lorraine saddened and hurt the pride of the French people. So as a gesture to express their
solidarity for their language the village elders also attended school for the last French lesson. The
usual hustle and bustle was missing from school and it was unusually quiet. M. Hamel was also
dressed in his formal suit which he wore only on special occasions.

Question 26.
Why did Franz think of running away from the school that morning?
Answer:
Franz was tempted to run away and spend the day outside instead of attending school as it was
a warm and bright day and he wanted to watch the Prussian soldiers’ drill. Moreover he had not
done his lesson on participles from which his teacher, M. Hamel was going to question and
feared a scolding from his teacher.

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Question 27.
What did Franz see when he passed the town hall?

Answer:
When Franz passed the town hall he saw there was a crowd in front of the bulletin board. For the
last two years all the bad news of lost battles, the draft etc. had come from there and Franz
thought to himself what the matter was then and what bad news awaited them.

Question 28.
When Franz reached his school, what unusual situation did he observe?
Answer:
The usual hustle and bustle of the morning hours could not be seen on the day of the last lesson.
It was all very still and quiet as it used to be on a Sunday morning. The din of opening and
closing of desks and the rapping of the teacher’s ruler on the table could not be heard. The
students had already taken their places and even the village elders had gathered there.

Question 29.
After sitting down at his desk what unusual things did Franz observe about M. Hamel?
Answer:
Franz realised that M. Hamel was not his usual cranky self and said nothing to him even though
he was late for the class. Moreover their teacher was wearing his beautiful green coat, his frilled
shirt and the little black silk cap, all embroidered, that he wore only on special days in school.

Question 30.
“But the thing that surprised me most was to see ” What surprised Franz most in the class?
Answer:
The thing that surprised Franz the most when he entered the classroom was to see the village
people sitting as quietly as the students on the back benches of the class that were always
empty. This included old Hauser, the former mayor, the former postmaster and several others.

Question 31.
What tempted Franz to stay away from school?
Answer:
Little Franz was tempted to run away and spend the day outside instead of attending school as it
was a warm and bright day with the birds chirping merrily. Moreover, he was tempted to watch
the Prussian soldiers’ drill. All these things appeared rather tempting considering he did not know
his participles and feared the French teacher M. Hamel’s scolding on that day.

Question 32.
Why were the elders of the village sitting in the classroom?
Answer:
The elders of the village were sitting in the classroom as a mark of respect which they wanted to
show for their language and their country. They felt sorry for not having learnt their language and
wanted to thank M. Hamel for his forty years of faithful service.

Question 33.
What words did M. Hamel write on the black¬board before dismissing the last class? What did
they mean?
Answer:
Before dismissing the last French class, M. Hamel turned to the blackboard, took a piece of chalk
and wrote as large as he could -“Vive la France!” These words meant “Long Live France”. He
then made a gesture with his hand that the class was dismissed.

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Question 34.
Who were sitting on the back benches during M. Hamel’s last lesson? Why?
Answer:
The village elders were sitting on the back benches during M. Hamel’s last lesson. They included
old Hauser, the former mayor, the former postmaster and several others. They were there to
show their respect for their language and their country.

Question 35.
Why is the order from Berlin called a thunderclap by Franz?
Answer:
The order from Berlin is called a thunderclap by Franz, because it was a complete shock for him.
He had never thought that he would be deprived of the right of learning his native language. He
realised he had so much more yet to learn and was going to lose the opportunity.

Question 36.
Why does M. Hamel reproach himself for his students’ unsatisfactory progress in studies?
Answer:
M. Hamel reproaches himself for his students’ unsatisfactory progress in studies. He had often
sent them to water his flowers instead of learning their lessons. And when he wanted to go
fishing, he gave them a holiday.

Question 37.
What made M. Hamel cry towards the end of his last lesson?
Answer:
Towards the end of his last French lesson, as the church clock struck twelve and the trumpets of
the Prussians sounded under the window, M. Hamel was completely overwhelmed with
emotions. Feeling choked, he was unable to talk further and dismissed the class by making a
gesture with his hand.

Question 38.
What was unusual about M. Hamel’s dress on his last day in the school?
Answer:
In honour of his last French lesson in the school, M. Hamel had put on his fine Sunday clothes.
He had on his green coat, his frilled shirt and the little black, all embroidered silk cap that he
never wore except on inspection and prize days.

Question 39.
Who occupied the back benches in the classroom on the day of the last lesson? Why?
Answer:
The village people occupied the backbenches in the classroom on the day of the last lesson.
They included the old hauser, the former mayor, the former postmaster and several others. They
had come there to thank their master for his valuable service and to show their respect for their
language and country which was no longer theirs.

Question 40.
Why did M. Hamel write ‘Vive La France’ on the blackboard?
Answer:
Before dismissing the class, M. Hamel writes ‘Vive La France’ (Long Live France) on the
blackboard. He was extremely patriotic and he does this to make the Alsacians conscious that
they had to safeguard their language and identity among themselves as this was the key to their
prison.

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Question 41.
“We’ve all a great deal to reproach ourselves with”, said M. Hamel. Comment.
Answer:
M. Hamel blamed everyone for putting off learning till the next time and thus losing out on the
opportunity to learn their native language, French. The parents preferred to put their children to
work on a farm or at the mills so that they could earn more money. M. Hamel too sent them to
water his flowers and gave them a holiday when he wanted to go for fishing.

Question 42.
How did the order from Berlin change the situation in the school?
Answer:
The shocking order from Berlin after the defeat of France shocked the French people. It declared
that all the schools in the two French districts of Alsace and Lorraine would now teach only
German. This not only saddened but also hurt the pride of the people of France. On the day of
the French teacher M.Hamel’s last lesson, even the village elders came to show their respect to
him for serving the community faithfully for forty years. The usual hustle and bustle too was
missing from school and Franz found it unusually quiet as it used to be on a Sunday morning.
M.Hamel was dressed in his formal suit. Even though Franz reached late M.Hamel did not scold
him. He then went on to praising the French language at length by referring to it as the most
beautiful language. He called upon the French people to safeguard their language among
themselves and not to forget it ever.

Question 43.
Whom did M.Hamel blame for Franz’s inabil¬ity to answer his questions?
Answer:
Hamel blamed the parents who sent the children to work instead of sending them to school. He
blamed himself for making them water the plants and giving them a holiday when he wanted to
go fishing. He also blamed the students themselves for delaying the learning of their lessons
thinking that there was plenty of time.

Question 44.
How did M.Hamel display his love for the French language?
Answer:
M. Hamel had great love for the French language which he had been teaching for forty years. For
him it was the most beautiful, most logical and clearest language. He wanted the French people
to preserve it among themselves and this would enable them to be free from foreign rule.

Question 45.
What was the bulletin board news that caused a change in the school?
Answer:
The bulletin board news that caused a change in the school was that, that day was going to be
the last French lesson for the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. The order had come from Berlin to
teach only German in the schools and their new German teachers would come the next day.

Question 46.
Who were sitting on the backbenches on the day of the last lesson? Why?
Answer:
The village people occupied the backbenches in the classroom on the day of the last lesson.
They included the old hauser, the former mayor, the former postmaster and several others. They
had come there to thank their master for his valuable service and to show their respect for their
language and country which was no longer theirs.

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Question 47.
Why were people standing in front of the bulletin board in ‘The Last Lesson’? Why did Franz not
join the crowd?
Answer:
For the past two years the bulletin board had been the bearer of all bad news—the lost battles,
drafts, orders from the commanding officer. That day an order had come from Berlin that from the
next day a new teacher would teach German instead of French in the school. Franz could not join
the crowd as he was already late for his class and could not afford further delay.

Question 48.
Why did Franz not want to go to school that day?
Answer:
Franz was tempted to run away and spend the day outside instead of attending school as it was
a warm and bright day and he wanted to watch the Prussian soldiers’ drill. Moreover he had not
done his lesson on participles from which his teacher, M. Hamel was going to question and
feared a scolding from his teacher.

Question 49.
Why was Franz not scolded for reaching the school late that day?
Answer:
It was to be their last French lesson that day. The order from Berlin allowed only German
language to be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. Hence their teacher, M. Hamel, was
in a sad and sombre mood. So he did not scold Franz for reaching school late that day.

Question 50.
What did Franz wonder about when he entered the class that day?
Answer:
Franz wondered about a number of things when he entered the class that day. He wondered as
to why he was not given a scolding by his teacher, M. Hamel for being late, why his teacher was
wearing his formal clothes which he wore only on inspections and prize days and why the village
elders were sitting on the backbenches in the classroom.

Question 51.
Why were some elderly persons occupying the backbenches that day?
Answer:
The elders of the village were sitting in the classroom as a mark of respect which they wanted to
show for their language and their country. They felt sorry for not having learnt their language and
wanted to thank M. Hamel for his forty years of faithful service.

Question 52.
“What a thunderclap these words were to me!” (Franz). What were those words and what was
their effect on Franz?
Answer:
When M.Hamel mounted on the chair and announced that he was there to teach his last French
lesson that day, Franz was shocked and surprised. He felt very guilty for deliberately ignoring to
learn his native language and he suddenly developed a strange fascination for his language and
his school.

Question 53.
How were the parents and M. Hamel respon¬sible for the children’s neglect of the French
language?
Answer:
M. Hamel blamed everyone for putting off learning till the next time and thus losing out on the

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opportunity to learn their native language, French. The parents preferred to put their children to
work on a farm or at the mills so that they could earn more money. M. Hamel too sent them to
water his flowers and gave them a holiday when he wanted to go for fishing.

Question 54.
How is the title ‘The Last Lesson’ appropriate?
Answer:
The title ‘The Last Lesson’ is appropriate because it was M. Hamel’s last lesson and also the last
French lesson in the school. During the last lesson, the teacher, as well as all those who were
attending it, were feeling nostalgic and repentant.

Question 55.
What changes did the order from Berlin cause on the day of the last lesson?
Answer:
The shocking order from Berlin that only German would be taught in the schools of Alsace and
Lorraine saddened and hurt the pride of the French people. So as a gesture to express their
solidarity for their language the village elders also attended school for the last French lesson. The
usual hustle and bustle was missing from school and it was unusually quiet. M. Hamel was also
dressed in his formal suit which he wore only on special occasions.

Question 56.
How different did M.Hamel look that particu¬lar morning in ‘The Last Lesson’?
Answer:
In honour of his last French lesson in the school, M. Hamel had put on his fine Sunday clothes.
He had on his green coat, his frilled shirt and the little black, all embroidered silk cap that he
never wore except on inspection and prize days.

Question 57.
What was M.Hamel’s regret on the day of the last lesson?
Answer:
M. Hamel’s regret on the last day of the French lesson was that they all had put off learning their
language till the next day and now most of them who claimed to be Frenchmen could neither
speak nor write their language. For this they all, including M. Hamel himself, had a great deal to
reproach themselves with.

Question 58.
How different was the scene in the classroom on the day of the last lesson?
Answer:
The usual hustle and bustle of the morning hours could not be seen on the day of the last lesson.
It was all very still and quiet as it used to be on a Sunday morning. The din of opening and
closing of desks and the rapping of the teacher’s ruler on the table could not be heard. The
students had already taken their places and even the village elders had gathered there.

Long Answer Type Questions

Question 59.
What did the French teacher tell his students in his last French lesson? What impact did it have
on them? Why?
Answer:
M. Hamel told his students that a new order from Berlin has declared that all schools of Alsace
and Lorraine would teach only German so this was going to be their last French lesson. This new
order aroused patriotic feelings in him and he, in turn, wanted to arouse similar patriotism in his

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students and the village elders. He made them conscious of the glory and value of the French
language and told them to safeguard it among themselves and keep it alive at all costs as it was
the key to their unity and liberation. Everyone listened to him sadly but with rapt attention and
respect. Even little Franz listened to his teacher’s words with a new-found interest. He felt sorry
that he had neglected learning French. Everyone from the village assembled in the class to thank
Mr. Hamel for his forty years of faithful service to the community.

Question 60.
How different from usual was the atmosphere at school on the day of the last lesson?
Answer:
Acquiring power over the Alsacians made the Prussians so dominating that they even imposed
their language on them. This way the Prussians intended to dominate the hearts and minds of
the Alsacians and wanted them to even think in their language and thereby lose their complete
identity. An order had been received from Berlin that only German would be taught in schools of
Alsace and Lorraine. So there was something unusual about the school on the last day of the
French lesson. The usual hustle and bustle was missing. Everything was ‘strange and solemn’ as
on a Sunday morning. The village elders were seated on the back desks.

M.Hamel, who had been teaching French at the school for the last forty years, was wearing his
formal suit in honour of the last French lesson. While delivering the last lesson, he called upon
his students and the village elders to guard the French language among themselves and never
forget it, declaring French to be the most beautiful language in the world. Franz developed a
sudden fascination for school and the French language and a sudden respect for M.Hamel. He
wanted his teacher to stay and felt very guilty for having neglected his French lessons as now he
was being deprived of the opportunity of learning his language.

Question 61.
Everybody during the last lesson is filled with regret. Comment.
Answer:
The one common feeling that fills each and every person who is present in the last French lesson
is an acute sense of regret. M. Hamel reproaches himself for putting off his students’ learning till
the next day and sending them to water his flowers instead of learning their lessons. He also
gave his students a holiday when he wanted to go fishing. Franz felt sorry for not learning his
lessons and escaping school. He wished he had attended his classes more often and even the
thought of losing his teacher saddened him. The village elders occupied the back benches of the
class to atone for their guilt and express their regret for not having attended school regularly.
They were now showing their respect for the country that was theirs no more.

Question 62.
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.
Answer:
The feeling of regretfulness for having neglected their native language, French comes quite late
to M. Hamel and the village elders. They realise rather late that their language is part of their
culture and they should be proud of it. It is only after they have been deprived of learning their
language that they understand its value. The imposition of German language made them
suddenly realise the authority of their captors and they felt a loss of freedom. So on the day of
the last French lesson the village elders are seated on the back desks and M. Hamel, who had
been teaching French at the school for the last forty years, was wearing his formal suit as a mark
of respect for the last French lesson. M. Hamel expressed how they all had a great deal to
reproach themselves for as most of the people of Alsace could neither speak nor write French.
Parents preferred to put their children to work on farms or mills.

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M. Hamel regretfully said how he himself sometimes sent his students to water his flowers
instead of learning their language lessons. While delivering the last lesson M. Hamel called upon
his students and the village elders to guard the French language among themselves, declaring it
to be the most beautiful language tn the world. Each one of them felt guilty for having ignored the
French lessons.

Question 63.
Our native language is 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?
Answer:
Acquiring power over the French made the Prussians so dominating that they decided to impose
even their language on them. So on the day of the last French lesson the village elders were
seated on the back seats of the classroom. They felt sad and sorry for not having gone to school
more often. Their presence was also their way of thanking their master, M.Hamel for his forty
years of faithful service. M.Hamel himself had put on his fine Sunday clothes in honour of the last
French lesson. Assuming the role of mentor he advised the class to safeguard and preserve their
language among themselves and never forget it. He called French the most beautiful and logical
language in the world. By the end of the class M.Hamel was so choked with emotion and could
not speak so he took a piece of chalk and wrote on the blackboard “Vive la France!” (Long Live
France) and then dismissed the class.

Question 64.
Describe the atmosphere in the class on the day of the last lesson
Answer:
On the day of the last French lesson the atmosphere in the class was strange and solemn. The
school was as quiet as if it was a Sunday morning. The teacher (M.FIamel) moving in the class
with his ruler under his arm was wearing his special dress for the last class. The elders of the
village were sitting on the backbenches of the classroom. All the students were studying with
complete attention and the teacher was teaching with full dedication. All this was due to an order
from Berlin that from the next day German would be taught instead of French by a new teacher.
While delivering the last lesson, the teacher called upon his students and the village elders to
guard the French language among themselves and never forget it, declaring French to be the
most beautiful language in the world.

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