The Last Lesson

By Alphonse Daudet

Lines from the Text

Page: 02:
Prussian soldiers were drilling: Prussians are
early Germans and in this case, they are the
invaders or oppressors. The Prussians were
doing military exercises.
Had the strength to resist: He was able to
overcome the temptation of cutting class and
went to school instead.
The draft: a list of people who were
compulsorily enlisted into the military.

Page: 03:
Wachter: name of the blacksmith. Commotion: noisy disturbance, confusion
“Don’t go so fast, bub; you’ll get to your Blushed: show shyness, embarrassment, or
school in plenty of time!”: he’s telling Franz to shame by becoming red in the face.
go slowly and not to run. He’s mocking/teasing Frilled: pleated
him as he knows about the order from Berlin and
that this will be his last day learning French.
Bub: used to address a man or boy, could be
used angrily or in a friendly manner.
All out of breath: Gasping for air, panting
Rapping: sound made by tapping something
repeatedly

Page: 04
Primer: an elementary textbook that serves as Thumbed at the edges: worn or soiled edges
an introduction to a subject of study or is used caused by frequent handling.
for teaching children to read. Mounted: sat on
Solemn: serious, grave

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Grave: serious
Thunderclap: a shocking revelation
Wretches: something unfortunate
Saar: a river
Page: 05
For the country that was theirs no more: their
country doesn’t belong to them anymore as it
had been taken over by the Prussians.
Dreadful: frightening
Not daring to: afraid to
Those fellows: refers to either the Prussians or
people from other country
Page: 07
Put it all into our heads in one stroke: try to
teach it all to them in one go
Round hand: a style of handwriting in which
the letters have clear rounded shapes.
Page: 08
Had the courage to hear every lesson to the
last: he didn’t leave early and stayed till the last
Angelus: a prayer that is recited three times a
day, usually at 9, noon, and 6. The bells ring
before the Angelus
Something choked him: he was not able to
Cranky: ill-tempered
Fine Sunday clothes: a person's best or newest
clothing, as saved for Sundays and special
occasions
She puts off learning till tomorrow:
procrastinates learning (she refers to Alsace, it’s
a metonym for the people of Alsace)
Great deal to reproach ourselves with: they
have a lot to be disappointed about themselves
Not anxious enough: not eager to
Ought to: should have
Littlest ones: refers to the youngest students
lesson
Twined: wrapped around something
speak
Bearing on with all his might: using all his
strength and energy
Vive La France!: Long Live France
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Themes

Themes Contents
➔ Crowd in front of the bulletin board
➔ The classroom that was usually very noisy, was as quiet as a
Sunday morning i.e it was very silent.
➔ M.Hamel didn’t chastise Franz for being late.
➔ The teacher (M. Hamel) was wearing his special clothes -
beautiful green coat, frilled shirt and little black silk cap, all
embroidered i.e. his fine Sunday clothes- that he only wore
on inspections and prize days.
➔ The whole school seemed strange and solemn.
Changes in the Classroom ➔ Village people - Hauser, former mayor, former postmaster
on That Day and others - sat on the back benches that were usually empty.
➔ M. Hamel didn’t chastise Franz for not learning the
participles.
➔ Franz understood the lesson and it seemed so easy to him.
➔ Franz listened to the lesson very carefully and M. Hamel
was explaining everything with patience. Neither of these
things had happened before.
➔ Everyone was quiet when they had their lesson in writing.
Even the little children didn’t pay any attention to any of the
distractions.

➔ The bulletin board was the source or the harbinger of bad

news to the people of Alsace. It informed the people about
The Bulletin Board
the battles they had lost, orders of their commanding officers
and the draft.

➔ On the day the news arrived, old men of the village - old
Hauser, former mayor, former postmaster and several others
- sat on the last bench of the classroom to listen to the last
lesson.
➔ It was their way of feeling sorry for not having gone to
Reaction of people to the school to learn French.
news / Why were the village ➔ It was their way of thanking M. Hamel for his faithful
people attending the last service of forty years and of showing their respect for their
lesson? country that had been taken away from them.
➔ It was their way of honouring the last lesson.
➔ Moreover, the people of the village felt bad for not learning
French when they had their chance to.
➔ They reproach themselves over not being able to speak or
write French despite calling themselves Frenchmen.

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 ➔ On the day of the last lesson, M. Hamel was dressed in his
fine Sunday clothes in honour of the last lesson.
➔ He did not chastise Franz for being late or for not reciting
the participles.
➔ He wasn’t cranky like he usually was.
➔ He blamed himself and felt sorry for sending the
children/students to water his flowers and giving them a
holiday when he wanted to go fishing. He felt remorseful.
➔ He gave a passionate speech about the French language -
calling it the most beautiful, clearest and most logical
language in the world.
➔ He explained the lesson with patience, which is something
Reaction of M. Hamel
he hadn’t done before. It was as if he was trying to teach it
all to them in one stroke.
➔ He had new copies for their lesson in writing.
➔ During the lesson in writing, he sat motionless and observed
the classroom carefully, as if he wanted to memorise how
everything looked in that school room.
➔ During their lesson in history, he was crying and his voice
trembled with emotion as he read from his primer.
➔ At the end of the lesson, he tried to speak but he was choked
up. He looked very pale and tall.
➔ On the blackboard, he wrote “Vive La France” as large as he
could, then dismissed them.

➔ Franz didn’t read the announcement on the bulletin board as

he was late for school, so when he learnt that this would be
his last lesson, he was quite shocked.
➔ He felt sorry for not having learnt his lessons when he had
his chance to. He hardly knew how to write and now he
would never get the opportunity to learn French again.
➔ His heavy books that he despised became his old friends that
Reaction of Franz to the last
lesson
he couldn’t give up.
➔ He even forgot about the crankiness of M. Hamel and his
terrible iron ruler and instead began to miss him as he
realised that M. Hamel would have to go away and he would
never get to see him again.
➔ When he couldn’t recite the participles, he felt ashamed.
➔ When M. Hamel taught them grammar, he listened very
carefully and felt like he understood everything clearly.

➔ M. Hamel thought that French was the most beautiful,

clearest and most logical language in the world.
Thoughts of M. Hamel
about the French language
➔ He said that even if a people were enslaved, as long as they
hold fast to their language, it’s as if they had the key to their
own prison,

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Questions
Question.1. What tempted Franz to stay away from school? (Delhi 2014)
Answer. Franz feared a scolding at school as he had not prepared the lesson on participles, on which his
French teacher M Hamel was to question the class that day. Besides, the warm and bright weather, the
chirping of birds and the watching the drill of Prussian soldiers also tempted Franz to stay away from
school.

Question.2. What was unusual about M Hamel’s dress on his last day in the school?
(Compartment 2014)
Answer. M Hamel had put on his ceremonial clothes on his last day in the school. He was wearing a
beautiful green coat, a frilled shirt, and a little black embroidered silk cap. This was a special ceremonial
attire which he usually wore on days of inspection and prize distribution.

Question.3. Why is the order from Berlin called a thunderclap by Franz? (Compartment 2014)
(or) “What a thunderclap these words were to me!” What were the words that shocked
and surprised the narrator? : (Delhi 2013)
Answer. 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.

Question.4. Who was sitting on the back benches during M Hamel’s last lesson? Why?
(Compartment 2014) (or) Why had the villagers come to school on the day of the last lesson?
(Foreign 2008) (or) Why were the elders of the village sitting in the classroom? (Allindia 2014)
Answer. Some of the elderly people from the village were sitting on the back benches during M Hamel’s
last lesson. The villagers had come there to attend his last lesson as it was their way of paying respect to
the master, who had given forty years of faithful service to the school.

Question.5. Why does M Hamel reproach himself for his students, unsatisfactory progress in
Studies? (Compartment 2014)
Answer. M Hamel had been rather irregular as a teacher. He took leave whenever he wanted to. Besides,
he had often sent the students to water his plants, and whenever he wanted to go fishing, he just gave

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them a holiday. So, he reproaches himself for his students’ unsatisfactory progress in studies.

Question.6. What shows M Hamel’s love for the French language? (Foreign 2014) (or)
What did M Hamel tell them about the French language? What did he ask them to do and why?
(Delhi 2013)
Answer. In his last lesson, M Hamel told the students that the French language was the most beautiful
language in the world—the clearest and the most logical. He asked them to guard it amongst themselves
and never forget it, because when a people were enslaved, as long as they held fast to their language, it
was as if they had the key to their prison.

Question.7. What words did M Hamel write on the blackboard before dismissing the last class?
What did they mean? (Compartment 2014)
Answer. Before dismissing the last class, M Hamel turned to the blackboard, and wrote the phrase, ‘Vive
La France!’ as large as he could. These words meant ‘Long live France’, and spoke of M Hamel’s great
love for his country and his deep sense of patriotism.

Question.8. What made M Hamel cry towards the end of his last lesson? (Compartment 2014)
Answer. M Hamel had taught French at the school for the last forty years. He was emotionally attached to
the school and everything in and about it. He was really heartbroken to leave it all. Besides, his own
predicament reminded him that his country would soon lose its independence. All this made him cry
towards the end of his last lesson.

Question.9. How did Franz react to the declaration that it was their last French lesson? (Delhi 2013)
(or) What announcement did M Hamel make? What was the impact of this on Franz?
(All India 2011) (or) ‘‘This is your last French lesson.” How did Franz react to this declaration of M
Hamel? (Delhi 2010) (or) What changes came over little Franz after he heard M Hamel’s
announcement? (All India 2010) (or) What did the French teacher tell his students in his last
French lesson? What impact did it have on them? (All India 2009)
Answer. The French teacher M Hamel announced that he would be teaching his last French lesson that
day because the orders had come from Berlin to teach only German in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine.
On hearing this, all the students as well as Franz felt very sorry that they would not be learning their
mother tongue in future. Franz regretted not having learnt his lessons. Earlier his books seemed a
nuisance to him, but at that moment they became very dear to him.

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Question.10.What was the order from Berlin and what changes did it cause in the school? (AU
India 2013) (or) What changes did the order from Berlin cause in the school? (Delhi 2012) (or)
What was the mood in the classroom when M Hamel gave his last French lesson? (Delhi 2009)
Answer. The order from Berlin stated that only German will be taught in the schools of Alsace and
Lorraine. The order caused many changes, as an unusual silence prevailed in the school, compared to the
hustle and bustle earlier. M Hamel became soft in speaking to the students, while the people realised the
importance of their language. The villagers even attended the school to show respect to M Hamel.

Question.11. How did M Hamel say farewell to his students and the people of the town? (All India
2012)
Answer. At the end of his ‘Last Lesson’. M Hamel stood up to say farewell to his students and the people
of the town. He tried to speak, but overwhelming emotion choked his voice. He then wrote as large as he
could on the blackboard ‘Vive La France’; then he dismissed the class with a gesture with his hand.

Question.12. What was Franz expected to be prepared for the school that day? (Delhi 2011)
Answer. Franz was expected to be prepared with participles that day. His teacher, M Hamel, was to
question him on the topic. Franz had not learnt his lessons and feared to be scolded by him.

Question.13. What had been put up on the bulletin-board? (Delhi 2011)

Answer. For the last two years the bulletin-board had news of lost battles, the draft and the orders of the
commanding officer. On that day a notice had been put up stating that orders from Berlin were to teach
only German in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine.

Question.14. Who did M Hamel blame for the neglect of learning on the part of boys like Franz?
(Delhi 2011)
Answer. M Hamel blamed himself for the neglect of learning on the part of boys like Franz. He himself
was not quite regular and took leave whenever he needed it, which reflected on the behaviour and studies
of the students. He also blamed their parents for not taking interest in their education.

Question.15. Franz thinks, “Will they make them sing in German, even the pigeons?” What does
this tell us about the attitude of the Frenchmen? (All India 2011)
Answer. This shows that the Frenchmen were full of hatred and desperation against the Germans.
Besides, they feared German atrocities. They thought that they would be forced to read German and no
one would be spared.

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Question.16. Mention two things about M Hamel that surprised Franz on his last day at school.
(Foreign 2009)
Answer. M Hamel didn’t scold Franz for being late; instead he told him very kindly to go to his place.
Also, that day he was dressed in his best clothes; he was in his beautiful green coat, frilled shirt and little
black silk cap with embroidery, which he wore only on inspection or prize days.

Question.17. How was the scene in the school in the morning of the last lesson different from that
on other days? (Delhi 2008)
Answer. Usually, there used to be a great hustle and bustle when school began. The sound of opening and
closing of the desks, lessons being repeated in unison and the rapping of the teacher’s ruler on the table,
could be heard out in the street. But that day, it was all very quiet and still as on a Sunday morning.

Question.18. 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 everyone
had a great deal to reproach themselves with.

Question.19.“We’ve all a great deal to reproach ourselves with.” Why did M. Hamel blame the
parents and himself too for not showing due attention and care to the learning of French?
Answer: M. Hamel did not hold Franz responsible for neglecting the learning of French. Most people of
Alsace only pretended to be Frenchmen. But they could neither speak nor write their own language. The
parents were not anxious to have them learn. They preferred to put children on a farm or at the mills to
earn a little more money. He even held himself responsible as he often sent his students to water his
flowers instead of learning their lessons. He also used to give a holiday whenever he wanted to go fishing.

Question.20. How does M. Hamel prove to be an ideal teacher?

Answer: M. Hamel brings home the message of importance of love of mother tongue and patriotism. He
explains things well and asks students to continue learning French even when he is gone. Hence, he
proves to be an ideal teacher.

Question.23. How were the parents and M. Hamel responsible for the children’s neglect of the
French language?

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Answer: Parents were never keen or anxious to make their children learn French. They rather made them
work in the fields or mills. Mr Hamel also lacked sincerity. He made the children water his garden during
class hours or dismissed his class when he wanted to go fishing.

Long Answer Type Question (6 Marks, 120-150 words)

Question 1. What changes did the narrator find in the school when the order from Berlin came?
(Ail India 2008)
Answer. The order from Berlin prohibited teaching of French in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine.
Instead, German was to be taught in the schools. Franz was late for school that day. He noticed that the
hustle and bustle was missing. There was no opening and closing of desks, no repetition of lessons or
rapping of the teacher’s ruler on the table could be heard. It was all very quiet and still.
Franz was further surprised because, instead of meeting an angry teacher, he was welcomed by a kind and
polite teacher, who was dressed in his best clothes, a beautiful green coat, frilled shirt and an embroidered
silk cap, which he wore only on inspection and prize days. The back benches were occupied by the
village people who never came to school, as they were more concerned about their livelihood. He was
further astounded to know that M. Hamel was going to teach his last lesson that day.

Question 2. 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 the German language over the French-speaking population is an effect of colonialism of Alsace.
M. Hamel’s love for French is genuine. The 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 the 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

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that it helped to revive the love for the language among the people of Alsace.

Question 3. How can you estimate M. Hamel as a man with a ruler and as a man with a gesture?
OR How does M. Hamel prove to be an ideal teacher?
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 to teach
German instead. 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.

Question 4. Write a character sketch of Franz.

Answer: Franz was a student of a school in Alsace. His schoolmaster was M. Hamel. Franz was not
brilliant. Franz enjoyed spending time out of doors. He liked the warm and bright day, and loved to listen
to the chirping of the birds and watching the drilling of the Prussian soldiers. He preferred this instead of
being in the classroom. He didn’t prepare his lesson on participles. When he was asked to recite, he got
mixed up and confused. He was not excited to go to school and did not show any interest in M. Hamel’s
teaching.But he was scared of M. Hamel’s scolding. He always dreaded the great ruler that M. Hamel
kept under his arm. Franz knew how ‘cranky’ M. Hamel was.

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However, Franz was forced to change his opinion about M. Hamel. An order came from Berlin
pronouncing that German language would be taught in the schools of French districts of Alsace and
Lorraine. On knowing that it was the last lesson that M. Hamel was going to deliver, his views about him
changed. He started respecting the man who had spent forty years in the same school. He felt sorry for not
learning French.
He shared M. Hamel’s views about French. It was the most beautiful language in the world. Franz
sarcastically remarked, “Will they make them sing in German, even the pigeons?” After the last lesson,
his views about French took a patriotic turn. He listened to M. Hamel’s last lesson with rapt attention and
dignity, and regretted having been careless and inattentive.

Question 5. Everybody during the last lesson is filled with regret. Comment.
Answer: Everybody during the last lesson is filled with regret. There was a general sadness about not
being able to utilise the opportunities of learning French when it was easily accessible. Franz wished that
he had attended classes more often and regretted not being attentive in his classes earlier. He suddenly
found his lessons more interesting and easy. The villagers, who were sitting at the usually empty back
benches and had come to show their respect and gratitude to M. Hamel, regretted not going to school
more than they did.
The order also brought about a great change in the feelings of the people towards their country and their
native language. M. Hamel regretted sending his students to water his flowers instead of learning their
lessons. He also regretted giving holidays to students whenever he wanted to go fishing.

Question 6. Justify the title of the story, ‘The Last Lesson’.

Answer: The title of the story, ‘The Last Lesson’ is self-relieving. The whole story revolves around the
title. The beginning of the story serves as preparation for it. The title also conveys the central theme of the
story—the fact that sometimes even the most precious things in our lives are taken for granted. The
people of Alsace never gave much importance to the mother tongue, French.
They did not even insist their children to pay any attention to their language. They did not encourage
regular attendance of their children in French classes. They preferred their children to work and earn,
instead of studying. The order from Prussians made them realise the importance of their mother tongue.
So they attend M. Hamel’s last lesson altogether. Thus, the title, ‘The Last Lesson’ is justified.

Question 7. Write a character sketch of M. Hamel as a teacher.

Answer: M. Hamel was a true French man who has been teaching French in the districts of Alsace and
Lorraine for forty years. He loved his profession and was proud of his language, French. He had a deep

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sense of respect for his mother tongue. He considered French to be the most beautiful language of the
world. As a teacher, he was very particular and strict in imparting knowledge to his students. When
France was overtaken by Prussians, he was depressed because French was banned from being taught in
the schools. While taking his last lesson, he tried his best to remain calm and composed.
His sorrow was evident in the way he was sitting in the class while his students were completing their
writing assignment. He felt tormented at the fact that people had become indifferent to learning French
and appealed to them to keep their language alive. He was a true patriot. He believed that mother tongue
is a means of holding one’s identity and self-respect. At the end of his last lesson, he writes ‘Vive La
France!’ on the blackboard. This shows his love and concern for the people and the language of his
country.

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