THE LAST LESSON

1 (Alphonse Daudet)

(I)
BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO THE LESSON
The Prussian forces under Bismarck attacked France in the year 1870. All the Germans stood by
Prussia and France was defeated. The French districts of Alsace and Lorraine passed into Prussian hands.
The new Prussian rulers disallowed the teaching of French in the schools of these two districts. The
French teachers in these schools were asked to leave. This story describes the last day of one such French
teacher in his school. Though he knows he has been transferred and will no longer remain in his old
school, he gives his last lesson to his students with as much devotion and sincerity as ever. The story
brings out the pathos of the whole situation and also depicts the quiet dignity of the French teacher,
named Mr Hamel.
(II)
MAIN POINTS OF THE LESSON
1. It is the story of a school teacher who taught French in a district of France. The district had been
captured by the Prussian (German) army. All teaching of the French language was disallowed in
the schools of this district. French teachers were asked to leave their schools. This story describes
the last lesson of one such teacher. The story is narrated by a little student named Franz in the
teacher’s class.
2. Little Franz was late for school that morning. He was afraid that the teacher would scold him.
He was also afraid because the teacher was to ask questions on participles and he didn’t know
a word about them.
3. Little Franz thought of running away and spending the day out of doors. He saw the Prussian
soldiers drilling in the open field. Watching them seemed to him to be far more tempting than
the rule for participles. However, he hurried off to school.
4. On his way, little Franz passed by the Town Hall. He saw a crowd of people in front of the
bulletin board.
5. When little Franz reached his school, it was all very quiet. There were none of the usual noises.
It was as quiet as Sunday morning. All his classmates were already in their seats. The teacher,
Mr Hamel, was walking up and down. He had his terrible iron ruler under his arm.
6. Little Franz opened the door and went in. He was very frightened, but to his surprise Mr Hamel
said very kindly, ‘‘Go to your place quickly, little Franz.’’
7. Franz saw that the teacher was in one of his best dresses, the one he wore only on inspection or
prize days. And at the back of the class, the village people were sitting quietly. Everybody looked
sad. Franz wondered what it was all about.
8. Mr Hamel began in a very grave and gentle tone, ‘‘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.’’
9. Now for the first time, little Franz began to feel sorry for not being serious in his lessons. He was
also sad that he would never see Mr Hamel again. He forgot all about his ruler and cranky nature.
10. Now Franz understood why Mr Hamel was in his best clothes. He also understood why the old
men of the village were sitting there. They had come to show their respect for Mr Hamel’s forty
years of faithful service.
293 THE LAST
293 LESSON
 11. Mr Hamel asked Franz to recite the rule for participles. Franz got mixed up on the first words,
but Mr Hamel didn’t scold him. He only said, ‘‘You pretend to be Frenchmen, and yet you can
neither speak nor write your own language. But you’re not the worst, little Franz. We’ve all a great
deal to reproach ourselves with.’’ Then he spoke in detail about the French language and said
that it was the best language in the world.
12. Mr Hamel opened a grammar and gave his last lesson to the class. Little Franz was amazed to
see that he understood every word of it. Mr Hamel explained everything with great patience.
After the grammar, he gave a practice in writing. While the students were busy with their writing,
Mr Hamel gazed at everything in the little classroom. It was as if he wanted to fix everything in
his mind. It must have broken his heart to think that he was to leave it all.
13. All at once, the church clock struck twelve. The sounds of the midday prayer were heard. At the
same moment, the trumpets of the Prussians returning from drill were heard. Mr Hamel stood
up to say something, but couldn’t. He was choked with emotions. He took a piece of chalk and
wrote on the blackboard, as large as he could, ‘‘Long Live France !’’
(III)
DETAILED SUMMARY OF THE LESSON
Little Franz started for school very late that morning. He was in great fear of a scolding. His teacher,
Mr Hamel, had said that he would ask questions on participles. Little Franz did not know even one
word about them. For a moment, he thought of running away and spending the day out of doors. It
was a bright and lovely day. The birds were chirping. The Prussian soldiers were drilling in the open
field. Watching them seemed far more tempting than the rule for participles. However, little Franz
hurried off to school.
When he passed the town hall, there was a crowd in front of the bulletin board. For the last two
years, all bad news had come from there. Little Franz did not stop there, but he thought to himself,
‘‘What can be the matter now ?’’
The little boy hurried by as fast as he could. The village blacksmith who was reading the bulletin,
called after him, saying :
‘‘Don’t go so fast, boy; you’ll get to your school in plenty of time !’’
Franz thought the blacksmith was making fun of him. When he reached the school, he was all out
of breath.
Usually, when school began there was a great bustle. All sorts of sounds could be heard out in the
street — the opening and closing of desks, lessons repeated in unison, and the teacher’s ruler rapping
on the table. But now it was all very still. Little Franz had thought that he would get to his desk without
being seen. But that day everything was quiet as Sunday morning. Through the window, he saw his
classmates already in their places. The teacher, Mr Hamel, was walking up and down with his terrible
iron ruler under his arm. Little Franz had to open the door and go in before everybody. He was really
very frightened.
But when Mr Hamel saw him, he said very kindly :
‘‘Go to your place quickly, little Franz. We were beginning without you.’’
Franz jumped over the bench and sat down at his desk. By now he had got a little over his fright.
He saw that his teacher was in his beautiful green coat and a frilled shirt. He had a little black silk
cap, all embroidered. He never wore this dress except on inspection and prize days. The whole school
seemed so strange. But the thing that surprised Franz most was that on the back benches, the village
people were sitting quietly like little students. Among them were old Hauser, the former mayor, the
former postmaster, and several others. Everybody looked sad. Hauser had brought an old primer. He
held it open on his knees.

294 ENGLISH (XII CBSE)

 While little Franz was wondering about it all, Mr Hamel began in a very grave and gentle tone :
‘‘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.’’
These words came like a thunderbolt to little Franz. Now he understood what they had put up at
the town hall. It was going to be his last French lesson. And he hardly knew how to write. How sorry
he was for not learning his lessons and for seeking birds’ eggs. His books had always seemed such a
nuisance to him. They had seemed so heavy to carry. But now they seemed to him old friends that he
couldn’t give up. And he was so sad to think that Mr Hamel was going away and that he would never
see him again. He forgot all about his ruler and how cranky he was.
It was in honour of this last lesson that Mr Hamel had put on his fine clothes. Now little Franz
understood why the old men of the village were sitting there in the back of the room. They were also
sorry that they had not gone to school more often. Now they had come to thank Mr Hamel for his
forty years of faithful service.
While little Franz was thinking all this, he heard his name being called. He was asked to recite the
rule for participles. But he got mixed up on the first words and stood there, holding on to his desk.
His heart was beating fast, and he did not dare to look up.
Mr Hamel said, ‘‘I won’t scold you, little Franz. You must be feeling bad yourself. Every day you
have said to yourself : ‘I’ve plenty of time. I’ll learn it tomorrow.’ And now you see where we’ve come
to. That’s the great trouble with all of us. We put off learning till tomorrow. Now those Prussians will
say to you : ‘You pretend to be Frenchmen, and yet you can neither speak nor write your own language.’
But you are not the only one, little Franz. We all have a great deal to reproach ourselves with.
‘‘Your parents were not anxious enough to have you learn. They preferred to put you to work on
a farm or at the mills, so as to have a little more money. And I’ve been to blame also. I have often sent
you to water my flowers instead of learning your lessons. And when I wanted to go fishing, I just gave
you a holiday.’’
Then, Mr Hamel talked of the French language. He said that it was the most beautiful language
in the world. He called it the clearest and the most logical of all languages. He said that when a people
are enslaved, they can be said to have the key to their prison as long as they hold fast to their language.
Then he opened a grammar and read his last lesson. Little Franz was amazed to see how well he
understood it. Everything seemed so easy. And he had never listened so carefully. And Mr Hamel had
never explained everything with so much patience. It seemed as if he wanted to give his students all
he knew before going away.
After the grammar, Mr Hamel gave a lesson in writing. That day he had new copies for his students,
with words written in them in a beautiful round hand — France, Alsace, France, Alsace. They looked
like little flags fluttering everywhere in the schoolroom. Everyone set to work, and it was all very quiet.
The only sound was the scratching of the pens over the paper.
Once some beetles flew in, but nobody paid any attention. On the roof, the pigeons cooed very
low, and little Franz thought to himself : ‘‘Will they make them sing in German ?’’
Mr Hamel sat motionless in his chair, gazing first at one thing and then at another. It was as if he
wanted to fix everything in his mind. For forty years, he had been there in the same place. It must
have broken his heart to think that he had to leave it all. He could hear his sister moving about in
the room above, packing their trunks. They were to leave the next day.
After the writing, he gave a lesson in history. At the back of the room, old Hauser had put on his
spectacles and was holding his primer in both hands. He was spelling the letters with other children.
He was crying too. His voice trembled with emotion.
295 THE LAST LESSON
 All at once, the church clock struck twelve. At the same moment, the trumpets of the Prussians were
heard. They were returning from their drill. Mr Hamel stood up and began to say, ‘‘My friends, I—
I—’’ but something choked him. He could not go on.
Then he turned to the blackboard, took a piece of chalk, and wrote as large as he could :
‘‘Long Live France !’’
(IV)
DIFFICULT WORD-MEANINGS
(Page 3)ó1. dread—great fear; 2. scolding—rebuke; 3. out of doors—away from home (in open);
4. chirping—(birds were) making short sounds; 5. Prussian—inhabitant of Prussia; 6. tempting—attractive;
7. resist—oppose; 8. bulletin-board—notice board; 9. draft—conscription.
(Page 3)ó1. apprentice—a person learning a particular skill; 2. bustle—busy and noisy activity;
3. in unison—doing at the same time; 4. rapping—hitting a hard object, making a noise; 5. commotion—sudden
noisy confusion; 6. blush—to become red in the face because of embarrassment or shame; 7. frightened—filled
with fear.
(Page 3)ó1. frilled—(cloth) decorated with folds; 2. solemn—serious; 3. besides—in addition to, apart from;
4. thumbed— made dirty with thumb impressions; 5. grave—very serious; 6. thunderclap—a loud crash made by
thunder; 7. the wretches— pitiable persons.
(Page 4)ó1. nuisance—something annoying; 2. cranky—strange, eccentric, bad-tempered; 3. recite—to say
a poem, etc. to an audience.
(Page 5)ó1. bah—a word expressing disapproval; 2. put off—postpone, to change to a later time or date;
3. pretend—to make a false show; 4. a great deal—a lot; 5. reproach—blame, criticise; 6. logical—reasonable,
sensible; 7. enslave—make slave; 8. hold fast—to have control; 9. amazed—surprised; 10. at one stroke—with a single
immediate action.
(Page 7)ó1. round hand—bold plain writing; 2. set to—start, begin; 3. motionless—not moving, still;
4. gazing—looking steadily for a long time; 5. Fancy !—word to express surprise or shock; 6. twine—wind or
twist around something; 7. hopvine—climbing plant with flowers growing in bunches.
(Page 8)ó1. chant—singing or shouting same words many times; 2. trembled—shook, quivered; 3. emotion—
strong feeling of love, fear or anger; 4. trumpet—a brass musical instrument; 5. pale—with almost white skin
due to illness, a strong emotion, etc.; 6. choked—made unable to breathe; 7. might—strength, energy, power;
8. gesture—a movement of the hand or head to show a particular meaning.
(V)
TEXTUAL QUESTIONS
Q. 1. What was Franz expected to be prepared with for school that day ?
Ans. He was expected to be prepared with the rules for the use of participles.
Q. 2. What did Franz notice that was unusual about the school that day ?
Ans. He noticed that it was all very still with no trace of the usual commotion. It was as quiet as Sunday
morning.
Q. 3. What had been put up on the bulletin-board ? (2011)
Ans. It was about an order from Berlin that only German was to be taught in the schools of Alsace
and Lorraine.
Q. 4. What changes did the order from Berlin cause in school that day ? (2012)
Ans. There was complete silence everywhere. Everyone looked sad and serious. Old people of the
village had come to thank Mr Hamel for his faithful service of forty years.
296 ENGLISH (XII CBSE)
 Q. 5. How did Franz’s feelings about Mr Hamel and school change ?
Ans. Franz was now very sad for Mr Hamel. He forgot all about his rod and his cranky nature. Now
he no longer hated school. He looked upon books as his friends.
Q. 6. The people in this story suddenly realise how precious their language is to them. What shows
you this ? Why does this happen ?
Ans. Everyone in the class listens carefully to whatever Mr Hamel says. Everyone is sad at his leaving
the school. All this happens because Mr Hamel makes them realise that ‘when people are
enslaved, as long as they hold fast to their language, it is as if they had the key to their prison.’
Q. 7. Franz thinks, “Will they make them sing in German, even the pigeons ?” What could
this mean ? (2011)
Ans. It means that the Germans can enslave the French but they can’t take away their love of the
French language. It is in their blood and cannot be finished as long as they are alive.
(VI)
EXAMINATION-STYLE QUESTIONS
TYPE—I
SHORT-ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
Q. 1. What dread did little Franz have when he started for school in the morning ?
Ans. Franz was late for school that morning. He feared the teacher would scold him. Also, the teacher
was to ask questions on participles. But Franz did not know a word about participles. Naturally,
he was in great fear.
Q. 2. What thought came to Franz’s mind while going to school in the morning ? Why ?
Or
Why did Franz not want to go to school that day ? (2017)
Ans. Franz was late for school. He feared the teacher would scold him. Also, the teacher was to ask
questions on participles. But Franz did not know a word about participles. So he thought of
running away and spending the day out of doors.
Q. 3. What sights did Franz see on his way to school ?
Ans. First of all, he saw Prussian soldiers drilling in an open field. Then he passed by the town hall. A
crowd stood in front of the bulletin board. Franz wondered what the matter could be on the news.
Q. 4. Why was Franz afraid when he was going to school that day ?
Ans. Franz was late for school that day. He feared the teacher would scold him. Also, the teacher was
to ask questions on participles. Naturally, he was afraid.
Q. 5. Why did Franz think of running away and spending the day out of doors ?
Ans. Franz was late for school. He feared the teacher would scold him. Also, the teacher was to ask
questions on participles. Franz didn’t know a word of them. So he thought of running away and
spending the day out of doors.
Q. 6. What things tempted Franz to keep away from school ?
Ans. It was a warm and bright day. Birds were chirping in the trees. Some Prussian soldiers were
drilling in an open field. For Franz, it was far more tempting than going to school.
Q. 7. For Franz, what was much more tempting than going to school and why ?
Ans. Playing in the bright warm sun, hearing birds chirp in the trees and seeing Prussian soldiers
drilling in the open field tempted Franz much more than going to school.
297 THE LAST LESSON
 Q. 8. What did Franz see when he passed by the town hall ?
Ans. Franz saw a crowd in front of the bulletin board. For the last two years, all bad news had come
from there. Franz wondered what the matter could be there that day. However, he did not stop
there. He hurried by as fast as he could.
Q. 9. What was the order from Berlin and what changes did it cause in the school ? (2013)
Ans. The order from Berlin said that German would be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine.
The new teachers were coming the next day. There was complete silence everywhere. Everyone
looked sad and serious. Old people of the village had come to thank Mr Hamel for his faithful
service of forty years.
Q.10. What did the blacksmith say to Franz ?
Ans. Franz was late for school. He was going as fast as he could. The blacksmith was standing in front
of the bulletin board at the town hall. On seeing Franz, he said, “Don’t go so fast, boy. You’ll
get to school in plenty of time !”
Q.11. What was Franz expected to be prepared with for school that day ? (2011)
Ans. The teacher had said that he would ask questions on participles. So Franz was expected to be
prepared with the rules for the use of participles. But poor Franz didn’t know a word of them.
What usual noises could be heard in the street when the school began ?
Ans. One could hear the opening and closing of desks. Then there was the loud noise of lessons
repeated in unison. The teacher’s great ruler rapping on the table could also be heard.
How was the scene in the school in the morning of the last lesson different from that on
other days ?
Or
What did Franz wonder about that day ? 2017)
Ans. There were usually lots of noises when the school began. For example, there was the opening
and closing of desks. The sounds of teacher’s great ruler rapping on the table could be heard.
But that day it was all very quiet. It was as quiet as Sunday morning.
What did Franz see through the window when he reached his school ?
Ans. Franz saw that his classmates were already in their places. His teacher, Mr Hamel, was walking
up and down in the classroom. He was holding his terrible iron ruler under his arm.
Why was Franz not scolded for reaching the school late that day ? (2017)
Ans. That day, Franz was not scolded because it was Mr Hamel’s last day at the school. He was sad
to leave the school. Besides, the village people were sitting there on the back benches.
How was Mr Hamel dressed on his last day in school ?
Ans. Mr Hamel was dressed in his best clothes. He was in his beautiful green coat and a frilled shirt.
He was wearing a little black silk cap. He never wore this dress except on inspection and
prize days.
Why were some elderly persons occupying the back benches that day ? (2017)
(Or) Why did Hauser and the other villagers come to attend the last lesson ?
(Sample Paper 2017-18)
Ans. They were the elders of the village. They had come to school to thank Mr Hamel for his forty
years of faithful service. They sat on the back benches with the students.
298 ENGLISH (XII CBSE)
Q.18. What information did Mr Hamel give to the children in his class ?
Ans. Mr Hamel told the children that it would be his last lesson to his class. Orders had come from
Berlin to teach only German in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. He said that the new master
was coming the next day.
Q.19. ‘What a thunderclap these words were to me !’ What were those words and what was
their effect on Franz ? (2010,11,13, 17)
Ans. Mr Hamel announced in the class that it would be his last lesson. Orders had come from Berlin
to teach only German in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. He said that the new teacher was
coming the next day. These words came like a thunderclap to Franz.
Q.20. What had been put up on the bulletin board ?
Ans. It was an order from Berlin. It said that only German would be taught in the schools of Alsace
and Lorraine. The new teachers were coming the next day.
Q.21. What changes did the order from Berlin cause in school that day ? (2012)
Ans. It was all quiet. There were no noises. It was as quiet as Sunday morning. Mr Hamel said it
would be his last lesson. Everybody looked sad. The village people had come to thank Mr Hamel
for his forty years of faithful service.
Q.22. How did Franz feel when Mr Hamel said that it was his last lesson at school ?
(Or) How did Franz react to the declaration that it was their last French lesson ? (2010,13)
Ans. Franz was shocked. He cursed the Prussian rulers. He cursed himself also. He cursed himself
for not learning his lessons. He used to call his books a nuisance. But now he was sorry that
he would never see Mr Hamel again.
Q.23. What changes came over little Franz after he heard Mr Hamel’s announcement ? (2010)
Ans. Franz was shocked when he heard that Mr Hamel was leaving the school for ever. His feelings
now changed altogether. He cursed himself for not learning his lessons. He forgot all about
Mr Hamel’s ruler and his cranky nature.
Q.24. What was Franz’s regret when he came to know that Mr Hamel was leaving the school
for ever ?
Ans. Franz was now full of regret. He was sorry for not learning his lessons. He used to go and look
for birds’ eggs. He thought his books a nuisance and too heavy to carry. But now he saw them
as his old friends that he couldn’t give up.
Q.25. What was it that had brought the old men of the village to school ?
Ans. The old men of the village had come to know that Mr Hamel was leaving the school for ever.
They had come to thank him for his forty years of faithful service. They had also come to show
their respect for the country that was theirs no more.
Q.26. What did Mr Hamel ask Franz to recite and how did Franz fare in it ?
Ans. Mr Hamel asked Franz to recite the rule for participles. But Franz got mixed up on the first
words. He just stood there, holding on to his desk. His heart was beating fast and he did not
dare to look up.
Q.27. What did Mr Hamel say when Franz failed to recite the rule for participles ?
Ans. Mr Hamel did not scold Franz. He only said that it is not good to put off learning. He blamed
Franz’s parents for not caring about his studies. He blamed himself also.

299 THE LAST LESSON

Who did Mr Hamel blame for the neglect of learning on the part of boys like Franz ? (2011, 19)
(Or) How were the parents and M. Hamel responsible for the children’s neglect of the
French language ? (2017)
Ans. Mr Hamel blamed the parents of the boys like Franz. He said that they didn’t care about their
studies. They were anxious to put their children to some work and thus have a little more
money. Mr Hamel blamed himself also. He said, ‘‘Have I not often sent you to water my flowers
instead of learning your lessons ?’’
What did Mr Hamel tell the students about the French language ? What did he ask them to
do and why ? (2013)
Ans. He told them that French was the most beautiful language in the world. He said that it was
the clearest and the most logical language. He wanted his people to keep it alive and never
forget it.
Q.30. What happened when the church clock struck twelve ?
Ans. There were sounds of the midday prayer (Angelus). At the same moment, the sound of trumpets
by Prussian soldiers was heard. They were returning from their drill. Mr Hamel stood up to
say something. But something choked him and he could say nothing. He took a big piece of
chalk and wrote in big letters, “Long Live France !”
Q.31. What was the mood in the classroom when Mr Hamel gave his last French lesson ?
Ans. There was a mood of sadness in the classroom. There was complete silence everywhere. Even
the old people of the village had come to attend the last lesson. Everyone in the class listened
attentively to whatever Mr Hamel said.
Q.32. What had the narrator counted on to enter the school unnoticed ? (2010)
Ans. Usually, the school began with a lot of commotion. The opening and closing of desks, lessons
repeated in loud unison and the teacher’s ruler rapping on the table produced deafening noises.
The narrator had counted on the commotion to enter the school unnoticed.
Franz thinks, ‘‘Will they make them sing in German, even the pigeons ?’’ What does this tell us about
the attitude of the Frenchmen ? (2011)
Ans. It tells us about the Frenchmen’s love for their own country and their own language. This love
is in their blood and can’t be finished as long as they are alive. One can enslave their body but
not their spirit. You can’t make a bird sing in another bird’s voice. Similarly, you can’t make a
Frenchman love another nation’s language over and above his own language.
How did Mr Hamel say farewell to his students and the people of the town ? (2012)
Ans. Mr Hamel was too choked with emotion to say anything. He just stood up from his chair, took
a piece of chalk, and wrote on the blackboard in large words : ‘‘Long Live France !’’ Thus he
said farewell to his students and the people of the town.
Who occupied the back banches in the classroom on the day of the last lesson ? Why ? (2015)
Ans. It was the village people who occupied the back benches in the classroom. They had come to
attend the last French lesson that Mr Hamel was going to give to his class. It was also a mark of
their respect for him.
Why did Mr Hamel write ‘Vive La France’ on the blackboard ? (2015)
Ans. ‘Vive La France’ means ‘Long Live France’. Hamel wrote these words on the blackboard because
he was too emotional at that time to be able to say anything more.

300 ENGLISH (XII CBSE)

 ‘We’ve all a great deal to reproach ourselves with,’ said M. Hamel. Refer to the context and
explain what he wanted to convey to his students. (Sample Paper 2018-19)
Ans. By the given statement, M. Hamel wanted to convey that it was not Franz only who had done
something wrong. He said that everyone, including himself, has done some or the other thing
wrong.
TYPE—II
LONG-ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
Q. 1. Reproduce in your own words what Franz did or thought on his way to school.
Ans. Franz was late for school. He feared that his teacher, Mr Hamel, would scold him. Moreover,
the teacher had said he would ask questions on participles. But Franz did not know a word about
them. So he thought of running away and spending the day out of doors. It was a warm and
bright day. He saw the Prussian soldiers drilling in the open field. It was a tempting sight.
However, he hurried off to school. When he passed by the town hall, he saw a crowd in front
of the bulletin board. For the last two years, all their bad news had come from there. Franz
wondered what the matter could be, but he did not stop there. The village blacksmith was
reading the bulletin. He called after Franz, saying, “Don’t go so fast, boy. You’ll get to your school
in plenty of time !’’ Franz thought the blacksmith was making fun of him. He continued going
fast. When he reached his school, he was all out of breath.
Q. 2. What changes did the narrator find in his school when the orders from Berlin came ?
Ans. The narrator found the whole atmosphere of the school changed. The school usually began with
a great bustle. Lots of noises and sounds coming from inside the school could be heard in the
street. For example, the opening and closing of desks could be heard. During the school hours,
children could be heard repeating their lessons loudly in unison. The rapping of the teacher’s
rod on the table could also be heard. But now it was all quiet. It looked like a quiet Sunday
morning. And then the narrator found that everything inside the class had also changed. The
teacher, Mr Hamel, didn’t have his iron rod in his hand, which he always had with him. Now
it was under his arm. It was a symbol of his authority having been put under check. And he
was not in his usual dress also. It was the dress that he wore on the days of inspection only. And
the biggest shock that came to the narrator was when Mr Hamel told about the orders from
Berlin. Now there was going to be no teaching of French in the school. Orders had come to
teach the students only German. So it was Mr Hamel’s last day at school. A new teacher was
to take his place. The whole atmosphere of the school had thus changed from gaiety to gloom.
Q. 3. Describe the effect on the life at school, produced by the passing of Alsace and Lorraine
into Prussian hands.
Ans. The whole atmosphere in the school was now changed. The school usually began with a great
bustle. Lots of noises and sounds coming from the school could be heard in the street. For
example, the opening and closing of desks could be heard. Children repeated their lessons loudly
in unison. The rapping of the teacher’s rod on the table could also be heard. But now it was
all quiet. It looked like a quiet Sunday morning. The teacher, Mr Hamel, didn’t have his iron
rod in his hand. Now it was under his arm. And he was not in his usual dress. It was the dress
that he wore on the days of inspection only. Today he was wearing it because it was his last day
at that school. Now there was going to be no teaching of French there. The country had passed
into Prussian hands and orders had come that only German would be taught in the school.
Everybody was crestfallen at this unfortunate change.

301 THE LAST LESSON

Q. 4. What particular things did Franz notice when he took his seat in the classroom ?
Ans. The first thing Franz noticed was his teacher’s very fine dress. He was wearing a beautiful green coat
and a frilled shirt. He had a little black silk cap. It was all embroidered. Mr Hamel never wore it
except on inspection and prize days. The whole school seemed very strange. But the thing that
surprised Franz most was at the back of the room. The village people were sitting there on the back
benches. They were as quiet as the children in the class. They included old Hauser, the former mayor,
the former postmaster, and many others. Everybody looked sad. Hauser had brought with him an
old primer. He was holding it open on his knees. His great spectacles were lying across the pages.
Q. 5. How was Mr Hamel a different teacher while giving his last lesson ?
Ans. While giving his last lesson, Mr Hamel was different both in his dress and behaviour. That day,
he was wearing a dress that he wore only on the days of inspection and prize-giving. He was
in a beautiful green coat and a frilled shirt. He had a little black silk cap that was all embroidered.
Usually, Mr Hamel had an iron rod in his hand. But today he had it under his arm. Usually,
he was very strict, but now he was quite soft in his tone and words. While giving his lessons,
Mr Hamel always looked full of energy, but that energy was all gone now. He knew that French
would no longer be taught there and his students would forget all that he had taught them
so far. Naturally, he was different while giving his last lesson.
Q. 6. What were Mr Hamel’s opening words to the class and what effect did these words have
on Franz ?
Ans. Mr Hamel said in a very gentle tone, “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.’’
These words were to Franz like a thunderclap. It was going to be his last lesson and he hardly
knew how to write. He was full of regret for not learning his lessons. His books had always seemed
to him a nuisance. He thought them too heavy to carry. But now he saw them as old friends
that he could not give up. It was a big shock to him that Mr Hamel was going away and he
would never see him again. He forgot all about his ruler and his cranky nature. He was to him
now a very lovable and respectable person.
Q. 7. What did Mr Hamel ask Franz to recite and what was the result ?
Ans. Mr Hamel asked Franz to recite the rule for participles. But Franz got mixed up on the first
words. He kept standing and holding on to his desk. His heart was beating fast. He did not
dare to look up. Mr Hamel did not scold him. He only said that it was a bad habit to say, ‘‘I’ll
learn tomorrow.” He said that it was the trouble with all the people of that district. Mr Hamel
blamed Franz’s parents also. He said that they were anxious to put him to some work and thus
have a little more money. And then he said, “I have been to blame also. Have I not often sent
you to water my flowers instead of learning your lessons ? And when I wanted to go fishing,
did I not just give you a holiday ?”
Q. 8. What did Mr Hamel do while the children were busy with their writing assignment ?
Ans. Mr Hamel sat motionless in his chair. He gazed first at one thing and then another. It was as
if he wanted to fix in his mind how everything looked in that little classroom. For forty years,
he had been there in the same place. He had always his garden outside the window and his
class in front of him. Only the desks and benches had worn smooth. The walnut trees in the
garden had grown taller. The hopvine he had planted himself twined about the windows to the
roof. It must have broken his heart to think that he had to leave it all. In the room above, his
sister was packing their trunks. They had to leave the place the next day.

302 ENGLISH (XII CBSE)

 Q. 9. Reproduce in your own words the things that took place after the church clock had
struck twelve.
Ans. When the church clock struck twelve, there were sounds of Angelus (midday Roman Catholic
prayer). At the same moment, the trumpets of the Prussian soldiers were heard. They were
returning from their drill. Mr Hamel stood up from his chair. He was looking very pale and
tall. He began to say, “My friends, I...I....” But something choked him. He could not go on.
He turned to the blackboard and took a piece of chalk. Then using all his might, he wrote as
large as he could, “Long Live France !” What a great patriot Mr Hamel was !
Q.10. What did the French teacher tell his students in his last French lesson ? What impact
did it have on them ? Why ? (2009)
Ans. In his last French lesson, the teacher told his students about the beauty of the French language.
He said that it was the most beautiful language in the world. He called it the clearest and the
most logical of all languages. He said that when the people are enslaved, they can be said to
have the key to their prison as long as they hold fast to their language. Then he opened a book
of French grammar and read out his last lesson. After his lesson in grammar, the teacher gave a
lesson in writing. Everyone set to work in writing. Now it was all very quiet. Once some beetles
flew in, but nobody paid any attention to them. Today, there were no usual noises in the classroom.
Even the old people of the village had come to thank the teacher for his services. And the
teacher’s last lesson had a deep impact on them. The students listened to him with rapt attention
and learning French seemed to them to be so easy.
Q.11. Franz’s attitude towards school as well as towards Mr Hamel changes when he comes to
know about the take-over of his village by Prussians. Do you agree ? Discuss with reference to
‘The Last Lesson’. (2009)
Ans. Franz did not like his school. He often absented himself from school. He would like to spend
his days out of doors. He usually got late for school. He would not care about learning his
lessons. He was not good at studies. His French teacher, Mr Hamel, used to scold him. Franz
did not like his teacher at all. But one day when Franz reaches his school, he finds many grown-
up people sitting among the students. He comes to know that it is the last lesson that Mr
Hamel is going to teach them. The order has come from Berlin to teach only German in the
schools of Alsace. This comes as a big shock to Franz. He is now full of regret. He feels sorry for
not learning his lessons. School which appeared to him very boring earlier, now becomes a very
important place for him. He feels he will miss the school from next day. Mr Hamel who appeared
to him cranky, now becomes a good teacher for him. He suddenly develops love for his books.
Thus the news that the Prussians have taken over his village, changes Franz’s attitude towards his
school and Mr Hamel completely.
Everybody during the last lesson is filled with regret. Comment. (2015)
Ans. A shocking order has come from Berlin. According to this order, only German is to be taught
in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine, the two French-speaking districts. So Mr Hamel, the
French teacher of Franz’s school, is going to leave the school for ever. The elders of the village
come to school to thank Mr Hamel for his forty years of faithful service. They sit on the last
benches with the students. Mr Hamel declares that it is his last lesson in French. He tells the
students about the beauty of the French language. He calls it the clearest and the most logical
of all languages. He asks his people to keep it alive and never forget it. Then Mr Hamel opens
a book of French grammar and reads out his last lesson. Everyone in the class listens to him with
rapt attention and learning French seems to them to be very easy. They had never been serious

303 THE LAST LESSON

 in learning French in their life. So they can neither speak nor write their own language properly.
And now, there will be no teaching of French in their district. This is the reason why everybody
is filled with regret during the last lesson.
How different from usual was the atmosphere at the school on the day of the last lesson ?
(2015)
Or
How did the order from Berlin change the situation in the school ? (2015)
Ans. The whole atmosphere in the school was now changed. The school usually began with a great
bustle. Lots of noises and sounds coming from the school could be heard in the street.
For example, the opening and closing of desks could be heard. Children repeated their lessons
loudly in unison. The rapping of the teacher’s rod on the table could also be heard. But now
it was all quiet. It looked like a quiet Sunday morning. The teacher, Mr Hamel, didn’t have
his iron rod in his hand. Now it was under his arm. And he was not in his usual dress. Today,
it was the dress that he wore on the days of inspection only. Today, he was wearing it because
it was his last day at that school. Now on, there was going to be no teaching of French there.
The country had passed into Prussian hands and orders had come from Berlin that only
German would be taught in the school. Everybody was crestfallen at this unfortunate change.
Our language is a 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. (2016)
Or
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 ?(2016)
Ans. We all love our native land, our culture and our native language. But often we take all these
for granted and feel the pain of losing them only when we have actually lost them. And this
happens in the case of those who lived in the French districts of Alsace and Lorraine.
The natives living here never cared to learn their own language. But when these two districts
are captured by the Prussians, the teaching of French in the schools of these two districts is
disallowed. The French teacher of Franz’s school has to leave the school for ever. The elders of
the village come to school to thank Mr. Hamel for his forty years of faithful service. They sit
on the last benches with the students. Mr. Hamel declares that it is his last lesson in French.
He tells the students about the beauty of the French language. He calls it the clearest and the
most logical of all languages. He asks his people to keep it alive and never forget it. Then
Mr. Hamel opens a book of French grammar and reads out his last lesson. Everyone in the
class listens to him with rapt attention. Learning French now seems to them to be very easy.
They had never been serious in learning French in their life. So they can neither speak nor
write their own language properly. And now, when there will be no teaching of French in
their district, they are all full of regret.
TYPE—III
PASSAGES FOR COMPREHENSION
Note : A complete Answer Key has been given at the end of the passages.
PASSAGE 1
(Page 2) I started for school very late that morning and was in great dread of a scolding, especially
because M. Hamel had said that he would question us on participles, and I did not know the first
word about them. For a moment I thought of running away and spending the day out of doors. It was
so warm, so bright ! The birds were chirping at the edge of the woods; and in the open field back of
the sawmill, the Prussian soldiers were drilling. It was all much more tempting than the rule for participles,
but I had the strength to resist, and hurried off to school.
304 ENGLISH (XII CBSE)
 Questions
1. From which chapter have these lines been taken ?
2. Who is the writer of these lines ?
3. Why was the narrator full of fear ?
4. Who was M. Hamel ?
5. Where were Prussian soldiers drilling ?
PASSAGE 2
(Page 3) Usually when school began, there was a great bustle, which could be heard out in the
street, the opening and closing of desks, lessons repeated in unison, very loud, with our hands over our
ears to understand better, and the teacher’s great ruler rapping on the table. But now it was all so still
! I had counted on the commotion to get to my desk without being seen; but, of course, that day
everything had to be as quiet as Sunday morning. Through the window I saw my classmates, already in
their places, and M. Hamel walking up and down with his terrible iron ruler under his arm. I had to
open the door and go in before everybody. You can imagine how I blushed and how frightened I was.
But nothing happened. M. Hamel saw me and said very kindly, ‘‘Go to your place quickly, little
Franz. We were beginning without you.’’
Questions
1. Name the chapter and its author.
2. Who is ‘I’ referred to in these lines ?
3. What was the scene when the school began ?
4. Who was walking up and down with his terrible iron ruler under his arm ?
5. Find from the passage words which mean the same as :
(a) noise (b) confusion.
PASSAGE 3
(Page 4) While I was wondering about it all, M. Hamel mounted his chair, and in the same grave
and gentle tone which he had used to me, 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.’’
Questions
1. Name the chapter from which the above lines have been taken.
2. Name the author of the chapter.
3. How did the teacher speak to the students ?
4. When was the new master coming ?
5. What did the teacher want the students to do ?
PASSAGE 4
(Page 4) My last French lesson ! Why, I hardly knew how to write ! I should never learn any more !
I must stop there, then ! Oh, how sorry I was for not learning my lessons, for seeking birds’ eggs, or
going sliding on the Saar ! My books, that had seemed such a nuisance a while ago, so heavy to carry,
my grammar and my history of the saints, were old friends now that I couldn’t give up. And M.
Hamel, too; the idea that he was going away, that I should never see him again, made me forget all
about his ruler and how cranky he was.
Questions
1. From which chapter have these lines been taken ?
2. Who has written these lines ?
3. Did the narrator know how to write French well ?
4. What was the narrator sorry for ?
5. What made the narrator forget all about M. Hamel’s ruler ?

305 THE LAST LESSON

 PASSAGE 5
(Page 4-5) Poor man ! It was in honour of this last lesson that he had put on his fine Sunday clothes, and
now I understood why the old men of the village were sitting there in the back of the room. It was because
they were sorry, too, that they had not gone to school more. It was their way of thanking our master for his
forty years of faithful service and of showing their respect for the country that was theirs no more.
Questions
1. Name the chapter from which the above lines have been taken ?
2. Name the author of the chapter.
3. Why was the man in fine Sunday clothes ?
4. What were the old men of the village sorry about ?
5. Why was ‘their country theirs no more’ ?
PASSAGE 6
(Page 5) Then, from one thing to another, M. Hamel went on to talk of the French language, saying
that it was the most beautiful language in the world — the clearest, the most logical; that we must
guard it among us and never forget it, because when a people are enslaved, as long as they hold fast to
their language, it is as if they had the key to their prison. Then he opened a grammar and read us our
lesson. I was amazed to see how well I understood it. All he said seemed so easy, so easy ! I think, too,
that I had never listened so carefully, and that he had never explained everything with so much patience.
It seemed almost as if the poor man wanted to give us all he knew before going away, and to put it all
into our heads at one stroke.
Questions
1. Name the chapter and its author.
2. Who is ‘I’ in these lines ?
3. What was the most beautiful language in the world ?
4. When do the enslaved people have the key to their prison ?
5. Find words from the passage which mean the same as :
(a) become slaves (b) surprised.
Answer Key
1. 1. These lines have been taken from the chapter, ‘The Last Lesson’. 2. The name of the writer is Alphonse
Daudet. 3. He was in great fear because he was late for school. Also, the teacher was to ask questions on
participles and the narrator did not know a word about participles. 4. He was a teacher of the French
language in a district of France. 5. They were drilling in the open field back of the sawmill.
2. 1. The name of the chapter is ‘The Last Lesson’ and the name of its author is Alphonse Daudet. 2. The
‘I’ referred to in these lines is a little student named Franz. 3. Usually there was a great bustle when the
school began. But it was all very still on the day referred to in the lesson. 4. He was the French teacher
named Mr. Hamel. 5. (a) bustle = noise (b) commotion = confusion.
3. 1. The name of the chapter is ‘The Last Lesson’. 2. The name of the author is Alphonse Daudet. 3. He
spoke in a grave and gentle tone. 4. He was coming the next day. 5. He wanted them to be very attentive
as it was his last lesson.
4. 1. These lines have been taken from the chapter, ‘The Last Lesson’. 2. These lines have been written by
Alphonse Daudet. 3. No, he didn’t know. 4. He was sorry for not learning his lessons. 5. Mr. Hamel was
leaving the school for good. The narrator was so sad that he forgot all about Mr. Hamel’s ruler.
5. 1. The name of the chapter is ‘The Last Lesson’. 2. The author is Alphonse Daudet. 3. Because he
wanted to pay honour to his last lesson. 4. That they had not gone to school more often. 5. Because it had
fallen into the hands of the enemy.
6. 1. The name of the lesson is ‘The Last Lesson’. The name of its author is Alphonse Daudet. 2. The ‘I’ in
these lines is a little student named Franz. 3. According to Mr. Hamel, the most beautiful language in
the world was the French language. 4. It is when they hold fast to their language. 5. (a) enslaved =
become slaves (b) amazed = surprised.
306 ENGLISH (XII CBSE)