Lesson -1 The Last Lesson

Question answers ( 30-40 words) ( 2 Marks )

Q.1. Why did Franz walk into the class quietly?
Ans: Usually there used to be a lot of commotion, but Franz found it to be quiet. M.Hamel
asked him to go and take his seat without scolding him. So, Franz walked quietly into the
class.
Q.2.What made the narrator feel blushed and frightened?
Ans: The old men of the village were also sitting on the last bench and reading their lessons
very carefully. The narrator was late to the class. So, he felt blushed and frightened.
Q.3. Who were the people sitting in the classroom?
Ans: The village people, old Hauser, the former mayor, the former post master, Hauser with
an old primer were all sitting in the classroom listening carefully to the last French lesson.
Q.4. Why did the orders come from Berlin to teach German?
Ans: The Prussians had lost the battle to German. An order had come from Berlin that all
schools of the French districts of Alsace and Lorraine would teach German from the next day.
Q.5. Why did M.Hamel wanted all to be very attentive?
Ans: That was the Last French lesson to be taught in that province. M.Hamel had felt it was
the most beautiful language in the world. His love for the language made him feel more
emotional that it would no more be taught in that province since the next day.
Q.6.What was Franz’s reaction towards the orders of Berlin?
Ans: Franz was sorry for not learning his French lessons. Instead of studying he had been
seeking birds eggs and going on slides. Now he realized that he knew nothing.
Q.7.What situation did Franz undergo after getting mixed up?
Ans: Franz had not prepared for the participles test. But when he was asked to recite , he
decided to recite loud and clear without a mistake, got mixed up with the first words. Franz
stood quietly holding the desk, heart beating and not daring to look up when Franz got mixed
up with words.
Q.8 Why did M.Hamel not scold Franz?
Ans: M.Hamel felt that he also was partially responsible for Franz not learning as he used to
ask him to water the plants in the garden or he went on a holiday for fishing. Neither his
parents were interested in sending him to school.
Q.9.Why do you think M.Hamel talked about French?
Ans: M.Hamel talked about French because he had put in forty years of dedicated service as a
French teacher. He had love for his language, French.
Q.10. What do you mean by ‘will the pigeons all coo in German’?
Ans: Could one impose any rule for learning on someone who is not familiar with or not
willing to. The people living in the provinces of Alsace and Lorraine were French. He was
questioning if they refused to learn German what would German do. Can they make German
compulsory for everyone to learn.
____________________________________________________________________
Long Answer in 120-150 words:-
1.Franz and his people realise how precious their language is to them. How do they show
their respect for their language?
Ans: The village men realize that their mother tongue, French will no longer be taught to
them, they realize its importance. Suddenly, they develop an inclination towards learning.
They attend the last lesson of French, bring their old, torn primers to learn the language
which shows their eagerness. They regret putting off learning French to the next day. Now,
finally, the last lesson has arrived, and they cannot read their own language. They realize that
the Germans have taken over the provinces of Alsace and Loraine and French will no longer
be taught . They sincerely attend the last class of French taken by M.Hamel.
___________________________________________________________________________