RADIANT SCHOOL-SHARJAH

ENGLISH WORKSHEET
GRADE: 12 CHAPTER: THE LAST LESSON

SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS

1. What was the political conditions that formed the background of the story „The
Last Lesson‟.?
2. What did Franz think for a moment while going to school?
3. What surprised Franz the most about the classroom?
4. What change was noticed by little Franz in his French teacher while giving his
last lesson?
5. There was a large crowd in front of the bulletin board. Why?
6. The school looked totally different on the day Franz went late to school. How
and why was it different?
7. What made Franz not learn his lessons?
8. How did the teacher give the bad news to the listeners in the class? What was it?
how did listeners react to it?
9.”We‟ve all a great deal to reproach ourselves with”. Why did M.Hamel make
this statement?
LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS
1. What do you understand by linguistic chauvinism ? do you think that
M.Hamel‟s love and concern for French is an example of it? If not, why?
2. What impressions do you form of M.Hamel?

ANSWERS
Answer.1
The story, 'The Last Lesson' has been set in the background of the Franco-Prussian
war that was fought in 1870-71 between Prussia and France. The Prussians
captured the districts of Alsace and Lorraine. New orders were issued according to
which German language was to be taught in place of French in these two districts.

Answer.2
For a brief time on his way to school, Franz considered fleeing and spending the
day outside. That day was so beautiful, warm, and bright that he imagined himself
listening to the birds singing at the forest's edge. He imagined himself seeing the
Prussian troops drill at the sawmill's rear.

Answer.3
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.

Answer.4
Mr. Hamel was deeply pained at the order from Berlin. It stated the ban of
teaching French. He loved France and French language from the innermost core
of his heart. He was overwhelmed with deep emotions and looked different on the
day of his last lesson. He wore the ceremonial dress. He addressed all as his
children. He lost his usual courage and leaned against the wall when the wrote
‘school is closed, you may go.’

Answer.5
A bullets-board had been put up at the Town Hall two years ago for every news
and the announcement. All their bad news came from German occupations. The
details of lost battles, the draft and the orders of the commanding officer put up
on the bulletin-board. The huge crowd got new information from there.

Answer.6
Generally, there would be a great bustle, closing and shutting of desks, lessons
repeated loudly in unison, rapping of the teachers’ ruler on the table, all of which
could be heard out in the street. But that everything was quite different. There was
no noise. All were in their seats, Franz walked in late and M. Hamel let him
calmly. He then noticed that his sir was dressed in his best clothes and there were
the elders of the village seated in the class. It was a bit later that Franz realised
why the day was different. It was their last French lesson.

Answer.7
Franz did not like to spent his time on learning his lessons instead he loved to seek
bird eggs or to go sliding on the river Saar.

Answer.8

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 thunderclap to Franz as he was
surprised and shocked on hearing them.

Answer.9
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.

Answer.1
'Linguistic Chauvinism' means carrying pride in one's language too far. But the
love of Hamel and the village elders for French doesn't amount to this. Rather they
are victims of it. German is being imposed on the French speaking people of
Alsace. M. Hamel feels genuinely proud of French language. He urges others never
to forget such a beautiful language. M. Hamel went on to talk of French language.
He told that it was the most beautiful language of the world. It was the clearest and
the most logical of all languages. He asked the people to guard it among
themselves and never forget it. As long as people 'hold fast to the' language' they
have the key to freedom.

Answer.2
M. Hamel is an experienced teacher who has been teaching in that village school
for forty years. He imparts primary education in all subjects. He is a hard task
master and students like Franz who are not good learners are in great dread of
being scolded by him. The latest order of the Prussian conquerors upsets him. He
has to leave the place for ever and feels heart broken. He feels sad but exercises
self-control. He has the courage to hear every lesson to the last. His performance
during the last lesson is exemplary. He is kind even to a late comer like Franz. He
uses a solemn and gentle tone while addressing the students. He has a logical mind
and can analyse problems and deduce the reasons responsible for it. The problem
for Alsace is that he the district puts off learning till tomorrow. He knows the
emotional hold of a language over its users. He is a good communicator and
explains everything patiently. Partings are painful and being human M. Hamel too
is no exception. He fails to say goodbye as his throat is choked. On the whole he is
a patriotic gentleman.
~ Mohd Hamza Ansari