The Last Lesson

By- Alphonse Daudet

SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
1. What was Franz expected to be prepared with for school that day?
That particular day Franz was expected to be prepared with participles as Mr Hamel, the
French teacher was going to question the students in school and Franz didn’t know it at all.
2. What did Franz notice that was unusual about the school that day?
There was no commotion and on that day everything was as quiet as a Sunday morning.
Even Mr Hamel was not annoyed when. Franz walked into the classroom late. M. Hamel was
in his Sunday best. There was village folk sitting on the back benches.
3. What had been put up on the bulletin board?
The crowd in front of the bulletin board indicated the presence of an important news item.
Later, Franz realized that the news was that the order had come from Berlin to teach only
German in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. Mr Hamel announced that he would be
teaching his last French lesson that day.
4. Why were Mr. Hamel’s words like a thunderclap to Franz?
Franz was shocked when Mr Hamel announced that it would be the last French lesson that
day. He realized that he hardly knew how to write and would not get a chance to learn any
more French. He felt sorry for not having learnt his lessons and for having wasted his
precious time. The thought that Mr Hamel would go away made him feel uneasy.
5. What was Franz’s reaction when he learnt that he was attending his French
lesson for the last time?
He felt sorry that he had not learnt his lessons and wasted his time in seeking birds’ eggs
and going sliding on the Saar. He felt that his books which were such a nuisance a while ago
and heavy to carry were now like old friends that he didn’t want to give up at all. The
teacher whom he thought to be so cranky now appeared to be a friend.
6. Why were the old men of the village present in the classroom?
The old men of the village were sitting in the classroom. Franz felt that they too, like him,
we’re sorry for not having gone to school often. It was their way of thanking the master for
his forty years of faithful service and showing their respect for the country that was no
longer theirs.
7. What was Hamel’s reaction when Franz could not answer his question in class,
correctly?
Franz was scared of Mr Hamel’s reaction when he was unable to answer the question. His
heart started beating and he dared not look up. Mr Hamel, instead, told Franz that he would
not scold him. He blamed all Frenchmen for not knowing how to speak or write their own
mother tongue.
8. Who did Hamel blame for not knowing French?
Hamel not only blamed Franz and other Frenchmen for not loving their mother tongue but
held himself responsible for sending his students often to water his flowers instead of
learning their lessons. He also fell guilty of having given them a holiday when he wanted to
go fishing.
9. How had the teacher dressed on the day of the last lesson?
He was dressed in his beautiful green coat, his frilled shirt and little black silk cap-all
embroidered, something he never wore except on special days like prize days and
inspection days.
10.Why was Franz afraid of being scolded?
Franz was afraid of being scolded because his teacher M. Hamel was to question the
students on participles. Franz was not prepared and he had started for school very late that
morning.
11.What did Franz find much more tempting than the rule of participles? What did
Franz do?
It was a warm and bright day. The birds were chirping at the edge of woods. The Prussian
soldiers were drilling in the open field at the back of sawmill. He could spend life out of
doors. He resisted the temptation and hurried off to school.
12. What was the usual scene when Franz’s school began in the morning?
Usually, there was a great bustle. The noise could be heard out in the school. Students
opened and closed their desks. They repeated the lessons together very loudly. They kept
their hands over their ears to understand better. The teacher would go on rapping the table
with his great iron ruler.
13.What did Wachter tell Franz? What was the latter’s response?
Wachter, the blacksmith on reading the latest bulletin about the teaching of German told
Franz not to go so fast. He added that he would get to school in plenty of time. Franz
thought Wachter was making fun of him so he rushed to school.
14.What did M. Hamel tell the class about French language?
M. Hamel said that French was the most beautiful language in the world. It was the clearest
and the most logical language. The French should guard it among them and never forget.
He added that when people are enslaved, as long as they held fast to their language, they
had the key to their prison.
15.How was M. Hamel behaviour contrary to how he would usually behave?
M. Hamel was solemn and gentle. He was no longer the ruler-wielding teacher. M. Hamel
was wearing clothes he wore on special occasion. What he taught seemed so easy to Franz.
He explained everything with a lot of patience. It seemed that he wanted to put into their
heads at one stroke all that he knew.
16.How did Franz enjoy their lesson in writing?
M. Hamel had made copies for the class. The words ‘France, Alsace, France, Alsace’ were
written on them in a beautiful round hand. The pupils set to work quietly.
17.Why did Franz not want to go to a school that day?
Franz was reluctant to go to a school that day as he was unprepared with his homework—
the rules of participles. M. Hamel was to question the class on the topic and he was scared
of the teacher.
18.Why was Franz not scolded for reaching the school late that day?
Franz was late for school. Usually, there was always a great hustle and bustle in the
morning. He had hoped to take advantage of that noise and commotion. He wanted to get
to his desk without being noticed. But that day he had to go in before everybody. M. Hamel
only asked him very politely to take up his seat without scolding him as it was Hamel’s last
lesson of French in that school.
19.What did Franz wonder about when he entered the class that day?
M. Hamel was to question the students on participles. Franz knew nothing about them and
feared a scolding. He also wondered about a big crowd he had seen around the notice board
at the Town Hall. For a moment he was tempted to run away but he overcame his
temptation and hurried off to school.
20.Why were some elderly persons occupying the back benches that day? [All
India 2017]
Some elderly persons occupied the last benches on the day as it was the last day of the
teaching of French. They wanted to pay homage to their country and respect to M. Hamel
for his dedicated service of forty years. They regretted having lost the opportunity to learn
their own language.
21.”What a thunderclap these words were to me!” (Franz).
What were those words and what was their effect on Franz?
Franz reached the school late on the day of the ‘ant lesson. M. Hamel mounted on his chair.
He spoke in a grave and gentle tone and made it clear that it was his last French lesson as
an order had come from Berlin. All the schools of Alsace and Lorraine would teach only
German from the next day when a German teacher would replace him. The news left Franz
shocked and aggrieved as he was going to lose his teacher, and the opportunity to learn his
language.
22. How were the parents and M. Hamel responsible for the children’s neglect of
the French language?

M. Hamel didn’t scold Franz for neglecting the learning of French. Most of the people of
Alsace could neither speak nor write their own language. Their parents preferred to put
them to work on a farm or at the mills. Mr Hamel didn’t even spare himself from blame. He
had often sent his students to water his flowers instead of learning their lessons.
23. What shows M. Hamel’s love for the French language?
As a mark of his love for the French language. M. Hamel gave a tribute to his mother
tongue in his Ian lesson. He called it ‘the most beautiful language’ in the world, which is the
clearest and most logical. He appealed to the children and the people of the village to keep
their mother-tongue close to their heart.
24. What tempted Franz to stay away from school?
Franz was already late for school. He had not even prepared the topic of participles for
which he was going to be tested that day. Moreover, it was a warm day and he was
tempted by the chirping of birds and sounds of Prussian soldiers exercising at the back of
the sawmill.
25. What changes came over little Franz after M. Hamel’s announcement?
M Franz was shocked at M. Hamel’s announcement that it was their last lesson in French.
Suddenly he felt his love for his mother tongue and realised that he could hardly write well
enough in French. He was full of remorse and regret being so careless and unattentive in his
class. Moreover, he also developed a liking for his teacher M. Hamel.
26. What was the mood in the classroom when M. Hamel gave the last French
lesson?
There was complete silence in the class. Everyone was full of regret and remorse. Children
as well the village elderly were gloomy and repentant for not giving importance to their
mother tongue. The order from Berlin had caused a sea-change in the attitude of the people
of Alsace and Lorraine to their language.
27. What had Franz counted on to enter class unnoticed?
Franz was late for school that day. But he was quite confident to enter the class unnoticed
because usually there was a lot of confusion and noise at the beginning of the school. Every
day there was a sound of opening and closing of desks, lessons repeated in unison and
teacher’s great ruler rapping on the table. So Franz thought that the word take advantage
of the situation and enter the class unnoticed.
28. Why was M. Hamel kind to Franz even though he was late for school?
It was the last lesson of M. Hamel in the school as the new German teacher was arriving the
following day. M. Hamel was sad and sentimental as he was to leave the school after forty
years of service as a teacher in French. He was very emotional, kind and understanding. So,
He did not scold Franz even though he was late.
29. How had the teacher dressed on the day of the last lesson?
He was dressed in his beautiful green coat, his frilled shirt and little black silk cap-all
embroidered, something he never wore except on special days like prize days and
inspection days.
30. Why was Franz afraid of being scolded?
Franz was afraid of being scolded because his teacher M. Hamel was to question the
students on participles. Franz was not prepared and he had started for school very late that
morning.
31. What did Franz find much more tempting than the rule of participles? What
did Franz do?
It was a warm and bright day. The birds were chirping at the edge of woods. The Prussian
soldiers were drilling in the open field at the back of sawmill. He could spend life out of
doors. He resisted the temptation and hurried off to school.
32. What was the usual scene when Franz’s school began in the morning?
Usually, there was a great bustle. The noise could be heard out in the school. Students
opened and closed their desks. They repeated the lessons together very loudly. They kept
their hands over their ears to understand better. The teacher would go on rapping the table
with his great iron ruler.
33. What did Wachter tell Franz? What was the latter’s response?
Wachter, the blacksmith on reading the latest bulletin about the teaching of German told
Franz not to go so fast. He added that he would get to school in plenty of time. Franz
thought Wachter was making fun of him so he rushed to school.
34. What did M. Hamel tell the class about French language?
M. Hamel said that French was the most beautiful language in the world. It was the clearest
and the most logical language. The French should guard it among them and never forget.
He added that when people are enslaved, as long as they held fast to their language, they
had the key to their prison.
35. How was M. Hamel behaviour contrary to how he would usually behave?
M. Hamel was solemn and gentle. He was no longer the ruler-wielding teacher. M. Hamel
was wearing clothes he wore on special occasion. What he taught seemed so easy to Franz.
He explained everything with a lot of patience. It seemed that he wanted to put into their
heads at one stroke all that he knew.
36. How did Franz enjoy their lesson in writing?
M. Hamel had made copies for the class. The words ‘France, Alsace, France, Alsace’ were
written on them in a beautiful round hand. The pupils set to work quietly.
37. Why did Franz not want to go to a school that day?
Franz was reluctant to go to a school that day as he was unprepared with his homework—
the rules of participles. M. Hamel was to question the class on the topic and he was scared
of the teacher.
38. Why was Franz not scolded for reaching the school late that day?
Franz was late for school. Usually, there was always a great hustle and bustle in the
morning. He had hoped to take advantage of that noise and commotion. He wanted to get
to his desk without being noticed. But that day he had to go in before everybody. M. Hamel
only asked him very politely to take up his seat without scolding him as it was Hamel’s last
lesson of French in that school.
39. What did Franz wonder about when he entered the class that day?
M. Hamel was to question the students on participles. Franz knew nothing about them and
feared a scolding. He also wondered about a big crowd he had seen around the notice board
at the Town Hall. For a moment he was tempted to run away but he overcame his
temptation and hurried off to school.
40. Why were some elderly persons occupying the back benches that day? [All
India 2017]
Some elderly persons occupied the last benches on the day as it was the last day of the
teaching of French. They wanted to pay homage to their country and respect to M. Hamel
for his dedicated service of forty years. They regretted having lost the opportunity to learn
their own language.
41.”What a thunderclap these words were to me!” (Franz).
What were those words and what was their effect on Franz?
Franz reached the school late on the day of the ‘ant lesson. M. Hamel mounted on his chair.
He spoke in a grave and gentle tone and made it clear that it was his last French lesson as
an order had come from Berlin. All the schools of Alsace and Lorraine would teach only
German from the next day when a German teacher would replace him. The news left Franz
shocked and aggrieved as he was going to lose his teacher, and the opportunity to learn his
language.
42. How were the parents and M. Hamel responsible for the children’s neglect of
the French
language?

M. Hamel didn’t scold Franz for neglecting the learning of French. Most of the people of
Alsace could neither speak nor write their own language. Their parents preferred to put
them to work on a farm or at the mills. Mr Hamel didn’t even spare himself from blame. He
had often sent his students to water his flowers instead of learning their lessons.
Long Answer-type Questions
1. The ban on teaching French strengthened the resolve of the French to learn
their language. Give evidence from the text to prove/disapprove the above
statement.
‘The Last Lesson’ clearly brings out the resolve of the French to hold fast to their language.
The order from Berlin imposing German language on them made them more determined to
respect and learn their language. This was evident in the last lesson of M. Hamel. All the
back benches were occupied by villagers that day, including old Hauser, former mayor,
former postmaster, etc. Students in the class were quiet and were eager to make the best
of the last opportunity to learn their mother tongue.
Hammel taught the last lesson with immense patience and told his students to safeguard
their language. lie reminded them that they would be able to liberate themselves only if
they would keep their language with them. Even the students realised the importance of
their language and listened to their teacher very carefully. They could not be distracted by
beetles or the cooing of the pigeons that day.
2. How was the last lesson different from earlier lessons?
The last lesson was different from earlier lessons in many ways. It revealed the love and
respect of the teacher and students for their mother tongue. M. Hamel spoke very kindly
and taught very patiently. He did not scold anybody that day. It seemed as if he wanted to
give all that he knew before going away.
He was in his best attire and his ‘iron ruler’ was no more in use. This lesson was attended
by villagers to show their love and respect for their mother tongue and M. Hamel. The
students listened very carefully and everybody was absolutely quiet. Franz was sorry for not
learning his lesson. The last lesson was an emotional time which stirred patriotic feelings
and awakened the villagers to the importance of their mother tongue.
3. Justify the title ‘The Last Lesson’.
The title The Last Lesson’ is significant and conveys the central theme of the story. The title
highlights the fact that sometimes even the most precious things in our lives are taken for
granted by us. The people of Alsace never gave much thought or importance to their mother
tongue. They did not insist that their children should give it wholehearted attention. They
did not encourage regular attendance of their children in French classes. They thought there
was plenty of time to learn it. They preferred their children to work and earn rather than
learn. They received a severe jolt when orders came from Berlin to ban French and make
German compulsory. This brutal order from Prussians made them realise the importance of
their mother tongue. So they came in full force to attend M. Hamel’s last lesson. In fact, the
story shows the awakening of the turn to the importance of their mother tongue. This was
displayed by them by attending the last person of the French. Thus, the title The Last
Lesson’ reveals the theme of the story and is fully justified.
4. Write a character sketch of little Franz.
Franz was a typical schoolboy. He was carefree and hated to go to school. He was afraid of
his French Teacher M. Hamel’s ‘iron ruler’. He was more interested in spending his time
outside the school. Many times, he missed the school and went in search of ‘bird’s eggs’ or
watching the Prussian soldiers drilling at the sawmill. He did not realise the importance of
learning his mother tongue till the time his country passed into Prussian hands and teaching
French was banned. This came as a thunderbolt to him when he came to school and found it
to be his last French lesson. At this point, he lamented the loss of his language. His entire
perspective towards the language and the teacher changed. He was surprised to learn and
understand everything on the last day and did not find M. Hamel strict during the lesson. He
was not able to understand the severity of war and wondered whether “the Pigeons would
be made to coo in German”.
5. How did the order from Berlin change
Or
The day of the last lesson was full of regret and sadness. Describe the events of
the day in the classroom in light of the above remark.
Or
“Order from Berlin aroused a particular zeal in the school.”
Comment.
Or
“Everybody in the last lesson is filled with regret.”
Comment.
The order from Berlin brought a sense of shock and surprise in the class. As per the order,
this was the last French class. Alsace and Lorraine had been captured by the Prussians. So
only German was to be taught in the schools. This made all the distinguished village elders
feel guilty of ignoring theft mother tongue. So, they all came to the class to showcase their
love and respect for their mother tongue and French teacher M. Hamel. The entire school
was filled with an air of remorse and regret. There was complete silence. The teacher, M.
Hamel, was in his best dress and was full of emotions. Even the students in the class,
including little Franz, felt remorse for their indifference to their mother tongue. There was
an atmosphere of stillness and quietness in the class.
6. Give a character sketch of M. Hamel.
M. Hamel was a teacher at a school in a village in the French districts of Alsace and
Lorraine. He used to teach the French language. He had been teaching his mother tongue
for the last forty years. He loved his profession from the core of his heart and had a deep
sense of respect for the mother tongue. He had always been very particular and strict in
imparting the knowledge of the language to his pupils. The news, that French would no
more be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine and that this was going to be his last
lesson, completely shattered a calm and composed man like M. Hamel. He tried his level
best to remain calm and composed but broke down at the end. He felt tormented at the fact
that people had become indifferent to learning French and appealed to them to keep their
language alive.
Hamel was a patriot in the real sense. He regarded the mother tongue to be a means of
holding one’s identity and self-respect. He blamed not only the parents and children but
himself also for neglecting French.
His concern and love for his country are evident when, at the end of his last lesson, he
writes on the blackboard ‘Viva La France!’ in bold letters.
Value Based Questions and Answers
1. My Last French Lesson! Why! I hardly know how to write! The problem is that
students don’t take school seriously and parents are not keen to make them study.
Write an article on the role of society and the government in solving the problem.
M. Hamel blames himself and the parents for the neglect of learning by the students. The
parents would rather send their children to work on farms and in mills (for extra money,
rather than attend school. M. Hamel, the teacher would give students a holiday when he
wanted to go fishing or wanted them to water the flowers thus neglecting studies. India has
a poor literacy rate. The problem of illiteracy and school dropouts persists. This problem can
be solved with the efforts of the society and the government. The NGOs and the
government can make education need-based and incorporate vocational training into the
curriculum. The government can give incentives so that children go to school. Midday
meals, free uniform and books can be an incentive. Media can create awareness about the
importance of education for removing backwardness and illiteracy.
2. What message does the story ‘The Last Lesson’ carry? How relevant is it
today?
The story carries the message of the importance of holding on to one’s identity and culture
and not losing it or taking it for granted. It emphasizes the importance of holding onto one’s
language as the key to our identity. It highlights the importance of one’s language in
preserving our heritage and history. In the story, the oppressors were using the ultimate
weapon of imposing their language on their captives in a bid to wipe out their national
identity and pride. It, therefore, has a strong message for us to take pride in our own
language because it gives us our identity which once lost cannot be regained.
3.Bah! I have plenty of time. I’ll learn it tomorrow.
Franz was shocked when he heard that it was the last lesson in French and he
hardly knew his mother tongue.
Many of us find ourselves in similar situations and regret when all is over. What
qualities should we inculcate in our life so that we are able to achieve our goals?
Opportunity knocks the door only once. In fact, everyone gets only one chance in life and if
it’s lost there. is no way to redeem it. It is said that hard work can turn the impossible into
possible. But along that, value for time is very essential. Most of us are in a habit of
delaying things. Unless and until we are consistent and regular in our efforts, we cannot
achieve our goals. Setting a goal is an easy a task but the journey to reach that goal is a
tedious task and demands perseverance, grit and determination. One has to be focused and
consistent in one’s efforts.
To achieve our goal in life, we need to understand the importance of time. Like Franz, we
should not delay the efforts and sit comfortably thinking that there is enough time. As we
know that time and tide wait for no man. So in order to achieve our goals, we need to be
vigilant, consistent, punctual, regular hardworking and a determined person who greatly
values time.
4. The people of Alsace and Lorraine did not understand the importance of
learning their language French. Emphasising the importance and need for learning
one’s native language, discuss what values are revealed when one sets upon
learning one’s native language.
One of the major effects of Westernization is that people have started losing interest in
learning their native language. One’s native language is the repository of one’s culture,
identity and way of living. As long as one speaks and communicates in one’s language, one
can be proud of oneself. Many Indians who live abroad make it compulsory for their family
to speak in their native language at home so as to have a sense of belongingness to their
country. In fact, the native language binds us with our roots. Every language has its own
speciality and the people who speak that language imbibe that speciality. Above all, native
language inculcates a sense of pride. A person who doesn’t know his native language is like
a slave who has no freedom.
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