The Last Lesson

By Alphonse Daudet- a French novelist & short story writer

1. The story is during the days of Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871)
2. France was defeated by Prussia led by Bismarck.
3. On a/c of defeat, 2 districts of France were handed over to Prussia - Alsace and Lorraine
4. At that time Prussia consisted of - nations of Germany, Poland and parts of Austria
5. The story is about what effect this defeat and hand over of 2 districts had on life at school.

Main Characters
1. Franz: A French boy. He is lazy but sensitive and likes to play. He dislikes studying French and
hates his French language teacher M. Hamel.
2. M. Hamel : French teacher teaching for last 40 years
3. The blacksmith: Wachter
4. Old Hauser: a village old man

THEME The pain that is inflicted on the people of a territory by its conquerors by taking away the right to
study or speak their own language.
SUB-THEME Student and teacher attitudes to learning and teaching.
Question 2. When Franz reached school that day he found the sight very unusual. Why?

Answer:
 Franz noticed that the school was unusually quiet.
 Usually, there was a great bustle (a lot of noise) that could be heard from the street
o a great commotion (noise and confusion) of the opening and closing of desks,
o very loud sound of lessons repeated in unison (at the same time), and
o the teacher’s huge ruler rapping on the table.
 But on that particular day school was as quiet as on a Sunday morning.

Question 2. What was the scene in the classroom that alarmed Franz? (OR)
What did Franz notice that was unusual about the school that day?
Answer:
 Franz noticed that the school was unusually quiet.
 Usually, there was a great bustle (a lot of noise) that could be heard from the street
o a great commotion (noise and confusion) of the opening and closing of desks,
o very loud sound of lessons repeated in unison (at the same time), and
o the teacher’s huge ruler rapping on the table.
 But on that particular day school was as quiet as on a Sunday morning
 His classmates were in their places
 French teacher M. Hamel was unusually kind and polite. During the end of the class, he was full of grief,
emotion, nostalgia, and patriotism.
 French teacher M. Hamel had worn his best embroidered dress (beautiful green coat, his frilled shirt, and the
little black silk cap, all embroidered) that day, which was normally wore on occasions like inspection and
prize distribution days.
 The thing that surprised him the most was that the last benches of the classroom, which usually remained
empty, were occupied by the senior village men – old Hauser, who was wearing his three-cornered hat, the
retired mayor, postmaster, etc.
 Everybody looked sad.
 He was further astonished when M Hamel announced in a grave and gentle tone that it was to be their last
lesson in French. The order had come from Berlin to teach only German in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine
from then on.
Question 3. What had been put up on the bulletin-board? When did Franz learn the contents of the
announcement? 2011
Answer:
 The bulletin board displayed the news that an order had come from Berlin to teach only German in the schools
of Alsace and Lorraine.
 The teaching of the French language was discouraged and had to be discontinued.
 The French districts of Alsace and Lorraine had been taken over by the Prussians and the ban on French
language came about as a result.
 They had also been informed that the new German teacher was coming on the following day.

He learnt of the announcement from his French teacher M. Hamel when he reached school.

Q. Why had the bulletin-board become a centre of attention during the last two years? (2010)
Answer:

 The bulletin-board had become a centre of attention because for the last two years all the bad news had come
from there.
 It was the source of all bad news- like losing the war, occupation of Alsace and Lorraine by the enemy i.e.
Prussia, the draft and the orders of the commanding officers.

Question 4. What changes did the order from Berlin cause in school that day?

Answer:

 The day the order came from Berlin, an uncanny silence hung about in the air in school.
 The atmosphere in the school was so strange and solemn (serious)
 French teacher M. Hamel was unusually kind and polite. During the end of the class, he was full of grief,
emotion, nostalgia, and patriotism.
 French teacher M. Hamel had worn his best embroidered dress (beautiful green coat, his frilled shirt, and the
little black silk cap, all embroidered) that day, which was normally wore on occasions like inspection and
prize distribution days.
 The last benches of the classroom, which usually remained empty, were occupied by the senior village men –
old Hauser, who was wearing his three-cornered hat, the retired mayor, postmaster, etc. Everybody looked
sad.
 They were repenting for not have studied well in their childhood.
 They had come to thank their teacher for his forty years of service as a teacher of French. Also, they wanted to
show respect and homage to their country and were sad as their mother tongue – French would no longer be
taught to them.
 M. Hamel gave his last French lesson as the Prussians in Berlin had ordered that French language would no
longer be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine and that German language be taught instead
 Franz, who considered his books to be unwanted burden suddenly considered them to be his best friends
whom he could never leave. i.e. a change in Franz’s attitude towards study after hearing the news that he
could not learn French any longer.
 Franz who considered M. Hamel to be cranky, suddenly did not want him to go away.
 Franz no longer thought the teacher to be short–tempered and strict.
 The students got new copies with “France, Alsace, France, Alsace” beautifully written on them in round
hand, and received their last lesson in French.
 These copies looked like little flags floating every where in the school room.
 There was an air of patriotism in the class.
 This was in contrast to the usual scene when the school would be buzzing with activity.
 That day, everyone was working very quietly and even did not pay attention to some beetles that flew in the
class.
 The only sound that was heard was of the scratching of pens on paper.

Question 4a. What was the order from Berlin and What changes did the order from Berlin cause in school that
day? (2013 Short answer type)
Answer:

 The shocking order from Berlin that only German would be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine
 It saddened and hurt the pride of the French people.
 So as a gesture to express their solidarity for their language the village elders also attended school for the last
French lesson.
 The usual hustle and bustle was missing from school and it was unusually quiet.
 M. Hamel was also dressed in his formal suit which he wore only on special occasions.
 Please add points from the answer 4, above, as well

Question 5. How did Franz’s feelings about M Hamel and the school change?

Answer:
 Franz felt sorry for not learning his French lessons when he realized that he was to receive his last lesson in
French that day.
 His books that seemed to be unwanted burden, suddenly considered them to be his best friends whom he
could never leave.
 Previously he disliked his teacher, M Hamel, considering him to be cranky, but that very day he felt sad at the
thought of his leaving.

Q6. The people in this story suddenly realise how precious their language is to them. What shows
you this? Why does this happen?
Ans.
 The usual noisy scene at the school was replaced by the quietness of a Sunday morning.
 The earnestness of the students was evident from the fact that each one set to work very quietly.
The only sound in the class was the scratching of pens on paper
 Even the village men attended the last lesson of French, bringing in their old, torn primers to learn
the language which shows their eagerness. Everybody realized that their mother tongue, French will
no longer be taught to them and they realized its importance. Everybody looked sad.
 Suddenly, all of them developed an inclination towards learning.
 M Hamel, the French teacher, evoked a feeling of regret in the students.
 Franz regretted not having listened carefully during his lessons
 They regret putting off learning French to the next day ( ie they were always postponing to learn
their mother language). Now, finally, the last lesson has arrived, and they cannot read their own
language.
 They are ashamed of themselves and realize that the Germans have overpowered them due to
their lack of knowing their own language.
___
 In the story, the people of Alsace and Lorraine received an order from Berlin that only German was
to be taught in the schools.
 That day the last lesson of French was to be taught by the teacher M. Hamel.
 He felt heartbroken at the thought of leaving, explained everything with a rare lucidity and with
patience.
 It seemed almost as if he wanted to share all his learning before going away.

Q7. Franz thinks, “Will they make them sing in German, even the pigeons?” What could this mean?
(OR) What does the above lines tell us about the attitude of the Frenchmen? (All India 2011)
Ans.
 Franz is disheartened when he comes to know that he can no longer learn his language – French.
 Their district Alsace has been captured by Germany and now German will be taught to them.
 Franz feels that mother tongue comes to a person naturally, he is born with it and no one can snatch it away.
 When Franz wondered whether they would even make the pigeons sing in German, he uses it as a metaphor to
mean that the French language was as natural to them as cooing was to the pigeons.
 Robbing them of their right to speak in their own mother tongue and forcing the German language on them
would call for unnatural practice with complete domination over French people and an attempt to enslave their
mind and thought process.
  He has given this example to highlight his point that language is a natural mode of communication and it
cannot be imposed

Question 8.
Notice the underlined words in these sentences and tick the option that best explains their meaning.
(a) “What a thunderclap these words were to me!”
The words were
(i) loud and clear.
(ii) startling and unexpected.
(iii) pleasant and welcome.

(b) “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”
It is as if they have the key to the prison as long as they
(i) do not lose their language.
(ii) are attached to their language.
(iii) quickly learn the conqueror’s language. (

c) Don’t go so fast, you will get to your school in plenty of time.

You will get to your school
(i) very late.
(ii) too early.
(iii) early enough.

(d) I never saw him look so tall.

M. Hamel
(a) had grown physically taller
(b) seemed very confident
(c) stood on the chair

Question Answer

Question [Link] was Franz unhappy as he set out for school? OR What was Franz expected to be prepared
with for the school that day? (Delhi 2011)
Answer:
Franz was unhappy chiefly for two reasons.
1. He had started very late for school that morning and expected his teacher to reprimand/ rebuke/ scold him for
running late.
2. Secondly, he had not learnt/prepared his grammar lesson on participles and was afraid his teacher, M Hamel,
would punish him. He did not even know the first word of the lesson.

Question [Link] little details does Franz notice as he walks to school? Why was he reluctant to go to school
that day? OR What was tempting Franz to keep away from school that morning’?2010, 2013, 2014
Answer:
On Franz’s way to school,
 he observed how the weather was warm and bright, and
 the birds chirped melodiously at the edge of the woods.
 At a distance, the Prussian soldiers were drilling behind the sawmill (a factory for cutting wood).
 But soon, as he passed by the townhall, his attention was arrested by a crowd in front of the bulletin board.
He was afraid of being hauled up/scolded by his teacher for 2 reasons:
 started very late for school that morning
 not having learnt his French lessons on participles and hence was reluctant to go to school.

Question 3. What were the unfamiliar sights that Franz noticed as he entered the classroom? 2013
What did Franz wonder about when he entered the class that day? (Delhi 2016)
Answer:

 Usually, there was a great bustle (a lot of noise) that could be heard from the street
o a great commotion (noise and confusion) of the opening and closing of desks,
o very loud sound of lessons repeated in unison (at the same time), and
o the teacher’s huge ruler rapping on the table.
 But on that particular day school was as quiet as on a Sunday morning
 Franz noticed that his classmates were seated in their places.
 There was an unusual calm and quiet, like a Sunday morning.
 He noticed his teacher, M Hamel dressed in his Sunday best, was wearing his formal clothes which he wore
only on inspections and prize days.
 The back benches that were usually empty were occupied by villagers, sitting quietly.
 He was also surprised that M Hamel was quiet and did not scold Franz for late arrival.

Q. After sitting down at his desk what unusual things did Franz observe about M. Hamel? (2013)
Answer:

 Franz realised that M. Hamel was not his usual cranky self and said nothing to him even though he was late
for the class.
 Moreover their teacher was wearing his beautiful green coat, his frilled shirt and the little black silk cap, all
embroidered, that he wore only on special days in school.

Question 4. What does Monsieur Hamel reveal at the start of class?

Answer:

 M Hamel announced at the beginning of the class that it was to be their last lesson in French.
 He explained that there was an order from Berlin to teach only German in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine.
 It was therefore M Hamel’s last lesson, and he requested the students to be very attentive.

Question 5. Why were the villagers in the class that day?

Answer:

 After the announcement that German was to be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine, the villagers
came to school for the last French lesson.
 The last benches of the classroom, which usually remained empty, were occupied by the senior village men –
old Hauser, who was wearing his three-cornered hat, the retired mayor, postmaster, etc. Everybody looked
sad.
 They were repenting for not have studied well in their childhood.
 They had come to thank their teacher for his forty years of service as a teacher of French. Also, they wanted to
show respect and homage to their country and were sad as their mother tongue – French would no longer be
taught to them.

Question 6. What did M Hamel say to Franz when he was unable to answer a question on participles?
OR M Hamel’s reaction when Franz could not answer a question on participles was unlike what he had
expected. Justify.
Answer:

 When Franz could not recite the rules for the participle, he was scared of what M Hamel would say.
 But, much to his surprise, M Hamel did not scold him as usual.
 The teacher said that everyday Franz told himself that he would study the next day and now the opportunity to
study had ended and he knew nothing.
 He added that all the people of Alsace were to be blamed as no one was serious towards learning.
 He tells the class that the enemies (Prussians) would laugh at them and say that they only pretend/show to be
Frenchmen as they can neither speak nor write their own language.
 He said that Franz should not feel guilty as everyone is at fault.
 He expressed regret on Franz’s behalf for never getting the right opportunity to learn.
 He said that the parents were not interested in getting their children educated.
  They wanted children to work at a farm or a mill and earn some little more money.
 He also blamed himself for not doing his duty faithfully. He would send them to his home to water the plants.
Sometimes, he would declare a holiday and go for fishing.

Q. What was [Link]’s regret on the day of the last lesson? 2016
Answer:

 The teacher said that they all had put off learning their language till the next day and now most of them who
claimed to be Frenchmen could neither speak nor write their language.
 Now the opportunity to study had ended and they knew nothing.
 He added that all the people of Alsace were to be blamed as no one was serious towards learning.
 He tells the class that the enemies (Prussians) would laugh at them and say that they only pretend/show to be
Frenchmen as they can neither speak nor write their own language.
 He expressed regret on Franz’s behalf for never getting the right opportunity to learn.
 He said that the parents were not interested in getting their children educated.
 They wanted children to work at a farm or a mill and earn some little more money.
 He also blamed himself for not doing his duty faithfully. He would send them to his home to water the plants.
Sometimes, he would declare a holiday and go for fishing.

Q. Who did [Link] blame for the neglect of learning on the part of boys like Franz? (Delhi 2011)
Q. Why does M. Hamel reproach himself for his students’ unsatisfactory progress in studies? (2014)
“We’ve all a great deal to reproach ourselves with”, said M. Hamel. Comment. (Delhi 2015)
Whom did [Link] blame for Franz’s inability to answer his questions? 2015)
Answer:

 Mr. Hamel blamed all the people of Alsace as no one was serious towards learning.
 He said that Franz should not feel guilty as everyone is at fault.
 He expressed regret on Franz’s behalf for never getting the right opportunity to learn.
 He said that the parents were not interested in getting their children educated.
 They wanted children to work at a farm or a mill and earn some little more money.
 He also blamed himself for not doing his duty faithfully. He would send them to his home to water the plants.
Sometimes, he would declare a holiday and go for fishing.

Question 7. What did M Hamel say about the importance of language to the “enslaved” people?
(OR) What did M. Hamel tell the people in the class about French language? What did he ask them to do and
why? (2011, 2013)
How did [Link] display his love for the French language? (2015)
Answer:

 M. Hamel had great love for the French language which he had been teaching for forty years
 M Hamel reiterated that French language was the most beautiful language in the world.
 He said it was the clearest and the most logical language, and even more importantly it was their own
language.
 He advised to guard and hold fast to their language as it is the only way or the key to free oneself from the
prison of slavery.
 If a person knows his mother tongue well, no one can enslave him.
 Knowing the mother tongue well as a language is a tool to fight domination
 He drew an analogy between their language and the key to their prison.
 Like the key, their language could liberate them.

Question 8. What was the difference in teaching and learning after the order of the Government?
Answer:
 There was a yawning gap in the attitudes of the teacher and the students after the order of the Government.
 Franz was amazed to see how well he understood his French lesson that day.
 Perhaps, it was because he had never listened so carefully or because M Hamel had never explained with so
much patience.
 It seemed almost as if he wanted to give the students all he knew before going away.
Question 9. How did Franz realize that announcement had left M Hamel heartbroken?
Answer:
 M Hamel seemed subdued and nostalgic as he neither scolded Franz when he arrived late in class, nor when
he could not recite his lessons.
 He was reminded about his association with the class for forty years and looked sad. He sat still and stared at
the different things in the classroom in succession as if he wanted to memorize the appearance of everything
before leaving.
 Hence, it seemed to Franz that he was heartbroken to leave a place where he had spent forty years of his life
and now they had to leave the country the very next day.

Question 10. The last moments with M Hamel were very emotional. What final words did M Hamel write on
the board? 2014
What made M. Hamel cry towards the end of his last lesson? (2014)
Answer:

 When the church clock struck twelve, the trumpets of the Prussians, returning from drill, were heard. M
Hamel stood up. He looked so pale (dull & colourless).
 M. Hamel began to speak but could not continue as he was overpowered/ overwhelmed with emotions.
 He took a piece of chalk and wrote the words “Vive La France” meaning ‘Long Live France’ on the
blackboard as large as he could.
 Then he stopped and leaned his head against the wall, and, without a word signalled the class to leave as the
class was over.

Question 11. Discuss the last moments in the class on the last day of the French lesson.
Q. What words did M. Hamel write on the black¬board before dismissing the last class and why? What did
they mean? 2014. Write only that part
Answer:
 The last moments of the French lesson were evocative of their freedom and their way of life coming to an end.
 As essence of patriotism was in the air
 Old Hauser sat at the back of the room wearing his spectacles and holding his primer in both hands. As he
spelled the letters, he was crying. His voice trembled with emotion, so that all of them wanted to laugh and
cry.
 When the church clock struck twelve, the trumpets of the Prussians, returning from drill, were heard. M
Hamel stood up, He looked so pale (dull & colourless).
 M. Hamel began to speak but could not continue as he was overpowered with emotions.
 He took a piece of chalk and wrote the words “Vive La France” meaning ‘Long Live France’ on the
blackboard as large as he could.
 He was extremely patriotic
 He does this to make the people of Alsace conscious that they had to safeguard their language and identity
among themselves as this was the key to their prison.
 Then he stopped and leaned his head against the wall, and, without a word signalled the class to leave as the
class was over

Q. Describe the atmosphere in the class on the day of the last lesson. (Delhi 2016)
Answer:

 On the day of the last French lesson the atmosphere in the class was strange and solemn.
 The school was as quiet as if it was a Sunday morning.
 The teacher ([Link]) moving in the class with his ruler under his arm was wearing his special dress for the
last class.
 The elders of the village were sitting on the backbenches of the classroom.
 All the students were studying with complete attention and the teacher was teaching with full dedication.
 All this was due to an order from Berlin that from the next day German would be taught instead of French by
a new teacher.
 While delivering the last lesson, the teacher regretted for not being serious about the French language and
blamed people of Alsace and himself for being negligent
 He called upon his students and the village elders to guard the French language among themselves and never
forget it, declaring French to be the most beautiful language in the world.
The Last Lesson Long Answer Questions
Question 1. How did little Franz’s feelings alter before he left for school and on his way to school?
Answer:
 Before Franz set out for school he was in great dread of (feared of) scolding, because he was late for school
that morning.
 Moreover, he was scared to be tested on participles by his French teacher, M Hamel, for he was ill-prepared
( did not know anything at all).
 Hence he thought to miss the school and enjoy the warm and bright weather.
 His spirits also lifted when he saw birds chirping on the trees and heard the Prussian soldiers drilling behind
the sawmill.
 But he resisted his temptations/desire and hurried off to school.
 He was a little apprehensive/anxious when he saw a crowd in front of the bulletin board as this sight usually
spelt bad news like losing the war, occupation of Alsace and Lorraine by the enemy i.e. Prussia.
 The blacksmith teased/taunted him for being late to school.
 By the time he reached the garden outside the school he was out of breath.

Question 2. What was the impact of the announcement of the change on M Hamel? (OR) What was unusual
about M. Hamel’s dress and behaviour on the day of his last French lesson? 2010
Answer:
 The announcement shook M Hamel to his roots.
 He was kind to Franz and did not scold him for being late to school or for not learning his lessons.
 On the contrary, he blamed himself for not doing his duty faithfully.
 His formal attire reflected his serious attitude towards his work.
 He taught with passion and great patience.
 During the class, M Hamel sat motionless in his chair gazing as if he wanted to sketch those last moments in
his mind.
 It was evident that he was heartbroken to leave, in grief and full of emotion.
Dress
 Beautiful green coat,
 his frilled shirt, and
 the little black silk cap, all embroidered,
 He used to wear them only during inspection and prize days
Reason: That was M. Hamel’s last day at school as French language won’t be taught anymore in the school as per
order from Berlin by the Prussians. Instead German will be taught in schools of Alsace and Lorraine. Thus that was
their last French lesson to be taught by M. Hamel. The new teacher will be arriving the day after to teach the students,
the German language.

For behaviour, as above

Question 3. How does telling the story from young Franz’s point of view affect the reader’s reaction to the
story? How does this point of view help build suspense at the start of the story?
Answer:

 Telling the story from young Franz’s point of view makes it particularly moving as it voices Franz’s childlike
concerns.
 The fears and apprehensions of a child arrest the attention of the readers.
 Franz’s anxiety of running into trouble with his teacher stirs the readers’ concern.
 One is worried about his reception as he reaches his school late.
 Every moment, one wants to know what is in store for little Franz.
 After learning of the order from Berlin to teach only German in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine, the
readers’ concerns increase.
 The readers leam to love the French language as the most beautiful language and also share Franz’s childlike
fascination with the new copies given by M Hamel.
 Franz’s concerns worry the readers; they keenly feel his disappointment of losing his French lessons.

Question 4. The story helps one realize how precious one’s own language is. Justify.
Answer:
  With the announcement of the change in Government, the situation and people’s reaction was radically
altered.
 The usual noisy scene at the school was replaced by the one which was as quiet as the Sunday morning.
 The students’ earnestness was reflected in their enthusiasm for the last lesson.
 So much so that even the elderly village people came and sat quietly in the class like students.
 Everybody was sad.
 The students felt sorry for M Hamel as he was made to discontinue his French lessons.
 Franz regretted not having studied well.
 The students endeavoured to pay unwavering attention to their last lesson, even M Hamel taught with a rare
lucidity and passion.

Q. 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 [Link]’s last lesson show their love for French? (All India 2016)
Answer:

 Acquiring power over the French made the Prussians so dominating that they decided to impose even their
language on them.
 So on the day of the last French lesson the village elders were seated on the back seats of the classroom.
 They felt sad and sorry for not having gone to school more often.
 Their presence was also their way of thanking their master, [Link] for his forty years of faithful service.
 [Link] himself had put on his fine Sunday clothes in honour of the last French lesson.
 Assuming the role of mentor he advised the class to safeguard and preserve their language among themselves
and never forget it.
 He called French the most beautiful and logical language in the world.
 Oldman Hauser of the village, had put on his spectacles and holding the primer in both his hands, recited the
letters/ phonetics with the class.
 He was crying
 His voice trembled as he spoke.
 For this action of Hauser, Franz had mixed feelings – he found it funny to see how an old man like Hauser
was crying and trembling and on the other hand, he also felt emotional like Hauser did
 By the end of the class [Link] was so choked with emotion and could not speak so he took a piece of chalk
and wrote on the blackboard “Vive la France!” (Long Live France) and then dismissed the class.

Q. Everybody during the last lesson is filled with regret. Comment. (All India 2015)
Answer:

 The one common feeling that fills each and every person who is present in the last French lesson is an acute
sense of regret.
 M. Hamel reproaches himself for putting off his students’ learning till the next day and sending them to water
his flowers instead of learning their lessons.
 He also gave his students a holiday when he wanted to go fishing.
 Franz felt sorry for not learning his lessons and escaping school.
 He wished he had attended his classes more often and even the thought of losing his teacher saddened him.
 The village elders occupied the back benches of the class to atone for their guilt and express their regret for
not having attended school regularly. They were now showing their respect for the country that was theirs no
more.

Q. Why Franz was apprehensive about the content of the bulletin board?
Q. What did Franz see when he passed the town hall? (2013)
Ans:
 As Franz walked past the town hall, on his way to school, he noticed a huge crowd at the notice board.
 The war with Prussia had begun two years ago and since then all the bad news like losing the war, occupation
of Alsace and Lorraine by the enemy i.e. Prussia, etc had been communicated to the people through that
bulletin board.
 Hence he was apprehensive that what new bad news might have been put up on the board.

Q. Why were people standing in front of the bulletin board in ‘The Last Lesson’? Why did Franz not join the
crowd? (2016)
Answer:

 For the past two years the bulletin board had been the bearer of all bad news—the lost battles, drafts, orders
from the commanding officer.
 That day an order had come from Berlin that from the next day a new teacher would teach German instead of
French in the school, as French will no longer be taught in Alsace and Lorraine.
 Franz could not join the crowd as he was already late for his class and could not afford further delay.

Q. Who made fun of Franz while he was going to school and why? What do you think the blacksmith actually
meant?
Ans:
 The blacksmith, Wachter.
 As Franz walked hurriedly towards the school, the blacksmith who was reading the news on the bulletin board
and had come along with his apprentice/ trainee called out to Franz from behind and said that he needn’t go in
such a hurry as there was plenty of time for him to reach school.
 Franz thought that the blacksmith was making fun of him as he was already late for school.

As the blacksmith had already aware of the news that next day onwards French language will be replaced by German
in schools of Alsace and Lorraine, as per the order from Berlin, hence most probably we wanted to communicate the
message to Franz indirectly in a funny and sarcastic manner.

Q. What attire M. Hamel was wearing on that day and why?

Ans:
 Beautiful green coat,
 his frilled shirt, and
 the little black silk cap, all embroidered,
 He used to wear them only during inspection and prize days
Reason: That was M. Hamel’s last day at school as French language won’t be taught anymore in the school as per
order from Berlin by the Prussians. Instead German will be taught in schools of Alsace and Lorraine. Thus that was
their last French lesson to be taught by M. Hamel. The new teacher will be arriving the day after to teach the students,
the German language.

Q. What surprised Franz the most? 2013

Ans:
 To see, on the back benches that were always empty, the village people were sitting quietly like the students.
 Old Hauser, with his three-cornered hat,
 the former mayor,
 the former postmaster, and
 several others
 But everybody looked sad

Q. What did the adults bring with them to school?

Ans:
 Old Hauser had brought an old primer, thumbed at the edges ie. He brought an old basic reader of language
that was torn and damaged at the edges.,
 He held it open on his knees with his great spectacles lying across the pages.

Q. When Franz realised the content of the news on the bulletin board?
Ans:
When at school, his French language teacher, M. Hamel’s declared that it was his last day at school as French
language won’t be taught anymore in the school as per order from Berlin by the Prussians. Instead German will be
taught in schools of Alsace and Lorraine. Thus, that was their last French lesson to be taught by M. Hamel. The new
teacher would be arriving the day after to teach the students, the German language. Then Franz realised the content of
the bulletin board.
Q. What was a thunderclap for Franz? Which were the words that shocked and surprised little Franz? (2010 ,
2011) OR What Franz refers to as wretches?
OR Why is the order from Berlin called a thunderclap by Franz? (Delhi 2014)
Ans:
When at school, Franz’s French language teacher, M. Hamel’s mounted on the chair and declared that it was his last
day at school and he will be teaching the last French lesson, as French language won’t be taught anymore in the school
as per order from Berlin by the Prussians, Franz was shocked and surprised. Teacher added that instead German will
be taught in schools of Alsace and Lorraine. The new teacher would be arriving the day after to teach German
language to the students. This news acted as a thunderclap (something startling or unexpected) to Franz and also as
the wretches (unfortunate). He felt very guilty for deliberately ignoring to learn his native language and he suddenly
developed a strange fascination for his language, the teacher and his school.

Q. When Franz realized the reason for [Link]’s attire or When Franz realized the reason for village elders
attended the school?
Ans: *****same as above*****

Now Franz knew that M Hamel was wearing his best dress in honour of this last lesson. He also realized that the
village men had come to pay respect and thank M Hamel for his service of forty years in that school.

Q. Why was Franz not scolded for reaching the school late that day? (Delhi 2016)
Answer:
It was to be their last French lesson that day. The order from Berlin allowed only German language to be taught in the
schools of Alsace and Lorraine. Hence their teacher, M. Hamel, was in a sad, sombre and emotional mood. So he did
not scold Franz for reaching school late that day.

Q. How Franz wasted his time without learning French language?

Ans:
Franz regretted for not being serious towards studies and for wasting his time in
 hunting bird’s eggs and
 playing in the Saar river, a river that passes through France.

Q. How Franz’s attitude towards French language/lesson and [Link] changed and why?
(OR) How did Franz react to the declaration that it was their last French lesson? [CBSE 2010, 2013]
Q. “What announcement did M. Hamel make? What was the impact of this on Franz? (All India 2011)
Ans:
 He was shocked, surprised and sad when he heard the news that it was the last lesson of French for them on
that day.
 Suddenly he developed a liking for ‘his’ language and was keen to learn French. He did repent that he always
neglected studies, skipped his lessons and did not learn his mother language in past.
 A grim realisation dawned on Franz that he had so much more yet to learn.
 Franz, who considered his books to be unwanted burden suddenly considered them to be his best friends
whom he could never leave. i.e. a change in Franz’s attitude towards study after hearing the news that he
could not learn French any longer.
 He was amazed to see how well he understood his French lesson that day.
 Perhaps, it was because he had never listened so carefully or because M Hamel had never explained with so
much patience.
 The news that their teacher M Hamel was leaving deeply pained him. Franz did not want him to go away. He
no longer thought the teacher to be cranky/ short–tempered and strict.

Thus, a sense of patriotism had evolved.

Q. Why the village people attended [Link]’s class? (OR) Why were the elders of the village sitting in
the classroom? [CBSE paper, 2014]
Ans:
 The elders of the village came to the classroom to attend the last lesson of French in the school as a
mark of respect to the French teacher M Hamel and thank M Hamel for his service of forty years in
that school.
  The village men had come to the class as they were also repenting for not have studied well in their childhood
and are unable to read and write their mother tongue, French. So this was their last opportunity to attend the
class.
 Also, they wanted to show respect to their country and were sad as their mother tongue – French would no
longer be taught to them.

Q. When the teacher asked Franz to recite the topic of participles, what was his reaction?
Ans:
 The news that French won’t be taught anymore and that day was their last lesson of French had
impacted Franz very much.
 He was eager to study and so, he was desperate to show his eagerness.
 He wanted to be able to recite the topic in one go and without any mistake and please his teacher,
although he did not prepare for the lesson.
 His desperation was reflected in his willingness to give away all that he had in return for reciting the
lesson well.
 But, as Franz did not know the lesson, he got confused and stood quietly.
 His heart was beating fast as he was ashamed of himself and did not have the courage to face his
teacher.

Q. What all were taught by the teacher that day and how it was taught?
Ans:
 First the teacher M Hamel took a grammar lesson.
 That day Franz was surprised that he understood the lesson with ease.
 He felt that he had been attentive and that M. Hamel also explained the lesson with a lot of patience.
 Franz felt that the teacher wanted to give them all the knowledge he had before leaving.
 After Grammar, they had a lesson in writing. M. Hamel gave the class new notebooks with “France, Alsace,
France, Alsace” beautifully written on them.
 The notebooks were like flags of France that were floating all around.
 Later, M. Hamel remained composed and heard the lesson from the entire class.
 After the writing task, there was a lesson of history followed by phonetics where they recited the sounds of
alphabets.

Q. How the class/ students behaved that day?

Ans:
 All the students were in place at their desk, calm and quiet
 The entire class was busy in writing and the only sound that could be heard was that of the pen writing on the
paper.
 Once some beetles flew into the class, but no one paid and attention
 Everyone was busy writing.
 The writer considers the pigeons sitting on the roof of the class to be students as well and says that even the
pigeons were busy scratching the roof with their claws and it seemed that they were also busy writing the task
of French language.

Q. What all changes happened in those 40 yrs of M Hamel’s life as a teacher?

Ans:
 M. Hamel had been teaching at that same place for the last forty years, with the garden outside the window
and his class in front of him.
 The only changes were that the desks in the classroom had worn out due to use over the years,
 The walnut trees in the garden outside had grown taller,
 the hopvine on the outer wall of the school building had climbed up to the roof.

Q. What noise was coming from upstairs of their class?

Ans:
The noise was of his sister packing and moving their luggage could be heard from the room upstairs as they had to
leave the country very next day.

Q. Why Franz referred themselves as “babies”?

Ans:
Franz referred to the class as “babies” because although they were grown up, they were reciting the lesson of
phonetics ba, be, bi, bo and bu, which is usually done by younger children. So, he calls himself and his class to be
‘babies’.

Q. What was funny about Hauser?

Ans:

 Oldman Hauser of the village, had put on his spectacles and holding the primer in both his hands, recited the
letters/ phonetics with the class.
 He was crying
 His voice trembled as he spoke.
 For this action of Hauser, Franz had mixed feelings – he found it funny to see how an old man like Hauser
was crying and trembling and on the other hand, he also felt emotional like Hauser did.
 Franz could never forget this last lesson.

Q. What changes did the order from Berlin cause in the school? [CBSE paper, 2012]

A: The order from Berlin directed schools in the districts of Alsace and Lorraine in France to teach German
instead of French.

Also briefly explain change in attitude of students, teacher and village people.
How all felt the need of learning their mother language and learnt that mother language is the key to
freedom from slavery and bondage.

Q. How is the title ‘The Last Lesson’ appropriate? (Delhi 2016)

Answer:

 The title ‘The Last Lesson’ is appropriate because it was M. Hamel’s last lesson and also the last French
lesson in the school.
 During the last lesson, the teacher, as well as all those who were attending it, were feeling nostalgic and
repentant

Q. Long Answer 120-150 words

[CBSE paper, 2015] The order from Berlin aroused a particular zeal in the school. Comment.
OR
[CBSE paper, 2016] Our language is 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.
Ans:
 When Berlin ordered that French language would no longer be taught in schools in the French
districts of Alsace and Lorraine, it stirred the otherwise lazy Frenchmen/ triggered a sense of
patriotism in air.
 Suddenly, they all had a strong desire to learn how to read and write their mother tongue.
 It was not only the children who went to school but also the elders of the village who had not
studied seriously in their childhood, putting off ‘unimportant’ works to the next day.
 The day finally arrived as the last day of French language in the schools.
 They become serious and keen to learn as they feel the German would laugh at them for not
knowing their own language.
  They are ashamed of themselves when the teacher says that this lack of knowledge is the reason
for their defeat to the Germans and asks them to guard their mother tongue as being close to one’s
language is the key to escape from the prison of slavery.

[Link] different from usual was the atmosphere at school on the day of the last lesson? (All India 2015)
Answer:

Acquiring power over the Alsacians made the Prussians so dominating that they even imposed their language on them.
This way the Prussians intended to dominate the hearts and minds of the Alsacians and wanted them to even think in
their language and thereby lose their complete identity. An order had been received from Berlin that only German
would be taught in schools of Alsace and Lorraine. So there was something unusual about the school on the last day of
the French lesson. The usual hustle and bustle was missing. Everything was ‘strange and solemn’ as on a Sunday
morning. The village elders were seated on the back desks.

[Link], who had been teaching French at the school for the last forty years, was wearing his formal suit in honour
of the last French lesson. While delivering the last lesson, he called upon his students and the village elders to guard
the French language among themselves and never forget it, declaring French to be the most beautiful language in the
world. Franz developed a sudden fascination for school and the French language and a sudden respect for [Link].
He wanted his teacher to stay and felt very guilty for having neglected his French lessons as now he was being
deprived of the opportunity of learning his language.

Q. What did the French teacher tell his students in his last French lesson? What impact did it have on them?
Why? (All India 2009)
Answer:

M. Hamel told his students that a new order from Berlin has declared that all schools of Alsace and Lorraine would
teach only German so this was going to be their last French lesson. This new order aroused patriotic feelings in him
and he, in turn, wanted to arouse similar patriotism in his students and the village elders. He made them conscious of
the glory and value of the French language and told them to safeguard it among themselves and keep it alive at all
costs as it was the key to their unity and liberation. Everyone listened to him sadly but with rapt attention and respect.
Even little Franz listened to his teacher’s words with a new-found interest. He felt sorry that he had neglected learning
French. Everyone from the village assembled in the class to thank Mr. Hamel for his forty years of faithful service to
the community.

The Last Lesson Value Based Question

Question 1. Young Franz grows up into a fine young lad. He recalls his “last lesson” with tenderness as it
taught him the greatest lesson on patriotism. Write Franz’s feeling in the form of a diary entry.
Answer:

Dear Diary

I was like any other child, postponing duties and jobs with a perpetual feeling that there was plenty of time to do
things. I felt going to school was a drudgery and studying, sheer boredom. But that day the most unexpected thing
happened! We received an order from Berlin instructing compulsory education of German in the schools of Alsace
and Lorraine. It was a crucial day when the realization dawned on all, young and old. The loss of language and the
loss of freedom for France shook our being.
Our parents had preferred us working on the farms and mills instead of having us leam at school. We were in fact
postponing the lessons of life, oblivious to the fact that life is subject to change. Our French teacher, M Hamel, taught
us for the last time that day. The last lesson symbolized the changing order of life and its impact on the sensibilities
and emotions of people. Our teacher taught us to hold firm to our love for our mother tongue, and consequently our
sense of liberation. I remember the soldiers marching under the windows, representing the dawn of Prussia in France,
the defeat of the French people and the resultant threat to their language and culture. We painfully realized the
importance of all that we would be deprived of.
Our teacher ended the class by writing the bold message of “Long live France” on the blackboard, instilling in us an
undying pride in our nation and language.
BOARD QUESTIONS
Question [Link] was the mood in the classroom when M. Hamel gave his last French lesson? (2009,2011)
Answer:

 When [Link] was giving his last French ; lesson, the mood in the classroom was solemn and sombre.
 When he announced that this was their last French lesson everyone present in the classroom suddenly developed
patriotic feelings for their native language and genuinely regretted ignoring their mother tongue

Question [Link] had the narrator counted on to enter the school, unnoticed? (2010)
Answer:

 The narrator (Franz) had counted on the hustle and bustle that was usual when the school began in order to enter
there unnoticed.
 He had thought he could depend on the commotion to get to his desk without anybody noticing that he was late
for the class.

Question 3.“This is your last French lesson.” How did Franz react to this declaration of [Link]? (2010)
Answer:

 When [Link] declared that it was their last French lesson a grim realisation dawned on Franz that he had
so much more yet to learn.
 He felt sorry for wasting his time and skipping his lessons.
 Now he did not want to part with his books, which he had earlier considered a nuisance and burden.
 He was also deeply pained at the thought that [Link] was leaving.