Chapter: 1 The Last Lesson
I. Hard words and their meanings:
1. A great bustle: a lot of noise created by many people
2. Apprentice: trainee
3. At one stroke: at once, in one go.
4. Beetles: a large-sized insect
5. Blushed: face turned red in colour due to shame
6. Bulletin-board: a notice board
7. Choked: became unable to speak due to strong emotions
8. Commotion: noise and confusion
9. Cooed: the sound made by the pigeons
10. Couldn’t give up: cannot leave
11. Counted on: depended upon
12. Cranky: strange, short – tempered
13. Dreadful: frightening
14. Drilling: exercising
15. Fix in his mind: store or keep forever
16. Gazing: looking intently
17. Gesture: a signal
18. Grave: serious
19. In great dread of: fear of
20. In unison: at the same time
21. Mixed up: confused
22. Not even the littlest ones: refers to the pigeons
23. Nuisance: problem, burden
24. Pale: used to describe a person’s face
25. Pretend: show
26. Primer: basic reader of any language
27. Rapping: striking
28. Resist: to stay away
29. Saar: a river which passes through France
30. Sawmill: a factory for cutting wood
31. Solemn: serious.
32. Sunday clothes: the best dress that a person has.
33. Tempting: attracting
34. Thumbed: torn and damaged
35. Thunderclap: used in comparison to refer to something startling or unexpected
36. To reproach: blame
37. Trumpets: a musical instrument.
38. Twined: twisted
39. Who worked right on tracing their fish-hooks: scratching with their claws
40. Wretches: here, it refers to an unfortunate happening
II. Short Answer Questions:
1. Why was Franz reluctant to go to school?
Mr. M. Hamel, the French teacher had said that he would question the students on
participles. Franz did not know a word about it. Mr. M. Hamel was a very strict teacher.
2. What were the unusual things that happened when Franz reached the school?
When Franz reached the school, there was silence. No sound of opening and closing of
the doors and desks. Mr. M. Hamel was wearing a special suit which he wore on
Inspection and Prize distribution days.
3. Why was Franz tempted for not going to school?
The day was bright. The Sun was shining. The birds were chirping on the trees. The
Prussian soldiers were drilling in the fields.
4. Describe the role of notice board in the lesson.
All important news was displayed on the school notice board. Orders and updates about
war were also displayed. German will be taught in districts of Alsace and Lorraine.
5. Whom does Mr. M. Hamel blame for not learning a language?
1. Parents: They engage their children to work in farms, mills to earn money.
2. Students: They postpone everything for tomorrow.
3. Teachers: They engage their students in their own work like watering the plants and
going for holidays.
6. Why was Mr. M. Hamel wearing a special suit?
It was his last lesson of French. He had been teaching French for the last 40 years. He
wore a black coat with silk embroidery and a cap.
7. What did Mr. M. Hamel say about the French language?
French was the clearest language. It was logical and most beautiful language. No one can
imprison us mentally so long we hold on to our language.
8. How did the villagers pay their respect to Mr. M. Hamel?
They came to attend Mr. M. Hamel’s class. Villagers knew that from the next day
German would be taught in the districts of Alsace and Lorraine. Some of the villagers
were in tears.
9. What did Mr. M. Hamel do in his last lesson?
He taught history and French grammar. He told the importance of French language. He
wrote on the board “Long Live France”.
III. Long Answer Paragraph Questions:
1. Sketch the Character of Mr. M. Hamel, the French teacher.
OR
2. Narrate the story of The Last Lesson.
Mr. M. Hamel, the French teacher had said that he would question the students on
participles. The narrator boy Franz did not know a word about it. Mr. M. Hamel was a
very strict teacher. When Franz reached the school, there was silence. No sound of
opening and closing of the doors and desks. Mr. M. Hamel was wearing a special suit
which he wore on Inspection and Prize-distribution days. The day was bright. The Sun
was shining. The birds were chirping on the trees. The Prussian soldiers were drilling in
the fields. All important news was displayed on the school notice board. Orders and
updates about war were also displayed. German will be taught in the districts of Alsace
and Lorraine. Villagers knew that from the next day German would be taught in the
districts of Alsace and Lorraine. Some of the villagers were in tears. Mr. M. Hamel
taught history and French grammar. He told the importance of French language. He wrote
on the board “Long Live France”.
