Q.1.What was the bulletin-board? How was it
important?
Ans:
In
those days, bulletin board was the only medium to convey the official messages
and news to the common mass. It was important because it was the only mode of
communication between the officials and the public.
Q.2.What did M. Hamel say when Franz reached
to the school?
Ans:
When
Franz reached to the school, M. Hamel said very kindly to go to his place quickly
and added that they had been beginning without him.
Q.3.What did M. Hamel speak first in the
class that day about the last lesson?
Ans:
M.
Hamel spoke in a grave tone that it was the last lesson he would give them. The
order had come from Berlin to teach only German in the schools of Alsace and
Lorraine. He added that He wanted them to be very attentive as it was their
last lesson .
Q.4.What did Franz think after hearing about
the last lesson?
Ans:
After
hearing about the last lesson, Franz thought that he hardly knew how to write ,
he would be never able to learn French language
, he regretted for not learning his lessons, for seeking
birds' eggs or going sliding on the Saar river.
Q.5. Whom did M. Hamel blame for the
ignorance in studies? Why?
Or
Whom did M. Hamel blame for not paying proper
attention to the study of French?
Ans:
Firstly
for the ignorance in studies M. Hamel blamed the students because they delayed
the studies, then he blamed their parents who preferred them to work on a farm
or at the mills, and then he blamed himself too, for giving them holidays.
Q.6. What did M. Hamel say about the language
and its importance?
Or
What did M. Hamel say about the French
language.
Ans:
M.
Hamel said that the French language was the most beautiful, logical and
clearest language in the world and said that they must guard it as it was their
tradition and history.
Q.7.What did Franz think about the pigeons?
Why?
Ans:
Franz
wondered about the pigeons that if they (Germans) would make them sing in
German. as he heard the pigeons cooed very low on the roof.
Q.8.In the Last Lesson, name the countries
who were fighting and describe the content of the bulletin board.
Ans:
In
the Last Lesson French and Prussian were fighting.The Germans had put up a
notice on the bulletin-board that only German language would be taught in the
schools of Alsace and Lorraine
Q.9. What happened when church-clock struck
twelve?
Ans:
When
the church-clock struck twelve, the trumpets of the Prussians returning from
their drill sounded at which M. Hamel stood up, very pale, in his chair. He
tried to give his farewell words but choked.
Q.10. In what way 'according to M. Hamel'
does the mother tongue serve even the enslaved people?
Ans:
According
to M. Hamel, even if people are enslaved, their mother tongue can serve like a
key to their prison.
Q.11.Why was Franz in great fear when he
started for school?
Ans:
When Franz started for school, he was in great
fear of scolding for he had not learnt his lesson on participles.
Q.12. What tempted Franz to run away and
spend the day out of doors?
Ans:
It was so warm and bright! The birds were
chirping at the edge of the woods. In the open field the Prussian soldiers were
drilling. These things were all much more tempting than the rule of participles
at school.
Q.13. Why did the villagers come to school
that day? Why was it a surprise to Franz?
Ans:
The villagers came to school to thank and give
respect to M. Hamel for his faithful service also they were sorry that they
would not be able go to school any more. It was a surprise for Franz because
the back benches were always empty.
Q.14. Why did the grammar lesson seem so easy
to understand for Franz that day?
Ans:
The
grammar lesson seemed s0 easy to understand for Franz that day because he
listened to it very carefully and the teacher explained everything with great
patience.
Q.15. Why was Franz sorry for not learning
his French lesson?
Ans:
Franz was sorry for not learning his French
lesson because he wasted his time in seeking birds' eggs, or going sliding on
the Saar.
Q.16. What did Franz think about the German
rulers who imposed their language on the French people?
Ans:
On
the roof the pigeons cooed very low, Franz thought to himself, "Will the
German rulers make them sing in German, even the pigeons?"
Q.17. Why did Franz praise the courage of M.
Hamel?
Ans:
M.
Hamel and his family had to leave the country next day, even then he taught
everything according to the time table with great patience. It must have broken
his heart to leave his residence, garden and the school where he passed his
forty years of life.
Q.18. How did M. Hamel wish his country
before the close of the school that day?
Ans:
M.
Hamel turned to the blackboard, took a piece of chalk, and bearing on with all
his might, he wrote as large as he could-
"Vive
La France!"
Long Answer
Type Question
Q1. Why was Franz running towards school that
day? What did he notice during the way?
Ans:
Franz was running towards the school because he was very late and was in
great dread of a scolding for getting late and not to learn participles , he was in double terror-not knowing about
participles and getting late. In the way, he noticed the birds chirping at the
edge of the woods, the Prussian soldiers drilling in the open field back of the
sawmill and it was all much more tempting than the rule for participles. When
he passed the town hall he noticed that
there was a crowd in the front of the bulletin-board., then he was called by
blacksmith, Wachter, who was there with his apprentice, reading the bulletin board.
Q.2. What was the scene inside the class when
Franz reached to the school?
Ans:
When
Franz reached to the school, he found everything so stillas Sundays. Through
the window, he saw his classmates, already in their places, and M. Hamel was
walking up and down with the terrible iron ruler under his arm. He saw his
teacher M. Hamel wearing his beautiful green coat, he saw the village people,
sitting quietly on the back benches including old Hauser, the former Mayor, the
former Postmaster and several others. So, everything and everybody was still
and silent that day.
Q.3. How did the announcement of the last lesson
af- fect Franz?
Ans:
The
announcement of the last lesson affected Franz in a very deep manner. Those
words were a thunderclap for him. He started to think about his mother tongue
French. He thought that he hardly knew how to write and he should never learn
any more. He was feeling sorry for not learning his lessons. His books, that
had seemed such a nuisance a while ago, which were so heavy to carry, his
grammar, and his history of the saints, were felt old friends by him. The idea
that his master was going away, that he should never see him again, made him
forget all about his ruler and how cranky he was.
So,
in total, the announcement of the last lesson, made Franz realized the
importance of the native language.
Q.4. What happened at last? How did M. Hamel
last the class?
Ans:
At
last the Church-clock struck twelve and then the Angelus. The trumpets of the
Prussians, returning from drill, sounded under their windows. M. Hamel stood
up. He looked very pale. He tried to say something but something choked his
throat. Actually, he was unable to speak due to the pain of farewell and the
last day in that town. So, he couldn't go on speaking any more. Then he turned
to the blackboard, took a piece of chalk and wrote as large as he could -
"Vive La France!" Then he stopped and leaned his head against the
wall, and without a word, made a gesture to them with his hand 'School is
dismissed you may go.'
Q.5. What is the reason that made M. Hamel
declare that the lesson which he was going to teach on that fateful day was to
be the last lesson?
Ans:
Mr.
Hamel was teaching in this school for last forty years. He opened a grammar
book and taught them their last lesson. He said that it was my last lesson. Mr.
Hamel said that the French language was the most beautiful language in the
world the clearest, most logical. He further said that they must guard it among
them and never forgot it.
Q.6. What is the theme of the story 'The Last Lesson'? Discuss.
Ans:
The
theme of the story 'The Last Lesson' is: "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."
The
Germans have conquered a territory of France in the battle. This territory
comprises Alsace and Lorraine. The order comes from Berlin that only German
will be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine and the new master will
come the next day.
It
was a great pain inflicted on the people of Alsace and Lorraine. Their right to
study or speak French was taken away by the Germans.
Village
people came to the school. They sat quietly on the back benches that were
always empty. Old Hauser, with his three-cornered hat, the former mayor, the
former postmaster, and several others came there. They were visibly upset that
they had been devoided of their mother tongue.
The
atmosphere of the school was sombre. Village people were crying that they had
been deprived of their right to study or speak their own language ie. French.
Q.7. The people in this story suddenly
realise how precious their language is to them. What shows you this? Why does
this happen?
Ans:
Introduction:
The Germans had conquered the territory of France comprising Alsace and
Lorraine in the battle.
Preciousness of the
language: The order from Berlin has come that
in Alsace and Lorraine German will be taught instead of French. M. Hamel
informs the class, "My children, this is the last lesson I shall give you.
The order has come from Berlin to teach only German in the schools of Alsace
and Lorraine. The new master comes tomorrow. This is your last French
lesson." French language is the most beautiful language in the world. It
is the clearest and the most logical. 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.
So, they must guard it among them and never forget it.
These words were a thunderclap to the students and the
village people who were present there. Then they suddenly realised how precious
their language is to them. It shows the importance of their language to them.
French was their mother tongue.
Conclusion:
This happens when the conqueror imposes a language on the vanquished instead of
their mother tongue. History is replete with such instances.
MCQs
1. Franz was in a great dread of scolding
because M. Hamel had said that he would question them on .
(a) infinitives
(b) participles
(c) articles
(d) pronoun
2. M. Hamel was wearing his green coat which
he only wore on days.
(a) prize
(b) inspection
(c) special
(d) All three
3. M. Hamel mounted on his chair and said,
"My chil- dren, this is the lesson I shall give you.
(a) first
(b) best
(c) only
(d) last
4. The old men were sitting in the back of
the class and it was their way of thanking their master for his years of faithful
service.
(a) 14
(b) 20
(c) 30
(d) 40
5. Their parents preferred to put them to
work on a farmor at the , so as to have
a little more money.
(a) factories
(b) companies
(c) shops
(d) mills
6. When a people are enslaved, as long as
they hold fast to their language it is as if they had thetotheir prison.
(a) exit
(b) way
(c) key
(d) gate
7. On thethe pigeons cooed very low.
(a) roof
(b) wall
(c) gate
(d) tin
8. Whenever I looked up from my writing I saw
M. Hamel sitting in his chair.
(a) silent
(b) happ
(c) sad
(d) motionless
9. After the writing, we had a lesson in .
(a) English
(b)
History
(c) French
(d) German
10. M. Hamel stood up, very,in his chair.
(a) lean
(b) thin
(c) pale
(d) weak
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