THE LAST LESSON

1. Describe the background of The Last Lesson by Alphonse Daudet.

2. What did Franz notice that was unusual about the school that day?
Franz noticed that it was all very still and quiet as a Sunday morning that
day. Further, M. Hamel spoke to Franz very kindly even though he was late
for class. Moreover, he was wearing his special dress that he wore for
inspection or prize days. Lastly, the back benches were occupied by the
elderly crowd from the village.

3. What was the mood in the classroom when M. Hamel gave his last
French lesson? CBSE 2009
Firstly, the news from Berlin that it would be the last French lesson had
aroused patriotic feelings within the residents of Alsace. Secondly, they were
all filled with remorse for having wasted their time in doing trivial things and
not studied French with diligence as at this hour of crises, language was their
only key to unity and freedom. Therefore, the mood of the classroom was
solemn, remorseful, nostalgic and patriotic.

4.How did Franz’s feelings about M. Hamel and the school change?
Franz came to know that it was the last lesson in French that M. Hamel
would give them. From the next day they will be taught only German. Then
he felt sorry for not learning his lessons properly. His books, which seemed a
nuisance and a burden earlier were now old friends. His feelings about M.
Hamel also changed. He forgot all about his ruler and how cranky he was.
 4. Define linguistic chauvinism and analyse it with reference to the order
from Berlin, M. Hamel’s views about French and the new-found love of
the people towards their language.
Linguistic chauvinism means carrying pride in one’s language too far. The order
of Berlin was nothing but a stark example of linguistic chauvinism. The
Germans wished to dominate over the heart and soul of the residents of Alsace
by not only conquering their territory but also by imposing German language
over the French-speaking locals and thereby in the process making them lose
their national identity. This kind of enslaving the French people is nothing but
the worst kind of colonialism.
But the love of Hamel and the village people for their mother tongue makes
them feel genuinely proud of French language. M Hamel and the residents
realize that language can help to unite and free people from German
dominance. He urges them to safeguard their language among themselves.
People of Alsace too realize how precious their language is to them and feels
sorry for neglecting their native language for so long.
5. Draw a character sketch of M. Hamel as it is shown in 'The Last Lesson.'

Ans. In 'The Last Lesson' Alphonse Daudet presents M. Hamel's character with
all sympathy and respect. He is presented in the mould of a traditional
schoolmaster. He always kept his 'terrible' ruler under his arm. Franz reminds
us of 'how cranky' M. Hamel was. Franz was in great dread of scolding as he
had not prepared his lesson on participles. M. Hamel was a hard taskmaster.

We see the other side of M. Hamel's character after the order from Berlin
comes. He was a transformed person now. He became extra soft and gentle
towards his students. He didn't scold Franz for coming late. Nor did he use his
ruler when Franz got mixed up and confused with the rules of participles. He
used his last lesson in French to instil within the village people patriotic
feelings and to make them aware that they need to safeguard their language
and culture at all costs. Further, he was candid enough to admit that the
students were not fluent in the language partly because his attitude towards
teaching French was casual. He often sent them to water his flowers or gave
them holidays when he wanted to go for fishing. Moreover, he was highly
respected both by his students and the village elders. He had completed 40
years in the same school. The village elders had come to pay their respect to
such a grand teacher.

6. “The importance of things dawns upon us when it is no longer with us.”

“The water of the well is not missed until it runs dry,” a saying that correlates
very well with the fact that the importance of things dawns upon us only when
it is no longer with us. As human beings, we tend to take things for granted.
Value of things is most when we are yet to obtain it or have lost it. This
tendency to delay things is called procrastination.

In the chapter The Last Lesson, when the order comes from Berlin to replace
French with German, all of Alsace laments for taking their native tongue for
granted. They had put off learning and mastering their mother tongue for
tomorrow. Now when their identity was at stake, they were filled with remorse
that they had never given importance to their mother tongue. Even M. Hamel
acknowledged that he should have been more serious with the business of
teaching his pupils rather than giving them off for the slightest pretext- going
fishing or sending children to water his plants. The parents also were at fault as
they preferred their children to do odd jobs rather than devote time to their
studies. But this repentance had come too late. This newfound love for their
mother tongue had come after it had been snatched away from them.

7. Why was there a crowd in front of the bulletin-board at the town hall?
(A.I. CBSE 2008)
8. How was the scene in the school in the morning of the last lesson
different from that on other days? (CBSE 2008)
9. What did M. Hamel tell the people in the class about French language?
What did he ask them to do and why? (A.I. CBSE 2008)
Or
How does M. Hamel pay a tribute to the French language? (A.I. CBSE
2008)
10.What was Franz expected to be prepared with for the school that day?
(CBSE 2011)
11.Why had the narrator counted on to enter the school unnoticed?
(CBSE2010)
12.Which were the words that shocked and surprised little Franz? (CBSE
2010, 2011)
13.How did M. Hamel say farewell to his students and the people of the
town? (CBSE 2012)
14. Franz thinks, ‘’will they make them sing in German, even the pigeons?’
What does this tell about the attitude of the Frenchmen? ( CBSE2011)