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The Last Lesson Notes Long 23-24

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11 views

The Last Lesson Notes Long 23-24

Uploaded by

kanangupta123
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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The Last Lesson

Long Answer Questions

Q.1 What changes did narrator find in the school when the order from Berlin came?

OR

Describe the effect on the life and mind at school when Alsace and Lorraine passed into
Prussian hands.

OR

What particular changes did Franz notice when he took his seat in classroom?

OR

How was M. Hamel a different teacher while giving his last lesson?

OR

Franz's attitude and villagers' attitude changed when they come to know about takeover of
their language by Prussians. Discuss.

Ans: On the day of last lesson the school atmosphere was full of patriotism and emotions.
Usually, the noise of opening and closing of desk and tapping the ruler by the teacher was heard
on the street. But the order from Berlin changed everything that day. M. Hamel was a different
teacher that day from his previous days. Earlier, he was strict and cranky but in his last lesson,
he was completely changed. His voice was gentle , polite, serious and filled with emotions. He
was wearing his favourite suit which he used to wear on special occasions i.e. inspection days
and prize distribution days. It was extremely surprising that that day back benches were
occupied by the villagers including old Houser, former postmaster, former mayor and several
others. They ha not attended the school regularly but that day they had come to pay the tribute
to the selfless and dedicated service of forty years by M. Hamel. M. Hamel who was usually very
cranky was very polite that day. Franz also was regretful for not learning his lessons. The books
that seemed nuisance and so heavy to carry while ago were his old friends now. He understood
concept of his language very well that day and listened to the teacher carefully and his teacher
also explained everything with so much patience. Everybody was filled with regret as they had
neglected their native language and now it would be banned forever. It was their last lesson of
French language. And now they were not able make up for lost time. That's why M.Hamel
taught his last lesson with great patience and more effectively as if he wanted to impart each
and every word of his knowledge to his students in one stroke. Old Hauser had brought an old
primer with him and he was reading it aloud with his heart and soul. Everybody was emotional
that day and the feelings which were buried deep in their hearts for their mother language came
out with full velocity. Everyone was regretful and emotional as they had lost a chance to learn
their language anymore.

Q.2 What is linguistic chauvinism? Describe that the chapter 'The Last Lesson' is based on
linguistic chauvinism.

OR

When people are enslaved as long as they hold fast to their language it is as if they have key
to their prison. Justify the statement with reference to the chapter.

OR

Will they make them sing in German, even the pigeons? What does Franz want to convey
through this statement?

Ans: Linguistic chauvinism means to carry pride in one's language by considering his language to
be superior and others' to be inferior. In this chapter, both M. Hamel and German people give
importance to their own language. No doubt mother tongue plays a very important role in the
development of a country as the people can express and discuss their thoughts and ideas in a
better way in their own language. But the imposition of the language of victorious country over
the enslaved country makes the people bound to follow the language that they don't like.
German people thought their language to be superior and imposed it on the people of France.
They passed the orders to ban French language in Alsace and Lorraine. M. Hamel told his
students in his last lesson that if the people are enslaved, as long as they hold fast to it is their
language , it is as if they had the key to their prison. But no language should be considered
inferior because every language has its own beauty and importance. Imposition of German
language over French people shows the hollowness and prejudice of human. But man is not able
to have a full control over natural tone of every creature. This thing is proved by Franz when he
said " Will they make them sing in German, even the pigeons?

It means German people could not make the birds bound to follow their orders. Even they
could not remove imprints of love and attachment towards their own language, French from
their hearts.

In the same way human also has a natural tone of the mother tongue. All creatures have their
own style and tongue to express themselves. M. Hamel also gives so much importance to French
language while calling it the most logical, the most beautiful and the clearest language of the
world. Language should be given equal importance whether it is of enslaved country or
victorious country. By imposing their own language over French people Germans showed only
their narrow mindedness and prejudice.

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