Chapter 1

The Last Lesson

About the Author:

Alphonse Daudet born in 1840, was a famous French writer known for writing stories
and novels that vividly depicted everyday life in France during the 1800s. His
works focused on exploring human feelings and important social topics with great
detail and understanding.

Introduction of the Story:

The Last Lesson is set during the Franco-Prussian War of the 1870s, when France was
defeated by Prussia, which included Germany, Poland, and parts of Austria.
Prussian forces occupied the cities of Alsace and Lorraine, and the story focuses
on M. Hamels final lesson in a French village school before he leaves. This marks
a significant moment as its his farewell from teaching in France.

Theme:
The Last Lesson shows how people deeply desire their language and culture when
they face war. It explains the sadness and grief of losing ones home, language, and
traditions during conflicts. The story also reveals how political situations impact
children as Franz grows fond of his native lan- guage, culture, and teacher. It reflects
how humans often value something more when they are about to lose it than when
its easily accessible.

Character Sketches:

1. M Hamel - M. Hamel was a strict yet passionate teacher who believed strongly in
teaching French to his students. He took pride in his job and courageously
defied orders to conduct the final lesson.

2. Franz - Franz, an active and curious boy, enjoyed exploring different activities but
initially wasnt interested in learning French. He should have paid more attention to
the political situation and missed important announcements. However, he
observed M. Hamel closely, noticing his behaviour and when he dressed
formally. Franz became emotional when he realised he wouldnt learn from M.
Hamel anymore or study French.

Summary:

1. During the 1870 - 71, the Franco-Prussian War, Prussia (Germany, Poland, and parts
of Austria) conquered the French regions of Alsace and Lorraine. After the
conquest, Berlin ordered these districts to cease teaching French in all schools and
replace French-speaking teachers with German instructors.

2. Franz started for school very late that morning. He was afraid of being scolded
because M. Hamel was to question them on participles, and he did not know the
first word about them. He thought of running away and spending the day out of
doors. The warm bright day, the chirping birds, and the Prussian soldiers drilling in
the open field back of the sawmill were tempting. But he resisted the temptation
and hurried off to school.

3. There was a crowd in front of the bulletin-board near the town-hall. Wachter, the
blacksmith asked Franz not to go so fast. He assured the boy that he would get
to his school in plenty of time. Usually there was a great bustle when the school
began but that day everything was as quiet as Sunday morning.

4. Through the window Franz saw his classmates, already in their places and M. Hamel
walking up and down with his terrible iron ruler under his arm. Franz opened the
door and went in. He blushed and was frightened. M. Hamel very kindly asked him
to go to his place.

5. Franz noticed that their teacher had put on his beautiful green coat, his frilled shirt,
and the little
 black silk cap, all embroidered. He wore these only on inspection and prize days. The
village people were sitting quietly on the usually empty back benches. Everybody
looked sad; and Hauser had brought an old primer.

6. M. Hamel said that it was the last lesson he would give them. Hence forth, only
German was to be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. The new master
would come the next day. This was their last lesson of French. He wanted them
to be very attentive.

7. Franz felt sorry that he had not learnt his lessons properly. The idea that M. Hamel
was going away made the narrator forget all about his ruler and how cranky he
was. Now Franz understood why M. Hamel had put on his fine Sunday clothes
and why the old men of the village were sitting there. They had come to thank the
master for his forty years faithful service and to show their respect for the country
that was theirs no more.

8. M. Hamel asked Franz to recite, but he stood there silent. The teacher did not scold
him. He con- fessed that his parents and he (the teacher) were at fault. Then he
talked of the French language-the most beautiful language in the world-the
clearest, the most logical. He asked them to guard it among them and never
forget it. Their language was the key to their prison.

9. Then they had lesson in grammar and writing. The pigeons cooed very low on the
roof. Franz thought if they would make even the pigeons sing in German. All the
while M. Hamel was sitting motion-less in his chair and gazing at one thing or the
other. His sister was packing their trunks in the room above as they had to leave
the country next day.

10. After writing, they had a lesson in history, and then all at once the church-clock struck
twelve and then the midday prayers. At the same moment the trumpets of the
Prussians, returning from drill, sounded under the windows. M. Hamel stood up. He
wanted to speak but something choked him.

11. Then he took a piece of chalk and wrote on the blackboard as large as he could Vive
La France!. After this he stopped and leaned his head against the wall. Without a
word, he made a gesture with his hand to indicate that the school was dismissed
and they might go.

Conclusion:
The Last Lesson reflects on the importance of ones language for any race and why it
is crucial to safeguard it.

SHORT ANSWER (2 Marks)

1. What changes did the order from Berlin cause in school that day?
Ans: There was complete silence everywhere. It was as quiet as Sunday morning. Mr. Hamel said it
would be his last lesson. Old people of the village had come to thank
[Link] for his faithful service of forty years.

2. How did Franzs feelings about [Link] and school change?

Ans: Franz was very sad for [Link]. He cursed the Prussian rulers as well as himself for not
learning his lessons. He forgot all about [Link] rod and his cranky nature.
He no longer hated school.

3. The people in the story suddenly realised how precious thier language is to them.
What shows you this? Why does this happen?
Ans: Everyone in the class is sad as they listen carefully to whatever [Link] says. All this
happens because Mr. Hamel makes them realise that when people are
enslaved, as long as they hold fast to their language, it is as if they have the key to
their prison.
 OR

What did Franz notice that was unusual about the school that day? (HSSLC 2013)
Ans: There were usually lots of noises when the school began. For ex-ample, the sounds of teachers
great ruler rapping on the table could be heard. But that day it was all very
quiet. It was as quiet as Sunday morning.

5. How was Mr. Hamel dressed on his last day in school? (HSSLC 2019)
Ans: Mr. Hamel was dressed in his best clothes. He was in his beautiful green coat and a frilled
shirt. He was wearing a little black silk cap. He never wore this dress except
on inspection and prize days.

6. What information did Mr. Hamel give to the children in his class?
Ans: Mr. Hamel told the children that it would be his last lesson to his classes. Orders had come
from Berlin to teach only German in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. He said
the new master was coming the next day.

7. What was it that brought the old men of the village to school?
Ans: The old men in the village had come to know that Mr. Hamel was leaving the school forever.
They had come to thank him for his forty years of faithful service and show their
respect for the country that was theirs no more.

8. What did Mr. Hamel say about the French language? (HSSLC 2014)

OR

How does M. Hamel pay a tribute to the French language?

Ans: M. Hamel said that French language is the most beautiful, the most logical and the clearest of
all languages. He asked the people to guard it and never forget it. He went on saying that
as long as they hold fast to their language, it is as if they have the key to freedom.

9. What happened when the church clock struck twelve?

Ans: There were sounds of the midday prayer. At the same moment the sound of the trumpets by
Russian soldiers was heard. Mr. Hamel stood up to say something but
something choked him and he could say nothing. He took a big piece of chalk and
wrote in big letters, Long Live France!

10. What was Franz expected to be prepared with for school that day?

OR

Why did Franz feel embarrassed when he reached school ? (HSSLC 2026)

Ans: Franz was expected to be prepared with the rules of participles. [Link], his teacher, had
announced that he would question on participles that day but Franz did not
know even a word about it.

11. Why did Franz think of running away and spending the day out of doors?
Ans: Franz started for school very late. His teacher M. Hamel had said that he would question them
on participles. Franz knew nothing about them. He feared a scolding from his teacher.
He thought of running away and spend the day out of doors. But he resisted the temptation
and hurried off to school.

12. What did Franz wonder about when he entered the class room that day? (HSSLC 2021)
Ans: Franz saw the village people sitting quietly on the back benches. They included Old Hauser,
the
former mayor, the former postmaster and many others. Everybody look sad. Also M. Hamel
dressed his best clothes. He was in his beautiful green coat and frilled shirt.

******************************************
 LONG ANSWER (6 Marks)

1. What was the order from Berlin? How did that order affect the people of Alsace,
particularly M Hamel and his students? (HSSLC 2012)
Ans: The order came from Berlin to teach only German in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. The
whole atmosphere in the school changed. It looked like a Sunday morning. Mr.
Hamel was not in his usual dress. Since it was his last day of teaching in the
school, he wore a beautiful green coat and a frilled shirt. There was going to be
no more teaching of French in the school. The country had passed into Prussian
hands and everybody was crestfallen at this unfortunate change.

2. What changes did the narrator find in school when the orders from Berlin came?
(HSSLC 2015)
Ans: The narrator found the whole atmosphere of the school changed. The school usually began
with a g reat bustle. But now it was all quiet. Then the narrator found that everything
inside the class had also changed. The teacher, Mr. Hamel was dressed in his best
clothes. And the biggest shock was when Mr. Hamel told about the orders from
Berlin that only German was going to be taught in the schools of Alsace and
Lorraine.

3. Describe M Hamel as a teacher. (HSSLC 2020)

Ans: M Hamel was the most dedicated, hard working and a learned teacher of French. He served
the society in the same school for forty years towards the cause of education. He
had specific regards for his own language and told upon the students about the
impotance of learning their own
language. He was deeply grieved to leave the place since he had been deeply attached
and mixed with the soil of the place. M. Hamel was a true patriot who was
strongly devoted towards his native language. [Link] considered French
language as the most beautiful and logical language allover in the world. In this
man ner, it can be stated that [Link] was loyal teacher as well as a true
patriot.

4. The people in this story suddenly realize how precious their language is to them.
What shows you this? Why does this happen.
Ans: The story highlights the dismay and distress of the people and M. Hamel, their
teacher. When the village heard about the order from Berlin, the people of
Alsace suddenly realized how precious their language is to them. The order
arouses patriotic feelings in the people of the occupied territories.M. Hamel goes
on to declare that French is the most beautiful, logical, and clearest of all languages.
Even the villagers seemed to endorse M. Hamel's view. They come and sit there on the back
benches. In this way, they show their respect for their language that is theirs no
more. Even Franz grows sentimental. This is the last lesson in French. He
regrets not having learnt his lesson. He now develop a craving for French
language and the teacher who taught French.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS

1. The author of the last lesson is-

(i) Alphonse Daudet (ii) Alphonse Douglas (iii) Alphonse Dream

2. The teacher of Franz is-

(i) H. Hamal (ii) M. Hamel (iii) K. Hamel

3. Franz was asked to prepare in a school-

(i) use of grammar (ii)use of participles (iii) use of method

4. In the last class M. Hamel wore a dress-

(i) beautiful white coat (ii) beautiful green coat (iii) beautiful black coat
5. "Go to your place quickly, little Franz. We were begin without you." who said to whom?
(i) Franz to M. Hamel (ii) M. Hamel to Franz (iii) Villagers to
Franz

6. ______it was the most beautiful language in the wor -the clearest, the most logical.
(i) German (ii) Spanish (iii) French

7. The meaning of Vive La France is-

(i) Long Live France (ii) Live Long France (iii) France Long Live

8. Franz was in-

(i) Dread of scolding (ii)Dread of hurting (iii) Dread of murmuring

9. It has been put up in the notice board-

(i) France should be taught (ii) German should be taught (iii) English should be taught

10. The old men of the village were sitting there in the back of the classroom-
(i) to show their respect for the prussian soldiers.
(ii) to show their respect for the country that was theirs no more.
(iii) to show that they have learnt their esson wwell

11. Franz saw a crowd in front of the - (HSSLC 2021)

(i) Saar (ii) school (iii) bulletin-board

12. The back benches in the classroom were occupied by

(i) weak students (ii) village elders (iii) senior students

13. The story is set during which war?

(i) World War I (ii) World War II (iii) Franco-Prussian War

14. Franz was afraid because he _____

(i) was late (ii) didnt prepare participles (iii) All of the above

15. What tempted Franz on the way?

(i) Nature and soldiers (ii) Market (iii) Games

16. Why was there a crowd at the bulletin board?

(i) Festival (ii) War news (iii) Lost items

17. Who called Franz Dont go so fast?

(i) Teacher (ii) Friend (iii) Wachter

18. How was the school atmosphere?

(i) Noisy (ii) Silent and serious (iii) Empty

19. What did M. Hamel announce?

(i) Holiday (ii) Exam (iii) Last French lesson

20. Why was it the last lesson?

(i) Teacher retiring (ii) War order (iii) School closing

21. What did Franz feel after the announcement?

(i) Happy (ii) Angry (iii) Regret

22. What did villagers come to show?

(i) Curiosity (ii) Respect and regret (iii) Fun