Most Important Qs-Ans: The Last Lesson
1. What changes did the order from Berlin cause in
school that day?
Ans. There was an unusual silence in school. M.
Hamel was serious as it was his last lesson. Franz listened to his teacher patiently.
The villagers also attended the class. Perhaps they wanted to pay respect to M.
Hamel’s forty years of service to the school. Franz felt guilty for wasting his
time in the past.
2. As the
teacher began to speak, ““My children, this is the last lesson…”, the words
sounded like a thunderclap to Franz. Why?
Ans. As the teacher’s words fell on Franz’s
ears like a thunderclap. He was in a tizzy (in utter confusion) and could not
understand what will become of him as he did not know his mother tongue
properly. He also came to understand why the
people had gathered at the bulletin board.
3. What did the teacher say about the general tendency
of people in general about tasks and what did he say about Franz’s parents and
himself?
Ans. The teacher said that people are in the
habit of putting off things. They do not understand the value of present time
and education. They are not serious about their children’s education. He also
blamed himself for sending students to water the flower beds and on
holiday.
4. What plans had Franz made to pass his day if he stayed away from
school? Why did he change his plans?
Ans. Several thoughts came
to his mind to pass the day if he stayed away from school. There was warm
weather outside: birds were chirping at the edge of the woods and the Prussian
soldiers were drilling in the open at the back of the saw-mill. But he wanted
to attend his school that day.
5. Franz
thinks, “Will they make them sing in German, even the pigeons? What does this
tell us about the attitude of the Frenchmen?
Ans. The statement shows a young boy’s
perception ( view) about the Prussian soldiers. He thinks that they can force
human beings to learn and speak German, but they cannot force the birds to
learn German. This shows how the
Frenchmen loved their language and how they were worried about it.
6. What is a bulletin board? What is its importance
for the people of Alsace and Lorraine?
Ans. The latest information (almost bad news)
like all lost battles, the drafts, and the orders of the commanding officer was
put at the bulletin board. People used to read from there about the latest
information. That day, they got the information that the French language would not
be taught in schools in the districts of Alsace and Lorraine.
7. What had Franz thought about entering the classroom and why couldn’t he enter as planned?
Ans. Franz wanted to enter the classroom unnoticed by
taking advantage of the usual noise and movements.
But on that day, everything was so quiet and
peaceful, so, he had to enter the classroom by opening the door. The class was
already full. He felt blushed and frightened.
8. Who were sitting on the back benches? Why
had they come there in the classroom?
Ans. The village elders
were sitting at the back benches. Those were: old Mr. Hauser. There were some
other people like the former mayor, the former postman, etc. All of them had
come to attend M. Hamel’s last lesson on French and also to pay respect to him
for his forty-year service in the school.
9. What did Mr. Franz say about the French language?
Ans. He said that the
French language was the most beautiful of all the languages. It was the
clearest and the most logical language. He also advised the students and the
people present there never to forget this language.
Q1/11. Franz’s attitude towards school and M. Hamel
changes when he comes to know about the takeover of his village by Prussian
soldiers. Do you agree? Discuss with reference to ‘The Last Lesson’?
Ans. Yes, we agree that Franz’s attitude towards school and
M. Hamel is totally changed. He feels guilty of being careless for his lessons
and missing them by remaining away from school.
His attitude towards Mr.
Hamel is also changed now. He used to think his teacher to be a crank, but now
he has full respect for him. The books on grammar and history were burden for
him, but now they are no more burdens for him. On the last day, he
listened to the lecture so attentively that he was able to understand
everything. He also thinks that Mr. Hamel had never taught them the lesson so
seriously before. Thus we see
that Franz undergoes changes in his attitude towards school and M. Hamel.
Q2. As Franz reached the school, what changes did he notice
there as a result of the orders from Berlin?
Ans. Franz saw an unusual scene in the school. It looked as if
it were a quiet Sunday morning. He had expected to see the movements of the
students from one place to the other and their noise that could be heard out in
the street. Sometimes it was the noise of opening and closing of desks, lessons
repeated in unison. Sometimes there was the sound of the teacher’s big ruler
rapping or hitting on the table. But that day, no such noise could
be heard.
Franz was really surprised to see the inside
scene of the class room. He saw that his classmates were already in their
places. M. Hamel, the teacher, was walking up and down in the class room. He
had worn his special dress. Some village elders also were there sitting in the
class room. All those things surprised Franz.
