Updated on 20/05/2022
1. The Last Lesson (Alphonse Daudet)
Main points of the
chapter
Ø In this story M. Hamel is a dedicated and patriotic French teacher, who has been teaching French language for 40 years.
Ø Today he was going to deliver his last lesson.
Ø A student named Franz was late for school that day.
Ø Franz was afraid because he had not learnt his lesson on participles.
Ø He saw big crowd in front of bulletin board when he was coming to school.
Ø All bad news come by this bulletin board for the past two years.
Ø When Franz came M. Hamel was in class room with rod in his hand.
Ø He did not rebuke Franz. He said him to take his seat.
Ø People of villages were also sitting at back benches on that day to attend
his last lesson.
Ø Mr. M. Hamel spoke in gentle tone & announced this is their last
lesson in French language.
Ø He said that an order had come from Berlin, only German would be taught in
schools of Alsace and Lorraine.
Ø Because France had defeated against Prussia.
Ø The new teacher would come the next day.
Ø He urged students & countrymen to protect their language.
Ø In Last he tried to speak, but something choked him.
Ø He took a piece of chalk and wrote on blackboard “Vive La France” (Long
Live France).
Very Short Type Q-Ans.
1. Who is the writer of the story’ The Last Lesson’?
Ans. Alphonse Daudet
2. Who is the
narrator of the story ‘The Last Lesson’?
Ans. A boy named Franz
Q. 3 Which language did
the narrator hardly know to write?
Ans. French
Q. 4 What was the
narrator sorry for?
Ans. Not learning his
lessons in French
Q. 5 Who was M. Hamel?
Ans. A French teacher
Q. 6 What did Franz see
in front of the bulletin board?
Ans. A big crowd
Q.7 Who were sitting at
the back benches of the class?
Ans. Some people from
the village/town
Q. 8 What did M. Hamel
say about his lesson?
Ans. It was his last
lesson in French
Q. 9 What order had come
from Berlin?
Ans. Only German would
be taught in schools of Alsace and Lorraine
Q.10 When would the next
teacher come, according to M. Hamel?
Ans. The next day
Q. 11 How long had M.
Hamel served the school?
Ans. Forty years
Q. 12 What did M. Hamel
write on the blackboard?
Ans. Vive la France
(Long live France)
Short Type Q-Ans.
Q.1 What did Franz notice that was unusual about school that day?
Ans. Franz notice that there was usually a lot of noises when
the school began. But today scene was totally different. There was no noise, no
hustle and bustle. Everything was as still as Sunday morning.
Q.2 What had been put
up on the bulletin-board?
Ans. When Franz came in the school, he saw a big crowd in
front of bulletin-board and read notice which wrote that is an order from
Berlin. It said that only German would be taught in the schools of Alsace and
Lorraine. The new teachers were coming the next day.
Q.3 How did Franz feel
about M. Hamel and school?
Ans. Franz was shocked when he heard that Mr. Hamel was
leaving the school for ever. His feelings now changed altogether. He cursed
himself for not learning his lesson. He forgot all about Mr. Hamel ruler and
his cranky nature.
Q. 4 How did M. Hamel
bid farewell to his students and the villagers?
Ans. The church clock stuck twelve. It was time to close to
school. He was stood up and tried to speak something, but he could not speak.
He only took a piece of chalk and wrote on board, ‘Vive La France’ (Long Live
France).
Q.5 Why was Franz
afraid of?
Ans. Franz was very late for school that day. He was afraid
because the teacher was to ask questions on participles and he didn’t know a
single word about them.
Q.6 What was the effect
of M. Hamel’s announcement on the narrator?
Ans. When Mr. Hamel told the children that this is his last
French lesson. The order has come from Berlin to teach only German in the
schools of Alsace and Lorraine. The new teacher was coming the next day. Franz
was sad that he would never see Mr. Hamel again. Now Franz became very
attentive to learn French language.
Q.7 What was the
temptation and how did Franz resist it?
Ans. Franz was afraid because the teacher was to ask
questions on participles and he didn’t know a single word about them. So he
decided to run away and spend the out. Open fields, the chirping of birds and
the Prussian soldiers drilling were more attractive than the participles. But
he resists to himself and decided to go to the school.
Q.8 What kind of
clothes was M. Hamel wearing? Why had he put on that fine dress?
Ans. He was wearing his beautiful green coat, frilled shirt and black silk cap. He wore those clothes only on inspection and prize days. But today he was wearing these clothes in honour of the last lesson.
Essay Type Q-Ans.
Q. 1 Write a brief
character-sketch of M. Hamel.
Ans. Mr. Hamel is a teacher of the French language at the
narrator’s school. He is very strict as a teacher. His students are afraid of
him. But they also respect him. All villagers also respect him. He is a great
patriot. He loves his country and the language of his country. He urged upon
the students and the villagers to protect the French language. He is deeply
shocked when the new German rulers of the country disallow the teaching of
French in schools. Mr. Hamel has to leave the school. Mr. Hamel was very sad.
He told his students that ‘My children, this is the last lesson, I shall give
you. The order has come from Berlin to teach only German in schools of Alsace
and Lorraine. The new teacher comes tomorrow. This is you last lesson. I want
you be very attentive.’ In the end, he got up. He wants to say something
chocked him. He took a piece of chalk and wrote on the blackboard in big
letters, “Vive La France!” (Long Live France).
Q. 2 Write a brief
character sketch of Franz.
Ans. Franz is a little student. He is the narrator of this
story. He was late for school that day. He was afraid that the teacher would
scold him. He was also afraid because the teacher was to ask questions on
participles and he didn’t know a single word about them. So he thought of running
away and spending the day out. But when he passed by town hall, he saw a big
crowd in front of bulletin board. Franz wondered what the matter could be, but
he didn’t stop there. On seeing Franz, the village blacksmith said, don’t go so
fast. You’ll get to school in plenty of time. Franz thought that blacksmith was
making fun of him. He continued going fast. When he reached his school, He was
all out of breath. Franz opened the class-room door and went in. He was very
frightened, but to his surprise Mr. Hamel said very kindly, ‘Go to your seat
quickly, Franz’.
Spelling
& word-meanings of ‘The Last Lesson’
Spelling
·
Participles
·
Prussian
·
Drilling
·
Bulletin-board
·
Blacksmith
·
Frightened
·
Primer
·
Apprentice
·
Spectacles
·
Attentive
·
Cranky
·
Recite
·
Patience
·
Thunderclap
·
Wretches
·
Patience
·
Floating
·
Scratching
·
Hopvine
·
Pigeon
Word-meanings
§ Scolding-rebuking
§ Plenty-enough
§ Making a fun-laugh at
§ Terrible-dreadful
§ Kindly-politely
§ Give up-leave
§ Anxious-worried
§ Ought to-should
§ Dread-Fear
§ Drilling-Parading
§ In unison-together
§ Commotion-confusion
§ Former- previous
§ Beetles- flying insects
§ Vive La France-Long live France