THE LAST LESSON

VERY SHORT QUESTIONS, 1 MARK EACH

1. For the last two years, where did all the bad news come from?

Ans: For the last two years, all the bad news came from the bulletin board. 

2.Who asked Franz not to hurry to school?

Ans: The blacksmith Wachter asked Franz not to hurry to school.

3.What was M. Hamel going to question Franz about?

Ans: M. Hamel was going to question Franz about participles.

4. What was unusual about M. Hamel’s dress?

Ans: He wore clothes he generally wears on inspection and prize days.

5. Who sat on the back bench on the last lesson?

Ans: The village people sat on the back bench on the last lesson.

6. What order had come from Berlin?

Ans: The order from Berlin was to teach German in schools of Alsace and Lorraine.

7. Why did Hamel blame himself?

Ans: Hamel blamed himself for giving students a holiday and for asking students to water his flowers.

8. What does the last lesson taught by Hamel symbolize?

Ans: The last lesson taught by Hamel symbolizes loss of language and loss of freedom.

9.What is the setting of The Last Lesson?

Ans: The setting of The Last Lesson is Franco-Prussian War.

10. Why does Hamel blame the parents?

Ans: The parents preferred their children to work in farms or mills to have a little money and they were not anxious enough to have them learned.

11. Why does the author urge the reader to respect his language?

Ans: The author urges the reader to respect his language because it is the key to freedom.

12. M. Hamel is introduced as a ruler-wielding teacher. This demonstrates that:

Ans: He is a strict and concerned teacher.

13. Who is the author of the essay The Last Lesson?

Ans: Alphonse Daudet.

14. “I started for a school very late that morning” Who is the ‘I’ here?

Ans: Here ‘I’ stands for Franz.

15. What did M. Hamel write on the end of the class?

Ans: At the end of the class M Hamel wrote ‘Vive - la – France’.

16. What did the M. Hamel say that he would ask his students that morning?

Ans: M. Hamel said that he would ask his students on participles that morning.

17. What did M. Hamel do when he wanted to go for fishing?

Ans: When M Hamel wanted to go for fishing, he gave his students a holiday.

18. What did Franz think for a moment?

Ans: For a moment Franz thought of running away and spend the day out of doors.


19. What is the name of the river mentioned in the last lesson?

 Ans: The river mentioned in the last lesson is Saar.

20. What is the name of the blacksmith in the last lesson?

Ans: The name of the blacksmith is The Last Lesson is 'Wachter'.

21. How long did M. Hamel teach in his school? Or How many years did M. Hamel serve the country?

Ans: M Hamel taught in his school for forty years faithfully.

22. What is the meaning of Vive La France?

Ans: Vive la France means Long live France.

23. What was written on the new copies brought by M Hamel for the students in a beautiful round hand?

Ans: "France-Alsace France-Alsace" was written on the new copies brought by M Hamel for the students in a beautiful round hand.

25. What did M Hamel want to give his students before going away?

Ans: M Hamel wanted to give his students all that he knew before he going away.

26. What, according to M. Hamel, is the greatest trouble with Alsace?

Ans: The ‘great trouble with Alsace’ is that people of Alsace put their learning till the next day.

27. Why was M. Hamel wearing his Sunday clothes?

Ans: M. Hamel was wearing his Sunday clothes to honor the last lesson.

28. What were Prussian soldiers doing on that day?

Ans: Prussian soldier were drilling at the in the open field at back of the sawmill.

29. What did M Hamel tell the students, mounting his chair?

Ans: M Hamel told his students that there was an order from Berlin to teach only German in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. The new master would come the next day. Hence, that was their last French lesson. He wanted his students to be attentive.

30. What did France see when he passed the town hall?

Ans: When Franz passed the town hall, he saw there was a crowd in front of the bulletin board.

31. What was Franz in great dread of?

Ans: Franz was in great dread of being scolded by teacher M Hamel.

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

Ans: Franz was expected to be prepared with the rules of participles for that day.

33. What was more tempting than the rules of participles?

Ans: The bright and warm day, the chirping of the birds at the edge of the woods, the drilling of Prussian soldiers back at the sawmill were more tempting than the rules of participles.

34. Why was there crowd in front of the bulletin board?


Ans: There was a crowd in front of the bulletin board because there was an order from Berlin to teach German in schools of Alsace and Lorraine

 35. What did Franz find so unusual at the school that morning?

Ans: Franz found that morning the school was as quite as a Sunday morning.

36. In which language did M Hamel teach in school?

Ans: In French language M Hamel taught in the school.

37. What surprised Franz the most?

Ans: The village people were sitting on the back benches which used to be empty surprised Franz the most.

38. How did M Hamel wish to honour his last lesson?

Ans: M Hamel wanted to honour his last lesson by providing the best knowledge of French language that he could.

39. What did M Hamel mean through his gesture?

Ans: M Hamel meant through his gesture that school is dismissed.

40. What did the babies chant?

Ans: The babies chanted ba, be, bi, bo, bu.

41. How was the hat of the old Hauser?

Ans: Three cornered hat.

42. Where was the school Franz located?

Ans: In the district, Alsace.

SHORT QUESTIONS, 2 MARKS EACH

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

Ans. That day Franz was expected to be prepared with rules on participles as M Hamel was going to question the students in school but Franz didn’t know it at all.

2. What did Franz notice that was unusual about the school that day?

Ans. On that day everything was as quiet as a Sunday morning. Even M. Hamel was not annoyed when Franz walked into the classroom late. M. Hamel was in his Sunday clothes. There was village folk sitting on the back benches.

3. What had been put up on the bulletin board?

Ans. All the bad news had been put on the bulletin board, the lost battles, the draft and the orders of the commanding officer. On that day the news that had been put, is an order, come from Berlin to teach only German in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine.

4. Why were Hamel’s words like a thunderclap to Franz?

Or

“What a thunderclap these words were to me”. What were these words?

Ans. When M Hamel announced that it would be the last French lesson that day since an order came from Berlin to teach German in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine, the new master would come the next day, Franz felt it thunderclap because French language would no more be available.

5. What was Franz’s reaction when he learnt that he was attending his French lesson for the last time?


Ans. Franz felt sorry that he had not learnt his lessons and wasted his time. He felt that his books which were such a nuisance a while ago and heavy to carry were now like old friends. The teacher whom he thought to be so cranky now appeared to be a friend.

6. Why were the old men of the village present in the classroom?

Ans. The old men of the village were sitting in the classroom. It was their way of thanking the master for his forty years of faithful service and showing their respect for the country that was no longer theirs.

7. What was Hamel’s reaction when Franz could not answer his question in class, correctly?

Ans. When Franz was feared, M Hamel told Franz that he would not scold him. He blamed all Frenchmen for not knowing how to speak or write their own mother tongue. He also blamed himself and their parents.

8. Who did Hamel blame for not knowing French?

Ans. Hamel not only blamed Franz, parents and other Frenchmen but also himself responsible for

sending his students often to water his flowers instead of learning their lessons. He also felt

guilty of having given them a holiday when he wanted to go fishing.

9. How had the teacher dressed on the day of the last lesson?

Ans. He was dressed in his beautiful green coat, frilled shirt and little black silk cap, all embroidered, something he never wore except prize days and inspection days.

10. Why was Franz afraid of being scolded?

Ans. Franz was afraid of being scolded because his teacher M. Hamel was to question the students on participles. Franz was not prepared and he had started for school very late that morning.

11.What did Franz find much more tempting than the rule of participles? What did Franz do?

Ans. It was a warm and bright day. The birds were chirping at the edge of woods. The Prussian soldiers were drilling in the open field at the back of sawmill. These were more tempting than the rule of participle. He thought of running away and spending the day out of doors.

12.What was the usual scene when Franz’s school began in the morning?

Ans. Usually, there was a great bustle. The noise could be heard out in the school. Students opened and closed their desks. They repeated the lessons together very loudly. The teacher would go on rapping the table with his great iron ruler.

13.What did Wachter tell Franz? What was the latter’s response?

Ans. Wachter, the blacksmith told Franz not to go so fast. He added that he would get to school in plenty of time. Franz thought Wachter was making fun of him so he rushed to school.

14.What did M. Hamel tell the class about French language?

Ans. M. Hamel said that French was the most beautiful language in the world. It was the clearest and the most logical language.


15. Why did Franz not want to go to a school that day?

Ans. Franz was reluctant to go to a school that day as he was not prepared with rules of participles. M. Hamel was to question the class on the topic and he was scared of the teacher as he was late. Moreover, the day was much more tempting.

16.Why was Franz not scolded for reaching the school late that day?                  

Ans. M. Hamel only asked him very politely to take up his seat without scolding him as it was Hamel’s last lesson of French in that school.

17. “What a thunderclap these words were to me!” (Franz). What were those words and what was their effect on Franz?

Ans. M Hamel told his students that there was an order from Berlin to teach only German in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine Hence, that was their last French lesson. The next day, new teacher will come. These words were thunderclap to Franz.

18. How were the parents and M. Hamel responsible for the children’s neglect of French language?

Ans. Most of the people of Alsace could neither speak nor write their own language. Their parents

preferred to put them to work on a farm or at the mills. M Hamel had often sent his students to water his flowers instead of learning their lessons. He also gave holidays.

19. What shows M. Hamel’s love for the French language?

Ans. He called it ‘the most beautiful language’ in the world, which is the clearest and most logical. He appealed to the children and the people of the village to keep their mother-tongue close to their heart.

20. What changes came over little Franz after M. Hamel’s announcement?

Ans. Franz was shocked. Suddenly he felt his love for his mother tongue and realized that he could hardly write in French. Franz thought his books were nuisance but now becomes his old friends and he now understands the lesson very easily.

21. What was the mood in the classroom when M. Hamel gave the last French lesson?

Ans. There was complete silence in the class. Everyone was full of regret and remorse. Children as well the village elderly were gloomy and repentant for not giving importance to their mother tongue.

22. How did Franz’s attitude towards M. Hamel and the school change?

Ans: Franz felt sorry that he had not learnt his lessons and wasted his time. He felt that his books

which were such a nuisance a while ago and heavy to carry were now like old friends. The teacher whom he thought to be so cranky now appeared to be a friend.

23. “What can be the matter now”. Why did Franz think like that?

Ans: When Franz was coming to his school, he saw a crowd in front of the bulletin board where, for the last two years all the bad news came from--the lost battles, the draft, the orders of the commanding officer. So, he thought what could be the matter then means there might be something wrong.


PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS SOLVED

2014

1. "I started for school very late that morning." Who is the "I" here?                1

Ans: See question no-14 from 1 mark question section.

2. Why was the lesson called the last lesson?    2

Ans: The lesson was called the last lesson because it was the last French lesson. An order  had come from Berlin to teach only German in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. The new master would come the next day.

3. What had been put up in the bulletin board?    2

Ans: See question no-3 from 2 marks question section.

2015

1. What did M Hamel write at the end of the class?                                                                   1

Ans: At the end of the class M Hamel wrote ‘Vive - la – France’.

2. What was Franz expected to be prepared with for school that day?                                      2

Ans: See question no-1 from 2 marks question section.

3. What was the commotion that Franz anticipated in the classroom?                          2

Ans: The commotion that Franz anticipated was the great bustle that could be heard from the streets, the opening and closing of desks, lessons repeated in unison, and the teacher's great ruler rapping on the table.

2016

1. What did Franz think 'for a moment'?         1

Ans: For a moment Franz thought of running away and spend the day out of doors.

2. Why did Franz want to spend his day out of doors?                                                                    2

Ans: M. Hamel asked the students to prepare the rules on participles. But Franz did not know the first word about them. He feared of getting

scolded by his teacher as he was late. Moreover, outside was more fun like it was bright day, drilling of the Prussian soldiers and chirping of the birds.

3. What are M. Hamel's views about the French language?                                                  2

Ans: See question no-14 from 2 marks question section.

2017

1. What was written on the new copies brought by M Hamel for the students in a beautiful round hand?                                                      1

Ans: "France-Alsace France-Alsace" was written on the new copies brought by M Hamel for the students in a beautiful round hand.

2. Why did Franz want to spend his day out of doors?                                                                   2

Ans: See 2016 solved question paper.

3. Why did M. Hamel blame not Franz alone for his inability to learn?                                      2

Ans: See question no-8 from 2 marks question section.

2018


1. What is the name of the blacksmith in The Last Lesson"?                                                   1

Ans: Wachter.

2. What is the great trouble with Alsace?           2

Ans: See question no-26 from 1 mark question section.

3. Will they make them sing in German, even the pigeons? ' What does this sentence suggest? 2018/2025

Ans: Franz wonders if the conquerors make the pigeons to sing in German, it shows his concern regarding the loss of his native language. This sentence could also mean that how hard the authorities try to impose German language, their feelings for German will remain unchanged. They can enslave the people but they can’t compel pigeons cooing in German. It shows Franz's sense against the unjust German order.

2019

1. What is the name of the river mentioned in ‘‘The Last Lesson”?

Ans: Saar.

2. What words did M. Hamel write on the blackboard before dismissing the last class? What did they mean?

Ans: At the end of the class M Hamel wrote ‘Vive - la – France’. It means Long Live France.

3. What would Franz love to do on that sunny morning instead of going to school?

Ans: On that sunny morning Franz would love to spend his day out of doors instead of going to school. He would like to seek for birds’ egg, sliding in the Saar and would love to watch the Prussian soldiers’ drilling.

2020

1. Why did Wachter, the blacksmith, tell Franz that he   would reach school in 'Plenty of time'?

Ans: The blacksmith told Franz no to hurry to school, because he had read the news about the order given by the Germans and he thought that Franz had plenty of time to reach school.

2. How does M. Hamel make the people realize how they, the students and he have been responsible for not   learning their language well?

Ans: See question no-8 from 2 marks question section.

2022

1. How long did M. Hamel teach in his school?

Ans: For forty years.

2. What is the name of the blacksmith in 'The Last Lesson'?

Ans: Wachter.

3. What is the ' 'great trouble with Alsace"?

Ans: See 2018 solved question paper

4. What lesson do you learn from the story 'The Last Lesson'?

Ans: We find two important lessons. One is that we should not postpone our work for tomorrow. Life is subject to change. Another is that when we lose something then we know it's importance.

5. What would Franz love to do on that sunny morning instead of going to school?

Ans: See 2019 solved question paper.

6. How different from usual was the atmosphere at school on the day of the last lesson?


Ans: Usually, there was a great bustle. The noise could be heard out in the school. Students opened and closed their desks. They repeated the lessons together very loudly. The teacher would go on rapping the table with his great iron ruler. But on that day, everything was as quiet as Sunday morning and village people gathered there.

2023

1. Who is the writer of the story "The Last Lesson".                                                              1

Ans: See question No 13 from 1 mark section.

2. Why did M. Hamel write "Vive La France" before dismissing his class?                                 2

Ans: M Hamel wrote 'Vive La France! ' on the backboard to show his love for his country as well as for the French language. In addition, he was displaying his resistance to the German occupation of France. He does this to make the as

their identity among themselves as this was the key to their prison.

3. What changes came over Frantz after he heard M. Hamel's announcement?                   2

Ans: See question No 20 from 2 marks section.

2024

1. Who asked Franz not to hurry to school?

Ans: The blacksmith, Wachter.

2. How was M. Hamel dressed differently that day?

Ans: See question No 9 from 2 marks section.

3. Translate “Viva la France” into English. Where was it written?

Ans: The translation of “Viva la France” into English is ‘long live France’. It was written on the blackboard.

Think as you read

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

Ans. Already answered.

2. What did Franz notice that was unusual about the school that day?

Ans. Already answered.

3. What had been put up in the bulletin-board?

Ans.  Already answered.

4. What changes did the order from Berlin cause in school that day?

Ans. Students were all sitting in their places calmly. M. Hamel was kind and wearing his beautiful dress. Furthermore, there were village people sitting in the last benches.

5.  How did Franz's feelings about M. Hamel and the school change?

Ans. When Franz learned that it was the last lesson in French, he felt sorry for not learning. His books, which appeared burden, were now old friends. His feelings about M. Hamel also changed. He forgot all about his ruler and developed a good feeling for the teacher.

Previous year broad notes

1. Describe the unusual things that Franz noticed on the day of last lesson.               2017

Or

Give a detailed account of the scene in the classroom on the day of the last lesson.      2015

Ans: Franz noticed several unusual things on that day. He saw a crowd in front of the bulletin board.

When he reached the school, usually, there was a great bustle. The noise could be heard out in the school. Students opened and closed their desks.


They repeated the lessons together very loudly. The teacher would go on rapping the table with his great iron ruler. But on that day, everything was as quiet as Sunday morning.

M. Hamel, the teacher treated him so affectionately though he was late. The teacher was dressed in his beautiful green coat, frilled shirt and little black silk cap, all embroidered, something he never wore except prize and inspection days.

The back benches which used to be empty, the village people were sitting quietly. The old Hauser, the former mayor, the former postmaster and several others were sitting at the back benches and they are all looking sad. These were the unusual things Franz noticed that day.

2. Draw a character sketch of M. Hamel as it is shown in 'The Last Lesson'.             2016/2025

Ans: M. Hamel was a teacher who used to teach the French language. He had been teaching his mother tongue for the last forty years. He loved his profession and had always been very strict in imparting the knowledge of the language to his pupils. The news, that French would no more be taught, made him completely shattered. He tried his level best to remain calm and composed but broke down at the end.

Hamel was a patriot in the real sense. He regarded the mother tongue to be a means of holding one’s identity and self-respect. He blamed not only the parents and children but himself also for neglecting French.

His concern and love for his country are evident when, at the end of his last lesson, he writes on the blackboard ‘Vive La France!’ in bold letters and make a gesture to symbolize that the class is dismissed.

3. What were the topics and subjects taken up by M. Hamel on the day of the last lesson? 2024


Ans: The Last Lesson is a short story written by Alphonse Daudet. The story is set in Alsace-Lorraine, where the French language was banned and replaced by German. The story revolves around the last day of school, where the students are taught by their French teacher, M. Hamel, for the last time.

On the day of the last lesson, M. Hamel went on talking about French language that it is the most beautiful language in the world, most logical and clearest. The he taught French grammar to the students. He wrote French sentences on the blackboard and asked the students to translate them into German.

They also had a lesson in writing. "France-Alsace France-Alsace" was written on the new copies brought by M Hamel for the students in a beautiful round hand.


Finally, they had a lesson in history. More than this, he made his students realize the importance of their mother tongue, and taught them to take pride in their language.

2025

What did Hauser bring?

Ans: Hauser had brought an old primer, thumbed at the edges.

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