The Last Lesson
Q1. Why
didn’t Franz want to go to school?
Ans. That day,
Franz teacher was to question him on particles and Franz didn’t know a word
about them. He also dreaded his teacher’s scolding. Later, at the edge of the
woods near the open field, Franz was tempted to stay away and enjoy the pleasant
outdoors.
Q2. What
was the significance of the bulletin board?
Ans. The
bulletin board at the town hall carried important information for the village people.
During the last two tears, it had informed them about the lost battles, the
drafts & the orders of the commanding officer.
Q3. What
was posted on the bulletin board that day?
Ans. It
carried an order from Berlin that only German would be taught in the schools of
Alsace & Lorraine. The brew master was expected the next day and M.HAMEL, their
teacher was supposed to leave the country.
Q4.How did
the villagers react to the news?
Ans. They
came to school and sat through the class, paying tribute to the teacher who had
been there for 40 years. To Franz this announcement was like a ‘thunderclap’ a
shock which filled him with regret for not being serious about his lessons.
Q5. How did
Franz react to the news?
Ans. The
announcement was a ‘thunderclap “to him. He regretted not learning his lessons
& idling away his time. He realized that now he couldn’t give up his books,
his friends & the even Mr. Hamel whom he wouldn’t see after that day.
Q6. What
changes did the order from Berlin cause in school that day?
Ans. Usually
the school began with a great bustle which could be heard in the streets. Today
it was still quiet; the students were sitting in their places. Hamel spoke
kindly to Franz, not scolding him. On the back benches sat some villagers
quietly like students there.
Q7. How did
Franz’s feelings about M. Hamel & school change?
Ans. When
Franz heard the news he was shocked. At that moment he realized that though he
had very often avoided school he would now miss it, his books, his lessons and
even old M. Hamel.
Q8. Why
were the villagers sitting in the school room?
Ans. They
were sorry to that they had not gone to school anymore. They were there to pay
tribute to the old master, who had been a teacher for 40 yrs .it was a respect
for a country which was theirs and not theirs,
Q9. What
was Hamel’s state of mind on that day?
Ans. He was
not his usual self and didn’t scold the children .Speaking in a grave &
gentle tone he continued with the lessons as if he wanted to give them all he
knew .Courageously he went through the class but at the end his voice trembled
with emotions & he cried .Before leaving he wrote on the board ‘Vive la
France’ .
Q10. What
was M. Hamel’s regret? (any two pts.)
Ans. He
felt that they had some reason to reproach themselves with. The village people
kept on putting away ‘learning’, resulting in their inability to grasp language
well. The parents hadn’t been anxious enough to have the children learn, preferring
them to work. He even blamed himself for sending children on personal errands
instead of letting them learn their lessons.
Q11.
According to Hamel what is the importance of language?
Ans. People
must guard their language and not forget it because it gives people an identity
and when people are enslaved, as long as they hold fast to their language it is
their key to the prison.
Q12. Who all
were there in the class room?
Ans.
Besides the students, there was Hauser, the former postmaster, former mayor and
several others.
Q13. What
did he write on the board and why?
Ans. He
wrote "Vive la France" - long live France. It was his love for his
country and a tribute that he was paying to it. It also conveyed his last
minute effort and courage of not wanting to give in.
Q14. How
did the villagers react to the news of that day?
Ans. A big
crowd had gathered to read the news. Later some of them came dressed in their Sunday
clothes and sat in the school room paying attention to each lesson in silence. Old
Hauser had even brought his primer, as if paying his tribute to the old teacher
and to his language.
Long Answer
Questions
Q1. Mr.
Hamel’s character as a teacher, strict yet gentle, courageous, patriotic,
respected by all.-emotional, inwardly strong, patient, inspiring teacher, competent,
persevering.
Q2 How did
the people react to the devastating news? What this show about them?
Or
Justify the
title the last lesson?
Ans. Written
against the back-drop of Franco-Prussian war 1871. The story deals with the
language imposition and language loyalty. Two regions of France, Alsace and
Lauren have been overruled by the Prussians and a new order has been passed
that henceforth German will be taught in schools instead of French. This
declaration has made the villagers realise the importance of their language and
a sudden feeling of regret has dawned upon them about the fact that they did
not spend a considerable time in learning their language -French. For the
villagers the last lesson in their school is a way to pay a tribute to their
old master for his dedication, to language which will not be taught soon and to
their country which had been overruled by Prussians .It is also the time for
the old teacher himself to bid them all good bye. He goes through the last
lesson with utmost patience and determination. He teaches as never before,
emphasizing the value of French as their national language and at the end he
exhibits his devotion and courage by writing ‘Viva La France’ on the board
*for the
speaker it is a moment of realisation that the school and lessons which he had
taken lightly till now will come to an end .he now wants to hang on to this
class and absorb as much as he can because he knows there wouldn’t be any more
such classes after this
*this last
lesson thus acquires a greater significance than an ordinary last lesson. It becomes
a moment of realisation, regret and a renewed determination to keep their
language alive
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