The Last Lesson [AHSEC Class 12 English Notes for 2025 Exam]

The Last Lesson
[English Notes AHSEC Class 12]

About the Author

Alphonse Daudet was a French novelist who started writing at an early age. He was born in Nimes and hailed from an affluent family. His writing was shaped by his actual experiences in life. His later writings reveal his preoccupation with conflicts in relationships.

Brief Summary of the Story

'The Last Lesson' is set in the days of the Franco-Prussian War, in which France was defeated by Prussia (comprising Germany, Poland, and parts of Austria) led by Bismarck. In the story, the French districts of Alsace and Lorraine have passed into Prussian hands. The teaching of the French language was ordered to be discontinued, and the French teachers were asked to leave. The story is narrated by a young schoolboy, Franz, and it describes the last French lesson given by M. Hamel, who had been teaching in the same place for the last forty years.

Paragraph wise Summary:

Late for School

The story is written in the first person and narrated by a French boy, Franz. He is negligent in his studies and likes to play. He is sensitive, as well. He hates his teacher M. Hamel. That particular day, he started late for school. He was also afraid of being scolded by M. Hamel for not having studied participles as M.Hamel had told the students that he would test them on participles. The day was warm and bright, with chirping birds, and he was tempted to play truant and spend the day outdoors. Prussian soldiers were drilling in the open field behind the sawmill. All this seems more attractive than going to school and studying participles. Yet, he resisted these temptations and went on his way to school. While passing the town hall, he noticed a crowd in front of the bulletin board. That was the place where all news like lost battles, the draft, and the commanding officer's orders were posted. He wondered what the matter could be. As he was hurrying to school, Wachter, the blacksmith, told him to go slowly and assured him that he had plenty of time. The author thought that the blacksmith was making fun of him and continued to speed until he reached the school.

Unusual Scene

Franz describes the usual scene at the school in the mornings – a lot of noise created by the moving of desks, children repeating their lessons, and teachers striking the tables with the rulers could be heard. Yet, on that particular morning, it was very quiet. There was no sound coming out of the school. Franz had planned to take advantage of the commotions to get to his seat without being noticed but all in vain. Through the window, he could see that his classmates had already occupied their seats, and the teacher was pacing in the classroom. Franz fearfully opened the door and entered the classroom thinking that M Hamel would scold him, but on the contrary, he politely asked him to get to his seat. After sitting down, the author noticed that M Hamel was dressed in different clothes- green coat, frilled shirt, and the little black silk cap that he usually wore on inspection and prize distribution ceremony. He was also surprised to see the backbenches being occupied by the villagers. All of them looked sad.

The Last Lesson

M. Hamel addressing the class said that the order had been issued from Berlin to teach only German in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. This would be their last French class. These words sounded like a thunderclap to the author. The author feels sorry that he had not paid more attention to his French lessons. His books that had seemed a nuisance before appeared like old friends now. Now he realizes why the teacher was dressed in his beautiful clothes and why people from the village were sitting in the classroom. It was their way of thanking the teacher for his faithful service of forty years.

Blaming

The author's name is called for recitation. He got the first words mixed up and stood there scared, not daring to look up. M. Hamel tells him that owing to procrastination; he can neither speak nor write his own language. The children's parents are not anxious about their education. Instead, they sent their children to work on a farm or at the mills. The teacher says that he, too, is to be blamed. He sent the children to water the flowers in his garden and gave them a holiday when he wanted to go fishing.

Absorbed in the Lesson

M. Hamel then appreciated the Franch language as the most beautiful, clearest and logical. He requested them guard the language and not forget it. An enslaved people should hold on to their language. This would be like holding the key to their prison. After saying this, he teaches them a grammar lesson. The author listened to the lessons with full attention and easily understood what was taught. M. Hamel also explained in great detail with a lot of patience as though at one stroke, he wanted to put all his knowledge into their heads, before he left. After teaching grammar, the teacher taught them writing. He had bought new copies for the class. Everyone set to work quietly, and the only audible sound was the scratching of pen on paper. Nobody is distracted by anything like some beetles flying in or pigeons cooing. 

School is Dismissed

When the writing activity was in progress, M. Hamel looked at the room as though he was trying to frame it in his mind. He had been teaching there for forty years, with his garden outside the window and his class in front of him. The walnut trees in the garden were taller, and the hopvine twined about the windows to the roof. His sister was moving about in the room above, packing their bags since they had to leave the country the next day. It must have been heart-breaking for him to leave all of it behind. After the writing lesson was over, he taught them history. After which the new learners started chanting the letters. Hauser, one of the villagers, also spelled his letters in a voice, trembling with emotion. When the clock struck twelve, M. Hamel stood up and trying to speak, but he was choked with emotion and could not go on. Taking a piece of chalk, he wrote "Vive La France "on the blackboard. After this, he gestured with his hands that the school was dismissed, and they could leave.

Also Read: English AHSEC Class 12 Chapterwise Notes

Questions and Answers

Answer the following questions 1 Mark Each

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

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

2. What did Franz think 'for a moment’?         2016

Ans. ‘For a moment’, Franz thought of avoiding school and spending the glorious day outdoors

3. What is the name of the blacksmith in “The Last Lesson”?         2018

Ans. The name of the blacksmith in “The Last Lesson” is Wachter.

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

Ans. Usually, when school began, the bustle could be heard in the street- the sound of opening and closing of desks, lessons being repeated in unison, and the teacher's ruler rapping on the table. Franz found it extremely quiet that morning and that was unusual.

5. What is the river mentioned in “The Last Lesson”?         2019

Ans. Saar is the river mentioned in “The Last Lesson “.

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

Ans. M. Hamel had been taught in his school for forty years.

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

Ans. Mounting his chair, M. Hamel announced that an order had come from Berlin to teach only German in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. This would be their last French lesson.

8. What is the ‘great trouble with Alsace’?         2018         2020

Ans. According to M. Hamel, the ‘great trouble with Alsace’ is that its inhabitants keep on procrastinating and put off learning till tomorrow.

9. What did M. Hamel do when he wanted to go fishing?         2013

Ans. When M. Hamel wanted to go fishing, he used to give the students a holiday.

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

Ans. M. Hamel wanted to give his students all the knowledge that he had, and he wanted to put it into their heads at one stroke.

11. Who is the author of ‘The Last Lesson’?

Ans. Alphonse Daudet, a French novelist, is the author of 'The Last Lesson'.

12. What was Franz in great dread of  ?

Ans. Franz was in great fear of being scolded by his teacher as he had not studied participles, on which M. Hamel, his French teacher, would ask questions.

13. What did M. Hamel say that he would question his students on, the day Franz was late for school?

Ans. M. Hamel had said that he would question his students on participles, that day Franz was late for school.

14, ‘You can imagine how I blushed and how frightened I was. ‘Why did little Franz blush?

Ans. Little Franz was late for school. He had to enter the classroom in full view of all his classmates seated in their places, and the teacher pacing the room with his iron ruler under his arm. He blushed to hide his fear.

15. “What a thunderclap these words were to me! “ (i) What is thunderclap? (ii)Write another sentence to express the same idea.

Ans. (i) Thunderclap means a clap of thunder and also something sharp, loud, or sudden like a clap of thunder. (ii) That horrible news came like a thunderclap to us.

16. “Oh, the wretches. “Who were the wretches? Give another word for “wretches “.

Ans. "The wretches "are the people who have defeated France in the Franco-Prussian war. Orders used to be issued from Berlin and put up on the bulletin board at the town hall.  Another word for “wretches “is villains.

17. How did M. Hamel wish to 'honour' his ’last lesson’?

Ans. M. Hamel honoured his last lesson by dressing in his best clothes. For the occasion, he had worn his beautiful green coat, frilled shirt, and little black silk cap.

18. “What would I not have given to be able to say that dreadful rule for the participle. ‘Why is the rule for participle described as ‘dreadful’ by Franz?

Ans. The rule for participle is described as 'dreadful' by Franz because he did not know anything about participles, and he got the words mixed up.

19. “Not even the littlest ones, who worked right on tracing their fishhooks... “What is a fishhook?

Ans. A bent piece of metal, typically barbed and baited, for catching fish.

20. What is ‘Angelus’?

Ans. Angelus is a Roman Catholic devotion, said in the morning, noon and sunset. Angelus also means a ringing of church bells announcing the Angelus.

21.  “I started for school very late that morning “. Who is the “I” here?  2012, 2014

Ans. “I” refers to Franz, a school going boy.

22.  What did M. Hamel write at the end of the class? What did they mean?         2015, 2019

Ans. At the end of the class, M. Hamel turned to the blackboard and wrote, "Vive La France. " It means long live France.

27. What was written in the new copies brought by M. Hamel for the students in a beautiful round hand?         2017

Ans. “France, Alsace, France, Alsace” was written in a beautiful round hand in the new copies brought by M. Hamel for the students

Answer the following questions 2 Marks each

1. What news has been displayed on the bulletin board for the last two years in ‘The Last Lesson’?

Ans. There was a bulletin board outside the town hall. For the last two years, it had displayed news of lost battles and orders of the commanding officer. All the bad news that the inhabitants had received came from there. Whenever something was put up on the bulletin board, people used to gather around it to get the news.

2. Why did Wachter, the blacksmith, tell Franz not to hurry to school?        2020

Ans. Wachter, the blacksmith, was reading the bulletin when Franz passed by. He told him not to hurry to school as he was aware that it would be M. Hamel's last lesson that day. The bulletin board carried the news that only German would be taught in the districts of Alsace and Lorraine.

3. Why was Franz surprised to see M. Hamel on that particular morning when he went in late?

Ans. Franz was surprised to see M. Hamel on that particular morning when he entered the classroom. M Hamel was not dressed in the clothes that he usually wore. He was dressed in his best clothes- a frilled shirt, a beautiful green coat, and embroidered black silk cap that he generally kept reserve for inspection and prize distribution days.

4. What would Franz love to do on that sunny morning instead of going to school?     2019

                                                                                       Or

What was more tempting to Franz than going to school?

Ans. Franz would have loved to spend the day out of doors instead of going to school. The day was warm and bright, with birds chirping at the edge of the woods and Prussian soldiers drilling in the open field behind the sawmill. All these things weretempting Franz more than going to school.

5. Why did M. Hamel not blame Franz alone for his inability to learn?         2017

                                                           Or

Franz did not learn French. Whom did M. Hamel blame?

Ans. M. Hamel did not blame Franz alone for his inability to learn. It has been the tendency of the residents of Alsace to put off learning till tomorrow. They think that there is plenty of time and they would do it later. The parents did not give due importance to their children’s education and sent them to work ona farm and at the mills. M. Hamel said that he too was to be blamed as he used to send the children to water the flowers in his garden and gave them a holiday whenever he wanted to go fishing.

6. “Will they make them sing in German, even the pigeons? “What does this sentence suggest? 2018

Ans. The imposition of German over French was humiliating. They imposed every possible rule on the people of Alsace and Lorraine. It filled the people with great Patriotic feelings. The sentence suggests Franz's anger against the forceful imposition of German on them. It also suggests that the order given by the Germans to teach German in the schools was absurd and that imposing German to the French-speaking people forcefully was unjust.

7. How did Franz’s feelings about M. Hamel and the school change?

                                          Or

What changes came over little Franz after he heard M. Hamel’s announcement?            2023

Ans. When Franz got to know that it was the last lesson in French that he was attending, the words had the effect of a thunderclap on him. He was sad to know that M. Hamel was going away, and he would never see him again. He felt sorry that he had missed school for other amusements. His books, which were a nuisance before now, seemed like dear old friends.

8. Who is Alphonse Daudet?

Ans. Alphonse Daudet was a French novelist who started writing at an early age. He was born in Nimes and hailed from an affluent family. His writing was shaped by his actual experiences in life. His later writings reveal his preoccupation with conflicts in relationships.

9. “But nothing happened. “ Who is the speaker? What did he anticipate?

                                                                     OR

 What was the commotion that Franz anticipated?         2013, 2015

Ans. Franz anticipated sounds like the opening and closing of desks, lessons being loudly repeated by students, and the rap of the teacher's ruler against the table. Usually, the commotions could be heard out in the street, but that day it was as quiet as a Sunday morning. He also anticipated a scolding from the teacher for being late.

10. Why do you think Hauser’s primer was “thumbed at the edges “?

Ans. Hauser's primer was "thumbed at the edges "because it must have been an old textbook. Hauser must have handled it a lot, and hence it is worn and soiled.

11. Was M. Hamel’s manner of speaking different on the day of the last lesson? If so, how?

Ans. M. Hamel's manner of speaking was different on the day of the last lesson. He was gentle and grave in his speech. He explained everything with a lot of patience, as though he wanted to impart to them all his knowledge before going away.

12. What does Franz feel about his books, the French grammar and the history of France? Why?

Ans. Initially Franz used to feel that his books, the French grammar, and the history of France were a nuisance. Now he feels that they are like old friends that he cannot give up. This change in Franz's feelings was induced by the knowledge that this was his last French lesson, and after that, he would be studying a foreign language i.e., German.

13. Why were the old men in the village sitting in the back of the room?

Ans. The old men in the village were sitting in the back of the room as it was the last class being conducted by M. Hamel before he would go away the next day. M. Hamel had been teaching there for forty years. The old men had turned up for the last lesson as a mark of respect for him, and they also wanted to show love and respect for their language.

14. “Then the babies chanted their ba, be, bi, bo, bu....?

i) What is ‘ba, be, bi, bo, bu...?

ii) What is it called?

Ans.  Ba, be, bi, bo, bu are basic sounds and letters that are taught to a student at the beginning of learning the French language. They are called phonemes.

15. Which war acts as the setting of ‘The Last Lesson’? What do you know about it?

Ans.' The Last Lesson' is set against the backdrop of the Franco-Prussian war of 1870-71. France was defeated by Prussia led by Bismarck. Prussia comprised the countries Germany, Poland, and parts of Austria.

16. What was Franz expected to be prepared for the school that day? And why was he afraid? 2015

Ans. Franz was expected to be prepared with a grammar lesson on participles. His teacher, M. Hamel, had said that he would be questioning them on participles. He was afraid because he had not studied about participles. He did not know anything about them, and he feared the teacher's stern reaction to his lack of knowledge about participles.

17. Why was there a crowd in front of the bulletin board at the town hall?

                                                                        Or

What had been put up on the bulletin board?         2014

Ans. There was a bulletin board outside the town hall. On his way to school, Franz noticed a crowd in front of the bulletin board in the town hall. For the last two years, it had displayed news of lost battles and orders of the commanding officer. All the bad news that the inhabitants received came from there. Whenever something was put up on the bulletin board, people used to gather around it to get the news. On that day, an order issued from Berlin that German would be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine was put up on the board. A large crowd of people had gathered to read this news.

18. What was unusual about school that day?

                                                     Or

How was the scene in the school on the morning of the last lesson different from on other days?

                                                     Or

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

Ans. On the day of the last lesson, Franz was late for school. Usually, when school began, there used to be a lot of sounds, which could be heard in the street. There were sounds like the opening and closing of desks, lessons being loudly repeated by students, and the rap of the teacher's ruler against the table. That particular day, it was very quiet, as quiet as a Sunday morning. One more unusual thing that Franz noticed was that M Hamel was dressed in his best clothes- a frilled shirt, a beautiful green coat, and embroidered black silk cap that he usually kept reserve for inspection and prize distribution days. He also noticed that the back benches were occupied by villagers, which generally remained vacant.

19. Why did M. Hamel not get angry with Franz for being late?         2017

Ans. M. Hamel did not get angry with Franz for being late as he was taking his last class for the students. The news of French being replaced by German had upset him, and he was going away forever the next day. In view of this, Franz's late arrival did not anger him.

20. What announcement did M. Hamel make, and what was its impact?

Ans. M. Hamel announced that it was the last time he would be taking their class. An order had come from Berlin to teach only German in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. The new teacher would join the school from the following day. These words had the effect of a thunderclap on Franz. Everybody became sad.

21. How was M. Hamel dressed up on that day, and why?

Ans. M Hamel's dress on his last day in the school consisted of his beautiful green coat, a frilled shirt, and a little black silk cap, all embroidered, that he never wore except on inspection and prize days. He had put on his finest clothes to highlight the special occasion. It was his last lesson in the French language.

22. What did M. Hamel tell them about the French language? What did he ask them to do and why?

Or

What was M. Hamel’s view about the French language?         2012, 2013, 2016

Ans. M. Hamel said that French was the most beautiful language in the world. It was also the clearest and most logical language. He asked them to guard the language and not forget it. An enslaved people should hold on to their language. This would be like holding the key to their prison.

23. How did Franz perform when his turn came to recite?

Ans. When it was Franz's turn to recite, he could not say anything about the rule of participles loudly and clearly. He got confused with the very first word and stood scared, with his head down. He did not dare to look up and face his teacher.

24. What did M. Hamel teach the class in his last lesson?

Ans. In his 'last lesson', M Hamel taught the class grammar, than about writing and finally 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. He also urged them to guard their native language and never to forget it.

25. Why was the lesson called the last lesson?         2014

Ans. The lesson was called the ‘last lesson’ because an order had been issued from Berlin that only German language would be taught in schools in the district of Alsace and Lorraine. M. Hamel was teaching them French for the last time. Hence it was called 'The Last Lesson.'

26. Why did M. Hamel write ‘Vive La France’ on the blackboard?

Ans. M. Hamel was a strong patriot who loved his country and its language. At the end of the class, he was trying to say something but couldn't, so to express his emotions, he wrote the words 'Vive La France!' in big letters on the blackboard before dismissing the last class. These words meant, 'Long Live France!' This shows his patriotic nature.

27. What made M. Hamel cry towards the end of his last lesson?

Ans. M. Hamel filled with emotion at the thought of going away from the school where he had taught for the last forty years. He felt pity at the thought that the children of the school would not get the chance to study French, their native language.

28. How did M. Hamel say farewell to his students and the people of the town?

Ans. M. Hamel started speaking, but he was choked with emotion and could not go on. Taking a piece of chalk, he wrote "Vive La France "on the blackboard. After this, he gestured with his hands that school was dismissed, and they could leave.

28. Why did M. Hamel ask his students and the villagers to guard the French language?

Ans. M. Hamel asked his students and the villagers to guard the language and not forget it. He believed that an enslaved people should hold on to their language. This would be like holding the key to their prison.

29. Why did Franz think of running away and spending the day out of doors?     2012, 2016, 2017

Ans: On that day, Franz had not prepared his lesson on participles on which he was to be tested by his teacher and was also late for the school.  The weather outside was warm and bright, with birds chirping at the edge of the woods and Prussian soldiers drilling in the open field behind the sawmill. All these things made Franz think of running away and spending the day out of doors.

Answer the following questions -5 Marks each

1. Describe the unusual things that Franz noticed on the day of the last lesson?      2015

Ans. On the day of the last lesson, Franz was late for school. Usually, when school began, there used to be a lot of sounds, which could be heard in the street. There were sounds like the opening and closing of desks, lessons being loudly repeated by students, and the rap of the teacher's ruler against the table. That particular day, it was very quiet, as quiet as a Sunday morning. When Franz entered the classroom, the teacher did not scold him rather smiled, although he was late. He saw that the class was maintaining complete silence. He also noticed the teacher was not dressed in the clothes that he usually wore. He was dressed in his best clothes- a frilled shirt, a beautiful green coat, and embroidered black silk cap that he usually reserved for inspection and prize distribution days. Moreover, the backbenches of the classroom were occupied the elderly people of the village who had come to thanks M.Hamel for his faithful service. They all looked very sad.

2. What was the order from Berlin? How did that order affect the people of Alsace, particularly M. Hamel and his students?         2012 2013

Or

‘The Last Lesson’ involves deep pain of the citizens as the French districts of Alsace and Lorraine pass into Prussian hands. How is the pain and anguish of the characters in the lesson revealed? 

Ans. The order from Berlin stated that only German would be taught in the schools in the districts of Alsaceand Lorraine. M. Hamel had been teaching French in the school for forty years. Now French would not be taught anymore and would be replaced by German. M Hamel, the French teacher, changed his behaviour from being a cranky and strict teacher to that of a very kind person, as it would be his last lesson, and he would be going away the next day. When Franz heard this, the words had the effect of a thunderclap on him. He was sorry for all the time that he had previously wasted without concentrating on his French lessons. Franz forgot M Hamel’s all cranky nature and started liking him. The other students in the class were also very quiet and keenly listened to all that their teacher taught them that day. The people of Alsace were also greatly upset that their native language would be replaced by a foreign language. They turn up in a large number for M. Hamel’s last class to show their appreciation and respect for him. All of them were sad.

3. How did the people of Alsace pay their regards to M. Hamel on his last day at school?

Ans. The people of Alsace were much upset that their native language French would be replaced by a foreign language, German. They turned up in a large number for M. Hamel's last class to show their appreciation and respect for him. They sat quietly on the backbenches in the classroom. They all looked sad, and one of them, Hauser, had also brought an old primer with him. When the younger children were chanting their letters, he also spelled the letters along with them holding his primer.

4. Describe the emotions of M. Hamel on the day of his last lesson?

Ans. M. Hamel was very gentle and grave on the day of his last lesson. He took the lesson for a long time that day and explained everything in great detail. When he had given a writing activity to the class, he looked around the room as though he wanted to frame it in his mind forever. He was feeling nostalgic as he had spent forty years teaching there in the same place. When the clock struck twelve, and it was time t end the class, he turned to his students and the people from the village saying, "My friends.. " but he could not continue speaking as he was choked with emotion. In large letters, he wrote, "Vive La France "on the blackboard and gestured with his hand that school was dismissed and they could leave.

5. Describe M. Hamel’s last day at school?

Ans. On M. Hamel's last day at school, all his students were present in the class. The people from the village had also come to the class as a mark of respect for his last day in school. He was dressed in his best clothes- a frilled shirt, a beautiful green coat, and an embroidered black silk cap, which he usually kept reserve for inspection and prize distribution days. He made an announcement regarding the order that has come from Berlin. He pointed out to the class that the trouble with them was that they always put off learning their language to an indefinite time. Despite being Frenchmen, they can neither speak nor read their language fluently. He reminded them of the beauty, clarity, and logic of the French language. He urged them to guard their language and hold on to it. After this, he taught them grammar, writing, and history. He explained very patiently, and it seemed that he wanted to give them all he knew before he went away. He looked at the room, trying to fix in his mind just how the room looked. When class got over, he tried to address the students but could not go on as he was choked with emotion. In large letters, he wrote, "Vive La France "on the blackboard and gestured with his hand that school was dismissed and they could leave.

6. Why did M. Hamel not wish to blame Franz for his failure to learn his lessons?

Or

How does M. Hamel make the people realize how they, the students, and he have been responsible for not learning their language well? 2020

Ans. M. Hamel did not wish to blame Franz for his failure to learn his lessons. He said that there were others also to be blamed. The children’s parents were not too keen on their children getting education. They preferred to send them to work on a farm or at the mills so that a little more money could be generated. M. Hamel blamed himself too, and said that he was also responsible for the children's failure to learn. He used to send them to water the flowers in his garden instead of making them learn their lessons. Whenever he wanted to go fishing, he used to give them a holiday. He pointed out that the great trouble with the inhabitants of Alsace was that they always practiced procrastination and put off learning their language to an indefinite time. They used to think that they had plenty of time, and learning could take place later. On account of this, others will have the opportunity of telling them that despite being Frenchmen, they can neither speak nor read their own language fluently.

7. Franz’s attitude towards school as well towards M. Hamel changes when he comes to know about the takeover of his village by Prussians. Discuss with reference to ‘The Last Lesson’.

Ans. Franz's attitude towards school and M. Hamel changed completely when he comes to know about the takeover of his village by Prussians. He realized that he didn't know how to write. He regrets the times that he spent in other amusements instead of attending school. Earlier, Franz felt that his books, the French grammar and the history of France were a nuisance. Now he feels that they are like old friends that he cannot give up. This change in feelings was induced by the knowledge that this was his last French lesson, and after that he would be studying a foreign language. The thought of never seeing M. Hamel again made him forget the teacher's ruler and crankiness. He started paying attention to what was being taught by M Hamel and understood everything. Finally, he realized that it was completely his fault for not learning his language.

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

Ans. On M. Hamel's last day at school, all his students were present in the class. The people from the village have also come to the class as a mark of respect for his last day in school. He was dressed in his best clothes, which he usually kept reserve for the occasions of inspection and prize distribution days. He has put on on a frilled shirt, a beautiful green coat, and an embroidered black silk cap. He made an announcement regarding the order that has come from Berlin. He asked Franz about participles, but Franz could not speak up. He pointed out to the class that the trouble with them was that they always put off learning their language to an indefinite time. Despite being Frenchmen, they could neither speak nor read their language fluently. He reminded them of the beauty, clarity, and logic of the French language. He urged them to guard their knowledge of the language and hold on to it. After this, he taught them grammar, writing, and history. He explained very patiently, and it seemed that he wanted to give them all he knew before he went away. He looked at the room, trying to fix in his mind just how the room looked. When class got over, he tried to address the students but could not go on as he was choked with emotion. In large letters, he wrote, "Vive La France "on the blackboard and gestured with his hand that school was dismissed and they could leave.

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

Ans. M. Hamel was a Frenchman and loyal to his country and its language. He had been teaching French in the school for the last forty years. He was a strict teacher. We find that Franz, who narrates the story, was scared of him when he failed to prepare on participles. He became melancholic when the order came from Berlin that in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine, only German language would be taught because he felt that his students would be deprived of the right to learn their mother tongue. On the last day of this school, he wore his best dress, which he wore only on inspection and prize days. Though he was strict and disciplinarian, still on the day of his last class, he did not scold Franz for coming late and for failure to recite the rules of participles. The people in the village appreciated his efforts and turned up in a large number to attend his last lesson to show their respect for him. Apart from teaching French, he was fond of gardening and fishing. He was so enthusiastic about fishing that at times he gave the students a holiday so that he could go fishing. He was emotional too. He got emotional on his last day in the school. He urged his students and the villagers to cherish their native language and never forget it.

Exam Questions From 2012-2024 Exam

1 Marks Questions

     1. Who is the writer of the story “The Last Lesson”?         2023

     2. "I started for school very late that morning." Who is the 'I' here?          2012, 2014

     3. What did M. Hamel do when he wanted to go fishing?         2013

     4. What did M. Hamel write at the end of the class?         2015 2019

     5. What did Franz think ‘for a moment’?         2016

    6. What was written in the new copies brought by M. Hamel for the students in a beautiful round hand? 2017

     7. What is the name of the blacksmith in “The Last Lesson”?          2018

     8. What is the ‘great trouble with Alsace’?          2018 2020

     9. What is the name of the river mentioned in “The Last Lesson”?         2019

2 Marks Questions:

     1.  Why did little Franz want to spend his day out of doors?          2012     2016    2017  2019

     2.  What are M. Hamel’s views about the French language?          2012     2016

     3.  What was the commotion that Franz anticipated in the classroom?      2013, 2015

     4.  What changes came over Frantz after he heard M. Hamel’s announcement?     2023

     5. What did M. Hamel say about the French language?      2013

     6.  Why the lesson was called the last lesson?        2014

     7.  What had been put up in the bulletin board?      2014

     8.  What was Franz expected to be prepared with for school that day?         2015

     9.      Why did Franz want to spend his day out of doors?         2012 2016

     10.  What are M. Hamel’s views about the French language?         2016

     11.  Why did M. Hamel not blame Franz alone for his inability to learn?         2017

     12.  ‘Will they make them sing a German, even the pigeons?’ What does this sentence suggest?     2018

    13.  What words did M. Hamel write on the blackboard before dismissing the last class? What did they mean?         2019, 2023

     14.  Why did Wachter, the blacksmith, tell Franz that he would reach school in ‘Plenty of time’?     2020

Long Questions- 5 marks

     1.      What was the order from Berlin? How did that order affect the people of Alsace, particularly M. Hamel and his students?         2012 2013

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

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

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

      5.      How does M. Hamel make the people realize how they, the students, and he have been responsible for not learning their language well?     2020