THE LAST LESSON BY
ALPHONSE DAUDET
Introduction:
The
Last Lesson was written in the days of Franco-Prussian war, in which France was
defeated by Prussia (combined nations of modern day Germany, Poland and parts
of Austria) led by Bismark. The French districts of Alsace and Lorraine were annexed
by Prussia. It shows that the colonial power wants not only territory, but also
dominates over the language and culture of a particular country. There pervades
the story an atmosphere surcharged with the suppressed feelings of patriotism
and nationalism coupled with the helplessness. The story is a wake-up call for
all those people, who are in the habit of postponing things. The story also
extrapolates the fact that war makes man inhuman and insensitive to the
feelings of others.
• Gathering of Crowd
• School atmosphere silent.
•No sound of desks.
• Wore green coat, frilled shirt, black silk-cap.
•Announced last lesson in French German to be taught from
the next day.
Overall classroom ambience
•Villagers, Hauser, Postmaster, others on back benches.
• Everyone working very quietly.
• Only sound that was
heard was that of the scratching
of pens over paper.
Franz's Reaction to Last Lesson in French
•Felt repentant
• Accepted Mr. Hamel
with his faults.
• Wanted to impress
M. Hamel but fails in his recitation of participle rules.
• Understood presence of villagers.
M. Hamel ‘s opinion about the class
• parents blamed for
sending their children to work
• Blamed himself for
sending students to water his plants.
• All to blame for
the situation
• Too late to make
amends ( make up for the loss)
• No time to make up
for lost time
Questions and Answers
1.What was Franz expected to be prepared with for school
that day?
Ans: Franz was expected to be prepared with the rules of
participles assigned to him by his French teacher, Mr. M. Hamel , for school
that day.
2. What did Franz notice that was unusual about the school
that day?
Ans: Unlike other days in the school there was no bustle, no
lessons repeated in unison. He could see his classmates being aready seated in
their places. Mr. Hamel addressed Franz
softly and asked him to go to his place very quickly. Mr. Hamel was
dressed in his beautiful green coat, his frilled shirt and little black cap,
which he normally wore on inspection days. The backbenches of the classroom
were occupied by the village elders who looked very grave on that day.
3. What had been put up on the bulletin board?
Ans: Unlike other days, there was no commotion in the school
and no lessons were repeated in unison. . The last benches, which on other days
used to be empty, were occupied by the
village elders. Mr. Hamel appeared to be kinder than usual and was dressed in
his beautiful green coat, his frilled shirt and little black cap, which he
normally wore on special occasions.
5. How did Franz’s feelings about M. Hamel and school
change?
Ans: Franz suddenly could find it very easy to understand everything that Mr. Hamel spoke.
He listened all that Mr. Hamel spoke very carefully. Mr. Hamel too taught with
infinite patience on that day. Franz developed sudden obsession for the school
and developed interest for the school.
Ans: It shows the eruption of patriotic fervor among the
people. The imposition of German language on the people of Alsace and Lorraine
further strengthened their love for French. They felt that their freedom of
expression in their motherland has been held in hostage by the Germans.
This happens because people come together during time of
identity crisis and try their utmost best to rescue their motherland and mother
tongue from the aggressor. Their love for the country and their fellow
countrymen suddenly get revamped during such emergency.
Q8. How did M. Hamel say farewell to his students and the
people of the town?
Ans: M. Halmel bade farewell in a solemn and grave manner.
He declared in the class that as the Province of Alsace and Lorraine passed off
into the hands of Germans, it was their last French lesson on that day. From
the next day onwards, Germany would be taught in the schools of Alsace and
Lorraine. He requested the class to treasure French in their heart as language
is the key to the prison of imperial power.
Q9. Who did M. Hamel blame for the neglect of learning on
the part of boys like Franz?
Ans: M. Hamel held
both parents and children for dereliction of learning on the part of Franz. He
blamed parents for delegating work to their wards to earn money instead of
going to school. He even blamed himself for delegating the work of watering his
plants or declaring holidays for children whenever he wanted to go fishing.
Q10. What words did M. Hamel write on the board before
dismissing the last class? What did they mean?
Ans: M. Hamel wrote ‘Vive La France’, which means ‘Long Live
France’. These words describe his
unflinching faith and profound love for his motherland. He was
undergoing the waves of patriotic fervor
while writing these words on the blackboard.
Q11. What regrets did Franz have after hearing Hamel’s
announcement?
Ans: Franz regretted missing the school so often. When the
class started, the narrator heard his name being called out to recite the rules
of the participles in which he got stuck on the first words. He felt very
disgusted at his failure. His books, which were a nuisance recently, suddenly
became his old friends. He also regretted that he would not see Hamel and feel
his ‘crankiness.’
Q12. How does M. Hamel pay a tribute to the French
language?
Ans: Hamel pays tribute by referring to the French language
as the most beautiful language in he world. It was the clearest and the most
logical language in the world. They must guard it among themselves. He reminded
that when people are enslaved, as long as they hold fast to their language, it
ws the key to their prison.
Q13. Mention two things about M. Hamel that surprised Franz
on his last day at school.
Ans: M. Hamel did not scold Franz for being late. Instead he
kindly told him to go to his place. On that day he was dressed in his best
clothes. He wore his beautiful green coat, frilled shirt and little black silk
cap with embroidery, which he wore only on inspection or prize days.
Q14. Hamel while addressing Franz says about the fate of
Alsace: ‘Ah, that’s the great trouble with Alsace.’’ What fate of Alsace does
he refer to here?
Ans: Mr. Hamel
laments the fact about Alsace that it will not learn the French language
henceforth and its people will be deprived of this language. In fact, Alsace
had put off learning till the next day. But the prospect of learning the French
language is no longer possible as German language would be taught in schools of
Alsace and Lorraine from the next day onwards.
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