XII Eng. CBSE Chapter-01 The Last Lesson- Key Points to the Questions

May 01, 2013

THE LAST LESSON

Alphonse Daudet

I. Long answer Questions :

1. How was M. Hamel a different teacher while giving his last lesson?

ü M. Hamel wore his best dress

ü was emotional / serious

ü delivered his lesson very well

ü made the villagers realise the importance of one’s language

ü spoke about the beauty of the French language

ü whole population of Alsace responsible for neglecting the French language

ü patient with little Franz when he could not answer

ü wrote ‘Vive la France’

2. Character sketch of M. Hamel.

ü French teacher for 40 years in Alsace

ü Generally very strict and using iron ruler

ü loves the language – says it is clearest, most beautiful, most logical

ü stays with his sister – has a beautiful handwriting

ü good garden around the school

ü very respected because elders also attend his last class

ü importance of mother tongue inspires the students and people

ü wears Sunday and Inspection dress during the last lesson

ü very proud to be French – emotional – Viva La France

3. Describe the effect, on life at school, produced by the passing of Alsace and Lorraine into Prussians hands?

ü order had far reaching effect on the life of the school

ü German language to replace French language

ü school was unusually quiet and serious

ü M. Hamel in his best clothes

ü Hamel patient and not cranky as before

ü villagers present in the classroom

ü Hamel patiently delivered his lectures

ü appealed to preserve French

ü Little Franz could understand easily

ü everybody regretted not having paid attention to French earlier

ü understood the significance of the French language

ü everyone thought it was the best French class by Hamel

ü everyone emotional about loss of language / identity

4. Franz’s attitude towards school as well as towards M. Hamel changes when he comes to know about the take over of his village by Prussians. Do you agree ? Discuss with reference to the The Last Lesson.

ü Franz decided to pay attention to the lesson

ü School became very important for him

ü Felt he would miss his school from next day

ü M. Hamel became a good teacher from a boring one.

ü Genuinely upset that Hamel was leaving the village

ü Cranky Hamel seemed a good gentleman

ü Liking developed for history and grammar.

II. Short Answer questions

1. What was more tempting for Franz than going to school and why?

ü Going out to play in bright warm sun

ü With birds chirping in the open field

ü To see the Prussians soldiers practicing drill

ü More tempting than learning the rules for ‘participles’

2. Why was Franz worried?

ü Late for School not prepared participles,

ü afraid of scolding by teacher.

3. What difference did he observe that day at school?

Unusual silence

No hustle bustle

Children quiet in classes like Sunday

Villagers also in classes

M. Hamel wearing special clothes.

4. What did Franz observe on the way to school?

the birds chirping in the wood the Prussian soldiers drilling in the open field at the

back of the saw mill people crowded in front of the bulletin board.

5. What was special about the class of Hamel that day?

last lesson in French villagers present at the back of the class

Hamel not his usual self was kind and considerate even though Franz was late.

6. What was the news on the bulletin board that day?

Order from Berlin

Change of langyage

Imposing Grman

Teacher changed- in Alsace and Lorraine.

7. What did Hamel say about the French language?

French is the clearest The most logical

The Most beautiful language They must guard it and never forget it.

8. “Will they make them sing in German, even the pigeons?”Why does Franz think so?

German language imposed on Alsace and Lorraine Last French lesson

Supression of freedom of expression and speech pigeons representing the natural freedom

Are the Germans powerful enough to influence even animal language?-

will their freedom be curbed as well? How far will the German influence go and how long?

9. Why did Hamel feel very sad to leave that school?

had served there for 40 years taught French

felt he had not done enough justice to his profession.

10. What did Hamel’s last writing lesson comprise of?

New books for all – floated like colourful flags – Alsace and France written on them in Hamel’s beautiful handwriting.

11. Why did everyone in the classroom want to laugh and cry at the same time?

Cry because it was the last French lesson – laugh because the master was very emotional and his voice trembled and even the elderly people were repeating the primary school French words.

12. How did the last lesson end?

Clock struck twelve – Prussian soldiers blew trumpets – Hamel choked and could not speak – wrote Viva La France on the black board – “school is dismissed. You may go.”

13. Why did Franz feel that the Grammar lesson was very easy on the last day?

He never listened the lessons carefully - teacher never explained with patience

- He realise the importance and developed love for it.

14. How did Hamel inspire his class to love their language and guard it?

Last French lesson – language key to identity – must guard it – key to escape from slavery – most beautiful language – most logical – clearest – Alsace Lorraine in the writing books – Viva La France.