1.Why do you think was little Franz afraid of being scolded?
Answer:
Franz was afraid of being scolded that day especially because M. Hamel, the teacher, had said that he would question them on participles. Franz frankly admits that he was totally ignorant about the topic. His exact words are: “I did not know the first word about them.” Secondly, he had started for school very late that morning.

2.What does M. Hamel say about the importance of language to an ‘enslaved people’?
Answer:
M. Hamel advises his students to guard French language from the onslaught from invader’s influence and not to forget it ever. When people are enslaved, he thinks, as long as they held fast to their language, they have key to their prison.

3.“What can be the matter now ?” says Franz. Why, do you think, did he make this comment?
Answer:
There was a bulletin board near the town hall. When Franz passed by it, he noticed a crowd there. He did not stop to look at it. He wondered what could be the matter then. For the last two years, they had received all the bad news from the bulletin board – the lost battle, conscription and the orders of the commanding officer.

4.Who was Wachter? What did he ask Franz and why? How did Franz react?
Answer:
Wachter was a blacksmith. He was reading the latest bulletin. He asked Franz not to go so fast to his school. He added that the little boy would get to his school in plenty of time. Wachter had read the latest bulletin about teaching of German. Franz thought that the blacksmith was making fun of him. So, he ran to school and reached there breathless.

5.What does M. Hamel announce at the start of the lesson? How does this change Franz’s feelings towards his school?
Answer:
M. Hamel, the teacher, informed the students in a deep, solemn voice that it was their last French lesson in the school. As German invaders encroached that part of France, henceforth only German would be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. The new master would come and conduct classes from next day. As this was going to be their last French class, he wanted all of his students to pay him more attention.

6.“What a thunderclap these words were to me!” What were the words that shocked and surprised the narrator?
Answer:
Hamel told the children in a solemn voice that it was their last French Lesson. Henceforth, only German would be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. The new master would arrive next day and therefore he wanted his students to be little more attentive in his final class. The teacher’s kind gesture and use of soft words shocked and surprised the narrator.

7.“He had the courage to hear every lesson to the very last.” What led Franz to make this remark?
Answer:
Frantz noticed how sad Hamel was on having to leave a place which he held so dear for 40 long years and not being allowed to teach French any longer.’ But he kept a tab on his emotions and performed his duties faithfully. He called off the class after listening to every lesson to the last. Hamel’s dignified stance and his loyalty to his duty forced Franz to such realisation.

8.How did M. Hamel behave as the last lesson came to an end?
Answer:
M. Hamel stood up in his chair. He looked very pale and tall. He wanted to say some parting words, but something choked him. Then he wrote “Vive La France !” on the blackboard with a piece of chalk. Then he stopped. He leaned his head against the wall. Without a word, he made a gesture to the students with his hand to permit them to go as the school was over.

2. Answer the following questions in six to seven sentences each:

1.Why was Franz scared that day? What did he see on his way to school and how did he get to his desk?
Answer:
Franz was not good at learning. He would rather take the day off and waste time in searching birds’ eggs or going sliding on the Saar. Franz was scared that day because M. Hamel had said that he would question them on participles. Franz did not know anything about participles. He found that the day was warm and bright. The birds were chirping at the edge of the woods. The Prussian soldiers were drilling in the open fields.

There was a crowd in front of the bulletin board near the town hall. Franz found the schoolroom unusually quiet. So, he had no option but to open the door and go in before everybody. He blushed and was frightened of the teacher. M. Hamel spoke very kindly to him and asked him to go to his place quickly. Franz jumped over the bench and sat down at his desk.

2.What order had been received from Berlin that day? What effect did it have on the life at school?
Answer:
An order had been received from Berlin that only German would be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. This order had far-reaching effects on the life at school. M. Hamel, who had been teaching French at the village school for the last forty years would deliver his last lesson that day.

It was in honour of the last lesson that M. Hamel, the teacher had put on his best clothes. Old men of the village were sitting quietly at the back of the classroom. They were sad as well as sorry for they had not gone to school more. They had come to thank the master for his forty years of faithful service and to show respect for the country that was theirs no more.

The teacher addressed the students in a solemn and gentle tone. He asked them to be attentive and explained everything quite patiently. He appealed to them to preserve French among them. During slavery, it would act as key to the prison. He felt so overwhelmed by emotion that he could not bid farewell properly.

3.What do you think is the theme of the story ‘The Last Lesson’? What is the reason behind its universal appeal?
Answer:
The theme of the story ‘The Last Lesson is linguistic chauvinism of the proud conquerors and the pain that is inflicted on the people of a territory by them by taking away the right to study or speak their own language and thus make them aliens in their own land of birth. The story has a sub-theme also. It highlights the attitudes of the students and teachers to learning and teaching.

Though the story is located in a particular village of Alsace district of France which had passed into Prussian hands, it has a universal appeal. It highlights the efforts of the victors to crush their victims-the vanquished people in all possible manner – materially, spiritually, mentally and emotionally. Taking away mother tongue from the people is the harshest punishment. The proper equation between student and teacher, his focused attention, helpful and encouraging attitude and kind treatment can encourage students to learn better.

4.Comment on the appropriateness of the title ‘The Last Lesson.
Answer:
The story has an appropriate and suggestive title. It is the centre of attention throughout and the whole story revolves around it. The beginning of the story serves as preparation for it. The unusual quietness at school, presence of village elders and the teacher in his Sunday best dress – all point out to the unusual and unique occasion-the last lesson in French in a French village school in a district conquered by the Prussians. While delivering the last lesson, the teacher wants to transmit all his knowledge in one go.

He explains everything with patience and the students, as well as old villagers, listen attentively. For the narrator, it is an unforgettable experience. “Ah, how well I remember it, that last lesson,” says he. Old Hauser is crying and his voice trembled with emotion. As the teacher is unable to express his emotions because of choked throat, he ends the lesson by writing ‘Vive La France’ on the blackboard. He makes a gesture with his hand to indicate that the school is dismissed and students can go home.

5.What impression do you form of M. Hamel on the basis of your study of the story ‘The Last Lesson’?
Answer:
M. Hamel is an experienced teacher who has been teaching in that village school for forty years. He imparts primary education in all subjects. He is a hard task-master and students like Franz, who are not good learners, are in great dread of being scolded by him. The latest order of the Prussian conquerors upsets him. He has to leave the place forever and feels heartbroken. He feels sad but exercises self-control.

He has the courage to hear every lesson to the last. His performance during the last lesson is exemplary. He is kind even to a latecomer like Franz. He uses a solemn and gentle tone while addressing the students. He has a logical mind and can analyse problems and deduce the reasons responsible for it.

He knows the emotional hold of a language over its users. He is a good communicator and explains everything patiently. Partings are painful and being human, M. Hamel too is no exception. He fails to say goodbye as his throat is choked. On the whole, he is a patriotic gentleman.