The Last Lesson | BOSEM Class 10 English Literature

 Board of Secondary Education (BOSEM)

Class - X

English Literature Reader

Chapter - 1

The Last Lesson

Alphonse Daudet

I. Answer the following in a sentence each.

1. Where had the crowd gathered?

Ans.: - The crowd had assembled in front of the bulletin board.

2. How did the writer feel when he enters the class?

Ans.: - When he walked into the classroom, he experienced a sense of shyness and fear.

3. How did the writer feel when he sat down at his seat?

Ans.: - When the author took his place, he gradually overcame his fear and was astonished to find that his teacher was dressed in his distinctive outfit.

4. How did the writer feel about his books when he realised that it was to be the last lesson?

Ans.: - When the writer came to understand that it would be the final lesson, he started to cherish his books as cherished old friends that he would never part with.

5. According to M. Hamel, which was the most beautiful language?

Ans.: - M. Hamel believed that the French language was the most beautiful of all.

6. What did M. Hamel write on the board?

Ans.: - M. Hamel wrote "VIVE LA FRANCE" on the board.

II. Answer the following questions briefly.

1. Why did little Franz think of running away from school and spending the day out of doors?

Ans.: - Little Franz arrived at school very late that day, feeling extremely worried about getting scolded, especially since M. Hamel would be quizzing the students on participles, a topic he knew nothing about. Additionally, the sunny day, the cheerful birds, and the presence of the drilling Prussian soldiers were much more appealing to him than studying participles, or so he believed.

2. Why had a crowd gathered near the town hall?

Ans.: - For the past two years, the community has been receiving all their distressing updates, such as news of lost battles, conscription, and orders from the commanding officer, via the bulletin board. On that day, they were confronted with alarming news: an order from Berlin to conduct teaching exclusively in German in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. Consequently, a crowd gathered near the town hall in response to this development. (conscription - compulsory military service)

3. "You will get to school in plenty of time!" What did the blacksmith mean by it?

Ans.: - The blacksmith was aware that their French lesson was coming to an end due to an order from Berlin. Knowing this, he assured Franz that being late would not be an issue, as it was M. Hamel's final day and he wouldn't reprimand anyone. (reprimand - scold)

4. How did Franz hope to escape the teacher's notice as he went in?

Ans.: - Franz, being behind schedule, anticipated joining the class amidst the lively hustle and bustle of the students. However, to his surprise, that particular day was as tranquil as a Sunday morning.

5. What unusual things did Franz see in the classroom?/What three things in school surprise little Franz that day?

Ans.: - Little Franz observed M. Hamel dressed in his finest attire, noticed that the school was as peaceful as a Sunday morning, and saw the villagers seated at the rear of the room.

6. Why were the village people sitting in the classroom?

Ans.: - The villagers sat at the back of the room as a gesture of gratitude towards M. Hamel for his forty years of dedicated service to the school. Simultaneously, their presence symbolized their respect for the country that they had lost.

7. "What a thunderclap these words were to me!" What words were a thunder clap? Why?

Ans.: - M. Hamel said that the directive had arrived from Berlin to exclusively conduct classes in German at the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. He also declared that the French lesson being taught was the final one. These statements made by M. Hamel were a thunderclap to little Franz. It made him realise that he struggled to write in French and that he wouldn't have the opportunity to improve. The realisation that he had to halt his French learning at that point deeply affected him.

8. Why did M. Hamel not scold Franz for his inability to recite the rules for participles correctly?

Ans.: - M. Hamel did not scold Franz because that was the last day of M. Hamel in school. Moreover, he realised that Franz would have already felt bad enough for the same.

9. "...it is as if they had the key to their prison." What is the prison referred to here?

Ans.: - The prison here is the imposition of the German language on the French People. The imposition of the German language on the French people feels like a form of imprisonment. Following Prussia's victory over France and the capture of Alsace and Lorraine, M. Hamel was instructed to depart from the school.

10. Why did the pupils want to laugh and cry at the same time?

Ans.: - They felt the urge to laugh as they found the way old Hauser was reading the primer amusing, yet simultaneously, they felt the need to cry as they saw their native language being taken away from them.

III. Answer the following question in about 80 words each.

1. In what way was the day of the last lesson different from other day? Write it.

Ans.: - On that particular day, things took an unusual turn as it marked the culmination of their French language instruction, following the directive from Berlin to exclusively teach in German within the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. This signified the final French lesson. M. Hamel refrained from scolding Franz and adopted a calm demeanour. The villagers sat silently at the rear of the room, exuding a sense of sadness. Ultimately, M. Hamel wrote 'VIVE LA FRANCE!' on the board before dismissing the class. (demeanour - behaviour/conduct)

2. How did Franz find the last lesson on Grammar? Why did he find everything the teacher said so easy?

Ans.: - Little Franz was astonished by how easily he grasped the last Grammar lesson. Everything that M. Hamel taught seemed effortless to him. He realised that he had never listened so attentively before, and that the teacher had never explained everything with such patience. It seemed to him that M. Hamel wanted to impart all his knowledge before leaving, hoping to instil it in their minds all at once.

3. What are the feelings Franz had on learning that M. Hamel will be giving his last lesson?

Ans.: - Little Franz became quite sentimental as he realised that it would be his final French lesson at school. Initially, he found all his books to be bothersome. However, upon receiving the order from Berlin, he started to cherish his books as if they were old friends whom he would never part with. Additionally, the thought of M. Hamel leaving and never seeing him again caused Franz to forget all about his strictness and irritability.

4. "What would I not have given to be able to say that dreadful rule for participle all through, very loud and clear, and without one mistake?" Why did Franz feel so?

Ans.: - Franz discovered that it was M. Hamel's final French lesson. He struggled with writing and regretted not paying attention in class and missing school when he had the opportunity. He longed for another chance to learn. However, when called upon to recite, he became flustered, stumbled over the first words, clutched his desk, felt his heart racing, and couldn't bring himself to look up, fearing M. Hamel might scold him.

5. Why did M. Hamel write 'Vive La France!' before dismissing the class?/How did M. Hamel behave at the end of the last lesson?

Ans.: - An order had arrived from Berlin instructing that German should be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. M. Hamel, who had faithfully served for forty years, was giving his final lesson on the French language. He was to depart the following day.

M. Hamel had donned his finest attire as a gesture of respect to his class. Through his actions, he demonstrated his deep affection and reverence for the country and its language. He felt disheartened by the fact that the people of Alsace had consistently neglected to learn French despite being French citizens.

As the lesson drew to a close, just before dismissing the class, M. Hamel inscribed 'Vive La France' on the board as an expression of his love for the country, the language, and his unwavering patriotism. This phrase translates to 'Long Live France'.

6. In what sense was the last lesson the first lesson on French language for Franz?

Ans.: - When Mr. Hamel announced that it would be their last French lesson, Franz was struck by a grim realisation that he still had so much to grasp. He regretted wasting time and neglecting his studies. Though he had never paid much attention in class, the news of his teacher's departure filled him with sadness, prompting him to finally take an interest in the French language. For the first time, he earnestly tried to commit French to memory. In a way, the last lesson became his first true lesson in the French language.

Extra Questions

1. "Will they make them sing in German, even the pigeons" Franz thought. Explain what could this mean.

Or

"Will they make them sing in German, even the pigeons?"

Explain the significance.

Ans.: - Franz believed it would be extremely challenging to train the pigeons to sing in German. Similarly, he thought it would be impossible to compel French individuals to converse solely in German. The directive from Berlin ignited their patriotic sentiments, leading them to develop a deep attachment to their language. Consequently, they resolved to preserve it within their community. This was the viewpoint held by young Franz.

2. Who did M. Hamel blame for neglect of learning on the part of the boys like little Franz?

Ans.: - M. Hamel attributed the lack of interest in learning among boys like Franz to several factors. Firstly, he held the students responsible for constantly postponing their studies. Secondly, he pointed the finger at the parents, noting that they were more concerned about sending their children to work in the mill to earn money than prioritising their education. Lastly, he took some responsibility himself, acknowledging that he had contributed to the situation by granting a holiday when he actually wanted to go fishing.

3. Why did M. Hamel ask the people to guard the French language?

Ans.: - M. Hamel urged the citizens to protect the French language, emphasizing its beauty, clarity, and logical nature as unparalleled in the world. Additionally, he believed that in times of national subjugation, maintaining their language was akin to possessing the key to their own liberation.