The Last Lesson by Alphonse Daudet (Question and Answer)

The Last Lessaon by Alphonse Daudet

In the present post I have discussed all the questions related to the last lesson. I have discussed all the important questions related to this chapter specially the questions given in the text book of CBSC.

Think as you read

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

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

3. What had been put up on the bulletin-board?

(1) What was Franz expected to be prepared with for school that day?

Answer - Franz was expected to be prepared with the rules of participle for school that day. Because M.Hamel, the teacher, had said that he would question to the students on participles.

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

Answer - That day Franz noticed that the school was very still and quiet. Usually, there was a great commotion of the opening and closing of desks, of lessons repeated in unison, and the teacher's huge ruler rapping on the table. But that particular day, it was as quiet as Sunday morning.

(3) What had been put up on the bulletin-board ?

Answer - When the French districts of Alsace and Lorraine had been taken over by the Prussians, the bulletin board displayed the news that an order had come from Berlin to teach only German in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. For the last two years all bad news like the lost battles, the orders of the commanding officer etc was displayed on the bulletin-board.

Think as you read

1. What changes did the order from Berlin cause in school that day?

2. How did Franz's feelings about M. Hamel and school change?

(1) What changes did the order from Berlin cause in school that day?

Answer- The order from Berlin caused great changes in school that day. Usually there was a great bustle in school which could be heard out in the street. But that day the school was very still like Sunday morning. The students were sitting on their places quietly and on the back benches the village people too were sitting quietly like students. Everyone was very sad on the order from Berlin that only German would be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine and working very quietly showing their respect for the country that was theirs no more. The only sound that could be heard was the scratching of pens over paper.

(2) How did Franz's feelings about M. Hamel and school change ?

Answer - When Franz reached school, at first he became very surprised at the unusual silence. But as he came to know about the order from Berlin that only German would be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine and knowing that the lesson that day would be their last French lesson, he felt very sad. He was sorry for his books and for not learning his French lessons. He was fecling sorry even for M. Hamel, the teacher who was very strict. The idea that M. Hamel was going away and that he should never see him again, made Franz forget all about his ruler and cranky nature.

Understanding the text

1. The people in this story suddenly realise how precious their language is to them. What shows you this ? Why does this happen?

2. Franz thinks, Will they make them sing in German, even the pigeons?" What could this mean ?

(1) The people in this story suddenly realise how precious their language is to them. What shows you this ? Why does this happen ?

Answer - In the story, "the Last Lesson" the people suddenly realised the value of their language. It happened so because the French districts of Alsace and Lorraine had passed into Prussian hands and an order came from Berlin that only German was to be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. This news made everyone very sad. That day at school students were quiet. Even the village people were sitting quietly in the class like students. They all were feeling very sorry thinking that they can neither speak nor write their own language any more. The teacher, M. Hamel, too was explaining everything with great patience, it seemed almost as if he wanted to teach students all he knew before going away. This shows us that we should never try to make excuses and complete our lesson properly because life is full of uncertainty so does the future.

(2) Franz thinks, Will they make them sing in German, even the pigeons ? "What could this mean?

Answer - When Franz wondered whether the Germans would make even the pigeons sing in German, he meant to say that the people living in France had grown up using French as their own language and it was their mother tongue. That's why the French language was as natural and comtortable to them as cooing to the pigeons. Therefore a new language, German should not be imposed on them. It would be very difficult or next to impossible to them to be comfortable with a different language over night.

***THE END***

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