The Last Lesson Long question Answer
(1) Describe the unusual things that Franz noticed on the day of the last lesson ?
Ans: On reaching school, Franz noticed an unusual sense of calmness in stead of the normal commotion. There was no noise of opening and closing of the desk the lessons read in unison and the rapping of the teacher's ruler. When Franz entered the room he was frightened of getting scolded for being late. But M. Hamel instead kindly asked him to take his seat. As Franz sat down, he noticed his teacher dressed on his green coat, frilled shirt and a little black silk cap which he wore only on special occasions. Franz also noticed that on the back benches that were always empty, sat the villagers. He noticed old Houser, the former mayor, the former post master and several others. All of them looked sad.
(2) How did the people of Alsace and Lorraine pay their regard to M.Hamel on his last day at school?
Ans: One morning during the Franco Prussian war, the villagers got a very sad and shocking news from the bulletin board near the town hall. A new order from Berlin had come to teach only German in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. The old French school teacher was to leave the school and a new teacher to teach German would come the very next day.
Hence, that day old Houser, the former mayor, the former postmaster and several others went to the school to pay regards to the old French teacher M.Hamel. They occupied the last benches of the classroom which were usually empty. All of them looked very sad. They were sorry that they had not gone to school for a longer time and had not made the efforts to learn their own language. The old men wanted to thank M.Hamel for his forty years of faithful service and also show respect for the country that was no longer theirs.
(3) Describe M.Hamel's last day at school?
Ans: A new order from Berlin had come to teach only German in the The Last Lesson schools of Alsace and Lorraine. The ald French teacher was to leave the school and a new teacher to teach German would replace him the very next day.
However, the French teacher, M.Hamel displayed a much different unusual and strange behavior during his last day at the school. That day he was dressed in his best clothes the green coat, frilled shirt and little black silk cap which he wore only on Sundays or special occasions. M.Hamel was usually a hard and strict type of master. But that day he did not rebuke nor punish Franz for being late. Instead he gave him a kinder look and asked him to take his seat. Moreover, when Franz was unable to recite the rules of participles, H.Hamel to every one's surprise, did not at all scold him. He instead said that Franz would be feeling bad enough for postponing learning. Now his identity as a French man would be questioned as he could neither write nor speak his own language.. M.Hamel blamed the parents for not being keen to send their children for studies. He also blamed himself for giving them a holiday whenever he wanted to go fishing. After that M.Hamel gave a speech on the French language saying that it is the clearest, most beautiful and the most logical language in the world. He said that the language has to be guarded of it is the only key to their unity and liberation. .. M.Hamel then with much patience taught grammar and history. He then asked his students to write France, Alsace as a hand writing practice. He sat motionless in his chair as if he wanted to enshrine in his memory that little classroom after forty years it must have broken his heart to leave the country. But he was determined to teach till the very last moments. At twelve, the church bell rang and so it was time to go home . M.Hamel stood up but he could not talk as emotions choked him. He took the support of the wall and wrote ‘Vive La France on the blackboard. He then without any word, signaled the people to leave the classroom.
(4) Why did M.Hamel not wish to blame Franz for his disinterest in learning?
Ans: The question relates to the chapter, 'The Last Lesson' in which is told how Germany occupied the French distrect of Alsace and Lorraine and imposed their rule and language on them. It was during the time of France co Prussian war. One morning the The Last Lesson people got a very sad and shocking news. A new order from Berlin had come to teach only German in the schools of Alsace and Loraine. The old French teacher, M.Hamel was to leave the school and a new teacher to teach German would come the very next day. Hence that day the last French lesson was to be given in the school.
However when M.Hamel asked Franz to recite the rules of participles, Franz got mixed up on the first words and blankly stood there, holding on to his desk, his heart beating and not daring to look up. But, to everyone's surprise. M. Hamel did not scold or blame Franz at all for neglecting his studies. He instead said that it was not only Franz alone but there were many other young as well as old men who could neither write nor read their own language. They had always kept their studies for tomorrow and now a day had come when their identity as French men would be questioned as they could neither read nor write their own language. • The parents of the children are to be blamed according to M.Hamel, He asserts that the parents were never very anxious to send their words to school. They preferred to put them in work at a firm or mill just to earn a little more money. He also blamed himself for often sending his students to water his flowers or for just giving them a holiday whenever he wanted to go for fishing or wanted a holiday.
0 Comments