The Last Lesson : Questions and answers

(Book : Flamingo, Class: 12, Sub: English)

1️⃣ Short Answer Questions (30-40 words)

Q1: Who is Franz? What did he prefer to do instead of going to school?

Ans: Franz is a young French boy and the narrator of the story. He prefers playing in the open fields, watching birds, and sliding on the Saar river instead of attending school and learning French.

Q2: Why was Franz surprised when he reached school that day?

Ans: Franz was surprised to see that the school was quiet like a Sunday, with villagers sitting in the classroom. He was even more shocked to learn it was the last French lesson, as German would be taught from the next day.

Q3: Why had the villagers gathered in the classroom on the last day?

Ans: The villagers came to pay their respects to M. Hamel for his forty years of dedicated service and to show their love for their mother tongue, as it was the last French lesson under German rule.

Q4: What did M. Hamel say about the French language?

Ans: M. Hamel called French the most beautiful, logical, and clear language in the world. He urged the villagers to guard it, explaining that holding onto their language would help them stay free even under foreign rule.

Q5: How did Franz’s feelings about M. Hamel and French change on the last day?

Ans: On the last day, Franz felt regret for not learning French seriously earlier. He developed respect and admiration for M. Hamel, understood his dedication, and felt a sudden desire to learn and honor his mother tongue.

2️⃣ Long Answer Questions (120-150 words)

Q6: Describe the emotions of M. Hamel during his last lesson. How did he express his patriotism?

Ans: M. Hamel was filled with deep grief, sadness, and patriotism on his last day. He wore his special green coat, which he wore on inspection days, showing the importance of the day for him. Throughout the class, he spoke lovingly about the French language, calling it the most beautiful and logical language in the world, urging everyone to guard it to remain free under foreign rule. His eyes were full of tears, and his voice trembled with emotion as he realized the end of his long service. His patriotism was evident when he wrote “Vive La France” on the blackboard before leaving, showing his love for his country and language despite the German oppression.

Q7: What message does the story “The Last Lesson” convey to the readers?

Ans: “The Last Lesson” conveys the importance of one’s mother tongue in preserving culture and identity. It shows how people often take their language and freedom for granted until they are taken away. The story emphasizes the need to respect and learn one’s language as it is tied to a nation’s freedom and self-respect. It also highlights the pain and loss of identity under foreign rule. Through the regret of Franz and the emotional farewell of M. Hamel, the story teaches the significance of valuing education and patriotism.

3️⃣ Value-Based Question

Q8: What lesson do you learn from Franz’s realization on the last day of French class?

Ans: Franz’s realization teaches us that we often do not value what we have until we lose it. We should take our education, teachers, and language seriously as they are vital for our growth, identity, and freedom. The story also teaches us to respect and preserve our cultural heritage. 

4️⃣ Extract-Based Question

Extract:
"When I passed the town hall there was a crowd in front of the bulletin board. For the last two years, all our bad news had come from there.”

Q: What was the bulletin board known for? Why was there a crowd gathered there?

Ans: The bulletin board was known for displaying orders and news from Berlin, often bringing bad news such as new orders or defeats in the war. That day, the crowd gathered to know about the order that German would be taught in schools, replacing French.