📘 The Last Lesson – Summary, Questions & Answers | Flamingo Class 11 Prose
✨ Introduction
The Last Lesson is a moving short story written by Alphonse Daudet. It is set in the French districts of Alsace and Lorraine during the Franco–Prussian War (1870–71). The story highlights the importance of one’s mother tongue, the pain of losing cultural identity, and the need to respect teachers and education.
📖 The Last Lesson – Summary
The story is narrated by Franz, a young student who dislikes studying French and is afraid of his strict teacher M. Hamel. One day, he is surprised to see an unusual silence in the school and villagers sitting in the classroom. M. Hamel tells everyone that this would be their last French lesson, as an order from Berlin has made German compulsory in schools.
On this emotional day, Franz realizes the value of learning his own language, and M. Hamel expresses deep love for the French language, calling it the most beautiful and logical language in the world. The lesson ends with sadness and silence, symbolizing the loss of freedom and identity.
❓ The Last Lesson – by Alphonse Daudet.
Important Questions and Answers
Q1. What did Franz notice that was unusual about the school that day?
Ans: Franz noticed complete silence in the school. Usually, there was a lot of bustle, but that day everything was very still.
Q2. What was Franz expected to be prepared with for school that day?
Ans: Franz was expected to prepare the lesson on participles because M. Hamel had said he would question them.
Q3. What had been put up on the bulletin-board?
Ans: . An order had come from Berlin to teach only German in the school of Alsace and Lorraine. The Germans had put up this notice on the bulletin- board.
Q4. What changes did the order from Berlin cause in the school that day?
Ans: There was complete silence in the school. M. Hamel wore his best clothes. M. Hamel became more sympathetic to his students. The old villagers were sitting in the class. Everyone was sad.
Q5. How did Franz’s feelings about M. Hamel and school change?
Ans: Franz was sorry for not learning his lessons properly. His books now seemed his friends. He did not hate school. He felt sorry for his teacher M. Hamel. He forgot all about his bad behaviour.
Q6. The people in this story suddenly realise how precious their language is to them. What shows you this? Why does this happen?
Ans. When order comes from Berlin, “only German will be taught in the school” then M. Hamel said that French is the most beautiful and clearest language. For the enslaved people, their language become the key for prison. Then the people in story realised the importance of their language.
Q7. Franz thinks, “Will they make them sing in German, even the pigeons?” What could this mean?
Ans. Franz's question about whether pigeons can sing in German shows that humans can impose their will on other humans but cannot impose it on nature.
📖 Some extra Important Questions and Answers 📖
Q1. What information did M. Hamel give to the children in his class?
Ans: : M. Hamel said that an order from Berlin had been put up on the notice board. It said that only German was to be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. A new teacher was coming the next day to teach them.
Q2. Why did Hauser and other villagers come to attend ‘The Last Lesson’?
Ans: They came to thank M. Hamel for his forty years of faithful service and to show respect for their language.
Q3. How was M. Hamel dressed on his last day in school?
Ans: : He was dressed in his best clothes. He wore a beautiful green coat, a frilled shirt and a black silk cap.
Q4. What happened when the church clock struck twelve?
Ans: The sound of prayers and trumpets of the Prussian soldiers was heard. M. Hamel stood to speak but could not.
Q5. Why did Franz not want to go to school that day? or
What was the fear in little Franz’s mind when he started for school in the morning?
Ans: Franz did not want to go to school that day because he had not prepared his lesson on participles. He feared that he would be scolded by M. Hamel
Q6. What did M. Hamel tell the students about the French language?
Ans: M. Hamel said that the French language was the most beautiful, the clearest and the most logical languag in the world. He said that they must guard it and never forget it.
Q7. Why did M. Hamel not scold Franz for coming late?
Ans: M. Hamel did not scold Franz for his coming late to school because it was M. Hamel’s last day at school.
Q8. What did Franz see while going to school?
Ans: He saw Prussian soldiers drilling in an open field and people gathered at the bulletin board.
Q9. Write a character sketch of M. Hamel.
Ans:
. M. Hamel was a French teacher.
. He was a sincere and honest teacher
. Strict but caring towards students
. Patriot who loved France and its language
. Emotional in his last class
Q10. Write a character sketch of Franz.
Ans:
. He was from a poor family.
. He was not good at French.
. Young careless boy from Alsace
. Liked outdoor activities, disliked school
. Afraid of M. Hamel, but later respected him
. Regretted not learning and realized the importance of education
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