All these sitting in the classroom were full of regret discuss it in the light of THE LAST LESSON
Answers
Answer:
When the class started, Franz heard his name being called out to recite the rules of the participles which he was unable to do as he got stuck on the first word. He felt very disgusted with himself at his failure to do so. Mr. Hamel said he wouldn’t scold him for he was feeling so bad about it. Everyday learning had been postponed to the next day and now there was no time left to learn. He further said that they would be mocked by people for calling themselves French although they couldn’t speak or write their own language. Further, Mr. Hamel says even many parents had preferred to send their children to work than to school. Then he confesses that he too was to blame because many times he had given a holiday when he wanted to go fishing. Mr. Hamel said that French was the most beautiful language in the world. It was the clearest and logical. He then opened the book and explained a grammar lesson to them. Franz was surprised at himself for he understood the lesson very well. Also, Mr. Hamel had explained the lesson more patiently than ever. It almost seemed as if in one go he wanted to give them all that he knew.
All the children worked seriously and quietly. Mr. Hamel makes people realize the importance of mother tongue While the class was doing their writing assignment, M. Hamel sat motionless in his chair staring at all the things as if he wanted to remember just how everything looked in that little schoolroom. Since M. Hamel had started school forty years ago, nothing had changed except the desk and chairs had worn off and the trees had grown taller. At twelve all of them could hear the Prussians returning from the drill. At this overcome with emotion, M Hamel went to the blackboard and wrote, Vive La France (Long Live France). He then leaned against the wall and dismissed the class with a gesture.
The story is a wake-up call for all those people who keep on postponing things endlessly. Something like this happened with the natives of Alsace. They had to forego learning their mother tongue. In the same vein, the story extrapolates the fact that war makes man inhuman and insensitive to the feelings of others.
The Last Lesson Summary in points
1. Franz is afraid of going to school as he has not learned participles.
2. He wants to enjoy the beauty of nature – the bright sunshine – the birds chirruping in the woods – Prussian soldiers’ drilling but resisted.
3. On reaching school Franz notices unusual silence – Villagers occupying the last benches – teacher well dressed – everybody looked sad.
4. M. Hamel announces: Today is the last lesson in French.
5. Franz regrets and realizes why he had not taken his lesson seriously.
6. Understands the reason why the teacher is well dressed and villagers sitting at the back.
7. M. Hamel realizes that all three, he himself, the children, and the parents are to be blamed for losing respect and regards for the mother tongue.
8. Hamel says the French language – most beautiful, clear, and logical language in the world. Always keep close the mother tongue to your heart as it is a key to the prison of slavery.
9. Hamel becomes emotional and writes on the blackboard “Vive La France”
10. Franz remembers the last lesson very well.
The Last Lesson Questions and Answers (2 Marks)
Q1. What was Franz expected to be prepared for the school that day?
Ans. Franz was expected to be prepared with participles that day for school, as Mr. Hamel had said that he would question them on participles.
Q2. Why was Franz tempted to play truant from school?
Ans. The French teacher M Hamel was going to ask questions on participles which Franz had not prepared. To avoid being scolded he was tempted to play truant from school and spend the day outdoors in a pleasurable manner.
Q3. What had been put up on the bulletin-board?