Question

Answer any one of the following questions in 120 – 150 words:
(a) The order from Berlin banning teaching of French stunned everyone. Comment.
(b) Why did no one in Pratibandapuram experience any sorrow and anguish at the death of the Tiger King?
(c) It is good to dream big, but one must have concrete plans and determination to turn dreams into reality. Comment. (Going Places)

Answer 1

a) The question is taken from the story The Last Lesson’ written by Alphonse Daudet.

• In the story, after learning of the ban on teaching French, the whole school seemed sad and solemn. All had a special fondness for their French teacher, M. Hamel, and his own passion for the script.
• The Berlin order to ban French teaching also aroused a particular sense of zeal and patriotism in the hearts of the Alsace and Lorraine residents. Residents were upset to hear the news and became serious about their own mother tongue and being deprived of it.
• M. Hamel described how it was the world's most beautiful and logical language, and how their mother tongue should protect them. After teaching he left for about forty years and it was a matter of shock for everybody that things took such a turn.