Question

how did franz spend the day of the last lesson at school

Answer 1

Franz was at his best as a student on the day of last lesson of M. Hamel. That day had already brought shock for Franz; the shock of sad news about his teacher leaving for ever; the sad news that Alsace and Lorraine had been captured implied living under the Prussian rules and regulations. All this combined together ignited his patriotism. He felt he was far better as a Frenchman; he did not want to follow Prussian rules and regulations, as that meant starting all his life anew; learning everything from scratch. So he gave his hundred percent that day to the last lesson from M. Hamel. As a result he understood everything that day.