Possible response:

The Commotion Anticipated by Franz in the Classroom

In the story "The Last Lesson" by Alphonse Daudet, Franz is a boy who lives in a French village that has been annexed by Germany. He is worried about missing his French lesson that day because he has been hunting birds with his friends, but when he enters the classroom, he sees a strange sight that makes him uneasy.

1. The Absence of the Usual Teacher

Franz notices that his usual teacher, M. Hamel, is not there, and instead there is an old man with a long white beard who is sitting at the desk with a ruler and a book. This surprises Franz, who had never seen this man before and wonders why he is there.

2. The Seriousness of the Atmosphere

Franz realizes that the atmosphere in the classroom is different from the usual noisy and playful mood. The other students are already seated and silent, and some of them look sad or scared. The old man also looks serious and stern, which adds to the tension.

3. The Announcement of the New Law

The old man, who is the new Prussian schoolmaster, starts the lesson by announcing that a new law has been passed that requires all schools in the region to teach only German and to punish any student who speaks French with a fine or a whipping. He emphasizes the importance of learning German to become a good citizen of the German Empire and to honor the Emperor.

4. The Significance of the Last Lesson

Franz realizes that this is the last French lesson he will have with M. Hamel, whom he admires and likes, and who has always encouraged him to learn and love his language and culture. He feels a pang of regret and nostalgia, and wishes he had paid more attention and studied harder. He also understands that his identity and freedom are being threatened by the new law and the occupation.

5. The Emotional Reactions of the Characters

Franz observes the emotional reactions of the other characters, including M. Hamel, who returns unexpectedly and delivers a passionate farewell speech about the beauty and value of French, and the need to cherish and defend it against oppression. Franz and the other students feel moved and inspired by the speech, and some of them cry or clap. The old man also shows a human side by admitting that he too loves French and regrets not having learned it properly.

Conclusion:

Franz's anticipation of the commotion in the classroom reflects his awareness of the political and cultural tensions between the French and the Germans, and his attachment to his language and his teacher. The climax of the story, when M. Hamel's last lesson becomes a symbolic act of resistance and affirmation, illustrates the power of education to transcend borders and ideologies, and to unite people in their common humanity.

Franz anticipated that there were village People and they were standing at the bulletin board from where all bad news came. they were standing on the commotion.