The Last Lesson is a short story written by Alphonse Daudet, which is a part of the Class 12 English Flamingo textbook. In the story, the author describes the last French lesson taught by M. Hamel, who was a devoted and passionate French teacher. During the lesson, the narrator notices that the back benches of the classroom, which were usually occupied by the mischievous students, were empty.

Heading: Who were sitting at the back benches?

M. Hamel's classroom was usually crowded with students, and the naughty ones preferred to sit at the back benches to avoid the teacher's attention. However, on this particular day, the last day of school, the back benches were empty. The author describes that even the students who were usually late or absent had come to school on time and were sitting quietly in the front rows.

Heading: Possible reasons for empty back benches

There could be several reasons for the absence of students from the back benches. One of the reasons could be that they had heard about the important announcement that M. Hamel was going to make during the lesson, and they didn't want to miss it. Another reason could be that they were aware of the seriousness of the situation and wanted to show their respect for the teacher and the French language. Additionally, the fear of punishment or the realization of the value of education could have also played a role in their behavior.

Heading: Significance of the empty back benches

The empty back benches symbolize the transformation of the students' attitude towards education and the French language. The mischievous and careless students who usually sat at the back were now showing their appreciation and respect for the language and the teacher. It also reflects the impact that M. Hamel had on his students and how he managed to instill a love for the language in their hearts. Moreover, it signifies the loss and regret that the students and the narrator feel for neglecting their studies and not valuing the language enough.

In conclusion, the empty back benches in M. Hamel's class represent the change in the students' attitude towards education and their teacher. It reflects the impact that M. Hamel had on them and the value that they now placed on the French language.