Sure Shot Questions: The Last Lesson | English Class 12 PDF Download

Short Answer Type Questions

Q1: What had the narrator counted on to enter the school, unnoticed?
Ans: The narrator, Franz, had counted on the usual hustle and bustle that accompanied the start of school. He expected the morning commotion would hide his late arrival and allow him to slip to his desk without being noticed.

Q2: "What a thunder clap these words were to me!" Which were the words that shocked and surprised little Franz?
Ans:  The words were M. Hamel's announcement that he was going to give his last French lesson that day. Franz was stunned because this made him realise, with sudden force, that he had neglected his native language. He felt guilty for not learning French properly and, at the same time, developed a newfound interest in his lessons and in school.

Q3: What was tempting Franz to keep away from school That morning'?
Ans:  Franz was tempted to stay away because he was late and feared M. Hamel's questioning on participles. He had not prepared and expected a scolding. In addition, the fine weather, the woods, the fields and the singing of birds made the idea of a day outdoors particularly appealing.

Q4: Why had the bulletin-board become a centre of attention during the last two years?
Ans:  The bulletin-board had become central because it carried only bad news for the last two years. It posted official notices about lost battles, troop drafts and military orders from the occupying authorities, so everyone watched it anxiously for the latest news.

Q5: What had been put up on the bulletin board?
Ans:  A notice from Berlin had been posted announcing that from now on only German would be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. The notice also stated that a new German teacher would arrive the next day.

Q6: Franz thinks, "Will they make them sing in German, even the pigeons?" What does this tell us about the attitude of the Frenchmen?
Ans:  Franz's thought shows the French people's fear of total domination. It expresses a worry that German control will reach every part of life, even the most natural expressions of identity. The comment reflects how deeply they feel their language is part of their freedom and identity.

Q7: "What announcement did M. Hamel make? What was the impact of this on Franz?
Ans: M. Hamel announced that this would be their last French lesson because German would be imposed in the schools. The announcement struck Franz with deep regret. He suddenly realised how much he had missed by neglecting his lessons and felt ashamed for having treated his books as a nuisance. He also felt sorrow at the thought of losing M. Hamel as his teacher.

Q8: What was the mood in the classroom when M.Hamel gave his last French lesson?
Ans:  The mood was solemn and sombre. The usual noise and hurry were gone; instead there was quiet attention and a growing sense of patriotism. Everyone present-pupils and village elders alike-listened respectfully and felt a sudden regret for having neglected their native language.

Q9: How did M.Hamel say farewell to his students and the people of the town?
Ans: For his farewell M. Hamel dressed in his best clothes to honour the occasion. He used his last lesson to speak earnestly about the value of the French language and urged everyone to preserve it. In a moment of deep emotion he wrote Vive la France! on the blackboard, encouraging patriotic feeling before dismissing the class.

Q10: What change was there in Franz' attitude towards M. Hamel?
Ans:  Franz's attitude changed from indifference to respect. He developed a sudden fascination for school and the French language and was amazed at how clearly he could now understand his teacher. He regretted having ignored M. Hamel's lessons and felt sincere pity for his earlier behaviour.

Long Answer Type Questions

Q11: How different from usual was the atmosphere at school on the day of the last lesson?
Ans:  The atmosphere was markedly different and unusually solemn. Normally the start of school was noisy and bustling, but on this day everything was quiet, almost as if it were a Sunday morning. The village elders sat on the back benches, and M. Hamel, who had taught French for forty years, wore his best suit in honour of the occasion. The pupils listened with unusual attention, and the teacher spoke with great feeling about the importance of their language. This calm, respectful mood reflected the villagers' awareness that their language and way of life were under threat.

Q12: Our language is part of our culture and we are proud of it. Describe how regretful M.Hamel and the village elders are for having neglected their native language, French.
Ans:  The regret felt by M. Hamel and the village elders is deep and poignant. They realise, painfully late, that by neglecting French they have weakened a vital part of their cultural identity. M. Hamel confesses that he too was sometimes lax-sending children to water his flowers or giving them holidays when he should have taught. The elders came to the class to show their shame and to thank M. Hamel for his years of service. Their attendance and their silence showed how much they regretted not having learned or preserved French more carefully.

Q13: Describe the atmosphere in the class on the day of the last lesson.
Ans:  The classroom atmosphere was solemn, serious and charged with emotion. There was none of the usual noise of a school morning. Even the teacher moved slowly and deliberately, wearing his special clothes as if to mark a ceremony. The elders sat in the back; the pupils paid full attention; and M. Hamel taught with a mixture of sadness and dignity. His words were meant to remind everyone of the beauty and value of their language and to urge them to keep it alive.

Q14: What did the French teacher tell his students in his last French lesson? What impact did it have on them? Why?
Ans: M. Hamel told his students that an order from Berlin required that German alone be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine, so this would be their final French lesson. He used the occasion to speak passionately about the glory and importance of their language, urging the pupils and townspeople to safeguard it. His words stirred patriotic feeling and regret among all present. Even previously indifferent pupils, such as Franz, felt ashamed for having neglected their lessons. The impact was strong because the announcement made everyone aware that they were losing a vital part of their identity.

Q15: Everybody during the last lesson is filled with regret. Comment.
Ans:  Regret pervades the room because each person recognises what they have lost and what they failed to preserve. M. Hamel reproaches himself for lâchesness and missed opportunities; he recalls times when he allowed the pupils to skip work. Franz laments his own laziness and wishes he had attended classes more faithfully. The village elders, who may have had more chance to learn in their youth, sit at the back in penitent silence. Their combined sorrow reflects a late realisation of the value of education and of their native language.

Q16: Our native language is part of our culture and we are proud of it. How does the presence of village elders in the classroom and M.Hamel's last lesson show their love for French?
Ans: The elders' presence and M. Hamel's conduct demonstrate deep affection and respect for French. The elders sit in the classroom to show that they regret neglecting their language and to honour M. Hamel's forty years of teaching. M. Hamel, dressed in his best clothes, speaks with pride about French as a beautiful and logical language and urges everyone to keep it alive. His final act-writing Vive la France! on the board-captures the community's love for their native language and their desire that it endure despite foreign rule.