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THE LAST LESSON

By Alphonse Daudet
SUMMARY

AStory of Change: ASimplified Journey through "The Last Lesson"

1. An Ordinary Morming Turns Unusual
In the smallvillage of Alsace, Franz, ayoung student, starts his day with a typical worry. he'snot ready for his grammar
class and fears his teacher's scolding. But this day is different. The Franco-Prussian War has changed things., and Alsace
isnow under Prussian rule. Franz doesn't know it yet, but his regular school day is about to become asignificant moment
in his life and his community's history.
2. AStrange Quietness at School
As Franz walks to school, he senses something is off. The usual lively morning scenes are replaced by astrange quietness.
He sees a crowd at the town hall but rushes to school, still worried about his grammar lesson. When he arrives, the school,
usually noisy and busy, is strangely silent. Franz enters the classroom to find his teacher, M. Hamel, and a room filled with
a serious mood. He soon discovers why things are so different.
3. The Announcement of the Last Lesson
M. Hamel tells the class that this will be their last lesson in French. Anew order from Berlin says that only German will
be taught in Alsace and Lorraine's schools. This news shocks Franz. He realises that this is more than just a change in
language, it's a loss of part of their culture and identity. The classroom, once a place for everyday lessons, becomes a
space where everyone feels the weight of what they are losing.
4. Regrets and Realisations
Franz starts toregret not paying attention in his previous classes. He understands too late how important his lessons were.
M. Hamel, showing both strictness and care, teaches his last French lesson with deep emotion. He talks about the beauty
of the French language and tells the studernts to hold on to it. Meanwhile, vilagers sitting quietly in the classroom show
Exercise their respect and share the sadness of losinga part of their heritage.
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S. APowerful Ending
The story ends with a moving moment. As the lesson ends, M. Hamel writes "Vive La France!" on the blackboard. This act
shows his defiance and pride in their culture. The end of the class marks the end of an important period in their lives. The
story leaves Franz and the readers thinking about how big political changes can deeply affect ordinary people and their
cultural identity.
In The Last Lesson Alphonse Daudet tells a story that is not just about a historical event It's a tale that shows the
importance of language and culture in people's lives. The story, filled with emotions and meaning, reminds us of how
people can stay strong and keep their identity even in difficult times.
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 EXTRACT-BASED QUESTIONS
Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow.
1 Usually. when school began, there was a great bustle, which could be heard out in the
street, the opening and closing of
desks, lessons epeated in unison, very ioud, with our hands over our ears to understand better, and the
teacher's great
ruler rapping on the table. But now it was all so still! I had counted on the commotion to get to my desk without
being
seen, but,of course, that day everything had to be as quiet as Sunday morming. Through the window Isaw my classmates,
already in their places, and M. Hamel walking up and down with his terrible iron ruler under his arm. I had to open the
door and go in before everybody. You can imagine how I blushed and how frightened I was. (CBSE Sample Paper, 2024)
(a) List any two sensory details present in this extract. Who is the speaker and who is he speaking to?

(b) Why does the protagonist feel anxious about entering the classroom on this particular day?
() The cdassmates have started the lesson. (i) The teacher is in a bad mood
(i) The ciassroom istoo quiet (iv) The protagonist is running late.
(c) Complete the sentence appropriately.
The phrase "as quiet as Sunday morning" suggests that,

() Pick evidence from the extract that helps one infer that this was not the protagonist's first time being late to school

(e) What does the term terrible iron ruler indicate about M. Hamel?

( Which of the following headlines best suggests the central idea of the extract?
() The Fears of a Latecomer (i) The Importance of Punctuality
(ü) The Rigidity of the School System (iv) The Anxiety of a Young Student
2 Poor man! It was in honour of this last lesson that he had put on his fine Sunday dothes, and now Iunderstood why the old
men of the village were sitting there in the back of the room Itwas because they were sorry. too, that they had not gone to (Core)
school more it was their way of thanking our master for his forty years of faithful service and of showing their respect for
the country that was theirs nomore. (CBSE Question Bank, Modified)
(a) Complete the given statement.
ENCLI
The narator refers to M. Hamel as Poor man!' because

(b) Which of the following idioms might describe the villagers' act of attending the last lesson most accurately?
() Too good to miss (i) Too litle, too late' Insight
ini) Too many cooks spoil the broth (iv) Too cool for school'

(c) Choose the option that might raise a question about M. Hamel's "aithful service". S.H.A.R
When Franz came late. M Hamel told him that he was about to begin class without him
(i) Franz mentioned how cranky M Hamel was and his "great ruler rapping on the table"
(im) M Hamel often sent students to water his flowers, and gave a holiday when he wanted to go fishing
(i MHarnel pemittednllagers to put their children 'to work on a farm or at the mills for some extra money.
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 (a) Choose the option that most appropriately fills in the blanks, for the following description of the given extract.
The villagers and their children sat in class, forging with their old master a 1. togetherness. In that
moment, the classroom stood 2. It was France itself, and the last French lessona desperate hope to
to the remnants of what they had known and taken for granted. Their own4.
() 1 graceful; 2. still; 3, hang on; 4. country
(i) 1 bygone; 2. up;3. keep on; 4. education
(iü) 1 beautiful; 2. mesmerised; 3. carry on; 4. education
(iv) 1. forgotten; 2. transformed; 3. hold one; 4.identity
(e) In "The Last Lesson', M. Hamel's decision to wear his special outfit can be best described as:
[Competency Focused Question (CFQJ
) an act of passive resistance against the Prussian army
(1) an attempt to invoke optimism in the minds of his students
(ii) asymbolic gesture to emphasis the importance of the day
(iv) amere coincidence that it coincided with the day of the French loss
() The villagers were attending M. Hamel's lecture as they felt for
[Competency Focused Question (CFQ)]
() responsible; M. Hamel having to leave his job
(ii) resentment; M. Hamel giving up his job so easily
(ii) guilty, not having learned their own language properlyalesi
seitotkoSiauotsonobos /ar
(iv) ashamed; not appreciating M. Hamel's efforts in teaching them
3. M. Hamel went on to talk of the French language, saying that it was the most beautiful language in the
wworld - the clearest,
the most logical; that we must guard it among us and never forget it, because whena people are enslaved, as long as they
hold fast to their language it was as if they had the key to their prison. Then he opened a grammar book and read us our
lesson. I was amazed to see how wellI understood it. All he said seemed so easy, so easy! (CBSE Question Bank; Modified)
(a) Which of the following can be attributed to M. Hamel's declaration about the French language?
(0 subject expertise (i) nostalgic
(iüi) factual accuracy
prideteot odt2o tout
(iv) patriotic magnification
(b) Choose the option that might best describe M. Hamel's viewpoint.
I Those who know nothing of foreign languages know nothing of their own. - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
II. Language is the road mnap of a culture. It tells you where its people come from and where
they are going.
Rita Mae Browm
II. Apoor man is like a foreigner in his own country. - Ali lbn Abi Talib
IV. The greatest propaganda in the world is our mother tongue, that is what we learn as children, and which we learn
unconsciously. That shapes our perceptions for life. - Marshal McLuhan
() Option (1) (i) Option (I)
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Exercise (ii) Option (iI1) (iv) Option (IV)
(c) "Iwas amazed to see how well I understoodit"
Select the option that does NOT explain why Franz found the grammar lesson "easy":
) Franz was paying careful attention in class this time.
(i) M.Hamel was being extremely patient and calm in his teaching.
(iD Franz was inspired and had founda new meaning and purpose to
learning.
(iv) Franz had realised that French was the clearest and most logical
language.

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 (d) State True or False.

Franz was able to understand the grammar lesson easily because he was receptive.

(e) In "The Last Lesson', which of these would most likely NOT be M. Hanel's thought on the day of the last lesson?

dpibsadws [Competency Focused Question (CFQ))

) "If only these students had realised the importance of their language earlier."
(ii) "Why do they seem so unaffected, do they not know what has happened yet?
nMasw wiW

(0 "Tcant teach them French anymore, let me at least tell themn the importance of holdingon to our language
(V) "Perhaps Ishould have been more considerate with these children, maybe they would have learned better"
() Based on the extract, we can deduce that M. Hamel was teacher. [Competency Focused Question (CFO)
() a thoughtful but strict Sbeodi) a humorous but proud ndtaw w
e () an eccentric but punctual onamooon'netblro (iv) an unconventional but sincere bWe
Syab Sstvbssrstib bo22s1b lamsH Mecw y ban woH 0D
Short Answer Questionsaonom bo orit s v LO
Answerthe following questionsin 40-50 words each.sieolnovdinogiihelo suiev aoste elote s
(a) When do the residents of Alsace realise how precious their language is to them?
soor eoutgtk niodats yatv soio (CBSE 2023, Outside Delhi,Set I, I1G
I)

(b) What were Franz's feelings as he set out for schooland why? oclclhabnis (CBSE 2023, Delhi.Set I.II GI)

(c) Why did the elder of the village attend the last lesson? (CBSE 2020, Delhi, Set II)
slorasbioso lsatsH Mno

(Core)
(a) How is the mother tongue important to a person? What does M. Hamel, the teacher, say about it?
(CBSE 2020,Delhi, Set III)
ENGLI

Insigh
(e) Who did M. Hamel blame for the neglect of learning on the part of boys like Franz? (CBSE 2019, Outside Delhi, Set I)
S.H.A.R

hib

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 Additional New &Original Questions for Practice
(Short Answer Questions: Please answer the following in about 40-50 words each)
Q1: Why did the village elders occupy the back benches in the classroom to attend the
last lesson delivered hy
M. Hamel?
(CBSE 2019, Delhi, Set I)
Q.2: How did M. Hamel make his last lesson a special one? What did he
emphasise in it? (CBSE 2019, Delhi, Set I)
Q,3: Why was M. Hamel dressed in formal clothes in school?
(CBSE 2023, Set I, II&II)
Q.4: What was the mood in the classroom when M. Hamel
gave his last lesson? (CBSE 2020, Set I &I)
Q.5: What wasthe importance of thebulletin-board near the
town hall? (CBSE 2020, Set I)
Q6: Why did the narrator want toskip school on the day of the
last lesson? (CBSE 2020, Set I)
Q7: Why wasthe order from Berlin called athunderclap by
Q8: Why was there a crowd in front of the
Franz?D 9 (CBSE 2020, Set II)
bulletin-board? (CBSE 2020, Set III)
Q9: Why did M. Hamel blame the parents for their children's poor performance at school? (CBSE 2020, Set II)
Q 10: How and why was M. Hamel dressed differently that day?
Q11: (CBSE 2019, Set I)
Why were the old men of the village sitting in the
classroom on the last day of the lesson? (CBSE 2019, Set IIi)
Q12: "You realise the true value of athing only on losing it"
Comment on this statement in the light of the story, The Last
Lesson.
(CBSE Sample Paper 2023)
Q 13: Comment on the significance of thevillagers sitting at the
back in M. Hamel's classroom. (CBSE Sample Paper 2021)
Q 14: Who did M. Hamel blame when Franz was
umable to answer a question on French participles?
Q. 15: "We've all a great deal to reproach
(CBSE Sample Paper 2020)
ourselves with" said M. Hamel. Refer to the context and explain what he
Convey to his students. wanted to
0. 16: If this had been M. Hamel's first lesson, how do (CBSE Sample Paper 2019)
you think the school experience of the students might
impacted? have been
Q. 17: Little Franz isthe narrator of the story. The name
(CBSE Question Bank)
Franz' means 'from France'.
In what way does the story being told as a
first-person narrative of Franz impact your reading and understanding of
the story?
Provide at least one evidence from the text to support your
opinion. (CBSE Question Bank)
o. 18: At the end of his last lesson, M. Hamel
decides to leave a little note for each of his students for them to find the next
day at their desks. Based on your reading of the story, what might his note to
Franz read?
You may begin like this:
Dear Franz,
Iknow you have always preferred to run in the open fields..
(CBSE Question Bank)
Q 19: "..when people are enslaved, as long as they hold fast to their
language it is as if they had the key to their prison".
Do you agree or disagree with the above statement from The Last
Lesson? Support your opinion with a reason that
is factual or based on your experiences.
[Competency Focused Question (CFO)]
Exercise Q, 20: Based on the extract given below fromn "The Last Lesson', state whether each statement is true or false with a
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justification.
"Oh,how sorry Iwas for not learning my lessons, for seeking birds' eggs, or going sliding on the
Saar! My books,
that had seemed such a nuisance awhile ago, so heavy to carry, my grammar, and my
history of the saints, were old
friends now that I couldn't give up. And M. Hamel, too; the idea that he was going away, that I
should never see him
again, made me forget all about his ruler and how cranky he was".
(1) Finding out that it was M. Hamel's last day changed the narrator's feelings about
him.
(2) M. Hamel was a dedicated teacher who did not punish his
students. [Competency Focused Question (CFQ]

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 Long Answer Questions
Answer the following questions in 120-150 words each.
(a) The order from Berlin created a great enthusiasm in the school. Comment. (CBSE 2020, Outside Delhi, Set I)

(b) Everybody during the last lesson was filled with regret. Comment. (CBSE 2019, Outside Delhi, Set I, II &III)

( The last lesson reflects the flaws in human character that led to the sad plight of people in Alsace. Substantiate your
answer with evidences from the text. (CBSE 2023, Set I, IIS I)

(Core)-12

ENGLISH

Insights
9 Additional New &Original Questions for Practice
(Long Answer Questions: Please answer the following in about 120-150 words each) S.H.A.R.P.
(CBSE 2019, Set I)
Q1: What was unusual in the market and in the classroom on the day of the last lesson?
Comment.
Q2: "The Last Lesson' shows that people suddenly realised how precious their language was to them.
(CBSE 2019, Set I)
(CBSE 2019, Set II)
Q3: How was M. Hamel different in his last lesson? Who did he scold and for what?

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 Q4: The order from Berlin banningteaching of French stunned everyone. Comment. (CBSE 2019, Set I)
Q5: Though tempted by the bright day, Franz stated that he had "the strength to resist, and hurried off to school hca
story progresses, the reader realises that Franz, M. Hamel and the villagers would perhaps need "the strength
resist" much larger forces.
Discuss how the story provides strategies for resistance and protection of one's identity and community through its
events and characters.
Provide relevant textual details to support your argument. (CBSE Question Bank)
Q6: On the day ofthelast lesson, Franz felt that the "whole school was
strange".
Throughout the story, the reader encounters Franz's account of how school usually was, and what it was like on
the last day of class with M. Hamel. This contrast comes across through events, and
the actions and viewpoints of
various characters.
" In what way can the story be seen as a
commnent on schooling in general?
" Does Franz's description of school life
resonate with your own experience?
"Do you think the story might also provide advice on
what good education entails?
Substantiate your argument with relevant instances from the text.
(CBSE Question Bank)
Q.7: How does Alphonse Daudet use the setting of the story to
reflect the broader political and
social changes happening
during the Franco-Prussian War? Consider the classroom, village, and the
broader region of Alsace in your answer.
Q.8: Analyse the character of M. Hamel and discuss howhis actions and
with his usual teaching methods. What does this tell us about thedemeanour theday of thelast lesson contrast
on
impact of the situation on him personally and
professionally?
Q9: Discuss the symbolism of the 'quietness' in the classroom as
described in the story. How does it contribute to the
Overall mood and theme of the story?
Q. 10: Examine the role of languageas a symbol of
cultural identity and resistance in the story. How does the impending
loss of their native language affect the characters and the
community as a whole?
Q.11: Reflect on the portrayal of Franz in the story. How does his
perspective and understanding of the situation evolve
from the beginning to the end of the story? What does this say about the
Q. 12: The presence of thevillage elders in the
innocence and adaptability of youth?
classroom is a significant moment in the story. Discuss how their attendance
serves as a commentary on the importance of education and the role of
elders in preserving cultural heritage.
Q. 13: Analyse the ending of the story, particularly the
significance of M. Hamel's act of writing "Vive La France!" on the
blackboard. What does this gesture represent in the context of the story's themes of loss and resistance?
0. 14: Consider the broader implications of the
story. How does The Last Lesson' serve as a
political changes on ordinary lives, and what can it teach commentary on the effects of
cultural identity? contemporary readers about the value of language and
Q. 15: Comment on regret as a theme with any two
examples from the story The Last Lesson'. In the examples, do you think
the characters' regret is justified? Explain.
[Competency Focused Question (CFQ)]

Exercise
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