Here you will get the short and crisp summary and Ncert solutions of the chapter.
- Points to Remember
- Notice on the Bulletin Board about the war front.
- Crowd gathered
- School was quiet
- No sound of desks, lessons, M.Hamel’s ruler.
- Did not scold / spoke quietly.
- M.Hamel wore special embroidered clothes.
- Announced last lesson in french, German to be taught.
- Villagers, Hauser, Postmaster, others on back benches.
- Everyone working very quietly.
- Only sound heard was the scratching of pens over paper.
- Important Characters : M. Hamel
- sincere French teacher, teaching French for the last 40 years.
- knows subject very well
- passionate about French
- considers French – clearest, most beautiful and logical language.
- feels language as a key to guard oneself.
- proud of being French
- upset by occupation of Alsace by Germans
- particular about discipline and learning
- last day made students do exercise on all aspects of language.
- blamed himself for being selfish.
- emotional, could not utter a word at the end of the class
Franz
- pays the utmost attention to every word
- fears that even the pigeons would have to coo in German
- understands feelings of Hauser
- was a good observer, notices changes
- empathizes with M. Hamel
- Understands M. Hamel’s emotions, accepts him with his faults.
- The Last Lesson – becomes the most memorable lesson for him.
- blames himself for ignoring lessons.
Why was Franz reluctant to go to school?
Answer : Because his French teacher said that he would ask questions on
pariticiples. He had not prepared and learnt the rules about
participles.
Why had M. Hamel put on his fine Sunday Clothes?
Answer : After the order from Berlin had come, that only German would be
taught in schools and not French M. Hamel knew that it was his last
French lesson. It was honour of the last lesson that he had put on
his fine Sunday clothes which he put on inspection and Prize
Distribution Day.
Why were the villagers sitting there in the back of the classroom?
Answer : The villagers – Old Houser, postmaster and several others were
there in the classroom because it was their way of showing respect
for their country and thanking M. Hamel for his forty years of faithful
service. They too felt sorry that they had not been to school.
Our language is a 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?
- According to the latest order from Berlin, only German was to be taught in the schools to Alsace & Lorraine.
- This affected everyone badly as everyone was repenting on having wasted the time and not learning French.
- M. Hamel felt guilty for sending his students for his personal tasks
- The parents of the students never bothered and sent children
- to work on a farm or at mills
- Elders showed regret too – they neither learnt French themselves nor did they encourage their children
- Of course, M. Hamel, villagers and even Franz – all were honest enough to accept the mistake of neglecting French language
TITAN ACADEMY 