kiddingtown » The Last Lesson

http://kiddingtow n.com/the-last-lesson/ March 8, 2011

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Why was Franz late for school that day?

Franz was instinctively not interested in learning French language. That day he had to learn the rules
of Participles and he was least prepared for that and was therefore afraid of his teacher, M. Hamel.
Moreover, he was allured by the attractions on the way to school.

What attracted Franz on his way to school?

Franz was attracted by the warm weather outside. The birds that chirped at the edge of the forest
and the Prussian soldiers who were drilling also slowed down his interest to go to school.

What did Watcher mean by saying Franz would get to his school in plenty of time?

Watcher, the blacksmith, meant it ironically. He meant there was no more French taught in the
school as per the ban imposed by the Prussians and it would take a long time to get it back and
therefore there was no need to hurry to his school.

Describe the atmosphere of the school on usual days.

On usual days the school no longer looked like a school. The noises inside the school could be
heard out in the street. Children were in a playful mood, opening and closing their desks and
shouting their lessons in chorus. The teacher had to use his ruler to silence the class.

How did the classroom look different that last day? Whose presence was extraordinary?

For the first time in its existence, M. Hamel's classroom looked like a classroom. There was a deep
silence in the class. No one spoke a word. All were sad. Besides, the presence of the villagers
there was extraordinary.

Why was that class to be the Last Class?

Alsace was conquered by the Prussians and as a result a new order came from Berlin to ban
teaching of French in the schools of Alsace. The order further said that all the French teachers like
M. Hamel had to leave the territory within a day and therefore that class was to be the last class.

How had Franz' books become 'old friends for him?

Friends become sweeter when they depart from us. With the ban on French, his books were also
going to separate from Franz and therefore they seemed to be old friends for him.

Franz related the extraordinary changes in the classroom to the ban on French that had been
published on the bulletin board. How?

When Franz passed the bulletin board at the Town Hall, he didn't know what was so curious about it.
Later, when he reached his school there were changes and curiosity there too. Finally when he was
told of the ban on French and of M. Hamel's transfer, he connected the order on the bulletin board
and the extraordinary changes in the classroom.

What did M. Hamel mean by, 'And now you see where we’ve come out!'

The people of Alsace were generally unwilling to learn their language. They left learning to another
day and did all except that. Suddenly the ban on French was imposed by the Prussians and the
people had no time left to learn their mother tongue.

How does M. Hamel blame the parents of his students?

The parents of his students were, in M. Hamel's opinion, greedy for money. They considered
learning less important that making a living. They used to send their children to work in the farms
and mills to earn an extra amount of money.

How is a nation's language important for its citizens beyond the mere use for communication?

Language is primarily important for communication. Besides, it has the amazing power to bind a
nation together. Once a nation is thus united it can stand against all foreign aggressions and
safeguard its freedom.

The dead reaction to the beetles that flew into the classroom clearly said the children's resentment
to the ban on French. Explain.

In M. Hamel's school beetles used to swarm in and children used to take that for fun, too. But that
day there was an amazing change in the usual reactions to the beetles. Due to the shock and
sadness caused by the ban on French even the little children took no notice of the beetles.

What changes had happened in and outside the classroom during the forty years of M. Hamel's
service? How do they speak of his incompetence?

M Hamel was sent to teach the Alsace population. Forty years passed yet Alsace remained
illiterate. Only the desks and benches had been worn smooth; the walnut-trees in the garden were
taller, and the hopvine that he had planted himself twined about the windows to the roof. Yet there
was no change or growth in the literacy and education levels of the people.

How does the author present a nation's love for its lost freedom?

For the people of Alsace being conquered by another country wasn’t a new thing. But they had
never foreseen that their freedom to learn their own language would be taken away from them one
day. They had a teacher to teach them French but they never took him seriously. They used to put off
learning for another day but one day came without another day to follow. Their freedom to learn their
own language taken away from them, the people of Alsace realized its importance. Everyone, young
and old, reflected the loss of something whose importance they realized only when it was taken
away from them. They wanted their freedom back. They wished to learn their language as intensely
as their teacher wished to teach them in an hour’s time. The usually boisterous classroom became
a peaceful place of learning. Some felt a sudden love for their books that were once burden for them
while others wept with their books in hand. The teacher became emotional and accepted his failure
in teaching the people and his students strove to learn French in an hour. They hated the Prussians
and themselves for their lost freedom.

How far is a language important for a nation's freedom?

A nation that stands separated cannot stand against its enemy. Language is one of the most
powerful elements that boosts the unity of a nation. If a nation has a single language it is said to be
united and no aggression can conquer it.

How was the last class a new lesson for Franz?

Franz was a typical child of Alsace. He too, like the others, had put off learning for another day. To
Franz learning French was very difficult. He loved anything except his own language. But when he
was told that there was no more chance to learn of his own language, Franz felt guilty of not having
taken keen interest to learn it. It is obvious that Franz knew any French, if at all to read and write. All
of a sudden his love for learning his language grew powerful in him. He paid his full attention to his
master Hamel. He understood every rule of the grammar, every sentence, very easy. The teacher no
longer appeared to him cranky nor his terrible ruler any more terrorizing. He loved to learn French in
an hour. He felt very sorry for not learning. The last class was unforgettable for Franz.