Class 12 Flamingo - The Last Lesson by Alphonse Daudet - NCERT Solutions of CBSE English Core Course

The Last Lesson by Alphonse Daudet

CBSE Class 12 Flamingo - NCERT Solutions for English Textbook Exercise (Think As You Read)

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Question 1: What was Franz expected to be prepared with for school that day?

Solution 1: Franz was expected to prepare a lesson on the rule for "participles" in grammar. His teacher, M.Hamel had announced that he would ask questions from participles on that day. Franz had no knowledge about participles since he did not prepare. He was expecting a scolding from his teacher and in fact even wanted to avoid school that day.

Question 2: What did Franz notice that was unusual about the school that day?

Solution 2: Franz noticed unlike other days, the school was unusually quiet that day. There was no hustle and bustle or the noise of opening and closing of desks, the lessons being repeated loudly by the students and the loud rapping of the ruler on the teacher’s desk. The silence seemed to him unusual and surprising.

Question 3: What had been put up on the bulletin-board?

Solution 3: Every important news or public announcement was generally put up on the bulletin-board at the Town Hall. For the last two years since German occupation, all their "bad news" had come from there. News of lost battles, the draft, and the orders of the commanding officer used to be displayed on it. That day, a new order that German to be imposed on French speaking people of Alsace and Lorraine was put up on the notice board.

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Question 4: What changes did the order from Berlin cause in school that day?

Solution 4: The order from Berlin said that now onwards, the schools of Alsace and Lorraine would teach only German. This caused a lot of distress to the students as well as the teacher. Everyone in the school was dismayed that it was their last lesson in French. From the next day they would be taught the language of their new masters.

Question 5: How did Franz's feelings about M. Hamel and school change?

Solution 5: When Franz came to know that it would be his last lesson in French, he became sentimental. The books and its lessons which he had disliked earlier seemed to him quite fascinating then. He began to like his teacher and was sad that he had not learnt his lessons before. It was painful for Franz to think that there would be no M.Hammel and French lessons anymore.

He suddenly developed a love and respect for his language, school and his teacher, M.Hamel.

CBSE Class XII, Flamingo - The Last Lesson

NCERT Solutions for English Textbook Exercise (Understanding The Text)

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Question 1: The people in this story suddenly realize how precious their language is to them. What shows you this? Why does this happen?

Solution 1: In Franco-Prussian war, France was defeated by Prussia (Germany). Thereafter Berlin gives an order through which German is imposed to all French speaking people. The order from Berlin said that now onwards, the French schools of Alsace and Lorraine would teach only German. This order arouses patriotic feelings among the people. The French people of these districts, who were earlier somewhat indifferent to their language, grammar, and literature, suddenly develop a fascination and love for their own language French.

M.Hammel, a teacher of French in a school in Alsace tells his students and the village elders that it is his last lesson in French and he will be replaced by a German teacher the next day. They will no more be taught in their own language. He says that French is the most beautiful language in the world because it is the clearest and the most logical among all languages. Hammel urges his students and the villagers to guard their native language and never forget it. Everyone including his student Franz becomes sentimental and suddenly, they all start realizing how precious their language is to them.        

Question 2: Franz thinks, "Will they make them sing in German, even the pigeons?" What could this mean? (There could be more than one answer)

Solution 2: "The Last Lesson" of Alphonse Daudet is a short story set in the background of the Franco-Prussian War (1870-71) in which France was defeated by Prussia (Germany). The French districts of Alsace and Lorraine fall into German hands. Then comes an order from Berlin that now onwards, the French schools of Alsace and Lorraine would teach only German. Thus, German was imposed on the French speaking people. M.Hammel, a teacher of French in a school in Alsace tells his students and the village elders that it is his last lesson in French and he will be replaced by a German teacher the next day. Everyone is shocked. It was difficult for them believe that they will no more be taught in their own language. He says that French is the most beautiful language in the world because it is the clearest and the most logical among all languages. Hammel urges his students and the villagers to guard their native language and never forget it. Franz, like other people of these districts, who was earlier somewhat indifferent to his language, suddenly develops a fascination and love for their own language French.

When Franz hears the pigeons cooing on the roof he wonders if the Germans can force the pigeons to sing only in German. Franz's remark shows his love for his country and language. The powerful Germans can impose German forcibly on the people of Alsace and Lorraine but this cannot make the people wipe out their love for their native language from their hearts.

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