CBSE Class 12 English Core Flamingo Book Chapter 1 The Last Lesson Question Answers from previous years question papers (2019-2024)
The Last Lesson Previous Year Questions with Answers – Question Answers from Previous years Board Exam Question papers provide valuable insights into how chapters are typically presented in exams. They are essential for preparing for the CBSE Board Exams, serving as a valuable resource.They can reveal the types of questions commonly asked and highlight the key concepts that require more attention. In this post, we have shared Previous Year Questions for Class 12 English Core Chapter 1, “The Last Lesson”.
Questions which came in 2024 Board Exam
Q1. Read the following extracts and answer the questions :
For a moment I thought of running away and spending the day out of doors. It was so warm, so bright! The birds were chirping at the edge of the woods; and in the open field back of the sawmill the Prussian soldiers were drilling. It was all much more tempting than the rule for participles, but I had the strength to resist, and hurried off to school.
(i) List two sensory details present in the extract.
Ans. Warm and bright weather
Birds chirping at the edge of the woods
(ii) Why is the narrator tempted to spend the day out of doors?
Ans. The narrator is tempted because of the pleasant weather, the chirping birds, and the sight of Prussian soldiers drilling in the open field.
(iii) Complete the sentence appropriately.
I hurried off to school resisting _______________.
Ans. I hurried off to school resisting the temptation to skip the day and enjoy the outdoors.
(iv) Why does the narrator want to bunk school?
(A) He doesn’t like the teachers.
(B) He doesn’t like his classmates.
(C) He wasn’t prepared for the test on participles.
(D) He had forgotten to complete his homework.
Ans. (C) He wasn’t prepared for the test on participles.
(v) Which trait of the protagonist is revealed in the sentence ‘I had the strength to resits’?
(A) sincerity
(B) determination
(C) bravery
(D) kindness
Ans. (B) determination
(vi) Which of the following headlines best suggests the central idea of the extract?
(A) The Drilling of Prussian Soldiers
(B) The Rule of Participles
(C) Strength to Resist
(D) Out of Doors
Ans. (C) Strength to Resist
Q2. Read the following extracts and answer the questions :
I heard M. Hamel say to me, “I won’t scold you, little Franz : you must feel bad enough, see how it is ! Everyday we have said to ourselves. Bah! I’ve plenty of time I’ll learn it tomorrow. And now you see where we’ve come out. Ah, that’s the great trouble with Alsace; she puts off learning till tomorrow. Now those fellows out there will have the right to say to you. ‘How is it; you pretend to be Frenchmen, and yet you can neither speak nor write your own language?’ But, you are not the worst, poor little Franz. We’ve all a great deal to reproach ourselves with”.
(i) ‘And now you see where we’ve come out.’ The tone of M. Hamel in the above line is that of :
(A) kindness
(B) happiness
(C) regret
(D) enthusiasm
Ans. (C) regret
(ii) ‘We’ve all a great deal to reproach ourselves with.’
Select the option, which conveys the meaning of ‘reproach’ as reflected in the above line.
(A) The player received a reprimand for breach of rules.
(B) The students approached the management with a demand for new canteen.
(c) The clerk received a letter of appreciation for his innovative ideas
(D) She could not find a way to broach the subject with her boss.
Ans. (A) The player received a reprimand for breach of rules.
(iii) State whether the following statement is true or false with reference to the extract.
- Hamel endorses the belief that there is plenty of time to learn their language.
Ans. False
(iv) Complete the sentence appropriately.
‘You must feel bad enough.’ Through these words M. Hamel urges the people _______.
Ans. ‘You must feel bad enough.’ Through these words M. Hamel urges the people to realize the consequences of their procrastination and neglect of their language.
(v) Identify the line from the text that reinforces the theme of patriotism in the story.
Ans. “How is it; you pretend to be Frenchmen, and yet you can neither speak nor write your own language?”
(vi) She puts off learning till tomorrow. The phrase ‘puts off” suggests _____.
Ans. She puts off learning till tomorrow. The phrase “puts off suggests procrastination.
Q3. We miss a thing when we are in fear of losing it. Substantiate this statement with two examples from ‘The Last Lesson’, how the people in the story suddenly realised how precious their language was to them. [40-50 Words]
Ans. In ‘The Last Lesson,’ villagers regret not valuing their language when they learn it will no longer be taught. M. Hamel’s sorrowful farewell emphasizes the significance of their native tongue, which they had taken for granted.
Q4. What was more tempting for Franz than the rule for participles? Did he get tempted? [40-50 Words]
Ans. The idea of running away and spending the day outdoors was tempting. The birds were chirping and the open field behind which the Prussian soldiers were drilling was tempting but Franz resisted the temptation and went to school.
Q5. Why were the villagers seated in the back benches? [40-50 Words]
Ans. The villagers were seated at the back bench of the classroom to pay respect to M Hamel for forty years of service. They were there because it was his last day in the school.
Q6. What was the ‘thunderclap’ the narrator received as Hamel began the lesson? [40-50 Words]
Ans. The ‘thunderclap’ was the shock and realisation that this was the last French lesson he would ever attend, as he had not appreciated his education and now faced the loss due to the war.
Q7. Explain the inference that can be drawn from the line : “Will they make them sing in German, even the pigeons?” [40-50 Words]
Ans. The line suggests that the imposition of the German language on the French people is so complete that even the natural elements, like pigeons, would be forced to conform. It highlights the oppressive nature of the conquerors in erasing the local culture and language.
Q8. M. Hamel in ‘The Last Lesson’ and Gandhiji in ‘Indigo’ were both concerned about the state of education in the face of oppression. Write a speech to be shared with your peers on the importance of education. You may use cues from the two texts. [120-150 Words]
Ans. Good morning to one and all present here. Today, I stand before you to throw light upon the topic – Importance of education.
In the story titled ‘The Last Lesson’, we get to know about the importance of one’s mother tongue which is the key to freedom from slavery. M Hamel points out that if one is attached to one’s mother tongue, then he can escape the clutches of slavery. He also praises his native language – French and calls it the most logical and most beautiful language. The teacher is sad because now the students will no longer study the language. Schools in the districts of Alsace and Lorraine which were annexed by Prussia will now teach German language instead of French.
Even in the story ‘Indigo’ we see that Gandhiji wanted to uplift the peasants and requested volunteer teachers Mahadev Desai and Narhari Parikh and others. They opened primary schools in six villages.
Thus, we can conclude that education is empowering and crucial for becoming self-reliant.
Q9. Franz in “The Last Lesson” realizes the importance of going to school while Saheb in “Lost Spring” yearns to go to school. Write a paragraph exploring the different perspectives of these two young boys on learning and education. [120-150 Words]
Ans. Franz and Saheb offer contrasting perspectives on education that highlight the value and challenges of schooling. In “The Last Lesson,” Franz’s realization of the importance of school comes too late, as he is faced with the harsh reality of losing his opportunity to learn due to the German occupation. His regret underscores how education is often undervalued until it is threatened. Conversely, Saheb in “Lost Spring” yearns for school as a means of escape from the harsh life of rag-picking. His desire for education represents hope and a vision for a better future. Saheb’s longing illustrates how education is seen as a pathway to opportunity, reflecting its critical role in transforming lives. While Franz’s experience is shaped by loss and missed chances, Saheb’s perspective is driven by a yearning for change and improvement.
Q10. Imagine you are Mukund Padmanabhan (The Interview) and you interviewed M. Hamel, after he had finished delivering the last lesson (The Last Lesson). Write a paragraph on Hamel’s views on individual responsibility and nationalism. [120-150 Words]
Ans. It is an individual’s responsibility towards his nation, to protect its freedom. M hamel insists that an individual can retain his freedom and his country’s sovereignty if he is attached to the mother tongue. Hamel lays stress on the importance of one’s language which is a key to freedom from slavery. When Germany annexes two districts of France, it orders that German instead of French be taught in the schools. This order shows the importance of language and the enemy is trying to snatch the mother tongue from the people so that they can be enslaved. The language of a country plays a major role in display of nationalism because it s binding factor which runs through the fabric of the country.
Q11. Franz from ‘The Last Lesson’ and the peddler from ‘The Rattrap’ demonstrate the importance of learning from one’s mistakes and rising up to evolve as a better person.
Write an article based on the two texts on how a man evolves after learning from his mistakes. [120-150 Words]
Ans. In order to achieve success, it is crucial that we learn from our mistakes and improvise ourselves. In the story ‘The Last Lesson’ we see the young boy Franz who is shocked to know that it is his last lesson of French and that he will never get a chance to study it. This news transforms him and he develops a liking for studies. He starts admiring his teacher and acknowledges his dedication. That day Franz is able to understand all that is taught in the class. Similarly, we see the character of the peddler in the story ‘The Rattrap’. The peddler reacts to Edla’s selfless kindness and gets over his acts of petty thievery to be an army captain in the true sense. He does not want her to feel humiliated that she had considered him to be a gentleman. As a mark of acknowledgement of Edla’s kindness, the peddler returns the stolen money and requests her to hand it over to the old crofter.
Thus, we see that these two characters learnt precious lessons and incorporated them to become better versions of themselves.
Q12. While M. Hamel talks of language being the key to nationalism. Gandhi tells the court it is a ‘conflict of duties’. On the one hand, not to set a bad example as a law breaker, on the other hand, to render the humanitarian and national service. You get inspired and decide to write an article for a youth magazine urging the youth to dedicate themselves to the service, of the nation.
You may begin like this,
Youth plays an important role in the progress of the nation ……… [120-150 Words]
Ans. Youth plays an important role in the progress of the nation. Thus, it becomes their responsibility to ensure that they seek the progress of the nation alongwith their personal progress. One must remain attached to one’s mother tongue because it is the key to freedom from slavery. If we want to retain our freedom, then we must guard our native language. Also, we must be watchful that our acts are not against the law and also, we must try to help fellow citizens in their progress. As the saying goes, ‘United we stand, divided we fall’. All the people of the country must make a combined effort to shine and rise together in order to ensure the progress of the nation.
Questions from the Chapter in 2023 Board Exams
Q1. What were Franz’s feelings as he set out for school and why? [40-50 Words]
Ans. Franz was terrified of getting reprimanded since M. Hamel would demand that he prepare his lesson on participles. in addition, the pleasant, sunny weather, the sound of birds, and the presence of Prussian soldier made him want to skip class.
Q2. Why was M. Hamel dressed in formal clothes in school? [40-50 Words]
Ans. M. Hamel was dressed in formal clothes in school because it was his last lesson before leaving Alsace. He wore his beautiful green coat, frilled shirt, and a little black silk cap, all embroidered. This attire was reserved for special occasions like inspections and prize days. M. Hamel’s formal dressing on this particular day symbolized the significance and solemnity of the occasion, marking the end of his forty years of faithful service as a teacher in Alsace.
Q3. When do the residents of Alsace realise how precious their language is to them? [40-50 Words]
Ans. When the people of Alsace learn that French will no longer be taught to them, they discover how important their native tongue is to them. Mr. Hamel explains to them that “when people are enslaved, as long as they hold fast to their language, it is as if they have the key to their prison.”
Q4. 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. [120-150 Words]
Ans. The text suggests the flaws in human character that contributed to the sad plight of the people in Alsace. M. Hamel, in his final lesson, points out the procrastination and neglect of learning among both the students and their parents. He mentions how everyone, including himself, had put off learning, thinking they had plenty of time. The teacher acknowledges his own role in diverting students from studies, such as sending them to water flowers or giving holidays for fishing.
Moreover, the mention of the old men of the village sitting in the back of the room with regretful expressions indicates a collective sense of remorse. Their failure to prioritize education and language learning contributed to the vulnerability of the community when faced with the imposition of German as the sole language of instruction. Overall, the text suggests that personal shortcomings, including procrastination and a lack of commitment to education, played a part in the cultural and linguistic crisis faced by the people of Alsace.
Questions that appeared in 2020 Board Exams
Q1. What was the mood in the classroom when M. Hamel gave his last lesson? [30-40 words]
Ans. The entire classroom was silent when M.Hamet began his final lecture, every single student was quiet and paying attention to Mr. Hamel’s words, even everyone was sitting quietly in their own seat without making a fuss. Everyone was there that day and Mr. Hamel was completely absorbed in his thoughts.
Q2. What was the importance of the bulletin-board near the town hall? [30-40 words]
Ans. All the important news was put up on this bulletin board. News of lost battles, the draft, the order of the commanding officer – all the bad news came from there.
Q3. Why was the order from Berlin called a thunderclap by Franz? [30-40 words]
Ans. It was a shock for the young boy because now he could no longer learn french language.
Q4. Why did M. Hamel blame the parents for their children’s poor performance at school? [30-40 words]
Ans. He blamed the parents for sending the kids to earn money instead of sending them to school. They put them at work in farms and mills so that the family could earn extra money.
Q5. Why did the narrator want to skip school on the day of the last lesson? [30-40 words]
Ans. He was scared of the teacher because he did not know the topic of Participles which the teacher had ordered them to prepare. Thus, he wanted to skip school and spend the day outside.
Q6. How is the mother tongue important to a person? What does M. Hamel, the teacher say about it? [30-40 words]
Ans. Mother tongue is a key to freedom from slavery. M Hamel says that one must remain attached to one’s mother tongue to remain free from oppression.
Q7. Why was there a crowd in front of the bulletin-board? [30-40 words]
Ans. There was a crowd in front of the bulletin board because a news had been put up. It announced that as Prussia had annexed the French districts of Alsace and Lorraine, German instead of French would be taught in the schools there.
Q8. Why did the elders of the village attend the last lesson? [30-40 words]
Ans. The elders of the village attended the class that day as a mark of respect towards M Hamel who had taught there for forty years.
Q9. Educating children is the responsibility of society. Justify the statement in view of ‘The Last Lesson’. [120-150 words]
Ans. Children are the future of a nation and so, educating them is the responsibility of the society to ensure a better, brighter future. In the story, ‘The Last Lesson’ we see that the enemy country targets the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. After defeating France, Prussia annexed the districts of Alsace and Lorraine and replaced French subject with German in the schools there. They targeted school children to weaken the future of France. When the students would grow up, they would feel alienated from their motherland France and would gradually get inclined towards Germany. Thus, this plan of Prussians shows that children are the future of a nation and thus, their education has to be ensured by the society.
2019 Exam Question and Answers from the chapter
Q1. How and why was M. Hamel dressed differently that day? [30 – 40 words]
Ans. It was in honour of the last lesson that M. Hamel had put on his fine Sunday clothes. He was wearing his beautiful green coat, his frilled shirt and his little black silk embroidered cap that he wore only on inspection and prize days.
Q2. Why were the old men of the village sitting in the classroom on the last day of the lesson? [30 – 40 words]
Ans. They were there to pay respect to M Hamel’s service of forty years as it was his last day in the school.
Q3. Who did M. Hamel blame for the neglect of learning on the part of boys like Franz? [30 – 40 words]
Ans. M. Hamel blamed the parents for the neglect of learning on the part of boys like Franz because their parents wanted them to work on farm to earn some money. Franz himself wanted to enjoy his time and thus, avoided going to school. M. Hamel blamed himself too for the neglect as he made the boys work in the garden which made them miss their lessons and whenever he wanted to go fishing, he gave them a holiday.
Q4. Why did the village elders occupy the back benches in the classroom to attend the last lesson delivered by M. Hamel? [30 – 40 words]
Ans. The village elders occupied the back benches in the classroom to attend the last lesson delivered by M. Hamel because they felt sorry for not attending the school ever. They wanted to show their sympathy and respect for the teachers. They thanked M. Hamel for his long and devoted service of forty years to teach the children of the school.
Q5. How did M. Hamel make his last lesson a special one? What did he emphasize in it? [30 – 40 words]
Ans. M. Hamel made his last lesson special by wearing a special outfit and talking about the French language at length. He told that it was the most beautiful language in the world the clearest and the most logical. He asked the students that they must guard it because when people are enslaved, the language is the only key to their prison.
Q6. Everybody during the last lesson was filled with regret. Comment. [120 – 150 words]
Ans. According to the order from Berlin, only German was to be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. This order left Mr. Hamel, the village people and the Mr. Hamel’s students in deep regret. The villagers regretted not having made utmost use of the French lessons that they had been given by Mr Hamel. They had engaged themselves in their profession to earn a living and had not taken their French lessons seriously. The children and the villagers sitting in the class had always thought that they had enough time to learn the language. But now, during the last French lesson, everybody realised their mistake. They realised how little they knew their native language. They all attended the last lesson to show their respect to their teacher and their country, which was no longer theirs.
Q7. ‘The Last Lesson’ shows that people suddenly realised how precious their language was to them. Comment. [120 – 150 words]
Ans. The story was written in the days of the Franco-Prussian war in which France was defeated by Prussia. In this story the French districts of Alsace-Lorraine have passed into Prussian hands. M. Hamel is the teacher of French and a boy, Franz who never serious in the class of M. Hamel. One day he was late for school. He feared that his teacher would scold as he was not very sure about participles which the teacher, M. Hamel, is going to test that day. But finally he decided to go to school. As he entered he saw the crowd has gathered round the bulletin board. He did not stop there. On arriving at school, he noted an unusual silence. He entered into the class and was greeted with a strange sight. The last benches which were always empty were occupied by the village elders who look grim and solemn. Franz noticed M. Hamel was dressed nicely and asked Franz to sit so that he could start his lesson. The teacher made a startling announcement that this would be their last lesson in French as the new teacher would be arriving the following day. He said, “The order has come from Berlin to teach only German in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. The new teacher comes tomorrow. This is your last French lesson. I want you to be very attentive.” There came a sudden change in the minds of the people and they developed a new profound love French. Franz was overcome with a feeling of remorse and regretted for wasting his time in trivial pursuits. He decided to pay attention to the lesson since school had become very important for him. The people and Franz himself realized how precious their language is to them. M. Hamel had been teaching in that school for last forty years. His dedication, devotion, discipline impressed them. He realizes the real worth of his school and the teacher whom they have all taken for granted all these years. M. Hamel in his last address told about the importance of French. He called that it was the most beautiful language in the world. It is the clearest and the most logical one. M.Hamel was overcome by strong emotions and in large letter he wrote on the board ‘Viva La France’ — long live France!
Q8. What was unusual in the market and in the classroom on the day of the last lesson? [120 – 150 words]
Ans. There was a huge crowd around the bulletin board which displayed all news and announcements related to the war. It indicated that something new had been put up there. The school was unusually quiet like it used to be on a Sunday morning. There was no hustle bustle, no sound of desks creaking. M Hamel was walking in one of the classrooms with his stick under his arm. He wore a solemn expression and was gentle. Franz was scared of being reprimanded for coming late to school. However, M Hamel spoke gently and was unusually calm. All these changes made Franz wonder.
Q9. How was M. Hamel different in his last lesson? Who did he scold and for what? [120 – 150 words]
Ans. M Hamel had taught in the school for the last forty years. However, an order from Prussia, made it his last lesson that day because now, French would no longer be taught in schools of the French districts of Alsace and Lorraine. This announcement had a deep impact on the teacher. He was solemn and gentle. He walked up and down the rows of the classroom with his stick placed under his arm. However, his behaviour was unusual. He was gentle and calm in opposition to his strict demeanour. He did not scold Franz for being late that day. That day, M Hamel was dressed in his formal attire which he would wear only on special occasions. He sat motionless, gazing at things, perhaps to fix the setting of the classroom in his mind.
That day, he did not scold Franz for being late or for not preparing the topic of Participles. He rued that the French did not take studies seriously and put it off for another day. The parents and teachers were to be blamed for not taking academics seriously. M Hamel blamed himself also for going fishing and sending students to water the plants instead of teaching them. Thus, he made confessions and tried to amend by conveying the importance of the mother tongue to the students.
Q10. ‘The order from Berlin banning teaching of French stunned everyone. Comment. [120 – 150 words]
Ans. As Berlin annexed the French districts of Alsace and Lorraine, Prussia announced that instead of French language, German would be taught in the schools there. This order came as a thunderclap for the students, especially Franz. Now he wanted to study and that day he was able to understand the entire lesson that was taught in the class. He even developed a liking for M Hamel whom he had found to be strict earlier. Franz lamented for not being serious towards studying his mother tongue. Now he would not get a chance to study it. His dejection and anguish is evident from his insight when he questions whether they would teach the pigeons cooing on the roof of the class to coo in German language. By this, Franz displayed his protest against the order that snatched away their mother tongue from them.
Also see:
The Last Lesson Important Questions, NCERT Solutions, Extra Questions
The Last Lesson Summary, Explanation
The Last Lesson Character Sketches