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Question
How did Franz's feelings about M. Hamel and school change?
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Solution
Franz was shocked when M. Hamel told the students about the order from Berlin and that it was their last French lesson. He forgot about his teacher’s ruler and crankiness. He developed a fondness for M. Hamel at the troubling idea of being separated from him forever. He understood the pain and agony his teacher was undergoing. And, he became more sympathetic towards his teacher.
His school too, now, carried a different meaning. His books and lessons seemed old friends whom he couldn’t give up. He realised with pain how much French meant to him and regretted not being attentive in his classes earlier. Suddenly, he felt that the ‘difficult concepts’ had never actually been difficult.
RELATED QUESTIONS
Answer the following question in 120 – 150 words:
Our language is 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, French.
The entire classroom, M. Hamel as well as those present in the class, is full of regret. For what and why?
Answer the following question in 120 − 150 words :
Everybody during the last lesson is filled with regret. Comment. (The Last Lesson)
Answer the following question in 120 − 150 words :
How different from usual was the atmosphere at school on the day of the last lesson? (The Last Lesson)
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How did the order from Berlin change the situation in the school ? (The Last Lesson)
The Last Lesson shows that people suddenly realised how precious their language was to them.
Comment.
What was Franz expected to be prepared with for school that day?
What did Franz notice that was unusual about the school that day?
What had been put up on the bulletin-board?
What changes did the order from Berlin cause in school that day?
“When a people are enslaved, as long as they hold fast to their language it is as if they had the key to their prison.”
Can you think of examples in history where conquered people had their language taken away from them or had a language imposed on them?
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Notice the underlined words in these sentences and tick the option that best explains their meanings.
“When a people are enslaved, as long as they hold fast to their language it is as if they had the key to their prison.”
It is as if they have the key to the prison as long as they _______________ .
Have you ever changed your opinion about someone or something that you had earlier liked or disliked? Narrate what led you to change your mind.
Read the given extract and answer the questions.
| Usually, when school began, there was a great bustle, which could be heard out in the street, the opening and closing of desks, lessons repeated in unison, very loud, 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 morning. Through the window I saw 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. |
- List any two sensory details present in this extract. (1)
- Why does the protagonist feel anxious about entering the classroom on this particular day? (1)
- The classmates have started the lesson
- The teacher is in a bad mood
- The classroom is too quiet
- The protagonist is running late
- Complete the sentence appropriately. (1)
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. (1)
- What does the term 'terrible iron ruler' indicate about M. Hamel? (1)
- Which of the following headlines best suggests the central idea of the extract? (1)
- The Fears of a Latecomer
- The Importance of Punctuality
- The Rigidity of the School System
- The Anxiety of a Young Student
Answer the following question in about 40-50 words.
When do the residents of Alsace realise how precious their language is to them?
- How was this year for you?
- Are you happy with what you could study this year?
- What did you miss, or could not do?
- What do you plan to do about it- about the things you could not do/study well?
- What was the best moment for you this year?
Form groups of three. Write three sentences of three words each.
Form groups of four. Write four sentences of four words each.
Try to write phrases with each word beginning with the same letter.
Who is M. Hamel?
In what region does the story take place?
In what time period does the story take place?
Why is the iron ruler said to be ‘terrible’?
How did M. Hamel dress up on special occasions?
Think and answer:
Is the school closing down?
Think and answer:
What subjects does Franz study in school?
Find where Alsace and Loraine are located with the help of the map.
Why did M. Hamel not scold Franz?
According to M. Hamel, who are the people that did not take education seriously? What examples does he give to support his view?
With the coming of the Prussians, will language be the only thing that will change? What other changes may take place?
Why does the author say, ‘I never saw him look so tall’?
List the people and their occupations mentioned in the story.
Find five words ending with ‘-ing’ and five words ending with ‘-ed’ from the lesson.
Find five examples of commonly used past participles from the story. For example, said, learnt.
What is the meaning of the following word and phrase in the passage? Choose the correct alternative.
______ was in great dread of
What is the meaning of the following word and phrase in the passage? Choose the correct alternative.
Terrible iron ruler
What is the meaning of the following words and phrases in the passage? Choose the correct alternative.
______ got a little over my fright
What is the meaning of the following word and phrase in the passage? Choose the correct alternative.
What a thunderclap these words were to me!
Why was Franz sad?
Continue to write as many sentences as the number of students in the group, till you reach the number 10.
After that, go on forming bigger groups and writing sentences with as many words as the number of students in the group. However, you may write only one or two sentences at each step after 10.
