The Last Lesson 12th Class english- full story

  The Last Lesson 12th Class english- full story

he Last Lesson – Full Story (12th Class English)

Author: Alphonse Daudet

“The Last Lesson” is a touching story set in France during the Franco-Prussian War (1870–71). It shows how people realize the value of their language and education only when they are about to lose them.

Full Story

The story is narrated by a young French boy named Franz. One morning, Franz is on his way to school to attend his French lesson. He has not prepared his lesson on participles, so he is afraid that his teacher, M. Hamel, will scold him. On the way, Franz notices a crowd gathered in front of the bulletin-board at the town hall. For the past two years, all bad news—like defeat in war—had come from that board. Franz feels uneasy but continues to school.

When Franz reaches the classroom, he finds it unusually quiet. The villagers—old men and women of the village—are sitting on the back benches. M. Hamel is wearing special clothes: a green coat, frilled shirt, and a little black silk cap, which he usually wears only on special occasions. Franz is surprised.

M. Hamel begins the class calmly and tells Franz to go to his seat. Then he makes an important announcement: this is their last French lesson. An order has come from Berlin that only German will be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine from the next day. Franz is shocked. He feels guilty for not learning French seriously and regrets wasting time on games and other activities.

M. Hamel delivers a heartfelt speech. He says that people of Alsace and Lorraine are partly responsible for losing their language because they often postponed learning, saying they would learn it later. He also criticizes parents for sending children to work instead of school. M. Hamel admits his own fault too—sometimes he gave students holidays or asked them to water plants instead of teaching.

Then M. Hamel talks about the importance of one’s mother tongue. He says that language is the key to freedom and identity. As long as people hold on to their language, they cannot be completely enslaved.

After this, M. Hamel teaches the lesson with great dedication. Franz listens carefully and understands everything clearly for the first time. The villagers listen with deep respect. They have come to show gratitude to M. Hamel for his 40 years of service.

At the end of the class, M. Hamel writes on the blackboard in big letters:

“Vive La France!” (Long Live France)

He becomes emotional, cannot speak anymore, and signals the students that school is dismissed.

Message of the Story

• One should value education and language before it is too late.
• Language is a symbol of national identity and freedom.
• Regret comes when opportunities are lost.
• Teachers play a vital role in shaping society.

The Last Lesson – Summary & Question–Answer (12th Class English)

Author: Alphonse Daudet

🔹 Summary

The Last Lesson is a moving story set in France during the Franco-Prussian War. The story is narrated by a schoolboy named Franz. One day, on his way to school, Franz feels scared because he has not prepared his lesson on participles. He also notices a crowd in front of the town hall bulletin-board, which usually displays bad news.

When Franz reaches school, he finds the classroom unusually quiet. Villagers are sitting on the back benches, and his teacher, M. Hamel, is dressed in special clothes. M. Hamel announces that this is their last French lesson because an order from Berlin has declared that only German will be taught in schools of Alsace and Lorraine.

Franz feels guilty for not learning French seriously. M. Hamel speaks about the importance of the mother tongue and blames himself, the parents, and the students for neglecting education. He teaches the lesson with great devotion. At the end, deeply emotional, he writes “Vive La France!” on the blackboard and dismisses the class.

The story highlights the importance of language, education, and national identity.

🔹 Short Answer Questions (30–40 words)

Q1. Why was Franz afraid of going to school?

Answer:

Franz was afraid because he had not prepared his lesson on participles. He expected his teacher, M. Hamel, to scold or punish him for his lack of preparation.

Q2. What unusual things did Franz notice on his way to school?

Answer:

Franz noticed a crowd gathered in front of the bulletin-board at the town hall. Usually, all bad news came from this board, which made him anxious.

Q3. Why was the classroom atmosphere unusual that day?

Answer:

The classroom was unusually quiet. Villagers were sitting on the back benches, and M. Hamel was wearing special clothes, which he wore only on important occasions.

Q4. What announcement did M. Hamel make in the class?

Answer:

M. Hamel announced that it was their last French lesson because an order from Berlin had stated that only German would be taught in schools of Alsace and Lorraine.

Q5. Why had the villagers come to the school?

Answer:

The villagers came to attend the last French lesson and to show respect and gratitude to M. Hamel for his forty years of service as a teacher.

Q6. What message did M. Hamel convey about language?

Answer:

M. Hamel said that language is a key to freedom and identity. As long as people preserve their mother tongue, they cannot be fully enslaved.

🔹 Long Answer Questions (100–150 words)

Q1. Describe Franz’s feelings throughout The Last Lesson.

Answer:

At the beginning, Franz feels scared because he has not prepared his lesson on participles. He even thinks of skipping school. When he reaches the classroom and hears M. Hamel’s announcement about the last French lesson, he is shocked and filled with regret. He realizes the importance of learning his mother tongue and feels guilty for wasting time on games and neglecting his studies. During the lesson, Franz listens carefully and understands everything clearly for the first time. By the end of the class, he feels emotional and respectful towards M. Hamel. His fear turns into regret and finally into a deep sense of realization and pride for his language.

Q2. How does M. Hamel show his love for the French language?

Answer:

M. Hamel shows his love for the French language through his words, actions, and emotions. He wears special clothes on the last day to mark the importance of the occasion. He speaks passionately about the value of the mother tongue and calls French the most beautiful and logical language in the world. Despite being emotional, he teaches his last lesson with full dedication. He blames himself, the parents, and the students for neglecting education. At the end, his writing “Vive La France!” on the blackboard clearly expresses his patriotism and deep love for his country and language.

Q3. What is the significance of the title The Last Lesson

Answer:

The title The Last Lesson is significant because it refers to the final French lesson taught by M. Hamel in the school of Alsace. It symbolizes not just the end of a class but the loss of freedom, culture, and identity of the people. The lesson makes students and villagers realize the value of their language only when they are about to lose it. It also represents the emotional farewell of a devoted teacher after forty years of service. Thus, the title highlights the importance of language, education, and national pride.

The Last Lesson – MCQs, One Word / Definition & Question–Answer

Class: 12 | Author: Alphonse Daudet

🔹 MCQs (Multiple Choice Questions)

1. Who is the narrator of The Last Lesson?

(a) M. Hamel

(b) Franz

(c) Hauser

(d) Wachter

✔ Answer: (b) Franz

2. Why was Franz afraid of going to school?

(a) He was late

(b) He had not done his homework

(c) He had not prepared participles

(d) He was ill

✔ Answer: (c) He had not prepared participles

3. What special dress did M. Hamel wear on the last day?

(a) Blue coat and hat

(b) Green coat, frilled shirt and black silk cap

(c) Black coat and white cap

(d) Grey coat and tie

✔ Answer: (b) Green coat, frilled shirt and black silk cap

4. Which language was ordered to be taught in schools instead of French?

(a) English

(b) Spanish

(c) German

(d) Latin

✔ Answer: (c) German

5. From where did the order come to stop teaching French?

(a) Paris

(b) France

(c) Berlin

(d) Lorraine

✔ Answer: (c) Berlin

6. How long had M. Hamel taught at the school?

(a) 20 years

(b) 30 years

(c) 35 years

(d) 40 years

✔ Answer: (d) 40 years

7. What words did M. Hamel write on the blackboard at the end?

(a) Long Live France

(b) Freedom Forever

(c) Save French

(d) Vive La France

✔ Answer: (d) Vive La France

8. Who sat on the back benches in the classroom?

(a) New students

(b) Teachers

(c) Villagers

(d) Soldiers

✔ Answer: (c) Villagers

9. What was Franz’s lesson about that day?

(a) Nouns

(b) Verbs

(c) Participles

(d) Adjectives

✔ Answer: (c) Participles

10. What does the story mainly highlight?

(a) War

(b) Importance of money

(c) Importance of language and education

(d) School discipline

✔ Answer: (c) Importance of language and education

🔹 One Word / Definition Questions

Author of The Last Lesson – Alphonse Daudet

Narrator of the story – Franz

Teacher in the story – M. Hamel

French word written on the blackboard – Vive La France

Country that defeated France – Prussia (Germany)

Bulletin-board – A board displaying official notices

Mother tongue – One’s native language

Franco-Prussian War – War between France and Prussia (1870–71)

Alsace and Lorraine – French provinces taken over by Prussia

Participles – Verb forms used as adjectives

🔹 Very Short Question–Answer (1–2 lines)

Q1. Why did Franz want to skip school?

Answer:

Because he had not prepared his lesson on participles.

Q2. Why were villagers present in the classroom?

Answer:

To attend the last French lesson and honor M. Hamel.

Q3. What order did Berlin issue?

Answer:

That only German would be taught in schools of Alsace and Lorraine.

Q4. What symbolized French patriotism in the story?

Answer:

The words “Vive La France” written on the blackboard.

Q5. What does the story teach us?

Answer:

To value our language and education before it is too late.

The Last Lesson – 50 Objective Important Questions with Answers

Class: 12 | Author: Alphonse Daudet

Objective Questions (MCQs / One-line Answer Type)

1. Who wrote The Last Lesson?

Ans: Alphonse Daudet

2. Who is the narrator of the story?

Ans: Franz

3. What was Franz afraid of on his way to school?

Ans: He had not prepared participles

4. Which war forms the background of the story?

Ans: Franco-Prussian War

5. Which provinces were taken over by Prussia?

Ans: Alsace and Lorraine

6. From where did the order to stop French teaching come?

Ans: Berlin

7. Which language was ordered to be taught in schools?

Ans: German

8. Who was Franz’s teacher?

Ans: M. Hamel

9. How many years did M. Hamel teach at the school?

Ans: 40 years

10. What special dress did M. Hamel wear?

Ans: Green coat, frilled shirt and black silk cap

11. On which occasions did M. Hamel wear special clothes earlier?

Ans: Prize days and inspections

12. What topic was Franz supposed to prepare?

Ans: Participles

13. What unusual thing did Franz notice near the town hall?

Ans: A crowd at the bulletin-board

14. What did the bulletin-board usually display?

Ans: Bad news

15. Who were sitting on the back benches?

Ans: Villagers

16. Why had villagers come to the school?

Ans: To attend the last French lesson

17. What did M. Hamel call the French language?

Ans: The most beautiful language in the world

18. What mistake did parents make according to M. Hamel?

Ans: Sending children to work instead of school

19. What fault did M. Hamel admit?

Ans: Neglecting teaching sometimes

20. What work did M. Hamel give students instead of lessons at times?

Ans: Watering plants

21. How did Franz feel after hearing the announcement?

Ans: Regretful and sad

22. What made Franz realize the importance of French?

Ans: The announcement of the last lesson

23. What was written on old Hauser’s primer?

Ans: Alphabets

24. Who was old Hauser?

Ans: A village elder

25. What did the villagers want to show M. Hamel?

Ans: Respect and gratitude

26. What did language symbolize in the story?

Ans: Freedom and identity

27. What happened to M. Hamel at the end of the lesson?

Ans: He became emotional

28. What words did M. Hamel write on the blackboard?

Ans: Vive La France

29. What does “Vive La France” mean?

Ans: Long Live France

30. What did M. Hamel do after writing on the board?

Ans: Dismissed the class

31. What feeling dominates the story?

Ans: Regret

32. What does the story mainly emphasize?

Ans: Importance of mother tongue

33. Who were responsible for neglecting French language?

Ans: Students, parents, and teachers

34. What was Franz’s attitude towards school earlier?

Ans: Careless

35. What change came in Franz during the lesson?

Ans: He became attentive

36. What kind of teacher was M. Hamel?

Ans: Dedicated and patriotic

37. Which class does Franz study in?

Ans: Elementary school

38. What was the mood of the classroom?

Ans: Serious and emotional

39. Why was the classroom silent that day?

Ans: Because it was the last lesson

40. What did the last lesson teach Franz?

Ans: Value of education

41. What does the title The Last Lesson suggest?

Ans: Loss of language and freedom

42. Which country ruled Alsace after war?

Ans: Prussia (Germany)

43. What habit of Franz is criticized in the story?

Ans: Avoiding studies

44. Who issued orders regarding language policy?

Ans: Prussian authorities

45. What symbolized national pride?

Ans: French language

46. What did M. Hamel hold in his hand while teaching?

Ans: Grammar book

47. What kind of story is The Last Lesson?

Ans: Patriotic

48. What made M. Hamel speechless at the end?

Ans: Deep emotion

49. What is the central theme of the story?

Ans: Love for mother tongue

50. What lesson should students learn from the story?

Ans: Never neglect education and language

Outro – The Last Lesson (12th Class English)

In conclusion, The Last Lesson by Alphonse Daudet is a deeply emotional and meaningful story that teaches us the true value of education and our mother tongue. Through the character of Franz, the writer shows how students often ignore their studies until they realize what they are about to lose. The sudden announcement of the last French lesson makes Franz, the villagers, and even the teacher aware of the importance of their language and culture.

M. Hamel’s character represents dedication, patriotism, and the role of a true teacher. His final words, “Vive La France!”, symbolize love for the nation and resistance against cultural domination. The presence of villagers in the classroom highlights collective regret and respect for education. The story also reminds parents, students, and teachers of their shared responsibility in preserving language and learning.

Overall, The Last Lesson is not just about the end of a class but about the loss of identity, freedom, and culture. It inspires readers to value their language, respect teachers, and make the best use of educational opportunities before it is too late.