The Last Lesson - Extra Questions

1. Do you think the story touches upon the brutalities of war? Comment.

Ans. Yes, the story The Last Lesson says so much about the brutality of war. Though it doesn't have any physical effect on the residents but it has affected them mentally. Not only have they lost a precious piece of land to their enemies but also have lost the right to use their own mother tongue. They are now deprived of the freedom of expression of emotions and communication in their own tongue. A country remains powerful and invincible 

(unconquerable) as long as it retains with pride its culture and language. With it, no one can defeat them.

The story also brings home the bare fact that war mercilessly snatches away everything from people – work, home and their near and dear ones. Under such circumstances people feel utterly devastated and deserted with hardly any hope or desire to sustain life. In this case M. Hamel loses his job, the milieu (social environment where one works or lives) where he is wonted to work as well as his favourite school and students. 

Thus it can be said that the author has very well tried to sensitize his readers about the aftermath and brutalities of war.

2. What happened when the church clock struck 12?

Ans. The church clock struck twelve to announce the time of midday prayer Angelus. At the very same moment, the sound of the trumpets by Prussian soldiers was heard. They were returning from their regular drill – a cruel reminder of the bitter truth that Alsace belonged no more to the residents. It also meant that it was time for the school to get over. M. Hamel stood up to say something but something choked him and he could say nothing. He was overwhelmed with emotion as the moment of parting forever had arrived, parting from his pupils, the villager, the villagers, the long-tended garden and above all his classes and his dear subject as a teacher. It was the moment, the beginning of a new phase of life, without his ruler, without his books and without his children. He would thenceforth carry the sweet memories of every nook of the school. He took a big piece of chalk and in big letters wrote ''Vive La France!'' and made a gesture to the students to leave. A helpless teacher and a helpless patriot could do nothing but accept the harsh reality and depart with a heavy heart full of bitter sweet memories.

3. What was the trouble with the people of Alsace according to M. Hamel? What did he think would give the Germans a chance to mock at them?

Ans. According to M. Hamel the trouble with the people of Alsace is that they put off learning till tomorrow. They are in a habit of procrastinating and shirking their duties. This would give the Germans a chance to mock at them saying that they pretended to be French but couldn’t even speak or write their language.