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Question
Answer the following question in about 40-50 words.
What were Franz's feelings as he set out for school and why?
Solution
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 soldiers made him want to skip class.
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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?
The Last Lesson shows that people suddenly realised how precious their language was to them.
Comment.
Notice these expressions in the text. Infer their meaning from the context.
- in great dread of
- counted on
- thumbed at the edges
- in unison
- a great bustle
- reproach ourselves with
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?
How did Franz's feelings about M. Hamel and school change?
The people in this story suddenly realize how precious their language is to them. What shows you this? Why does this happen?
Franz thinks, “Will they make them sing in German, even the pigeons?” What could this mean?
“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?
What happens to a linguistic minority in a state? How do you think they can keep their language alive? For example:
Punjabis in Bangalore
Tamilians in Mumbai
Kannadigas in Delhi
Gujaratis in Kolkata
Is it possible to carry pride in one’s language too far? Do you know what ‘linguistic chauvinism’ means?
Find out about the following (You may go to the internet, interview people, consult reference books or visit a library.)
(a) Linguistic human rights
(b) Constitutional guarantees for linguistic minorities in India
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?
Mr. and Mrs. Agarwal of Pushp Farms, Kolkata, are hosting a party on the occasion of the twenty-first birthday of their daughter, Vinita. Write a letter of invitation to Sonakshi, their niece, giving details of the date, time and venue in about 50 words.
Form pairs. Write two sentences of two words each.
Form groups of four. Write four sentences of four words each.
Who is M. Hamel?
In what region does the story take place?
In what time period does the story take place?
What is it like when your school begins? Tell it in short.
Who is narrating the story?
How did M. Hamel dress up on special occasions?
Think and answer:
Is the school closing down?
Think and answer:
Why is it the last lesson?
Think and answer:
Why were the old men of the village attending school that day?
Find where Alsace and Loraine are located with the help of the map.
Why did M. Hamel not scold Franz?
Why does Franz understand his lesson well?
With the coming of the Prussians, will language be the only thing that will change? What other changes may take place?
Where does M. Hamel live? Who lived with him?
Why does the author say, ‘I never saw him look so tall’?
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.
What a thunderclap these words were to me!
What is the meaning of the following word and phrase in the passage? Choose the correct alternative.
______ She put off learning tomorrow
What should people never lose even when they lose freedom?
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.
