( Updated For ICSE 2026 Session )
Welcome to “The Last Lesson Workbook Ans: ICSE Treasure Chest (Evergreen),” your gateway to exploring the captivating narrative of the story “The Last Lesson,” featured in the ICSE English Literature Treasure Chest by Evergreen Publications. In this blog post, we offer detailed answers to the workbook questions, guiding you through the story’s intricate plot, vivid characters, and underlying themes.
Dive into each chapter and scene with our meticulously crafted solutions to multiple-choice and contextual questions, designed to deepen your grasp of the story’s exploration of human curiosity, the uncanny, and the blurred lines between reality and illusion. Through these answers, we unpack the author’s narrative techniques, use of dialogue, and descriptive language to build tension and evoke introspection.
The contextual questions challenge you to engage critically with the story’s structure and themes, such as the protagonist’s psychological journey, the role of perception, and the subtle commentary on modernity and isolation. This analysis hones your ability to interpret literary devices while fostering an appreciation for the storytelling craft.
Whether you’re a student mastering ICSE English Literature or a reader intrigued by tales that blend mystery with existential reflection, this workbook guide is your essential companion. Join us as we unravel the layers of “The Last Lesson,” illuminating its twists, turns, and timeless questions—one chapter at a time.
Table of Contents
Summary :-
Franz’s scare while going to school
Franz started for school very late. He dreaded a scolding from his teacher for not learning his lesson on participles. For a while he thought of running away from school. It was a bright day. The birds were chirping at the edge of the woods. The Prussian soldiers were going through their drills in an open field. Franz, however, resisted the temptation and hurried off to school.
Scene at the town hall
When Franz passed the town hall there was a crowd in front of the bulletin board which conveyed all the bad news. Franz was worried to see the crowd. On his way he thought of the usual bustle at the school.
Usual bustle missing at the school
Franz was surprised to find the usual bustle missing at the school. Everything was still and quiet. It looked like a Sunday morning. Through the window Franz saw his classmates and M. Hamel, their teacher, walking up and down, with his terrible iron ruler.
Franz surprised at M. Hamel’s kindness
When Franz entered, he was greatly frightened. But nothing happened. M. Hamel asked him kindly to occupy his seat. It was strange that M. Hamel was in his beautiful green coat, frilled shirt and black silk cap. Franz was also surprised to see the back benches being occupied by the village people.
M. Hamel’s surprising remarks
M. Hamel announced gravely that it was their last class in French. The order had come from Berlin to teach only German in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. M. Hamel added that a new teacher would replace him the next day.
Franz realizes the grim situation
For the first time Franz felt sorry for not learning his lessons. He regretted that he neglected his books of grammar. He was sad that M. Hamel was leaving. He forgot all about his teacher’s rules and his cranky nature. The villagers had come to pay their respect to a dedicated teacher.
Franz’s failure to recite the rules for participles
Franz’s name was called. It was his turn to recite. He could not recite the rules for participles. He mixed up everything and felt sorry. M. Hamel did not scold him. He commented upon man’s nature of postponing things.
M. Hamel’s views
M. Hamel, then, remarked sadly that they were Frenchmen and yet could neither speak nor write French. He said parents were not anxious for their children to learn. To some extent, he was also to blame. He told all those who were present there that French is the most beautiful language in the world. He asked them to guard it and never forget it.
Last Lesson
Then M. Hamel gave his last lecture on grammar in a very easy way. Franz understood it. The teacher then gave a lesson in writing. Everyone did his work very quietly. The only sound heard was that of the scratching of the pens over the paper. Nobody paid attention to the beetles who flew in.
Franz’s opinion about their teacher M. Hamel had served the school for forty years. Nothing much had changed. M. Hamel had the courage to hear every lesson to the last. He delivered his last lesson in history. Everyone in the class became emotional. Some even shed tears.
M. Hamel’s emotional farewell
The church-clock struck twelve. The trumpets of the Prussians sounded under the windows. M. Hamel grew emotional as he taught. He picked up a piece of chalk and wrote “Vive La France!” on the blackboard. Then he made a gesture with his hand and said. “School is dismissed – you may go.”
Workbook MCQs :
1. Select the option that shows the correct relationship between statement (1) and
statement (2).
1. Usually, when school began, there was a great bustle.
2. But now it was all so still.
(a) 1 is independent of 2
(b) 1 is an example of 2
(c) 1 is in contradiction of 2
(d) 1 is the cause for 2
Answer:-(c) 1 is in contradiction of 2
2. Choose the option that lists the correct order of the events.
1. Franz Jumped over the bench and sat down at his desk.
2. The narrator reached M.Hamel’s little garden out of breath
3. There was a crowd in front of the bulletin-board
4. M.Hamel syas, “My children, this is the last lesson I shall give you.”
(a) 2. 1, 3, 4
(b) 4, 3, 1, 2
(c) 2, 4, 1,3
(d) 3,2,1,4
Answer:- (d) 3,2,1,4
3. Select the word that best describes the narrator’s feelings when he saw the village people sitting on the back benches.
(a) angry
(b) frustrated
(c) surprised
(d) irritated
Answer:- (c) surprised
4. Which of the following statements is NOT true.
(a) The order had come from Britain to teach only German.
(b) The new master was to come the next day.
(c) All the students and the villagers looked sad.
(d) Most of the French people could neither speak nor write their own language.
Answer:- (a) The order had come from Britain to teach only German.
5. Which of the following words best describes the tone of the speaker in this line- “Will they make them sing in German, even the pigeons”?
(a) commanding
(b) satirical
(c) comic
(d) frustrated
Answer:- (b) satirical
6. The story The Last Lesson’ is written by:
(a) G. B. Shaw
(b) Alphonse Daudet
(c) William Faulkner
(d) Ray Bradbury
Answer:- (b) Alphonse Daudet
7. What was Franz’s fear as he was going to school?
(a) fear of the bullies
(b) scolding by M. Hamel
(c) punishment for being late
(d) none of the above
Answer:- (b) scolding by M. Hamel
8. What seemed tempting to Franz while going to school?
(a) playing with the village boys
(b) swimming in the river
(c) enjoying open nature and chirping of birds
(d) going to a friend’s house
Answer:- (c) enjoying open nature and chirping of birds
9. The bulletin board showed news.
(a) cheerful
(b) horrible
(c) routine
(d) sad
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10. Who was Wachter?
(a) Franz’s classfellow
(b) Franz’s father
(c) a blacksmith
(d) school gardener
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11. What dress was M. Hamel wearing?
(a) a formal Sunday dress
(b) dress worn on inspection days and prize days
(c) casual dress
(d) funny dress
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12. Who among these was not there on the back benches?
(a) former mayor
(b) former postman
(c) the headmaster
(d) old Hauser
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13. What came as ‘a thunder clap’ to Franz?
(a) scolding by the teacher
(b) Berlin order against teaching French
(c) Franz’s failure in the exams
(d) defeat of the French forces
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14. Which of these was difficult to learn for Franz?
(a) History lesson
(b) German language
(c) Mathematical formulae
(d) Participles
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15. What was written in the new copies in the handwriting of M. Hamel?
(a) Country’s slogans
(b) France
(c) Freedom
(d) France, Alsace, France, Alsace
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Comprehension Passages :
Passage – 1
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
For a moment I thought of running away and spending the day out of doors. It was 80 warm, so bright! The birds were chirping at the edge of the woods, and in the open field, back of the saw-mill the Prussian soldiers were drilling.
(I) Why did the narrator think of running away and where did he want to go?
Answer:- The narrator thought of running away because his teacher had told his class
that he would ask them questions on participles. The narrator did not want to take the test so he wanted to run away.
He wanted to run away to enjoy the warm day outdoors.
(II) What do you think about the narrator?
Answer:- The narrator is a student. He did not work hard in his studies. But he is worried about performance in the class. He is a respectful and obedient student.
(III) What was tempting to the narrator? What did he dread?
Answer:- The day was bright and warm. It was something tempting for him to enjoy outdoors. He dreaded being scolded by the teacher for not preparing the test.
(IV) Why were the Prussian soldiers doing their drills?
Answer:- The Prussian soldiers were doing the drills as the day was warm. They found the atmosphere suitable to do the drill in the open fields.
(V) What temptations did the narrator overcome? Where was he going?
Answer:- The day was warm and bright. The birds were chirping at the woods. The Prussian soldiers were drilling in the open fields. The whole atmosphere was quite tempting. The narrator overcame these temptations as he was going to school.
Passage – 2
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
Through the window I saw my classmates, already in this 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.
(I) What kind of teacher was M. Hamel? What did he teach?
Answer:- M. Hamel was a dedicated and devoted teacher. He taught French.
(II) What was M. Hamel doing when Franz looked through the window? Was it a pleasant sight?
Answer:- M. Hamel was walking up and down with his iron ruler under his arm. It was not a pleasant sight as he looked upset.
(III) Why was Franz frightened?
Answer:- He was frightened because of being late for the class and he had seen M Hamel walking in the room in a terrible mood.
(IV) Did the teacher punish Franz? What happened when Franz entered the classroom?
Answer:- The teacher did not punish Franz. When he entered the classroom there was complete silence. There was no noise like other days.
(V) Which kind of dress was M. Hamel wearing? Why?
Answer:- M. Hamel was wearing his beautiful green coat and frilled shirt. He wore black silk cap which was embroidered. This was the dress he wore on inspection and prize days. He was wearing this dress as it was his last day in the school.
Passage – 3
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
While I was wondering about it all, M. Hamel mounted his chair, and, in the same grave and gentle tone which he had used to me, said. “My children, this is the last lesson, I shall give you. The order has come from Berlin to teach only German in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. The new master comes tomorrow. This is your last French lesson. I want you to be very attentive.”
(I) Who is the narrator and where is he?
Answer:- Franz, a student in the school, is the narrator. He is in side the classroom.
(II) Who was M. Hamel? How would he treat his students?
Answer:- M. Hamel was a teacher in the school and taught French. He treated the students as his own children.
(III) Why was it his last lesson? What does the word ‘his’ refer to ?
Answer:- It was his last lesson as the German authorities had ordered to stop the teaching of French in the schools. The word ‘his’ refers to M. Hamel, the French teacher.
(IV) What did M. Hamel wish his students to do? Why?
Answer:- M. Hamel asked the students to be more attentive. He told them that it was their last lesson to learn the French language as the teaching of French was going to be discontinued.
(V) In which mood was M. Hamel? Why?
Answer:- M. Hamel was in a mood of despair and disappointment. It was because of the order from Berlin which forbade the teaching of French in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine.
Passage – 4
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
Ah, that’s the great trouble with Alsace; she puts off learning 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 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) What do you learn about the speaker?
Answer:- The speaker here is M. Hamel, the teacher who teaches French the narrator Franz’s school. He is quite upset over the order that has asked to stop the teaching of French language in the school.
(II) What is the regret in his mind?
Answer:- He has a great regret in his mind about the French people’s attitude towards their own mother tongue. He is pained over the fact that the French neither speak nor write their own language.
(III) Who are ‘those fellows’? How would they mock at the villagers?
Answer:- “Those fellows’ here refers to the Germans who would make fun of the French people. They would criticize the French people for their neglect of their mother
tongue.
(IV) Who, according to the speaker, were to be blamed for the present situation?
Answer:- According to the speaker the French people themselves were responsible for the present situation. They had neglected and ignored their own language.
(V) Later, what does the speaker say about the French language?
Answer:- The speaker later says that French is a great language. It was necessary for them to love their language as it would be a key to their freedom and keep their identity
intact.
Passage – 5
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
“Your parents were not anxious enough to have you learn. They preferred to put you to work on a farm or at the mills, so as to have a little more money. And I ? I’ve been to blame also. Have I not often sent you to water my flowers instead of learning your lessons?
(I) Who is addressing and whom, and on what occasion ?
Answer:- M. Hamel a teacher who teaches French in Franz’s school is addressing his students. The occasion of this address is his last lesson to the class as French will no longer be taught in the school according to the orders of the German government.
(II) Who were put to earn more money for the parents? What does it show about them?
Answer:- The students were put to earn more money by their parents. It shows that the parents were more interested in money and neglected the importance of learning French for their children.
(III) What made the speaker blame himself?
Answer:- The speaker is pained to see that French language has been ignored and neglected by the French themselves. He blames himself for this neglect as he used to ask his students to do small jobs for him instead of learning their mother tongue.
(IV) What do you think of the speaker?
Answer:- The speaker is a sincere teacher and a patriot. He has great regret for the neglect that the French show towards their own mother tongue.
(V) According to the speaker, what is the importance of learning our mother language ?
Answer:- According to the speaker the learning of mother tongue is very significant. One’s mother tongue is like the key to freedom from slavery and foreign rule.
Passage – 6
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
it was the most beautiful language in the world the clearest, the most logical; that we must guard it among us and never forget it, because 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.
(I) Which language is being referred to here? What is the occasion of this observation?
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(II) What does the speaker think of the language being referred to ?
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(III) What is his advice to the listeners?
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(IV) Why should the enslaved people not forget their language?
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(V) What, according to the speaker, had been the attitude of the people earlier about their own language?
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Passage – 7
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
Once some beetles flew in; but nobody paid any attention to them, not even the littlest ones, who worked right on tracing their fish-hooks, as if that was French, too. On the roof the pigeons cooed very low and I thought to myself, “Will they make them sing in German, even the pigeons?”
(I) Where did the beetles fly in? How did the students react?
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(II) What was being done, and by whom? Where was it being done?
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(III) What made even the children do their work with full concentration?
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(IV) Who is ‘I’ referred to here? What thought did he have?
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(V) What is the tone in. “Will they make them even the pigeons?” What literary device is used here?
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Passage – 8
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
“My friends,” said he, “I-I-” But something choked him. He could not go on. Then he turned to the blackboard, took a piece of chalk, and, bearing on with all his might, he wrote as large as he could “Vive La France!”
(I) Who is ‘he’? Why was he so sentimental ?
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(II) What could he not do? Why?
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(III) What did he write on the blackboard, and why?
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(IV) What do you think of this person?
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(V) ‘Vive La France. What does it mean and symbolise? What does it show about the speaker?
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