Worksheet: The Last Lesson

1. What does M. Hamel’s formal attire symbolize on the last day of class?
A) A celebration
B) A protest
C) The gravity of the situation
D) A new beginning

2. What might “Vive La France!” symbolize at the end of the lesson?

A) Victory in sports
B) A holiday greeting
C) Resistance and patriotism
D) A farewell

3. What role does the Prussian order play in the story’s emotional impact?
A) It is irrelevant
B) It enhances the comedy
C) It adds a layer of conflict
D) It introduces new characters

4. What could the villagers’ attendance at the last lesson imply about
future actions?
A) Increased apathy towards education
B) Possible secret continuation of French lessons
C) Complete acceptance of German rule
D) A move to another village

5. What does Franz’s regret teach us about opportunities?

A) They are plentiful
B) To appreciate them before they’re gone
C) They are overvalued
D) They rarely come

6. How might the story have ended differently if Franz had been prepared
for his lesson?
A) The order would have been revoked
B) M. Hamel would have been less emotional
C) The lesson’s significance would remain unchanged
D) Franz would have been less impacted by the lesson

7. What does the silence in the village on the day of the last lesson signify
in “The Last Lesson”?
A) A public holiday
B) The villagers’ indifference
C) A sense of mourning and loss
D) Preparation for a festival
8. How does M. Hamel’s attitude towards his students change in the last
lesson?
A) Becomes stricter
B) Shows disappointment
C) Displays greater compassion and understanding
D) Ignores the students

9. What lesson does Franz learn about language and identity?

A) They are easily changed
B) They are fundamental to one’s heritage
C) Learning multiple languages is unnecessary
D) Language learning is too challenging

10. What might the story imply about the role of teachers in preserving
culture?
A) It is minimal
B) It is primarily political
C) It is crucial and influential
D) It is unrelated to culture

11. How does the story reflect on the impact of political decisions on
personal lives?
A) Shows them as unrelated
B) Highlights the profound and often immediate effects
C) Suggests that politics are always positive
D) Indicates that personal lives influence politics more

12. What could the story’s setting suggest about the universality of its
themes?
A) It is too specific to be universal
B) The rural setting limits its relevance
C) It transcends the specific historical context
D) It only applies to French villages

13. How does the communal experience of the last lesson contrast with
Franz’s initial individual fear of reprimand?
A) It shows the insignificance of individual worries
B) It emphasizes the importance of individual preparation
C) It highlights the shift from personal fear to collective empathy
D) It suggests that communal experiences are less impactful

14. What might the villagers have felt attending the last lesson?
A) Indifference
B) Curiosity about the lesson content
C) Pride in their German heritage
D) A sense of loss and solidarity

15. How might Franz’s future approach to education change after the last
lesson?
 A) He would disregard it completely
B) He would become a teacher himself
C) He would value and pursue learning more seriously
D) He would focus only on German

16. What could be the reason M. Hamel blames himself for the villagers’
neglect of their language?
A) He was too strict
B) He didn’t follow the curriculum
C) He often canceled classes
D) He was lenient at times, prioritizing other tasks over teaching

17. Why did Franz feel regret during the last lesson?
A) He realized he would miss his friends
B) He understood the value of his language and culture too late
C) He was afraid of German lessons
D) He wished he had been nicer to M. Hamel

18. What might the blackboard message “Vive La France!” signify to the
students and villagers?
A) A reminder of their upcoming French homework
B) A celebration of a French holiday
C) A call to remember and cherish their cultural identity
D) M. Hamel’s personal farewell

19. How could the story’s setting influence the characters’ experiences
and reactions in the chapter “The Last Lesson”?
A) It made them eager for change
B) It isolated them from the conflict
C) It intensified their sense of cultural loss and unity
D) It was irrelevant to the plot

20. What does the villagers’ silence as they leave the classroom reflect in
the chapter “The Last Lesson”?
A) Indifference to the lesson
B) Respect for M. Hamel’s teaching
C) Their contemplation of the lesson’s significance
D) Confusion about the new language policy

21. Why might the story end with a focus on the French language instead
of the characters’ future actions?
A) To emphasize the story’s historical context
B) To highlight the enduring importance of language in cultural identity
C) Because the characters’ futures are uncertain
D) To set up a sequel

22. What value does M. Hamel’s formal attire on the last day emphasize?
A) Discipline
B) Respect for tradition
 C) Personal style
D) Professionalism

23. What does Franz’s regret about his past attitude towards learning
teach us?
A) The importance of discipline
B) The value of education
C) To always be punctual
D) The benefits of learning French

24. What moral lesson can be derived from M. Hamel’s emotional final
lesson?
A) Change is inevitable
B) Language is key to resistance
C) Teachers are important
D) Cherish your cultural heritage

25. How does the story illustrate the impact of political decisions on
individuals?
A) By showing economic effects
B) Through changes in the education system
C) By depicting changes in village leadership
D) Through alterations in the landscape

26. What does the solidarity among villagers during the last lesson
suggest about community values?
A) The importance of conformity
B) The strength found in unity
C) The need for social gatherings
D) The benefits of a shared language

27. What does Franz’s change of heart regarding his studies indicate
about personal growth?
A) It’s dependent on external events
B) It can happen at any age
C) It is rare
D) It requires a significant loss

28. Why does M. Hamel blame everyone, including himself, for neglecting
the French language?
A) Because of the lack of strict laws
B) Due to the distractions in the village
C) As a result of collective complacency
D) Because of the influence of German culture

29. How does the story illustrate the impact of sudden change on a
community?
A) Through the shift in the villagers’ daily routines
B) By showing the villagers’ immediate adaptation to German
 C) Through the emotional response to the last French lesson
D) By depicting economic changes in the village

30. How does the setting of the story enhance its themes?
A) By providing a picturesque backdrop
B) Through its historical and political significance
C) By isolating the characters from the outside world
D) Through the depiction of rural simplicity

31. What does Franz’s changed perspective on his books and education
symbolize?
A) The benefits of learning
B) A newfound appreciation of education
C) Their irrelevance to his future
D) A burden lifted from his life

Answer Key

1. C 2. C 3. C 4. B 5. B 6. D 7. C

8. C 9. B 10. C 11. B 12. C

13. C 14. D

15. C 16. D 17. B 18. C

19. C 20. C 21. B

22. B 23. B 24. D 25. B

26. B 27. B 28. C

29. C 30. B 31. B