4.5. The Last Lesson - My English Coursebook - Std 9 - Marathi and Semi-English Medium - Maharashtra Board

Section 1: Chapter Information / पाठ परिचय

मराठी टीप: हा पाठ MSBSHSE मार्गदर्शक तत्त्वांनुसार शालेय परीक्षेत येतो. यात मातृभाषेचे महत्त्व आणि ती गमावल्याचे दुःख अत्यंत प्रभावीपणे मांडले आहे.

Section 2: About the Author / लेखक परिचय

Alphonse Daudet was a prominent French novelist and short story writer of the 19th century. Known for his emotional depth and realistic portrayals of human nature, his works often reflected the political and social atmosphere of France. In "The Last Lesson," Daudet masterfully captures the pain and patriotic sentiment of the French people in the regions of Alsace and Loraine when their mother tongue was banned by the invading Prussian forces.  

मराठी टीप: अल्फोन्स डोडे हे प्रसिद्ध फ्रेंच लेखक होते. या पाठात त्यांनी मातृभाषा गमावल्याची वेदना आणि देशप्रेम खूप भावनिक पद्धतीने मांडले आहे. परीक्षेत लेखकाचा हेतू विचारल्यास त्यांच्या या संवेदनशील लेखनशैलीचा उल्लेख करावा.  

Section 3: Summary / सारांश

The story revolves around a young student, Franz, who is late for school and fears being scolded by his teacher, M. Hamel, for not learning his participles. Upon reaching school, he is surprised to find a solemn silence instead of the usual morning bustle. The back benches are occupied by sad village elders, and M. Hamel is dressed in his fine Sunday clothes.  

M. Hamel announces a heartbreaking order from Berlin: only German will be taught in the schools of Alsace and Loraine, making this their final French lesson. This news hits Franz like a thunderclap, filling him with deep regret for neglecting his studies. M. Hamel delivers a passionate final lesson, calling French the most beautiful language and urging them to guard it as the "key to their prison". As the Prussian trumpets sound at noon, an emotional M. Hamel writes "VIVE LA FRANCE!" on the board and dismisses the class.  

मराठी सारांश: फ्रान्झ हा विद्यार्थी शाळेत उशिरा पोहोचतो आणि त्याला शिक्षकांच्या (एम. हॅमेल) रागाची भीती वाटत असते. पण शाळेत गेल्यावर त्याला शांतता आणि मागच्या बाकांवर बसलेले गावातील वृद्ध लोक दिसतात. एम. हॅमेल सांगतात की बर्लिनवरून आलेल्या आदेशानुसार अल्सास आणि लोरेनमध्ये यापुढे फक्त जर्मन भाषा शिकवली जाईल; हा त्यांचा फ्रेंच भाषेचा शेवटचा धडा आहे. हे ऐकून फ्रान्झला अभ्यासाकडे दुर्लक्ष केल्याचा खूप पश्चात्ताप होतो. एम. हॅमेल मातृभाषेचे महत्त्व समजावून सांगतात आणि शेवटी फळ्यावर "फ्रान्स चिरायू होवो!" (VIVE LA FRANCE!) लिहून भरल्या डोळ्यांनी निरोप घेतात.  

Section 4: Characters / पात्रे

1. Franz

Franz is the young narrator of the story. Initially, he is careless about his studies, preferring to seek birds' eggs or slide on the Saar rather than learn his grammar. However, the shock of the Berlin order triggers a sudden transformation in him. He experiences deep regret and suddenly understands the true value of his education, his teacher, and his mother tongue.

मराठी टीप: फ्रान्झ हा एक सामान्य शाळकरी मुलगा आहे, ज्याला सुरुवातीला अभ्यासाचा कंटाळा असतो. पण मातृभाषा हिरावून घेतली जाणार हे समजताच त्याच्यात झालेला बदल (transformation) आणि त्याला झालेला पश्चात्ताप (regret) उत्तरामध्ये नक्की लिहा.  

2. M. Hamel

M. Hamel is a dedicated, strict French teacher who has served the school faithfully for forty years. Though the students consider him 'cranky' and fear his terrible iron ruler, he is deeply patriotic. On the day of his last lesson, he shows immense patience, dignity, and love for the French language, urging his people never to forget their linguistic identity.

मराठी टीप: एम. हॅमेल हे कडक शिस्तीचे असले तरी अत्यंत देशभक्त आणि समर्पित शिक्षक आहेत (४० वर्षे सेवा). शेवटच्या धड्यात त्यांची मातृभाषेवरची श्रद्धा आणि संयम (patience) दिसून येतो.  

Section 5: Central Theme and Values / केंद्रीय भाव आणि मूल्ये

5A. Theme Table / विषय सारणी

5B. Values / मूल्ये

• Patriotism (देशभक्ती): M. Hamel's final act of writing "VIVE LA FRANCE!" with all his might displays his deep love for his country.  

• Respect for Mother Tongue (मातृभाषेविषयी आदर): The villagers attend the last class to show respect for their language and the country that was theirs no more.  

• Diligence (परिश्रम / अभ्यासूवृत्ती): The story highlights the danger of laziness and teaches us to be diligent with our daily learning.  

5C. Central Message / केंद्रीय संदेश

The story conveys that one should never take one's language and freedom for granted; we must hold fast to our mother tongue and never put off learning for tomorrow. मराठी टीप: आपण आपली मातृभाषा आणि स्वातंत्र्य कधीही गृहीत धरू नये; "उद्या शिकू" ही सवय घातक ठरू शकते, हा या पाठाचा मुख्य संदेश आहे.  

Section 6: Vocabulary in Context / शब्दसंग्रह

Section 7: Extract-Based Questions / उताऱ्यावर आधारित प्रश्न

Extract 1

Q.(A)(i) State True or False: (2 marks)

1. Franz was well-prepared for his test on participles. — False

     

2. The Prussian soldiers were drilling in the open field. — True

     

3. All the good news had come from the bulletin board for the last two years. — False

     

4. The weather that morning was warm and bright. — True

     

मराठी टीप: उताऱ्यातील माहितीवरूनच उत्तर द्या. फ्रान्झला 'participles' चा एकही शब्द माहीत नव्हता आणि बातमीफलकावरून 'bad news' येत असे.  

Q.(A)(ii) Choose the correct alternative: (2 marks)

1. Franz was in great dread of ________. (a) the Prussian soldiers (b) a scolding from M. Hamel (c) the blacksmith (d) the bulletin board Answer: (b)  

2. The phrase 'did not know the first word about them' means ________. (a) did not know the starting letter (b) did not know anything about them (c) forgot the password (d) knew everything perfectly Answer: (b)  

Q.(B)(i) Answer in 2-3 sentences: (2 marks) Why was Franz tempted to run away and spend the day out of doors?

Answer: Franz was extremely late for school and was terrified of M. Hamel's scolding because he had not prepared his lesson on participles. Furthermore, the warm and bright weather, the birds chirping in the woods, and the Prussian soldiers drilling seemed far more tempting to him than attending school. मराठी टीप: फ्रान्झला पळून का जावेसे वाटले? कारण त्याला अभ्यासाची (participles) भीती वाटत होती आणि बाहेरचे वातावरण (warm weather, chirping birds) त्याला आकर्षित करत होते.  

Q.(B)(ii) Answer in 3-4 sentences: (2 marks) What is your favorite subject in school, and why? (Personal Response)

Answer: My favorite subject in school is History because it transports me to different eras and teaches me about the struggles and triumphs of our ancestors. Just as the bulletin board in the extract carried important news, History helps me understand how past events shape our present world. It inspires me to learn from past mistakes and value our freedom. मराठी टीप: हा स्वमत (Personal Response) प्रश्न आहे. तुमचा आवडता विषय कोणता आणि का, हे स्वतःच्या शब्दांत सोप्या इंग्रजीत मांडा.  

Extract 2  

Q.(A)(i) State True or False: (2 marks)

1. M. Hamel spoke in an angry and loud tone. — False

     

2. The order had come from Berlin. — True

     

3. The schools in Alsace and Loraine were ordered to teach only French. — False

     

4. The announcement was a huge shock to Franz. — True

     

मराठी टीप: एम. हॅमेल यांचा आवाज 'grave and gentle' (गंभीर आणि शांत) होता. बर्लिनवरून 'फक्त जर्मन शिकवण्याचा' आदेश आला होता.  

Q.(A)(ii) Choose the correct alternative: (2 marks)

1. What was put up at the town hall bulletin board? (a) A notice for a holiday (b) The order from Berlin to teach only German (c) A message from the mayor (d) A spelling test Answer: (b)  

2. What does 'thunderclap' mean in this context? (a) A loud noise in the sky (b) An unexpected and shocking event (c) A beautiful song (d) A sudden rainstorm Answer: (b)  

Q.(B)(i) Answer in 2-3 sentences: (2 marks) How did Franz react when he heard M. Hamel's announcement?

Answer: M. Hamel's announcement hit Franz like a sudden thunderclap. He was deeply shocked and immediately filled with intense regret because he hardly knew how to write in French and realized he would never get the chance to learn his own mother tongue again. मराठी टीप: घोषणेनंतर फ्रान्झला खूप मोठा धक्का (thunderclap) बसला. आपण आपली भाषा नीट शिकलो नाही याचा त्याला तीव्र पश्चात्ताप (regret) झाला.  

Q.(B)(ii) Answer in 3-4 sentences: (2 marks) Why is it important to learn and protect one's mother tongue? (Personal Response)

Answer: Our mother tongue is deeply connected to our culture, history, and personal identity. As M. Hamel correctly stated, when people are enslaved, their language acts as the key to their prison. Protecting our mother tongue ensures that our heritage is passed down to future generations and keeps us united as a community.

मराठी टीप: मातृभाषा का महत्त्वाची आहे? कारण ती आपली ओळख (identity) आणि संस्कृती (culture) आहे. गुलामगिरीत भाषाच आपल्याला एकत्र ठेवते (key to prison), हा एम. हॅमेल यांचा विचार नक्की लिहा.  

Section 8: Short Answer Questions / लघु उत्तरे

(2-3 marks · 3-5 sentences)

Q1. Why were the old men of the village sitting in the back of the classroom?

Answer: The old men of the village, including former mayor and postmaster, were sitting in the classroom because they felt deep sorrow for not having gone to school more. They wanted to express their gratitude and thank M. Hamel for his forty years of faithful service. It was also their way of showing respect for their country that was no longer theirs.

मराठी टीप: गावातील वृद्ध लोक वर्गात का आले होते? १. शाळेत न गेल्याचा पश्चात्ताप, २. एम. हॅमेल यांच्या ४० वर्षांच्या सेवेबद्दल कृतज्ञता, ३. मातृभूमीविषयी आदर व्यक्त करण्यासाठी.  

Q2. Who did M. Hamel blame for the students' lack of learning?

Answer: M. Hamel blamed the general attitude of the people of Alsace for always putting off learning until tomorrow. He blamed the parents who preferred sending their children to work on farms or mills for extra money rather than ensuring they studied. Furthermore, he honestly blamed himself for sometimes sending students to water his flowers or giving them holidays when he wanted to go fishing.

मराठी टीप: एम. हॅमेल यांनी कोणाला दोष दिला? लोकांना (उद्या शिकू या वृत्तीसाठी), पालकांना (मुलांना कामाला पाठवल्याबद्दल), आणि स्वतःलाही (मुलांना फुलांना पाणी द्यायला पाठवल्याबद्दल).  

Q3. How did Franz's feelings about his books and his teacher change suddenly?

Answer: Earlier, Franz considered his books to be a heavy nuisance and disliked M. Hamel's cranky nature and terrible iron ruler. However, upon realizing it was his last French lesson, his perspective completely changed. His grammar and history books suddenly felt like old friends he couldn't bear to give up, and the thought of never seeing M. Hamel again made him forget all about the teacher's strictness.

मराठी टीप: सुरुवातीला फ्रान्झला पुस्तके ओझे आणि शिक्षक रागीट वाटत होते. पण शेवटचा धडा ऐकल्यावर त्याला पुस्तके 'जुन्या मित्रांसारखी' (old friends) वाटू लागली आणि शिक्षकांच्या शिस्तीचा त्याला विसर पडला.  

Q4. Describe the atmosphere in the classroom during the writing lesson.

Answer: During the writing lesson, the classroom was incredibly quiet and everyone set to work with intense focus. The only sound audible was the scratching of the pens over the paper. M. Hamel had brought new copies with 'France, Alsace' written in a beautiful round hand, which looked like little patriotic flags fluttering everywhere in the schoolroom.

मराठी टीप: लेखनाच्या तासाला वर्गात पूर्ण शांतता (quiet) होती, फक्त पेनाचा आवाज येत होता. नवीन वह्यांवर लिहिलेले 'France, Alsace' हे शब्द छोट्या झेंड्यांसारखे (little flags) वाटत होते.  

Section 9: Long Answer Questions / दीर्घ उत्तरे

(4-5 marks · 8-10 sentences)

Q1. Write a character sketch of M. Hamel based on "The Last Lesson."

Answer: M. Hamel emerges as a deeply dedicated, dignified, and patriotic figure in "The Last Lesson." For forty years, he faithfully served as a French teacher in the small village school in Alsace. Initially, through the eyes of young Franz, he appears strict, cranky, and intimidating with his terrible iron ruler. However, on the day of the last lesson, his true character is revealed.  

He dresses in his beautiful green coat and frilled shirt to honor the occasion, showing his deep respect for his profession. Instead of scolding Franz for being late or unprepared, he is remarkably gentle and patient. He honestly takes the blame upon himself for sometimes neglecting his students' education.  

Above all, M. Hamel is a fierce patriot. He passionately defends the French language, calling it the most beautiful in the world, and urges his students to guard it against the Prussian invaders. His emotional breakdown at the end, culminating in him writing "VIVE LA FRANCE!" on the board, leaves a lasting impression of a man deeply broken by the loss of his country's freedom but unbroken in his spirit.  

मराठी टीप: १. सुरुवात: एम. हॅमेल हे ४० वर्षे सेवा केलेले समर्पित शिक्षक होते. २. मुख्य मुद्दे: ते सुरुवातीला कडक (strict) वाटतात. पण शेवटच्या दिवशी ते शांत (gentle) आणि संयमी (patient) दिसतात. त्यांनी स्वतःलाही मुलांच्या न शिकण्याबद्दल दोष दिला. त्यांची मातृभाषेवर खूप श्रद्धा होती. ३. शेवट: फळ्यावर "VIVE LA FRANCE!" लिहून त्यांनी आपली महान देशभक्ती (patriotism) सिद्ध केली.  

Q2. What is the central message of the story "The Last Lesson"? Explain how Franz's attitude illustrates this message.

Answer: The central message of "The Last Lesson" is the profound importance of one's mother tongue and the danger of taking time and education for granted. The story powerfully illustrates that people often fail to value their freedom and culture until it is snatched away from them by an external force. M. Hamel rightly points out that the greatest trouble is the habit of putting off learning for tomorrow.  

Franz's attitude serves as the perfect example of this human tendency. Before the Prussian order, Franz was completely careless about his education; he preferred hunting for birds' eggs and considered his grammar books a heavy nuisance. He always thought he had "plenty of time" to learn.  

However, the moment he learns that he can no longer study French, his regret is overwhelming. He realizes that his language is a vital part of his identity. The books he once hated suddenly become dear friends he cannot part with. Through Franz's sudden transformation, the author warns the readers to respect their heritage, guard their language diligently, and never delay the pursuit of knowledge.  

मराठी टीप: १. सुरुवात: मातृभाषेचे महत्त्व आणि वेळेची किंमत हा या पाठाचा संदेश आहे.

२. मुख्य मुद्दे: लोक नेहमी "उद्या शिकू" (put off learning for tomorrow) असा विचार करतात. फ्रान्झ याचे उत्तम उदाहरण आहे. त्याला आधी पुस्तके ओझे वाटत होती आणि अभ्यासापेक्षा बाहेर खेळणे आवडत होते. ३. शेवट: जेव्हा जर्मन शिकवण्याचा आदेश येतो, तेव्हा त्याला आपल्या चुकीचा पश्चात्ताप (regret) होतो. यातून आपण वेळेवर शिक्षण घेण्याचा धडा शिकतो.  

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