Prose
ENGLISH CLASS 12th
THE LAST LESSON
In the classroom, there was a deep sense of regret. When school started, there was usually a lot of ruckus and
commotion but this time it was almost silent and solemn. The only sound was the scratching of the pens
over the paper.
The most unusual thing was that the back benches were also occupied by the village elders-Old Hauser, the
former postmaster, the former mayor, and others. They expressed regret for not attending school more
often. Moreover , it was their way of expressing their gratitude to M. Hamel for his forty years of dedicated
service. “My guys, this is your last French lesson,” M. Hamel said. 'Berlin has given the order to teach only
German in Alsace's schools, Lorraine, too...” These words were a thunderclap to Franz, who felt guilty for
failing to remember his lessons. He was disappointed that M. Hamel decided to leave the country the next
day.
“When we have everything, we don't value it, but when we lose it, we repent!”
M. Hamel was a wonderful teacher. He dedicated forty years of his life to imparting education.
He was sitting motionless in his chair, checking the whole schoolroom. Now his heart was broken as he was
to leave the country the next day which made him cry. He turned to the blackboard, took a piece of chalk,
and wrote —“Vive La France!” which means “Long Live France” as a tribute to the autonomy of France
and its language. A nation’s language is described as having extreme significance for it can liberate those
who’ve been enslaved by others and additionally provide a sense of belonging to them.
Short answer questions
● Question : 'We've all a great deal to reproach ourselves with", said M. Hamel. Refer to the context
and explain what he wanted to convey to his students.
● What was the mood in the classroom when M. Hamel gave his last French lesson?
● How did Franz react to the declaration of M.Hamel when he said “This is your last French
lesson.” ?
Long Answer Questions
● 1. What is `linguistic chauvinism'? Analyse the order from Berlin in this light.
● Write how M. Hamel proves to be a good teacher.
● Give a character sketch of Franz.
LOST NEXT LESSON SPRING
, Saheb's family lives in Seemapuri, a small town on the outskirts of Delhi yet miles away from it. 10,000
ragpickers live in mud huts with tin roofs, with no sanitation, irrigation, or water. They don't have a name
or a place to call home. Despite the lack of permits, ration cards were survival and ragpicking is the only way
to ensure survival here. These are squatters who arrived here from Bangladesh because. Floods washed away
their fields and homes on many occasions.The bangle industry is the most important in Firozabad. Bangles
have been made by people for centuries. Among them is Mukesh's family.
It is dangerous to work in the glass bangles industry. Around 20,000 children work in the high-temperature
glass furnaces. They lose their vision before reaching adulthood. There's also the chance of skin burn. They
live in hovels with crumbling walls, wobbly doors and no windows.
In spite of hard labour, they do not enjoy even one full meal in their entire lifetime.
Mukesh's mentality is not the same as his family's. He is adamant about becoming his own boss and aspires
to be a mechanic. He is determined to learn to drive by walking to a garage.
What powers are at work to hold Firozabad's bangle industry jobs in poverty?
Poverty, social norms, and caste stigma conspire to keep the workers in Firozabad’s bangle industry poor.
They are unable to form a cooperative because if they do, they will be detained by the police, beaten, and
dragged to prison. There is no one in charge of them.
Anees Jung, the author, sees two worlds: one of a family trapped in a web of poverty, and the other of a
vicious circle of sahukars, cops, law enforcers, and politicians.
Short answer questions
● Comment on the line “Saheb is no longer his own master”
● Comment on the title “Lost Spring”
● What were the problems faced by the bangle sellers ?
Long Answer Questions
● Draw contrast between the lives of people in Seemapuri and Firozabad
● Describe the life of ragpickers in seemapuri.
● Describe the difference between color of bangles and the color of the atmosphere where
bangles are made
DEEP W ATER
Douglas’ drowning experience at Y.M.C.A. swimming pool was a life-threatening one which instilled a
sense of fear of water in him. An eighteen year old boy picked him up and tossed him into the deep
end.This caught him off guard and led to him swallowing a large amount of water. Douglas was frightened
but not enough to fail to come up with an escape plan. He decided that when his feet hit the bottom, he
would make a big jump and come to the surface but those nine feet seemed like ninety feet and instead of
bobbing to the surface like a cork, he came up slowly. He opened his eyes and saw nothing but water which
made him panicky. His legs froze and became rigid. This happened thrice and the second time he went
down,, endlessly. His lungs ached and his head throbbed. He felt sheer, stark terror that knew no
understanding or control. He saw nothing but water with a yellow glow. The third time, he became
oblivious and unconscious, his all efforts to jump up ceased. He relaxed and a blackness swept over his
brain. It wiped out all terror. Douglas drew a deep meaning from this experience— “In death there is peace.
ENGLISH CLASS 12th
THE LAST LESSON
In the classroom, there was a deep sense of regret. When school started, there was usually a lot of ruckus and
commotion but this time it was almost silent and solemn. The only sound was the scratching of the pens
over the paper.
The most unusual thing was that the back benches were also occupied by the village elders-Old Hauser, the
former postmaster, the former mayor, and others. They expressed regret for not attending school more
often. Moreover , it was their way of expressing their gratitude to M. Hamel for his forty years of dedicated
service. “My guys, this is your last French lesson,” M. Hamel said. 'Berlin has given the order to teach only
German in Alsace's schools, Lorraine, too...” These words were a thunderclap to Franz, who felt guilty for
failing to remember his lessons. He was disappointed that M. Hamel decided to leave the country the next
day.
“When we have everything, we don't value it, but when we lose it, we repent!”
M. Hamel was a wonderful teacher. He dedicated forty years of his life to imparting education.
He was sitting motionless in his chair, checking the whole schoolroom. Now his heart was broken as he was
to leave the country the next day which made him cry. He turned to the blackboard, took a piece of chalk,
and wrote —“Vive La France!” which means “Long Live France” as a tribute to the autonomy of France
and its language. A nation’s language is described as having extreme significance for it can liberate those
who’ve been enslaved by others and additionally provide a sense of belonging to them.
Short answer questions
● Question : 'We've all a great deal to reproach ourselves with", said M. Hamel. Refer to the context
and explain what he wanted to convey to his students.
● What was the mood in the classroom when M. Hamel gave his last French lesson?
● How did Franz react to the declaration of M.Hamel when he said “This is your last French
lesson.” ?
Long Answer Questions
● 1. What is `linguistic chauvinism'? Analyse the order from Berlin in this light.
● Write how M. Hamel proves to be a good teacher.
● Give a character sketch of Franz.
LOST NEXT LESSON SPRING
, Saheb's family lives in Seemapuri, a small town on the outskirts of Delhi yet miles away from it. 10,000
ragpickers live in mud huts with tin roofs, with no sanitation, irrigation, or water. They don't have a name
or a place to call home. Despite the lack of permits, ration cards were survival and ragpicking is the only way
to ensure survival here. These are squatters who arrived here from Bangladesh because. Floods washed away
their fields and homes on many occasions.The bangle industry is the most important in Firozabad. Bangles
have been made by people for centuries. Among them is Mukesh's family.
It is dangerous to work in the glass bangles industry. Around 20,000 children work in the high-temperature
glass furnaces. They lose their vision before reaching adulthood. There's also the chance of skin burn. They
live in hovels with crumbling walls, wobbly doors and no windows.
In spite of hard labour, they do not enjoy even one full meal in their entire lifetime.
Mukesh's mentality is not the same as his family's. He is adamant about becoming his own boss and aspires
to be a mechanic. He is determined to learn to drive by walking to a garage.
What powers are at work to hold Firozabad's bangle industry jobs in poverty?
Poverty, social norms, and caste stigma conspire to keep the workers in Firozabad’s bangle industry poor.
They are unable to form a cooperative because if they do, they will be detained by the police, beaten, and
dragged to prison. There is no one in charge of them.
Anees Jung, the author, sees two worlds: one of a family trapped in a web of poverty, and the other of a
vicious circle of sahukars, cops, law enforcers, and politicians.
Short answer questions
● Comment on the line “Saheb is no longer his own master”
● Comment on the title “Lost Spring”
● What were the problems faced by the bangle sellers ?
Long Answer Questions
● Draw contrast between the lives of people in Seemapuri and Firozabad
● Describe the life of ragpickers in seemapuri.
● Describe the difference between color of bangles and the color of the atmosphere where
bangles are made
DEEP W ATER
Douglas’ drowning experience at Y.M.C.A. swimming pool was a life-threatening one which instilled a
sense of fear of water in him. An eighteen year old boy picked him up and tossed him into the deep
end.This caught him off guard and led to him swallowing a large amount of water. Douglas was frightened
but not enough to fail to come up with an escape plan. He decided that when his feet hit the bottom, he
would make a big jump and come to the surface but those nine feet seemed like ninety feet and instead of
bobbing to the surface like a cork, he came up slowly. He opened his eyes and saw nothing but water which
made him panicky. His legs froze and became rigid. This happened thrice and the second time he went
down,, endlessly. His lungs ached and his head throbbed. He felt sheer, stark terror that knew no
understanding or control. He saw nothing but water with a yellow glow. The third time, he became
oblivious and unconscious, his all efforts to jump up ceased. He relaxed and a blackness swept over his
brain. It wiped out all terror. Douglas drew a deep meaning from this experience— “In death there is peace.
