The entire class was very sad. M. Hamel’s announcement struck Franz like a thunder and lightning. M. Hamel had taught the people of Alsace fir forty years. He had become an integral part of their life. All the young and the old had come to attend his last class to show their respect to him. There were tears in the elderly people. They tried to learn as much as they could from their beloved teacher. Most of them were feeling quite patriotic and regretful for neglecting learning their mother tongue.

The first problem which Sadao and his wife had to deal with while helping the enemy soldier was their revolting servants. Their servants refused to serve their masters whom they thought to be traitors. At first they were cold in their behaviour. Later they expressed their opinions openly and as an ultimate step they all chose to quit their jobs. Hana's nervous condition and a state of dilemma in addition to the household chores which she had to do in the absence of their servants was another problem which troubled Sadao and made him determined to get rid of the American soldier. 

Childhood is considered the spring of human life. It is full of exuberance and playfulness. But the children of ragpickers of Seemapuri and bangle makers of Firozabad are deprived of this period of their life. They never enjoy the carefreeness of their childhood. They have to assist their poor parents in earning their living since the very tender age.

In fact, the story brings out the reality of our society where poor children work as ragpickers and bangle bakers in inhuman and hazardous conditions. The plight of these children highlights the apathy of the rich and powerful people of the society who have no concern for them.

‘Lost Spring’ refers to those moments of childhood which should be full of happiness, growth and carefree spirit and which have been snatched from the children of Seemapuri and Firozabad. The title ‘Lost Spring’ justifies the story which sensitizes the people towards these poor children. It emphasizes the need to save the childhood of these poor children and provide them with their basic rights of a decent life and good education.

Ans : Aunt Jennifer comes across as a terrified and feeble person totally lacking in confidence, who is a victim of her domineering husband. Her creativity finds outlet in her embroidery of prancing tigers which are a complete contrast to her own personality.

• Gandhiji‟s meeting with Shukla/Problems of Peasants/ Gandhiji arrived at Champaran/  
• wanted to meet secretary of British Landlord‟s Association/was refused/tried to meet Commissioner of Tirhut/was bullied and ordered to leave Champaran/Defied order/ 
• Prevented from meeting peasant/Disobeyed notice to leave Champaran/was summoned at court/worked whole night to get the support/peasants gathered in large number to show support to him/ 
• Gandhiji proved that British power was no longer unchangeable/authorities got afraid and postponed the case/Gandhiji released on bail/lawyers decided to follow Gandhiji/
• First Triumph of Civil Disobedience/Case dropped against Gandhiji/he planned Civil Disobedience/ commission of enquiry appointed by governor/evidence against landlords found
• Gandhi agreed for 25% refund as was agreed by landlords/
• indigo share cropping abandoned and land given to peasants

The theme of the story is that most human beings are prone to fall into the trap of material benefit. However, every human being has an essential goodness that can be awakened through understanding and love. A human being has the tendency to redeem himself from dishonest ways.
The theme is developed with the help of the metaphor of the rattrap. The peddler of rattraps calls the world a big rattrap. The material benefits like riches and joys, shelter and food, heat and clothing are temptations that that allure a person to fall into the rattrap of the world exactly as the bait of cheese and pork attract a rat to fall into the rattrap. Once someone takes the bait, the world closes in on him and then everything is lost.
The peddler is tempted by the thirty kronors of the old crofter. He steals the money. Now he is afraid of being caught and moves through the woods. It is the kind, sympathetic, loving and generous treatment given by Edla Willmansson that helps him get himself free from the rattrap of the world.

Garbage is gold to the ragpickers of Seemapuri because it provides them items which can be sold for cash, which can buy them food and is a means of survival. Moreover, it is gold also because the ragpickers can find stray coins and currency notes in it.

(a) The children referred to here are those who study in an elementary school in a slum.
(b) Their world comprises of only what they are able to see from the window of their classroom. The view is full of despair where their future seems blurred. They are confined to the narrow streets of the slum, far away from the open sky and rivers.
(c) Unlike other children, the children in the slums have a future that is hopeless and it seems as if it is painted with a fog. They lack the basic necessities of life like proper food, clothing, shelter and health benefits. 

(d) Their future is painted with a fog as it is not clear. They are not well-educated, and there is no one to guide them.

Answers:
(а) Her hands are called terrified because they passed through very hard and bitter experience of married life.
(b) They are still ringed with those hard and testing difficulties which possessed her dining her life.
(c) She made the tigers in the panel.
(d) Her tigers will go on jumping ahead, proud and unafraid even after her death.

Character of M. Hamel

M. Hamel was a true French man. Teaching at Alsace for forty years, he had become a part of its people. He was an honest teacher. He did not blame his students alone for poor learning. He also held himself responsible for the same. He was very patriotic as he appealed to his countrymen to hold fast to their mother tongue to be free from the Prussians. According to him the French language was the most beautiful, the clearest and the most logical language in the world. He appealed to his countrymen to guard it and never forget it. He was emotionally attached to the school and all his students. However, he was very brave and strong. He was really sorry for not making sincere efforts to teach French to his countrymen. At the end, he became so emotional that he could not speak.