op Mea >garihant ISC 2033” As per Latest ISC S: =cimen Paper LITERATURE Is a Class Scientifically Created 3 Stages | Fully Solved Latest of Sample Papers; Stage 1, 2, 3 ISC Specimen Paperi Succeed ISCis* Sample Prec Papers LITERATURE IN ENGLISH Class XII Srishti Agarwal Vaishali Jaiswal xarihant ARIHANT PRAKASHAN (School Division Series) ews ouaenSTAGESOF Real Practice STAGE | Fully Solved : Having Sample Question Papers in which each Question is followed by its Answer. 3-10 11-18 Sample Question Paper 1 ‘Sample Question Paper 2 STAGE II Fully Solved : Having Sample Question Papers in which each Question Paper is followed by its Answers. : 21-28 ‘sample Question Paper 3 sgh Sample Question Paper 4 aoe Sample Question Paper 5 ae Sample Question Paper 6 ean Sample Question Paper 7 STAGE Ill Unsolved Having Sample Question Papers are only for Practice. Sample Question Paper 8 63-65 Sample Question Paper 9 66-68 Sample Question Paper 10 69-71 Latest ISC Specimen Paper 75-82 One Day Before Exam 83-90REVISED Syllabus 2023 PAPER! : THEORY 80 Marks 1, Drama: The Tempest: William Shakespeare (Acts 3, 4 and 5) ; aa I, Echoes: A Collection of ISC Short Stories (Evergreen Publications (India) Ltd, New Delhi) 1. To Build a Fire - Jack London 2, The Story of an Hour ~ Kate Chopin The Singing Lesson - Katherine Mansfield The Sound Machine - Roald Dahl 5, B. Wordsworth - VS. Naipaul Ill, Reverie: A Collection of ISC Poems (Evergreen Publications (India) Ltd, New Delhi) 1. The Darkling Thrush - Thomas Hardy 2. Birches ~ Robert Frost 3, Crossing the Bar - Alfred, Lord Tennyson 4, Dover Beach - Matthew Arnold 5. We are the Music Makers - Arthur William Edgar O'Shaughnessy i thatis Note: The ISC (Class XII) Examination paper will be set ONLY on the portion of the syllabus that i prescribed fro Class Xi.SAMPLE QUESTION PAPER 1 Literature in English (Question Answers) AHighly Simulated Practice Question Paper for ISC Class XII Examination General Instructions Time:3hrs MM:80 * Candidates ae allowed additional 15 minutes for only reading the paper. They must NOT start writing this time * Answer all questions in Section A and Section B. The intended marks for questions or parts of questions are given in brackets []. Section -A (20 Marks) Question 1. Choose the correct options for the following questions. (10) (i) Im Act IM Scene If, what does Caliban say that he, Stephano and Trinculo must do to take power from Prospero? (a) F ight him physically (b) Steal his books (c) Abduct Miranda (a) Use magic ‘Ans, (b) Steal his books (i) For what purpose does Prospero use his magic? (a) To control his enemies (b) To kill people (c) To punish his enemies (4) Both (a) and (c) ‘Ans, (4) Both (a) and (c)PEE eee eee eee 4 Sample Question Papers ISC Literature in English Class Xi 5! (iii) Why can’t the men attack Ariel with their swords in Act III Scene III? (a) The swords become heavy (b) Ariel is fying (c) Itscems rude (d) Their swords disappear : Ans. (a) The swords become heavy (iv) In Act IV Scene 1, when the spirits perform the masque for Ferdinand and Miranda, the, transform into which three mythological figures? {a) Iti, Venus and Cupid (b) Pluto, Ceres and Venus (c) Iris, Ceres and Juno (d) Ceres, Juno and Pluto Ans, (c) Iris, Ceres and Juno (v) In the story To Build a Fire, the old-timer tells the man is it dangerous to travel alone at wha temperature? aes (a) Thirty-two degrees Fahrenheit (b) Zero degrees Fahrenheit = {c) Seventy degrees Fahrenheit below zero _(d) Fifty degrees Fahrenheit below zero Ans. (d) Fifty degrees Fahrenheit below zer0 : (vi) What is the explanation for Louise’s husband’s death in the beginning of the short story, The Story of an Hour? . i (a) He drowned (b) He died ina railroad accident (6) He was struck by lightning (a) He was murdered Ans. (b) He died in a railroad accident a : : to (vil) “Everything about her was sweet, pale, like honey. You would not have not been surprised see a bee caught in the tangles of that yellow hair.” Who is being talked about in the line taken from the short story The Singing Lesson? (a) The Science Mistress (b) The Math teacher (c) Her Fiancé (4) The Superintendent Ans. (a) The Science Mistress (viii) The poem The Darkling Thrush symbolically mourns (a) The end of an era (b) The end of the year (c) The diminishing value of art (d) The onset of winter Aus. (a) The end of an era (2x) In the poem Birches, what does the poet think to be the cause of the bending of the branches of the Birch tree? (a) The wind blowing (b) A boy swinging on them — (c) The rain (d) The weight of ice from an ice storm Aus. (b) A boy swinging on them \ 5 (X) The poem Crossing the Bar opens with a metaphorical image focussing on sunset and evening, a star to immediately suggest that a (a) The sun has set (b) Someone is going to die c (c) Something is coming to an end (d) The night is gradually descending 2 Ans, (c) Something is coming to an end s go Question 2. | 3 oO Complete the following sentences by providing a reason for each. (19) © (i) In Act IV Scene I of The Tempest, Caliban, Stephano and Trinculo didn’t attack Prospero a because ... ae | & Ans. Prospero knew about their plan as he was told by Ariel. He then decided to remain invisible alongside| 3 Ariel in order to punish them without retaliation scar ONre 8 4 Sample Question Papers ISC Literature in English Class XI $i (iii) Why can’t the men attack Ariel with their swords in Act III Scene 111? (a) The swords become heavy (b) Ariel is Qying () It seems rude (a) Their swords disappear Ans. (a) The swords become heavy (iv) Im Act TV Scene I, when the spirits perform the masque for Ferdinand and Miranda, the, transform into which three mythological figures? a (a) Iris, Venus and Cupid (b) Pluto, Ceres and Venus (c) Iris, Ceres and Juno (4) Ceres, Juno and Pluto Aus, (c) Iti, Ceres and Juno (v) In the story To Build a Fire, the old-timer tells the man is it dangerous to travel alone at wha, temperature? i (a) Thirty-two degrees Fahrenheit (b) Zero degrees penne ae (c) Seventy degrees Fahrenheit below zero (d) Fifty degrees Fahre rae | Ans. (d) Fifty degrees Fahrenheit below zero 1 (vi) What is the explanation for Louise's husband’s death in the beginning of the short story, 7 Story of an Hour? : (a) He drowned (b) He died in a railroad accident (©) He was struck by lightning (d) He was murdered \ Aus. (b) Fe died in a railroad accident A fi) "1 i t been surprised ta (vii) “Everything about her was sweet, pale, like honey. You would not have no u see a bee caught in the tangles of that yellow hait.” Who is being talked about in the line taken from the short story The Singing Lesson? (a) The Science Mistress (b) The Math teacher (c) Her Fianeé (4) The Superintendent Aus, (a) The Science Mistress (vili) The poem The Darkling Thrush symbolically mourns | (a) The end of an era (b) The end of the year | (c) The diminishing value of art (4) The onset of winter | Aus, (a) The end of an era | (ix) In the poem Birches, what does the poet think to be the cause of the bending of the branches of the Birch tree? {a) The wind blowing (b) A boy swinging on them (c) The rain (4) The weight of ice from an ice storm | Ans. (b) A boy swinging on them 7 (x) The poem Crossing the Bar opens with a metaphorical image focussing on sunset and evening a star to immediately suggest that a (a) The sun has set (b) Someone is going to die : c (c) Something is coming to an end (4) The night is gradually descending So Ans. (c) Something is coming to an end $ | o Question 2. | 3 oO Complete the following sentences by providing a reason for each. [10] o (i) In Act IV Scene I of The Tempest, Caliban, Stephano and Trinculo didn’t attack Prospero} a because .... : i £ Ans. Prospero knew about their plan as he was told by Ariel, He then decided to remain invisible alongside, B Ariel in order to punish them without retaliation, |4 sample Question Paper 1 sm Act IV Scene I of The Tempest, Ceres did not want to meet Venus and her son because ‘Ans. they had helped Pluto ("Dis’) capture her d 10 later became the queen of the roserpina, Wh underworld along his side. laughter, Prosexpina, "(i In Act V Scene I of The Tempest, Prospero refers to his magic as ‘rough magic’ because ‘Ans. Prospero is aware that itis harmful and can be identified with ‘black magic’, which is identical to that of the witch Sycorax, whose powers he had criticised earlier. {iv) At the end of Act III Scene III, Prospero praises Ariel because "\ Ans. Ariel appears disguised as a harpy and makes the banquet disappear, He accuses Antonio, Scbastian and Alonso of being the instruments of sin and says that nature has punished them for wronging Prospero. (v) In the short story The Sound Machine, the strange patient believed that the world is full of powerful sounds are untapped because . Ans. the high frequency of the sounds makes it impossible for the human ears to hear them. 4}, (vi) In the short story B. Wordsworth, the author posits that poetry is a bad profession because Ans. in the modern materialistic world, poetry has no charm and thus is not profitable to be a means of livelihoo (vii) In the short story To Build a Fire, the man does not pay heed to the advice of the old man from Sulphur Creek because ... ‘Ans. he is too proud and believes that the advice given by the old man was ‘rather womanish’ | (viii) In the poem Dover Beach, the allusion to Sophocles is crucial because | Ans. itreflects the universal theme of human suffering and pain that al the great poeticminds ofthe authors, herein both Amold and Sophocles, had realised, (ix) In the poem We are the Music Makers, the poet calls all artists ‘dreamers of dreams’ because Ans. he wants to highlight their visionary role in the society- as the dreamer of man’s desires. (x) In the poe The Darkling Thrush, the poet laments the transition from the Victorian period because . 1 Ans. the transition was full of doubts, uncertainties and sadness. Section -B (60 Marks) The Tempest : William Shakespeare Question 3. (i) Why did Prospero refer to Caliban as ‘a born devil’ in Act IV Scene I? How did his and Miranda’s education affect Caliban? Explain with examples. [5] Ans. Prospero’s reference of Caliban as ‘a born devil’ is a reminder of the fact that he was begotten of the wicked witch Sycorax. It also reminds the audience of his using the phrase ‘got by the devil himself” while calling Caliban, earlier in the play. | The education that Miranda and Prospero gave him, in thetr attempt to teach him to communicate better, only resulted in Caliban using it to curse Prospero; hence, it became fruitless. Caliban also exhibits a failure to learn anything and a penchant towards violence in two instances 1. He tried to molest Miranda, TI, He concocted a plan to kill Prospero, Sample Question PaperSample Question Paper SEEDPEER EEE EERE EERE EERE EEE ESO eee Sample Question Papers ISC Literature In English Class Xi 50" (i) How does Ferdinand feel about Prospeto's magic? What is his reaction to seeing the masquy being performed by the spitits? (5) ay Ans, Prospero calls Ati to bring other spitits to doa quick display of his magleal prowess t0 te two youn, lovers Ferdinand Manila te says that they expect a showy from hint On seeing the ypitity and hearing them sing, at fist, Ferdinand thinks that these spirits are conjured ju, from tis doughs. However; on heating that Prospero ha called them by his atthe enchanted by th, magical prowess of Prospero Afict, seeing to the masque, Ihe expresses his wish 0 slay on the island forever and to live with { wondrous father-in-law, who he thinks has the ability to create Heaven on Barth, (ili) (a) Who, according to you, is the protagonist of The Tempest? Explain in reference to Act IV and V of the play, {19 ‘Protagonist’ refers to the leading character or the central figure ofa play, fm, novel, ete, Prospero i the protagonist of the play The Temps. The play tells the story of revenge Dy 0 perso who had been wronged by his own brother and his accomplices. It includes a love story andl some comic relief but, in the larger picture, it revolves around the character Prospero, sin ud prospeto’s decision to punish The latter acts of the play contain the consequences of Prospero’s decision to punish \ Perpettators and his final decision to set them free. He suecesstully puts an end to the plan ol Caliban, Stephano and teint to kill him, punishes the King and hls men for ie erayal and ( eventually forgives them for their treachery. He then renounices magic and goes on tO {rom his servitude and find his way back home to Naples. Thus, i i evident that The Tempest revolves around the cental Figure protagonist of the play Ans of Prospero and he Is the or | (b) What is a ‘masque’? State the relevance of the masque in the Act IV Scene T of Th ‘Tempest. : (10) Ans, In Act IV Scene 1, the ‘masque’ was an claborate and extravagant show that © fe during. i medieval period in England. it grew in popularity during the end of Queen Elizal _ : sign = i lasted during the 17th century, the first quarter of which saw the first performance of the play The ‘Tempest, 1613. It includes elements of music, song and dancing. oe ‘The masque in The Tempest is for the newly betrothed couple, Rerdinand and Miranda, 1 has Beca organised by Ariel in order to impress the young couple, and to have them blessed by the spirits an nymphs. It begins with the appearance of tris who invites Ceres and together with Juno, they sing to) congratulate and bless the couple, The three goddesses bless the couple with wealth, long life, children and an abundant harvest, Their presence along with the pastoral imaginary and the magnificence of the tone of the music adds to the naturalism of the island, 11 is also in accordance with the supernatural and magical, atmosphere of the play Aaditonally it succeeds in bring the supernatural word together with the buman world of the audience. The abstract language and blessings of the goddesses seem to be not only for the young) couple but also for the people in the audience, wishing for them a life of harmony and love. Ialso remains in harmony with the society of the seventeenth century England and accomplishes; {o establish the love between Miranda and Ferdinand as sacred and blessed by heavenly beings. Hence, the masque establishes itself as an integral part of the play.\ q question 4. gample Question Papert Echoes: Prose i) How is Roald Dahl's decision to narrate The Sound Machine through a narrator who shifts into different characters’ perspectives justified? (5] ‘Ans. Roald Dahl’s decision to narrate The Sound Machine through a narrator who shifts into different characters’ perspectives is justified thoroughly, By choosing such a narrator, he has left the question oper ‘ended for the readers to assess Klausner as per their perspective. He can be called a madman because of his eccentric behaviour regarding his obsession with sounds. He can also be called a passionate man because of his discovery, the sound machine, which shows his passion towards his idea of hearing inaudible sounds. There is a pervasive sense of ambiguity about the true nature of Klausner as created by Dahl in his story. Klausner is shown to have a different sense of connection with reality and nature. His idea of hearing sounds overpowers his senses when he feels that he is able to hear the sounds made by plants and the beech tree through his sound machine. If the story had been written from the point of view of either Dr, Scott or Mrs. Saunders, readers would have become biased for the given description about Klausner. ‘Therefore, Dahl has written the story with different point of views to make the story more engaging and think critically about the true nature of Klausner. 5] (i) Write a note on Mansfield’s use of colours in the story The Singing Lesson. ‘Ans. Katherine Mansfield is one of the best short story writers. She has made a skiliful use of colours as symbols in the story. The ‘yellow’ hair ofthe Science Mistress and the ‘yellow’ chrysanthemum offered by a student to Miss Meadows are very meaningful, The ‘yellow’ colour represents warmth and happiness. Miss meadows, in the mood of despair and sadness shows a dislike for this colour. Both these yellow objects are an unpleasant sight for Miss Meadows. Again Miss Meadows recalls how once Basil looked very attractive with a rose in his buttonhole. He was ina bright blue suit at that time. The ‘blue’ symbolises pure and cold. Red of the rose is associated with, health, beauty and youth. So, Basil was attractive to her for his handsomeness but is cold in calling off their engagement. Thus, we sce that the colours used in the story have a symbolic significance, (iii) (a) Discuss the following statement with reference of VS Naipaul's short story B, Wordsworth — “B Wordsworth claimed White Wordsworth to be his brother, who shared his heart.” [10] Ans. ‘The poet -B Wordsworth had built an imaginative world for himself throughout the story, where he considered himself equal to the great poet William Wordsworth, He made his comparison with him and called him his soul brother who shared his heart. According to B. Wordsworth, they both had the same deepest emotions and inner feelings towards the world. They had embraced the escapism in their own ways and saw the world in a quite similar Way, W. Wordsworth was a poct of nature who admired it and saw life in the smallest of things. He did not like the noisy big cities and found solace in the lap of nature, Similarly, B. Wordsworth also found peace and tranquility in nature. It is evident from the fact that he used to like watching bees, ants, centipedes for hours. William Wordsworth’s escapism provided him consolation and comfort in distress and pain and provided joy in everyday life. B. Wordsworth also found relief from the cruel and insulting world in his imaginary world. In his escapist world, he was full of enthusiasm and he did everything as though he were doing it for the first time in his life. He did not like to keep connections with humans except for the narrator because he was a small and an inquisitive boy with no worldly vices. He was the poet’s soul companion. The poet loved him, fed him and shared with him his dreams and ambitions and thus, made him a part of his escapist world. W Wordsworth was an inspiration for B Wordsworth and so he wanted to become a great poet like him. Hence, he made an imaginary world for himself where he considered himself to be the greatest poet in the world, Sample Question PaperSample Question Papers ISC Literature in English Class Xi! 5" or (b) With reference to the short story The Story of an Hour, ascertain the reasons why Chopin, withheld the first name of Mrs. Mallard at the beginning of the story? (10) Ans. In the short story The Story of an Hour, Kate Chopin has deliberately withheld the first name of Mrs. Mallard in the very beginning of the story to introduce the central theme of the story from the, very beginning. The essential plot ofthe story discusses the repression faced by women, including ‘Mrs. Mallard, during the Victorian times. Essentially belonging tothe restrictive Victorian era of British history Chopin very well knew th Vietorian ideals, values and ideologies present in the society. The times were simply regressiv®, ° ‘women. During ths era, women were stripped from all rights to own property, cash of land a0 ‘marriage. All the legal rights over them were passed off to the man, the husband after marria@ ‘with the belief that the married couple was one entity with man superseding the represent" and ownership rights. The identity of a married woman was, then, limited to the domestic SPP where she has to bend under her husband's will, A woman has no identity of her own. The i of an individual self is lost under the name of the husband. the firs Kate Chopin, as a feminist, understands and criticises this societal setup by withholding (he name of the protagonist of the story. This lack of frst name indicates the identity crisis 9 WNT has togothrough inafter marriage. Mrs, Mallardis stuck in a claustrophobic marriage wiefe hha lost all freedom of her body and soul. For many years, she has lived under the burden © Net ‘marriage in which she is a mere shadow of her husband. She is only recognised as Mrs. Major Her first name ‘Louise’ holds no special significance without her husband's surname- Mallat. ‘Thus, by specifically referring to the surname, Chopin reflects the true position of women in the) Victorian society Ironically, we get to know the first name of the protagonist only after we are made aware of the’ death of Mr, Mallard. The realisation of the husband’s death brings in a realisation in Louisa as well, as the reader that a married woman can get her individuality and freedom back only after the death of the husband. | ‘Thus, the withholding of the name and the reveal of the name of the protagonist plays a special role| in understanding the theme of the story. Reverie : Poetry | Question 5. (i) With reference to the poem Dover Beach, discuss Arnold’s stance on global modernisation, ‘Ans, Mathew Arnold was one of the prominent Victorian Modernist thinkers of the time. He was critical of the modern industrialisation and globalisation. He believed that the modern lifestyles degraded people with| its laborious work ethic and the faith that people had on goodness as well as religion is lost. Consequently, people end up wasting their life on mundane tasks which bring them pain, suffering and sorrow. ‘Such a pessimist approach of the modern world is reflected in his poem Dover Beach wherein he laments the modern world. He condemns the reality of the world which is full of the ‘grating sound’ and ‘human| ‘misery’. For him ‘faith’ that was above everything for people is now dwindling away. There is ‘neither joy,| nor love, nor light, nor certitude, nor peace, nor help for pain’. He compares night or human life with kind of evil and threatening in a faithless world. The reference to ‘shingles’ shows that the happiness, calmness that we attach to life is nothing but illusionary. The reality is emptiness, hopelessness and| vulnerability. In this worl, faith has no natural place or partner. in this light, Arnold wishes to transcend these limitations of the modern world and holds out some hope for love. + (ii) How far can one enunciate Birches being a poem showing the growth of a child from| = or innocence, gradually bending down, embracing the experience and adhering to one’s loss of] childhood? 3 Ans. The poem Birches by Robert Frost is a poem of joy, pleasure of childhood, innocence and realisation. | Fumed with various instance of Philosophical insight, the poem with its subtlety of narration projects: the cycle of life and its various stages of existence. The poem essentially depicts the image of a speaker who sees bent birch trees. The speaker likes to think that they have bent because some village boys have\ sample Ans, The poem We are the Music Makers by Arthur O'Shaughnessy is a dedication Question Papert been ‘swinging’ them. The man knows ces Sshaetig soca eam ent himself and dreams of going bac f etme knowledge that they are bent Scene ere np en cent a sense of endurance and resilience. The tee stands still after having transcended all the obstacles and barriers in its growth. Much like the fe, the boy is also endured difficulties. He had also overcome them and is moving forward and climbing high: The boy is no more ‘the swinger of bitches”, but a boy whose actions are precise. He has now become observant. a trait of experience gained after much pain. He has accepted that problems will come in his life. All he can do is build his resilience and find solace in his own companion. Thus, the poet had represented a cycle of life- starting from innocence, to experience and to the realisation that the strong forces of nature will control al life and beings. (ii) (a) According to the poet of We are the Music Makers, an artist is essentially located outside a society. However, he/she is very central to the same society. Justify this statement. [10] wn, an ode to all the artists, writer, painters and creators to serenade their achievements. Its a tribute to the dreamers and creators who change the world with their at, The poem starts on a note of pure appraisal of the ‘music makers’ who are the ‘dreamer of dreams’ and their dedication tothe art. The fact that there is no reference to a particular artist or a particular artform gives art a complex and a fluid definition. Artis the force which awakens people's minds and inspires them to think in a creative manner. As art inspires us, it takes on a crucial responsibility to motivate any society towards action. However, the creator of the art, according to the poet, does not live in a society. He believes tat poets have been an oddity tothe society and thus they are ‘lonely sea-breakers’ who live across the ‘desolate streams’. They live outside the natural order of the society, isolated from the world The fact that poets and dreamers are seen in the lonely and desolate places is not only reflective of the solitude one requires to work on his/her art but also the individual’s challenge to the existing status-quo whereby s/he rejects the existing order. It is only after stepping outside the existing system that the dreamer of dreams can envision a new one. The poet then has to sacrifice life within society, This sacrifice crucially entails a necessity to see the beauty of human life which cannot be found amidst the dirt, squalor and strife found within the society. Beside sacrifice, the poet also wants to highlight that artists are unable to sustain a life with art alone. They have a difficulty finding a patron who would finance their art. However, this desolation now here means that the role and position of an artist can be forgotten or easily replaced. For the poet, an artist has a role to fulfill in the world. They are the ‘mover and shakers’ of the world who rebel and move the world forward. They think outside the norm and bring dynamicity to an otherwise static world, Art does not confine itself to social, political, religious or cultural boundaries. Art unites people and inspires imagination. The artists shape public opinion and help in building a better world consisting of people who would be determined to sive birth to a new order. ‘The wonderful, immortal works created by the artists’ soul are capable of building the world’s great cities. They are capable of building and rebuilding new cities, new settlements, new civilisations by arousing radical thoughts, feelings and realisations in people's mind. They are capable of ‘overthrowing the old world with their prophecy of the new world Thus, the poem assigns (o the ‘music makers and the dreamers of dreams’ a significant role in shaping the past, present and future of the world. Art, myths, legends and oral cultures have served as an intangible repository in preserving the wisdom, achievements and the heritage of human Civilisation, Then, the poem also ascribes to the artist the task of shaping and safeguarding all that is dear and valuable to the humanity through his/her art. {An artist thus stays away from worldly pleasure but at the same time, they are able to address issues through their art that pushes the society forward. Sample Question Paper nae10 Sample Question Paper Sample Question Papers ISC Literature in English Class Xi or (b) The speaker's departure from the harbour (from life) and entry into the ocean is ng! really a departure. It is a way returning home. Discuss with reference to the poem, Crossing the Bar. [19, Ans, The poem ‘Crossing the Bar’ by the British Victorian poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson, is a metaphoric meditation on death, which sees the speaker comparing dying—or a certain way of dying—to gemth, ‘crossing the sandbar between a coastal area and the wider sea/ocean. Crossing the bar, simply is an ag, ‘of crossing the sand bar between the harbour and the ocean. ‘The poet draws a parallel of this routine journey of a ship to the journey of passing from life to deat, ie. crossing the bar refers tothe act of dying, In the poem, speaker senses his time on earth is near an end. The ship is scheduled to set out ony voyage on ‘sunset’ when the ‘evening star’ will appear. After ‘one clear call’ or forma) announcement it wil start its journey to ocean. Allegorically, the speaker want to say that with the end of the day, his life has also come to an end and he can hear the final announcement of his death as his advanced age has come, [As the poem progresses and the speaker reveals their belief in the Christian God, it becomes apparent that the speaker sees this ‘cal’ as coming from God himself. ‘As such, the speaker hopes that there ‘may be no moaning of the bat’ when the speaker ‘puts outa sea, In essence, the speaker is saying that they hope there is no fear, sadness, or pain when they die—on the speaker's part or on the part of others. That's because, ultimately, the speaker doesn, see death as a true end. It is merely a part ofa cycle of birth and death, which every human being hhas to go through. For the poet this journey from life to death brings in a kind of comfort. The speaker confronts the reality of imminent death—and finds a kind of peace in the thought of dying. Such a view can} easily be traced to the speaker's religious faith in the afterlife. Accordingly, the speaker wants tod | quietly and gently, without fear, reassured by the knowledge that what comes next is a meeting ‘with God. As aresult, rather than being scared by death, the speaker presents it as a mere transition into another kind of life (specifically, the Christian afterlife). | ‘The speaker acknowledges that dying means going somewhere very far away from the earthly realm: “For tho! from out our bourne of Time and Place. ‘The flood may bear me far.” These lines draw a link between the ocean and eternity, putting forward the idea that the speakeris merely returning to the eternal realm from which they came. ‘Thus, people should take solace in the rather paradoxical thought that death brings with it not an end, but a new beginningGE1 SAMPLE QUESTION PAPER 2 Literature in English (Question Answers) A Highly Simulated Practice Question Paper for ISC Class Xi Examination General Instructions Time:3hrs MM:80 * Candidates ae llowed additional 15 minutes for only reading the paper, They must NOT start writing this time + Answer all questions in Section A and Section B. The intended marks for questions or parts of questions are siven in brackets [] Section-A (20 Marks) Question 1. Choose the correct options for the following questions. [10] (i) Which word does Ferdinand use to describe Miranda in Act III Scene I? (a) Miraculous (b) Admired (c) Mire (d) Miracle ‘Ans. (b) Admired (ii) What is Miranda’s reaction to finding out that Ferdinand is a prince in Act III Scene I? (a) She is awed (b) She is disgusted (c) She is excited (d) She seems unconcerned ‘Ans, (dl) She seems unconcerned12 Sample Question Paper OF Sample Question Papers ISC Literature in English Class (iii) What does Prospero stage in order to celebrate the betrothal of Miranda and Ferdinand , Act IV Scene I? (a) A banquet (b) A masque (c) A play (d) A dance Ans. (b) A masque (iv) How does Prospero punish Stephano, Caliban, and Trinculo for plotting to kill him in Act j Scene I? (a) He locks them in a wine casket and puts it out to sea, (b) He makes them eat all the food at the banquet. (c) He makes them run through a briar patch and swim in a scummy pond. (d) He makes them stage a play in a thunderstorm. Ans, (c) He makes them run through a briar patch and swim in a scummy pond. (v) In the short story, The Sound Machine, what quality does Klausner display? (a) Passion (b) Eccentricity (c) Delusion: (d) All of these Ans, (4) Allof these (vi) In the short story, B. Wordsworth, why does the narrator ask his mother to buy poetry? (a) Because the strange man flattered him (b) Because he wanted to help the strange man. (c) Because the strange man wanted to sell it (d) Because he wanted to read a poetry, Ans, (c) Because the strange man wanted to sell it (vii) In the short story, To Build a Fire, the man spat in the air to (a) discern the level of frost (b) clear his ears (c) prove the old man wrong (d) check if the frost had cleared Ans. (a) discern the level of frost (viii) In the poem Dover Beach, what kind of mood does the phrase‘moon-blanched land’ create? (a) Sinister (b) Adventurous (c) Tranquil (d) — Upsetting | Ans, (a) Sinister (ix) In the poem Weare the Music Makers, what does ‘Pale moon gleams’ indicate? (a) Natural beauty seen by artists (b) The realistic pictures drawn by artists (c) Divine nature of artists (d) Lunatic qualities ascribed to artists Ans. (d) Lunatic qualities ascribed to artists (x) In the poem, The Darkling Thrush, the century is dying because of the (a) World Wars (b) death of religious faith (c) lack of moral values (d) exponential increase in imperialistic tendencies Ans, (b) death of religious faith Question 2. Complete the following sentences by providing a reason for each. (10) (i) In Act IIT Scene III of The Tempest, Ariel tells Alonso, Sebastian and Antonio that their ship was wrecked and they lost Ferdinand because .. ; Ans, they endangered Prospero and Miranda (ii) Attheend of Act V Scene I of The Tempest, Prospero asks the audience to applaud him becaust Ans. he wanted them to release himSample Question Paper 2 (iii) In The Tempest, Stephano relishes the idea of becoming the ruler of the island because Ams. the music will be free (iv) In Act V Scene I of The Tempest, Ariel mentions Gonzalo separately by name because ‘Ans. Gonzalo has been loyal to Prospero and is suffering nonetheless (vy In the short story The Story of an Hour, the death of Mrs. Mallard or Louise is ironic because Ans. itis not the loss of husband but the loss of joy and freedom, due to her husband being alive, that kills Louise. (si) In the short story The Singing Lesson, Miss Meadows dislikes the presence as well as appearance of the Science Mistress because. ‘Ans. the latter was looking very cheerful and happy which was in total contrast to the sorrow and despair afflicting Miss Meadows. ° vii) In the short story The Sound Machine, Mrs. Saunders wanted to ‘make a dash in the house in about five seconds’ because ‘Ans. Klausner’s behaviour and actions scared her and made her nervous. (siti) In the poem Birches, the narrator cannot find his peace of mind while swinging on the branches of the Birch tree because Ans. now he is an adult with many responsibilities which he cannot ignore or do away with. (ix) In the poem Crossing the Bar, the poet uses the phrase “mourning of the Bar’ to depict the crashing of the tides on the sand because .. Ans. he wants to highlight that the death of an individual becomes the cause of sorrow and despair for others. (x) In the poem Dover Beach, the poet becomes melancholic and sorrowful because .. Ans, of the predicament of the miserable modem world which is full of violence, pain and vulnerability Section - B (60 Marks) The Tempest: William Shakespeare Question 3. (i) What do you deduce by the interaction between Ariel and Prospero? Explain in reference to the IV and V act of Tie Tempest. 15] “Ans. Prospero met Ariel on the island after freeing him from entrapment. He then takes him as his slave and controls him and other spirits by magic. Later in the play. Prospero promises to free Ariel but keeps on postponing actually doing so. He exploits Asiel and uses him to exact resenge on the people who hurt and betrayed him. He uses Ariel to perform harmful magic on the king and his men to trap them om the island. He also uses him to keep an eye on Caliban. Stephano and Trinculo. y Prospero only frees Ariel when he Is satisfied in the end. This pattern stands parallel to his treatment of Caliban. Prospero uses both of them along with other spirits to strengthen his magic and to enact his superiority on the creatures of the island. Thus. it can be deduced that Ariel is Prospero’s slave and Prospero exploits him as per his own needs. (ii) On seeing the ‘glistering apparel’, Stephano is easily distracted. What does this tell us about the kind of king he would be? (5) Ans. Siephano’s easily distracted behaviour presents him as an irresponsible person. He seems to have a nisguided idea about what being a king entails. He thinks being a king means tobe rich and live alavish lifestyle and have faithful and devoted subjects who are in truth sycophants who would only bring him troubles 3 araple Question Paper14 Sample Question Paper Ans. cis quite improbable to separate the supernatural elements from the play The Tempest without Sample Question Papers ISC Literature in English Class Xi Heisn'teven sharp enough to understand that the clothes could be part of a deception toentrap them. Hie hhas to be reminded by Caliban that they would lose their chance to kill Prospero if he wakes up, ah seems to have completely forgotten his true purpose of visiting the place. This proves that he would t ‘out fo be an irresponsible king, who could be easily harmed. (iii) (a) The final acts of the play The Tempest contain two songs - one by Juno and one by Ariel, What does this tell us about the society of the Elizabethan era? (19) Ans. Music was a significant form of entertainment for the society of the Elizabethan era. Songs and ballads could be sung using musical instruments in the villages and fields to ease the people ofthe ‘monotonous routine. This aspect was very easily and quickly accommodated by the Elizabethan theatre. The same can be seen in the plays of Shakespeare who would include at least one song in every play and would also make several references to music. Shakespeare used songs to evoke mood, the lyrics of which would touch the themes of the play, ‘There are a number of ways in which he does so in The Tempest — using songs to perform magic i the fairies trying to perform a sleep-inducing charm and Ariel’s song reassuring the arrival of the shipwrecked men on the island. And also to perform rituals like Juno's song ‘Honour, riches’ in At 1V, which attempted to bless the union of the Ferdinand and Miranda and honour their love. Is also used to express someone's joy as is done by Ariel, who sings without Prospero's direction at the end of the play, about how near his freedom is. Another instance includes Caliban’s poetic depiction of the island in Act ITI Scene II. It is full of appreciation and love for his home. This depiction adds to his motive of wanting to kill Prosperoin, order to free the island and himself. ‘Thus, it can be said that music was very significant to the Elizabethan society as is evident by the literary works of the era. | or (b) Comment on Shakespeare's use of divine figures as supernatural elements in. ‘The Tempest. Answer in reference to Act IV and V. [19) ruining the play. Straight from the start to the ultimate resolution, the presence of the supernatural dominates the action of the play. It creates an aura of the “fantastical” in the play, which the audience remains in awe of. 1 ing for the audience to see and visit creatures that are not human. Prospero's magic, Ariel, Caliban, the spirits, nymphs and reapers are all proofs of this supernatural presence. One of these supernatural elements, the spirits, is morphed by Prospero’s magic to portray a few of divine beings ~ Juno, Iris and Ceres. This is done in order to impress Ferdinand and Miranda and to perform a masque in their honow. The three divine figures appear in the Scene I of Act 1, starting with the entry of Iris who summons Ceres and their conversation begins, later followed by the coming of Juno and together they bless the couple with a song. This inclusion not only compliments Prospero’s magical prowess but also gives the love of Ferdinand and Miranda the divine approval and raises it to the level of something sacred. It assures the readers that their love is true and pure, and their union justified. Additionally, it connects the audience, through the masque, toa prevalent form of show from the seventeenth century England, and accommodates them in the blessing, Simultaneously, their abrupt departure at the hands of Prospero also reminds the audience that they are not actual divine beings that descended from the heavens to bless all with their presence, but rather are a concoction of Prospero’s imagination and magic. Thus, suggesting that one should not forget that Prospero is the one in command and that even the divine presence in the play is borne of a man’s imagination. This furthers strengthens the presence of supernatural elements in the play. Hence, Shakespeare's use of divine figures in the play is very strategically establishing a divine and - supernatural presence in the play. Iti also solidifying Prospero as a being of great magical power in the minds of the audience.sample Question Paper 2 7 Echoes: Prose question 4. (i) Discuss the symbol of ‘fire’ in the story To Build a Fire. {5} Ans. Fisc. present in the very same ofthe shot story. isan important central oyrbol in To Bude Fae by Jack London, The natural phenomenon of fire, ay we all knows is crucial to Keep one warm and alive in the severe cold conditions as present in the story. tn other words, the presence of fire epics life and its absence represents death. For the man, itis the fie which keeps him alive and provides bity comfort in the extrerie chilly conditions ofthe Yukon Trail To te man, fie is initially something to 1ovk ‘onward to. It represents a break in his journey for lunch or the comforting end of his journey when he arrives at camp. The full importance of fire for survival does not become cleat to him until he is beyond the ability to create onc. Thus, in the struggle between the man and nature fire is the only thing KeePin the human from succumbing to the cold Taking one step further, the phenomenon of fre brings out the foiling nature of the man and the deg ‘Man, ignoring his instincts, leaves the warmth of the fire to reach his goal. He does not understand the need to be warm for survival For him, the warmth of the fie will be achieved at the camp where he will sit with his boys ata place where ‘ire will be going and a hot supper will be ready’. In complete contrast, the dog follows his instinets and wants to sit by the warmth of the fire. It understands the need to sit by the fire then and there. Instinctively, the dog ‘had learned fire. and it wanted fire. (ii) The doctors in The Story of an Hour claim that Mrs. Mallard dies of ‘heart disease- of joy that kills’. Discuss the truth of this statement, Eu Ans. The Story of an Hour written by American author Kate Chopin is based on the theme of female self discovery and identity. The story, essentially, reveals the complicated reaction of Mrs. Mallard upon earning of her husband's death. At one glance, one would feel that Mrs. Mallard was shocked to hear about the death. Even Chopin writes that on hearing the tragic news, Mrs. Mallaru, at first “wept at once, with sudden, wild abandonment, in her sister’s arms.” When the storm of grief had spent itself she went away upstairs alone to her room. It was assumed by others that the news would trigger her heart trouble and she would be sick at the moment. However, once inside in her room all alone by herself, sudden realisation of her individuality and freedom strikes Louise. She is suddenly filled with the joyful image of her life of independence and she says the words ‘free, free, free!” over and over under her breath. All her life, Louise had been repressed under the shackles of her marriage and her husband. But the bitter moment of her husband’s death helped her to gain her freedom and “a long procession of years to come that would belong to her absolutely.” She welcomed her free days with open arms. The fear she felt was replaced by a sense of vitality as her pulse beat fast, and the coursing blood relaxed her body. With a look of triumph, Louise has just exited her room when Brently Mallard opened the door and walked into the house. The sight shocked Mrs. Mallard so much that she collapsed and the doctors ironically determined that Louise “died of heart disease - of joy that kills’. Thus, Louise did not die of loss, of her husbands life, but due to the loss of joy over losing her new found freedom and return to the slavery of married life where she would be controlled by her husband again. (iii) (a) It is more important to create the right atmosphere than the plot in Katherine Mansfield’s short story The Singing Lesson. Do you agree? [10] ‘Ans, Katherine Mansfield’s The Singing Lesson focuses more on the atmosphere than the plot. The story revolves around Miss Meadows’, a singing teacher at a girls school, changing moods during a singing lesson in her classroom. The plot mainly consists of the letter that the protagonist received from her fiancé Basil before the story began and then the telegram she got in the middle of her singing lesson in school. Without strictly sticking to the line plot, the accompanying effects of the letters on Miss Meadows are elaborated upon. The plot of the story is very sparse and limited. The story is a classic example of brevity and sparing dialogue without much physical action. The readers mainly sce and feel drawn to the complex psychological development of Miss Meadows’ character. The gleeful atmosphere of her class and the cold dark corridors of her psyche are shows a sharp contrast to each other. In fact, this modernist approach to create the atmosphere is helping in the subtle development of character and the story: Interior monologue plays a pivotal role in pervading the atmosphere of the place of action. The singing classi presented as a scene of action without any external stimulation from the reality Different layers and psychological states of Miss Meadows’ character have been shown to occur in the class only. 15 Sample Question PaperSample Question Paper (b) The Sound Machine depicts the apathy of man to the sounds in nature, which are a “Ans. The Sound Machine written by Roald Dabl is a short story that reflects the human disregard towards Sample Question Papers ISC Literature in English Class Xll_¢ the beginning of the story presents the gleeful cheer of the school girls. Through the description - and depiction of the school ambiance, the writer presents depressing temper of Miss Meadows, Her | style of gait is emphasised by referring to the “tremendous knock-knock-knocking’ and) “dumbbells, Even though Miss Meadows never explicitly or clearly shows any sort of anguish and anger, we are made aware of the storm that is brewing in her mind. “Dumbbells is a symbolic pointing out heavy burden of sorrow that Miss Meadows carries. Buti ‘was an expression of her walking gesture that develops a thorough atmosphere. Her entire presence from entering the school, meeting the science Mistress, her dislike for the science, Mistress, to her reactions in the class reflect the emotions afflicting Miss Meadows. ‘We must mention her selection ofthe topie of the day as a singing lesson. A lament ‘Music's Gay measure’ was chosen asa topic to be wailed by the girls. The second line of the lament gives stress | on“ Winter Drear. drawing a parallel tothe cold weather, All these are symbolic overtones designed tocreate the right atmosphere. Itis thus, the bleak dreary atmosphere of Miss Meadows’ inner soul ‘which found an expression in the lament as well asin the surrounding atmosphere. It is through the creation of sensory impression and suggestive details and not through the sequence of plot that the narrator presents the story of Miss Meadows. | or warning to him that ifhe will recklessly destroy nature, nature will destroy him. oe the nature, I¢c_picts the apathy of man to the sounds in nature, which are a warning to him that ithe will recklessly destroy nature, nature will destroy him. The story revolves around a ‘crazy’, ‘dreamy land ‘distracted’ scientist Klausner who is obsessed with sounds as he himself said, ‘I like sound’. His obsession with sounds led to his theory according to which there are a number of high pitched sounds in nature that are inaudible to human eat. fo prove his theory about these inaudible sounds, he created a sound machine that registers this high pitched sound, produced by plants, animals and insects and converts these sounds to the sound audible to human ear. Klausner himself quotes “And those are the sounds I want to listen to. 1 want to know where they come from and who or what is making them’. When he completed his machine, he decided to test} his they He tested his sound machine in his garden and found that che needle crept sloviy across] the dial and then suddenly he heard a frightful piercing shriek, He looked around to find the source the sound and found that it came from his neighbour Mrs. Saunders cutting the yellow roses from the rose plants. Klausner heard the same throat less, inhuman shriek, sharp and short, very clear and cold, again when Mrs. Saunders cut another rose. He realised the pain in the shriek, and found that rose stems were in pain. He explained his theory and instrument to Mrs Saunders and told her that although a rosebush has no nervous system to feel with and no throat to cry with but it cried Considering him to be a strange, peculiar man, Mrs. Saunders ran inside her house. ‘The following morning, Klausner again experimented with his machine in the park by hitting the trunk of the tree with an axe. This time he observed a new sound - a harsh, note less, enormous noise, a growling, low - pitched, screaming sound like a sob. Klausner recoiled from the sight of the gash he] has made in the trunk with horror. He touched the gash and tried to press the edges together to lose the wound, He felt sorry for the damage and apologised to the beech tree. Then he called the only person who knew about his experiment, Dr Scott, to hear the sounds he had heard on his machine to confirm their presence, However, as he tried to repeat the experiment, a great branch of the tree fal off with another blow of the axe. It fell upon the machine and smashed it into pieces. {As reaclers we do not know if the result of the experiment carried out by Klausner was real, but we know for sure is that he was sensitive towards nature around him. Klausner has attached feelings to the tree based on the sound he may or may not have heard, On the other hand, people such as ‘Mars, Saunders and Dr. Scott were apathetic and indifferent to nature. ‘The sound machine was destroyed by the tree, winich Klausner used to test the effectiveness of hi machine. Klausner and Dr. Scott survived as they timely got away from it. Thus, this story is a grim reminder to all the human beings not to cut plants and trees indiscriminately. Human beings ar ignoring the nature’s sound, which it gives out through a number of natural calamities as a warning. If swe continue to ignore the sounds of nature and keep on indiscriminately cutting trees, we will ‘meet the same fate as the sound machine. It is high time for all the human beings to listen to the} sound of nature and make all the efforts to conserve our natural environment.sample Question Paper 2 Reverie: Poetry question 5. {i) Im the poem We are the Music Makers, what does the poet say about the power of artists? [5] ‘Ans. The poem We are the Music Makers breaks down a myth generally associated with all artists. We generally believe ne ah 's— poets, musicians, painters, sculptors ete, eae powerless people. They are regarded as worthless dreamers and lunatics who have no place in the society. The world, in fact, gives little importance to them in the power structure of x society. However, the poet believes that it isin fact an artist who is truly the leader ofthe society as he/she has the power to take the society forward. With their eternal creations, songs and fantasies they inspire and help people to ‘build up the world’s great cities’ and shape up ‘an empire's glory’. In other works their vision in their creative works can help raise great ‘empires, At the same time it can help tumble an empire down. | (i) What are the natural elements that the poet uses as metaphors in the poem Crossing the Bar by Lord Alfred Tennyson? [5] ‘Ans. The poem Crossing the Bar by Lord Alfred Tennyson is fumed with natural elements to bring out the essential theme of life and death of the poem. The very first natural scene that strikes the reader is of the ocean. For Tennyson, this ocean is associated with adventure, the unknown and death. Itis the agentof a Journey both literal and metaphorical- the literal one referring to the journey of the ship and the ‘metaphorical one referring to the journey from life to death. The ocean scene is further amplified by the image of the fall of night-a description of the sunset and the evening star. This image sets the mood of the death at the beginning of the poem. The coming of night is the coming of death for the poet in his old age. The image of the sunset and the evening star along with. the death knell is a symbol for the poet reminding him that it is time to leave the world of life. ‘Another part of the scene is the seashore where sandbars have formed and the waves are coming towards the bars. The poet talks as if these bars are the living people one leaves behind after death. The poet calls the hitting of the waves at the bar as a cause for ‘moaning’ while he himself intends that when he passes away there be no moaning and crying. With the image of the quiet ocean with high tide, the poet wishes an easy and safe journey. (al) (2) Discuss The Darkling Thrush asa representing the death of hope and bleak future, | Ans, Onc of the most popular and anthologised lyrics of Thomas Hardy, The Darkling Thrush embodies the ppoet’s pessimism and despair at the close of the nineteenth century and the beginning of the 20th ‘century. The Victorian era was marked by intense and rapid changes in politics, society and religious beliefs due to development in science and technology. ‘Thomas Hardy sees the Victorian age and its developments and discoveries under sharp scrutiny analysing everything carefully. For him, the growth of industrialisation and urbanisation had changed human beings and their relationship with their environment. ‘Technological progress and scientific knowledge had not only brought enlightenment to masses, but had also brought misery and pain. There isa bigger loss of faith in all things and the expansion of individualism and isolation which has rendered man hopeless. The poet reflects on these changes and finds that the future of mankind is hopeless and bleak. Hardy's hopelessness is mainly due to the abandoned farms of the countryside and the loss of rural ions. For this reason he creates a bleak picture of the world around him - the mind is expressed through the picture of a desolate and dead ‘customs and tra hopelessness and dejection in landscape, The speaker, leaning on a gate looks at the darkening countryside. The landscape around him is, gloomy and barren. He finds the setting Sun as “a weakening eye’ and the land which is covered Waith Frost is “Spectre - grey’. The land appears to him like a ghost. There is no music of hope and happiness all around as the strings of lyres are broken. The cold, grey and gloomy landscape appears to him like a corpse of the dead century stretched in front of him. The thick grey heavy clouds seemed to be the cover of the tomb while the shrill sound of the cold wind, sounds like a death lament. These images of death create a gloomy environment where there is no hope positivity or cheerfulness of any upcoming event. There isa sense of loss everywhere- ven the life force which gives birth to living things appears to be weakened. This results in lack of xy and vitality in every spirit indicating the death of hope in world. energ} 7 Sample Question Paper18 Sample Question Paper (b) Ans, Sample Question Papers ISC Literature in English Class x, ‘ob Joneliness and desotated make 4, tn this Land, the speaker finds hintsell oat. The tee speaker mote gloomy and despaty deed, The speaker is so engrossed im his. thoughts hhopelesstiess that even the joyful song of the thrush cannot bring any hope for the future The thush, the symbol of hope is depicted as ‘aged’ “ail small’ who is in anges, being overpowered by the elements of nature. The thrush appears tobe singing whieh surprises speaker. He wonders - why this poor and weak bird would choose this dark, cold and Blown moment ‘to fing his soul’ out ina song. He could not find any terrestaial cause, which can miake bird to produce such Jotul ‘eestatte sound. The intemal sloominess and despair of the seat prohibits him to see any hope and the outlook for the new century appears to be so bleak, ‘Thus, the tone ofthe poem from the very beginning to the end is Full af despair and hopelessng ‘The poem does not show any transformation from the mood of death into joy of optimism, s0q contrast of the thrush’s song serves to heighten the poet's despair. The corpse of the old com never gives way to the birth of the new. Thus, the poent speaks of a bleak future, | or How is the image of sea is used as both a physical and a metabphorical presence in t poem Dover Beach by Mathew Arnold? Ug In Dover Beach, one of the most critically appreciated poem by Victorian author Matthew Amold h used the symbol of sea to elaborate upon the themes of loss of religion, condition of the mad ‘world and the universality of human suffering. tn doing so, the image of the sea had both a physi, nce and a metaphorical pres ‘The poem introduces the dominant image of the sea in the first line of the poem: “the sea is cal tonight’ Physically, the sea appeals to our sensory image wherein we can imagine the sit stillness of the wateramidst the white shine of the moon. Arnold's ‘cali sea’ glimpsed beyond fringe of Dover Beach between the cliffs of England and the French coast is a sea stirred by way and tides. Amidst the whole background the sea along the bay is tranquil filling the tone of the po, with a relaxing and comforting mood. j Stil focusing on the sea, the poet shifts to the edge where it is meeting the land and then we fin shift. The pristine visual imagery of the sea now turns into an unpleasant grating sound produc) by the sea, The grating sound coming from the sca reminds the poct of the loss of faith and eanty of mamarntery The sc, becomes meta he eral Note adn the ‘Sea of Faith’, ‘The sea physically represents the beauty of nature all the while highlighting the good as well ‘unpleasant activities that go into the beauty of nature. For the poet, this beauty is ilusionary a reality les in its activities like the grating sound of the pebbles. This sca then represents the fate humanity in the middle of the world of industrialisations and globalisation. The stow and steal ‘movement of the tides ofthe sea, the endless movement of water in and out of the edge, becomes, symbol of the rise and fall of human happiness and faith For Arnold, the ‘calm sea’ is the Sea of Faith which was once a nourishing and full body capable supporting human hope. By using the image of the sea as a metaphor for the ca of Faith, Arnd appears to highlight that man floats in his life on a series of waves that move in and out wher religious faith brings him closer and closer to happiness with each tide. However, the way the| sees it is an act of reducing. The tide does not go in again and again. It just rolls back forey indicating the reducing belicf on religious and moral faith in the modern world, The poet th laments the lack of faith which had left humanity alone. The human predicament of suffeti makes the sea an allusion to the Greek history as well. What Arnold has been feeling was felt by Greek playwright Sophocles as well. They both are connected by the immortal sea whose f reminds them of the ‘ebb and flow of human misery ‘The poem in essence reflects the religious philosophy and the loneliness and isolation that Am is to have experienced. Arnold's belief that the human condition in his own era had diminished by hopelessness due to a loss of faith permeates the final lines of the poem whi condues ik pessne lament relied by the sea which sings of Soto a | ‘unpleasantness,SAMPLE UESTION PAPER 3 Literature in English (Question Answers) ‘AHighly Simulated Practice Question Paper for ISC Class Xil Examination General Instructions Time:3hrs MM:80 * Candidates at allowed additional 15 minutes for only reading the paper. They must NOT stat wrtns this tine. * Anawerall questions in Section A and Section B. The intended marks for questions or parts of question are given in brackets (]. Section -A (20 Marks) Question 1. Choose the correct options for the following questions. (10) (i) What does Alonso do when reminded of the likely death of his son in Act II Scene mr (a) Tries to drown himself (b) Attacks Prospero (c) Gives a soliloquy (d) Shrugs his shoulders (ii) Who is Gonzalo in Shakespeare’s The Tempest? (a) King of Naples (b) Prince of Naples (c) Trusted advisor of the King of Naples (d) Brother of the King of Naples (iii) Who does Prospero refer to as ‘a devil’ in Act IV Scene I? (a) Alonso: (b) Ferdinand {c) Caliban (d) Stephano22 Sample Question Papers ISC Literature in English Class x, (iv) In Act V Scene 1, what does Prospero promise to give Ariel? (a) Ownership of the island (b) His daughter's firstborn child () His freedom {(d) Fine clothes (v) In the short story The Story of ayt Hour, what might Mrs. Mallard’s ailment symbolise? (a) Her inability to see things as they are (b) Her inability to filter out less important things in life (c) Her unhappiness and troubling emotions (d) A inability to find true love and freedom (vi) In the short story The Singing Lesson, what was the effect of Basil’s letter on Miss Meadows? (a) She was upset and agonised. (b) She went into depression. (c) She was struck dumb. (a) She had a heart attack. (vii) In the short Story The Sound Machine, why does Klausner thank the doctor? (a) For agreeing to his theory (b) For applying iodine to the tree wound (c) For helping him with the experiment (qd) For treating his throat (vili) In the poem We are the Music Makers, what does the phrase ‘overthrew them’ signify? (a) The coming of a better world (b) The coming of new better poets (c) The coming of a better time for music makers (d) The coming of time where artists are respected (ix) In the poem The Darkling Thrush, what is the role of the thrush and its song? (a) A deviation from the pessimism (b) The image of coming of something good | (©) Potential savior (d) Poet’s companion in the deserted land (x) In the poem Birches, what does the act of swinging indicate? (a) Innocence of childhood (b) Flights of imagination and coming back to reality (c) Nostalgia for the country life (d) Going through difficulties Question 2. | Complete the following sentences by providing a reason for each. Ly (i) In Act II Scene I of The Tempest, Prospero says that he can’t be as glad as Ferdinand an, Miranda because (ii) In Act IV Scene I of The Tempest, Stephano is behaving like a king because (ili) In Act V Scene I of The Tempest, Prospero kindly forgives his enemies because .. (iv) In Act IV Scene I of The Tempest, Prospero says ‘on whose nature Nurture can never sti because ... (v) In the short story To Build a Fire, the dog looks back at the fire because .. | (vi) In the short story The Story of an Hour, Louise's family does not tell her about the accides because | (vin the short story B. Wordsweth the narrator's mother get mad at him when he gets hom: ecause (viii) In the poem We are the Music Makers, the poet prefers artists over statesmen or warrir because .. (ix) In the poem Birches, the poet desire to escape the rational world is inconclusive becau Sample Question Paper (x) In the poem Crossing the Bar, the poet wants the tides of the ocean to be high becaus| gample Question Paper 3 i ‘60 Marks) Section -B d The Tempest : William Shakespeare question 3. | (jy What was Miranda's answer to Fe +s confession of love? Answer in reference 10 Act __ Oi ene othe Tempe (0 Ferdinand’s confession of love al | (ii) Im the first scene of Act V, Miranda utters the phrase ~ “Brave new world’. Flaborate on its | significance in reference to the play The Tempest. 15] (ii) (a) The character of Caliban shares a close connection with the island. This connection brought to light by his monologue in Act III Scene II. Elaborate. (10) or (b) Compare and contrast the characters of Ariel and Caliban in The Tempest (10) 5, Echoes: Prose Question 4. (i) Although Basil does not appear in the story yet he occupies an important place in The Singing Lesson, Discuss. (5) (ii) The theme of appearance vs. reality’ is appearing in the story The Sound Machine. Justify with example from the story. (iil) (a) Write a character analysis of B. Wordsworth and the young boy from V. S. Naipaul's short story B. Wordsworth, no or (b) In the story To Build A Fire, Jack London compares the man ‘s ego and powers to the forces of nature by depicting a contest between these two initiated by the man but one that nature always wins. Elaborate. [10] 5 Reverie: Poetry Question 5. y (i) As the poem Dover Beach becomes reflective, the poet becomes sad. Why? [5] (ii) Do you think there is a relation between the time the poem was written and the tired and desolate state of the thrush in the poem The Darkling Thrush? [5] (iii) (a) Explain how diversity as a theme is what makes We are the Music Makers different. A or (b) ‘Birches’ abounds in abstract and philosophical elements. Discuss. [10] 23 Sample Question PaperAnswers 1, (i) (a) Tries to drown himself (ii) (¢) Trusted advisor of the King of Naples (iii) (c) Caliban (iv) (c) His freedom (v) (c) Her unhappiness and troubling emotions (vi) (a) She was upset and agonised. | (vii) (b) For applying iodine to the wound | (a) The coming of a better world { (ix) (c) Potential savior | (x) (b) Flights of imagination and coming back to reality } in their affair oo, | j 2. (i) imaddition to the pleasure that they feel, they will have to face the thrill of surpri (ii) he is drunk and the sight of the glistening royal clothes make him think that he is a king. he feels that “The rarer action is in virtue than in vengeance’. Forgiveness, he feels is far more virtuoy than is ary and revenge. "| (iv) Caliban’s nature, according to Prospero, is barbaric and uncivilised and even his and Mirandy, attempts to civilise him have failed. Thus, his nature has triumphed over the nurture provided to hig and he remains forever ungrateful towards them. (+) knew tat gotng amy from the ext and wrth of the Ore and saving further would langerous. (vi) they fear that after hearing about the demise of her husband Louise would become ill due to her wea heart. (vii) he was out for to0 Jong. (viii) he believes that ideas created by artists are more important. (ix) while the poet wants to escape, he also wants to return to the earth to fulfill his responsibilities (x) he wants the journey from life to death to be easy and smooth. 3. (i) Miranda felt overwhelmed after hearing Ferdinand’s words. She wept saying that she felt unworthy she could not offer what she wished to give and couldn’ take what she wanted. She continued that ‘mote she tried to hide her love, the more apparent it became. She wished to be guided by divia innocence. | She further proposed him for marriage and promised that if he didn’t marry her, she would fore remain unmarried. She said that if he didn’t take her as partner, she would remain his servan regardless of his liking. She ensured lhim that she was his and bid him farewell for half an hour. (ii) “O wonder! How many goody creatures are there here! How beauteous mankind is! O, brave new world | That has such people in ‘t!” | ‘These are the words uttered by Miranda when she sees Alonso, Sebastian and other men in ‘a Scene I. Most of her life has been spent in isolation from society and on an island where the creatures are her father and their half-human, half-monster slave, Caliban. The above lines expr her excitement on meeting and being introduced to so many people for the first time. ; ‘The reason that these lines are so significant and unforgettable is because they emphasise her nah ion has protes Her innocence and her ability to still see people as “beauiteous’ shows that her isol her from the evils of human society. | ‘The phrase also foreshadows the fact that once she returns home, she might not feel the same, havi, met many other people. It might end up ridding her of her naivety and innocence. Hence, in this wat does both highlight her innocence and foreshadow the loss of that innocence. (iii) (a) Act 111 Scene 11 of Shakespeare's The Tempest provides for a contradictory situation. Where, on hand, Caliban, Trinculo and Stephano are plotting to murder Prospero anc! take Miranda as a rewa oon the other hand, the poetic depiction ofthe island by Caliban reveals a human side that was lad since the start of the play. ( Sample Question Papersample Question Paper 3 anata wild beast of the island. He is both an actual and a symbolic native of the ana. taving been bor thereafter his mother Syorax led. His personality more comple than Oreaton erg have thus far disclosed. The plot to murder Prospero is Caiban’s rejection of finds no alternative to brutality if it will free him from the oppression of civilisation. ft is inthis scene that depicts the peak of his brutality, that the natural beauty of the island. permeates his cruel world. His monologue about the sound of the island presents a profound understanding of the magic of the island ~ provides Caliban with a moment of freedom from Prospero and even from his drunkenness. tt brings to notice the love he harbours for his home as he remembers “Sounds and sweet airs that give delight and hurt rt Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments Q Will uum about nuine ears” During this depiction, he seems to have gotten rid of his anger and sadness. He appears simply as @ being that adores and loves his home, as someone who wants to rid his home of a foreign presence and get it back. Caliban seems, for a moment, to have risen above his wretched role as Stephano’s fool. This scene provides Caliban with a strong voice, as throughout much of the play, Shakespeare seems to side with powerful figures such as Prospero against weaker figures such as Caliban. allowing us to think, that Caliban is merely a monster. But in this scene, he takes the extraordinary step of briefly giving the monster a voice. Because of this short speech, Caliban becomes 2 more understandable character, and even, for the moment at least, a sympathetic one. or (b) Ariel and Caliban, two charactersin Shakespeare's, The Tempest, have points of contrast and comparison in their physical as well as mental makeup. Both Ariel and Calfban are elemental beings: However, Ariel an Flemental Being of the higher order, identified with the upward tending elements of air and fire, and with the higher nature of man, while Caliban is an Elemental Being of the lower order. identified with the downward-tending elements of Earth and Water, and the lower nature of man. In their external appearances, Ariel and Caliban are poles apart. Ariel, made of airand fire, is@ sviph. refined and ethereal. He isthe chief of the spirits of air but he is able to exercise his functions in the air, on the land or sea. He can assume any sex and fly with the speed of thought. Caliban, on the other hand, is a misshapen monster half-man and half-fish. Heis the son of Sycorax, a witch, begotten by a demon. He is a monster of cruelty, malice, pride, ignorance idleness, gluttony and lust. He is a born devil who curses Prospero and tries to violate the chastity of Miranda. Ariel and Caliban differ from each other in their relation to Prospero, their master. Arielis faithfuland ager to please Prospero. He is Prospero’s right hand and he carries out his orders sincerely. though sometimes he shows moodiness. Ariel's love of freedom is not at variance with his spirit of service. He provides an additional confirmation of the central idea of the play that true freedom lies in service ‘And when Ariel is ultimately set free, he resumes his life of an unfettered spirit. Caliban, on the other hand, feels a profound hatred for Prospero, whom he regards as a usurper and forms a conspiracy to kill him. An ungrateful being. Caliban learns language from Prospero only 0 ‘curse him, Caliban’s love of freedom is shallow. ‘The difference between them is apparent when we compare their songs of freedom. For Ariel. freedom is to enjoy the summer days as he wishes. Its aoy which he wants to earn and thus follows his master dutifully. Caliban’s song of freedom, on the other hand, is brutal and sensuous. It just functions to show how he is arrogant, vicious and ungrateful, with no goodness in him and that he is “capable of al ill. His hatred is so deep rooted that he conspires to get rid of Prospero with the help of Stephano and Trinculo. Concluding, both Ariel and Caliban are elemental and magical beings. Ariel is above humanity, while Caliban is below it. The contrast between the two is the contrast between super human and the sub human. Ariel stands for the good and nobility in man, while Caliban stands for all thats wicked and foul (i) Basil is Miss Meadows’ fiancé and an important character. He doesn’t appear in the story yet his presence is felt at every moment. It seems as if Miss Meadows is incomplete without him. He is an abject of value for her. Basil is described to be a young man of twenty five. He is committed to marry Miss Meadows five years senior to him in age. Miss Meadows remembers the last time she saw him “How handsome he had looked in that bright blue suit, with that dark red rose.” Basil appears to be selfish and wavering. His letter to Miss Meadows reveals his personality. As a man he is more fixated on furniture than on sending love notes to his betrothed. He appears to be an abnormal human being not capable of enjoying a mental bliss. Miss Meadows interprets Basil's latest letter in her own way and sinks into deep despair. Only Basil's apologetic telegram could lift Miss Meadows's spirits. Thus, we see that Basil dominates the action of the story though he does not appear in the story. He can hurt with his words; he can also heal with words. 25 Sample Question Paper26 Sample Question Paper (i) Appe: Sample Question Papers ISC Literature in English Class Xi) 4s teality isthe main theme that ran throughout the story te Sourad Machine, Klausner, the protagonist of the story, was obsessed with sounds. Me believed that there are a number of {inaudible sounals that are either very high-pitched or very low-piteled. He wished to hear the sounds made by a fly, a bat and innumerable other creatures, $0, to prove that these sounds can be converted | into audible ones, he invented a sound machine, He tried to explain his theary first to Dr Scott and | then to Mrs, Saunders, but neither of them were convinced, So, he checked the accitracy of his | instrument by testing itn his garden and then in the park, He betieved that he heard a shrieking | emotionless ery from the Mowers when phicked as well as from the beech tree when struck with an ave, Thiy suggests that Klausner was suite that his machine was capable of recording those sounds which human beings are not capable of heating. He also asks Dt, Scott to contin his theory but he could not hear any sound This is suggestive of the fact that the sounds that Klausner was hearing were nothing else but a figment of his imagination, Being a sensitive person, he might have felt that plants are living things and they also undergo similar feelings as human beings. For hin, his obessesston with his theory of inaudible sounds is teality He even treats these sounds and describes them in detail, His reality is very different from the general reality presented by Dx Scott and Mrs Saunders. As readers, we realise the subjectivity of reality as we are left to wonder about the reality seen by Klausner for ourselves. We are eft to wonder if Klausner’s reality és teal or just a figment of his imagination, (iii) (a) In B. Wondsworth, we are presented with the most peculiar chatacter—a poet who is conflicted about | his identity He uses a young boy as a medium to make true whatever he wished was true about his {if in the time that he spent with the young natrator. Through his conversations with the boy. we | come to know that B, Wordsworth believed himself to be a great poet working on one of the greatest poems of all times. At the end of the story, wher the poct finally confesses to the young boy that everything le had said about himself was made up, then our suspickons that the poet was suffering from a deep identity crisis get confirmed, | Pethaps the poet was unhappy with the life he fe and harboured in his heart the deep desi to become the greatest poet of alltime, This is why when he foun trusting audience with the young | boy, he started speaking about his desizes as if they were a reality. This dissatisfaction that the poet had with his life makes us question the life of poets in general. 8, Wordsworth mentioned that it was _ the’poet’s ragedy’ to not have his work sold and be given the recognition they deserved. Perhaps this | lack of recognition plagued the poet. Adtonaly we also et to discover the atc paras hat Wordsvorth underwent, unable to produce poetry. This gives us insights into the creative struggle the process of artistic creation ean be, ‘The other prominent character in the story is the young boy. The boy is a sensitive individual who lends a patient, compassfonate ear to B, Wordsworth, Perhaps it was because of the young boys willingness to listen without judgement that B, Wordsworth could open up about his deepest desires regarding the kind of person he wanted to be. However, the young boy believed everything the poet said to him, without adding a pinch of salt, This makes us understand that the boy was naive and pethaps too trusting for his own good, or {b) The short story 19 Build A Fire by Jack London is a short tragic tale that narrates about a man’s last | days on the carth under the theme of man standing in opposition o nature. The story's protagonists passing through the subst «ofthe Yukon when he becontes the victins of an unforgiving and harsh force ofnatute. Before embarking on the journey, the man is warned against walking alone on such severe weather conditions. Even his instincts warn him ofthe danger and give signs of what he should do but the man ignores them and follows his ego. tte makes several attempts 0 light a fie and fight nature. However he fails an gives into the Forces of nature. | Nature, aswell nov is harsh, tts an inlffevent entity which does not care ifeveryone has reached salety or is warm and comfortable. It works according to its own discretion, 1 anyone seeks # Challenge nate, itis upto the very man to make decisions to gt im through, This true forthe ‘unnamed man in the story. At the very beginning of the story We are made aware ofthe man’s e@ that tells him that he can challenge the force of nature. The narrator says, “the distant tral, no sunt. de shy, he rea cldand the strangeness fat no effets on the man. Simultaneous fre also made aware ofthe extreme weather conditions of the Yukoa tersitory where the man dec to tavel alone,sample Question Paper 3 5. (i) (i (iii) The author presents the cold weather as “Day had broken cold and gray, exceedingly cold and sgay....."and “a subtle gloom that made the day dark and that was due fo the absence of sun. * In Yukon region, the earth was“ hidden under three feet of ice. On top of this ice were as many feet of snow.” {Even though the man is warned of the danger by the older men of the Sulphur Creek, he chooses to ignore all warnings and advice. The man assumed he would overpower the nature. He believed that this brutal cold would be easily taken care of by the use of mittens, ear- flaps, warm moccasins and socks. Further, he did not need another man to accompany him on the journey: His ack of experience ‘and his ego made him indifferent to the fact that man can only live within certain narrow limits of hheat and cold, As a result, he starts a battle with nature that, we as readers know, he cannot win. During his trek, the man was confronted again and again by his weakness as a lone individual against the formidable power of nature inthe form of the brutal cold. Each time the man removed his initiens, he was surprised to find his fingers freezing instantly: He was also startled at how fast his hose and checks froze. When the man stopped for lunch, his fect went numb almost as soon as he sat Mii, However, in spite of all odds the man was determined to reach his destination in time. ‘The man makes many attempts to overpower nature. He tries to escape falling in the water but in vain. He lights fire four times but even then cannot escape the frostbite. Ignoring his instincts which the man follows his prideful judgement which ultimately leads to ‘want him to seek a warm shelter, Fieend, The man loses his battle to the nature after a great deal of suffering, He loses all sense in his hhands and feet to finally resign to his end. ris inueresting to note here that, the man’s only companion in his journey was a dog. a big native hrusky wolf dog came as folto the man’s character The dog accepts the power of natureand wants pan tot He wants nothing more than to sit by the fie or dig some space in the snow to remain, Wearm. Tt docs not challenge nature and thus survives the bitter cold ‘Thus the story through its simple plot presents that in the conflict between Man and Nature, man. Jelly underestimates the power of nature but by the end the nature overpowers the man, his reasons and his arrogance. -the poem Dover Beach a its beautiful structure moves from descriptive toa reflective end. tn this rae event, the poet becomes dejected and sad as he's filled with the fear and anxiety of the modern ate finds that the modern world is like the ‘grating sound’ produced by the tides of the sea, The wo tthe modern industrialised and globalised world may be beautiful ike the Dover beach but this beauty isa land of dreams’ an illusion. The reality of the world is sufering and chaos ‘The modem world lacks the faith and belief that had once filled the world. Consequently there is no jon love light security or any help for pain, The reality forhim sa nightmare where the worldand the ing armies fighting each other in total darkness, and people on this earth are no better than two opposit reer ot knowing whether they are hurting and killing fiends or their enemies. Allof this saddens the poet as he reflects on this human predicament. ‘The poem The Darling Thrush by Thomas Hardy is fumed with literal and figurative registers which are Signufican othe 19th century background. The poem, essentially, depicts a speaker in 2 bleak natura} Tanaiscape and the litte thrush which sings out in it. The image of the thrush is crucial to ainjorstanding the pessimistic tone of the poet regarding the end of the 19th century. The thrush, awh draws on the moti of the singing bird in Romantic literature, represents hope and positivity. Tike Hardy himself, the thrush uses his voice to create beauty: It sings ‘full-hearted filling the grove with “his happy good-night air’ despite there being ‘so little cause for carolings.’ Hardy recognises ome blessed Hope’ in the thrush’s song—hope for beauty in the midst of haunting depression. Yet, contrary to the traditional image, the thrush is ‘aged’, ‘frail, ‘gaunt’ and ‘small’. It is tired and desolate just like the 19th century which is devoid of any value, hope and faith. It does not bring any positivity or hope. Even its song exists beyond the physical world, and comes to symbolise an Intangible hope which remains accessible regardless of how grim the world is (a) While the central theme of the poem Weare de Music Makers isthe role ofan artist or his centrality to society, diversity is one of the major aspects of the poem that highlights its literary significance. The poem as such we all know is an ode to all creators and dreamers. tis a tribute to all painters, tusicians and creators whose works have been a guiding light to the society. The poem starts on a note of pure appraisal ofthe music makers’ who are the “dreamer of dreams’ and their dedication to the art. The fact that there is no reference to a particular artist o a particular art form gives art a ‘complex and a fluid definition. Artis the force which awakens people’s minds and inspires them to kin a creative manner, 27 Sample Question Paper28 Sample Question Paper ‘Sample Question Papers ISC Literature in English Class Xii: The sheer lack of distinction highlights that all the music makers, artists and art forms are 50 very | different yet they all are similar, The origination, use and the effects of each dreamer is different but thelr motive sone, to hep the society move forward all the while promoting happiness and joy a aroune The concept of time and space also dissolves for the music makers as their role and their functions a, well as the power that they hold are similar at all times, Ever since civilisation had understood an, artists has revolted against the status quo and lived a life in the desolate isolation. They have found beauty in human life and moulded opinions all around the globe. They had themselves created myth, stories and empires that take the society into a progressive action but at the same time they themselves had paved the way for new myths and stories. As the poet says, And out ofa fabulous story, we fashion an empire's glory ‘The poet even gives examples of the historic creations of the land of Ninevch and Babel as the acts of creation that are taken up by each and every artist. The ‘music makers’ and the “dreamers of dreams strive to make the world a better place and achieve greatness. Deep inside the differences lay similar ‘thoughts and contributions to the world which had been able to entertain people. or (b) The poem Birches by Robert Frost is a wisdom-laden poem revolving around the abstract as well as philosophical themes of the nature of Truth’ the relation between fact and fiction, revisiting one’s childhood and the balance between life and art which must be maintained for a meaningful life ‘The poem, essentially, describes the simple act of swinging the birch trees, a common sport among children in rural New England. However, ‘Birches’ is more than just the fond ramblings of a nature lover. tis also personal quest to achieve balance between different worlds. Frost expresses this idea using birch trees as an extended metaphor and the recurring motif of a lively lad climbing and swinging down on them. Im the poem, the act of swinging on the branches of the birch tree is presented as a distraction, a passtime to busy oneself in order to escape the realities and hardships of the adult world. Life with its difficulties, worries and lack of answers leaves a man vulnerable. In this light, Birches are given a Jhuman treatment in this poem and the manner in which they weather the climatic conditions is symbolic ofthe various challenges which the adull life is fraught with. In this light, as the boy climbs up the tree towards the ‘heaven’ a place where he and his imagination can be free. ‘The poet wishes to be able to revisit the childhood experience of swinging the birches in order to geta momentary respite from the adult world. For the narrator, climbing the birch is an opportunity to’get away from earth awhile/and then come back to it and begin over.’ This opportunity is significam. because it underlines that the swinger is always grounded. The boy must always return for he has responsibilities that cannot be ignored. The poet wants to escape but is faced with the “Truth’ not just about the bending birches but also about the reality of his life. ‘The movement of the poem from reality to imagination seems to suggest that an individual who ‘moves back and forth between imagination and reality is. perhaps, the most content with his life as the carefree joy balances with the considerations that must be attended to in daily life. The adult poet reminisces the time when he as a young boy used to swing on the birches. Asan adult, he knows that the birch branches are bent and he cannot swing them. However, the memory of the birch swinging releases him from the cares and trials of the adult life. ‘Thus, the poet propagates that while one is suffering from the trials and tribulations of life, one can go through with it with the help of the temporary escapes or the flights to fancy.SAMPLE QUESTION PAPER 4 Literature in English (Question Answers) AHighly Simulated Practice Question Paper for ISC Class Xl Examination General Instructions Time:3hrs MM:80 * Candidates are allowed additional 15 minutes for only reading the paper. They must NOT start writing this tie. * Answer ll questions in Section A and Section B. The intended marks for questions or parts of questions are given in brackets []. Section-A (20 Marks) Question 1. Choose the correct options for the following questions. [10] (i) Who is making the mysterious music in Act II? (a) Antonio (b) Alonso (c) Prospero (d) Gonzalo (ii) Who said, “But one fiend at a time, I'll fight their legions o’e” in Act III Scene III? (a) Antonio (b) Sebastian () Gonzalo (d) Alonso (iii) What does Caliban want Stephano to do? (a) To kill Prospero and marry his daughter (b) To rule this island (c) To make a ship and sail back home (d) None of the above30 Sample Question Paper { Sample Question Papers ISC Literature in English Class Xi (iv) What are the Naiads referred to in Act IV Scene I of The Tempest? (a) Spirits of the streams (b) Spirits of the wind (c) Spirits of the forest (d) Spirits of the divine (v) In the short story To Build a Fire, what is the unnamed man symbolic of? (a) Human pride (b) Human intellect (c) Superiority of humans (d) Both (a) and (c) (vi) In the short story B. Wordsworth, why does Wordsworth tell the boy to never return? (a) He doesn’t like him (b) He doesn’t want him to cry (c) He doesn’t want him to see him die (d) He doesn’t like his mother (vii) In the short Story The Story ofan Hour, what does Mrs. Mallard feel after getting the news of{ her husband's death? (a) Excruciating pain (b) Shock (c) Fear (a) Joy (viii) In the poem Birches, what does the narrator wish? (a) To swing on the branches of birch trees (b) To get respite from the reality of life (c) To get a new beginning in to his adult life (d) Al of these (ix) In the poem Crossing the Bar, what does ‘turn back home’ refers to? (a) Soul's journey back to home (b) Turn towards home (c) Union with God (4) Coming back to the origin (x) In the poem Dover Beach, what does the Sea of Faith represent? (a) Firm belief in religion (b) Moral support offered by God (c) Dependence on priests (d) Increasing influence of God Question 2. Complete the following sentences by providing a reason for each. 19)) (i) In Act III Scene II of The Tempest, Stephano hits Trinculo because (ii) In Act IIT Scene I of The Tempest, Ferdinand enjoys working and carrying wood for Prospero because (iii) In Act IV Scene I of The Tempest, Prospero asks Ariel to summon spirits because .. (iv) In Act III Scene III of The Tempest, Gonzalo tells the younger lords to follow Antonio, Sebastian and Alonso because .. (v) In the short story To Build a Fire, the man calls out the dog in a different tone because (vi In the short story The Singing Lesson, the telegram is significant for Miss Meadows becaust (vii) In the short story The Sound Machine, Klausner asks his neighbour to cut the flower agai because .. (viii) In the poem We are the Music Makers, the artists are sitting by the desolate streams becaust (ix) In the poem Birches, the poet compares the action of the little boy to a cup filled to the brim because... (x) In the poem The Darkling Thrush, the thrush’s song is not helping the poet becaustample Question Paper 4 Section -B el The Tempest : William Shakespeare | Question 3. ; a Why does Prospero feel bad when he hears that Caliban tried to persuade Stephano and Trinculo to help him kill Prospero? (5) (ii) Do you think Caliban’s hatred for Prospero was justified? Give reason in reference to ACLIV | and Act V. {s] | (il). (a) Whats the difference between Prospero’s two slaves ~ Ariel and Caliban? {10} or (b) The game of Chess played by Ferdinand and Miranda is an important symbol in The Tempest. Elucidate. = Echoes: Prose | Question 4. (i) How is the theme of escapism explored in short story B. Wordsworth? [5] (ii) How is the theme of environment incorporated in the story The Sound Machine? (iii) (a) How is a working woman in 19th century presented in the short story The Singing Lesson by Katherine Mansfield? [10] or (b) Mrs. Mallard suffers of metaphorical and literal heart problems. Discuss. [10] Reverie: Poetry Question 5. (i) We are the Music Makers talks about artists isolation and connection. Elaborate. 65) (ii) Robert Frost Birches is a nostalgic celebration of youthful joy. Comment. 5] (iil) (a) Love is the answer for loss according to Amold in the poem Dover Beach. Blaborate.[10] 1 (b) Do you think The Darkling Thrush is & befiting ide for the poem by Thomas Hardy ? Give reason. (10) 3 Sample Question PaperSample Question Paper Answers 1. (i) (c) Prospero (i) (b) Sebastian (iii) (a) To Prospero and marry his daughter (iv) (a) Spirits ofthe streams (¥) (A) Both (a) and (c) (vi) (c) He doesn’t want him to see him die (vil) (c) Fear (vill) (4) All of these (éx) (a) Sout’s journey back to home (8) (a) Firm belief in religion 2. (i) inhis attempt to stir up trouble, an invisible Ariel mutters the words ‘Thou liest’, every now and then Since Stephano and Caliban can’t see him, they think Trinculo is interrupting them (ii) he is happy to serve the woman he loves, Miranda (iil) Prospero has betrothed Miranda to Ferdinand and wants the spirits to perform a masque to celebrate (iv) and bless the couple he worries that they are desperate and are feeling very guilty. He asks the younger lords to make sur that they don’t do something rash (v) he wanted to kill the dog and survive with the cold weather by hiding in its carcass. (wi) (sii) (viii) (ix) (x) 3. (i) (iy (iii) it contains a reaffirmation of engagement by Basil. he thought that he could hear the sound produced by the flowers when it was being cut. they are thinking about challenging the status quo and about new ideas. he wants to show the importance of balance, maturity and ‘poise’ in life. he is not hopeful for the coming of the new age which is full of vulnerability. Prospero feels bad because he thinks that his efforts of trying to civilise Caliban failed miserably. He thinks that he treated Caliban well and even taught him a language. But Caliban never learnt anything and was harmful, especially when he tried to molest Miranda, Since then, Prospero has hated him and yet, he feels bad that his efforts were for nothing. He even refers to Caliban as a ‘born devil. Yes, Caliban’s hatred is justified. Prospero taught him language in order to civilise him but he al treated Caliban as his slave, and Caliban hated that enslavement. Caliban hated Prospero because the island belonged to him and his mother and Prospero took over the island. Prospero also didn’t use correct language for Caliban, saying that he was ‘begot by the devil himself. Prospero’s mistreatment is justified as Caliban once tried to molest Miranda, but that doesn’t change the fact that he enslaved Caliban against his will. (a) Prospero’s two servants are especially unique in nature and character. Ariel is an airy spirit, ethered in nature and Caliban is a brutish half man, who is the son of the evil witch Sycorax. Prospero finds both of them when he reaches the island. He frees Ariel from Sycorax and educates Caliban ¢ language, trying to civilise him. Both of them work for Prospero and are very different from each other. While Ariel is devoted and submissive to his master’s demand, Caliban protests all the time to his bondage. He hates Prospero and abandons him too. Not only this, he also devises a plan to kill Prospero, along with Stephano anf ‘Trinculo. He promises the island's kingship to Stephano and also to have him marry Miranda afte Prospero’s death. Ariel, however, helps Prospero thwart Caliban’s plan of killing him and also helps Prospero punish Caliban, and Alonso, Antonio and Sebastian the men who betrayed him. He creates magical auras for Prospero and beautiful music that could hypnotise anybody. Caliban curses Prospero throughost the play for ill-treatment he receives and also because Prospero took over the island that originall belonged to him while Ariel is extremely obedient and follows everything that Prospero says. Heevet apologises for getting off task. But all this changes as his freedom approaches, he becomes mort confident and less submissive. While Caliban’ hatred for Prospero diverts him from a positive wayd! life and gives birth to a pessimistic attitude, Ariel achieves his freedom and happiness.