Kerala Plus Two Question Paper 2025 English Literature

KERALA BOARD

QUESTION
PAPER
2025
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Kerala Board of Public
Examinations

SY-423
Reg. No. : ......................................

Name : ...........................................

SECOND YEAR HIGHER SECONDARY EXAMINATION, MARCH 2025
Part – III Time : 2½ Hours
ENGLISH LITERATURE Cool-off time : 15 Minutes
Maximum : 80 Scores

General Instructions to Candidates :
 There is a ‘Cool-off time’ of 15 minutes in addition to the writing time.
 Use the ‘Cool-off time’ to get familiar with questions and to plan your answers.
 Read questions carefully before answering.
 Certain sections of questions have choice. Follow the choice regulations.

Questions 1-4. Fill in the blanks with suitable answers. Each carries 1 score.
(4  1 = 4)
1. Which trees had burst into the flower in the poem ‘Ecology’ ?
2. Who wrote the memoir ‘I know why the caged bird Sings’ ?
3. W.B. Yeats was the staunch supporter of ........ nationalism.
4. Park of piece, the memorial park appears in which poem ?

Questions 5-8 : Attempt any 3 of the following questions. Each carries 4 scores.
(Answer in not more than two sentences.) (3  4 = 12)
5. ‘Except for the War till the day he retired
He worked in a factory and never got fired,
But satisfied his employers, Fudge Motor Inc.
Yet he wasn’t a scab or odd in his views,’
(a) Identify the poem and the poet
(b) Explain the term ‘scab’
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6. ‘Then at dawn we came to a temperate valley,
Wet, below the snow line, smelling of vegetation;
With a running stream and water-mill beating the darkness,
And three, trees on the low sky.’
(a) Identify the speaker.
(b) Where are the speakers travelling to ?
(c) Briefly explain ‘three trees on the low sky’.

7. ‘This tall metallic insect,
this horizontal angel
of green. So much for mirrors !....As for myself,’
(a) What is ‘the tall metallic insect’ referred to in the poem ?
(b) What is the idea mentioned here ? Explain in two or three sentences.

8. ‘I have never known you
But your blood flows in my veins
Your beautiful black blood that irrigates the fields
The blood of your sweat
The sweat of your work.’
(a) Whose black blood irrigates the fields ?
(b) Identify the poem and the poet.
(c) Find out the poetic device applied here.

Questions 9-14 : Attempt any 5 of the following questions. Each carries 4 scores.
(5  4 = 20)
9. How could the poem ‘Night Rain’ succeed to bring out the connection between nature
and women ?

10. What picture of the Egyptian society does the reader get from the story ‘Doves on the
wing’ ?
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11. List out the various attempts made by the narrator to encourage Yzur to speak.

12. The story ‘We too are Human Beings’ explores caste-based discrimination which the
writer had experienced in her childhood. Explain.

13. Briefly explain the bond between the narrator and Jun-Tu in the story ‘My old home’.

14. What was the reason behind Aschcroft-Fowler’s sadness ? Explain.

Questions 15-19 : Answer any 4 of the following questions. Each question carries 5
scores. Answer in about 80 words. (4  5 = 20)
15. The rivalry between the two neighbouring towns is depicted in the story ‘Lt. Aaron Eats
His Hat’ – Elucidate.

16. List out the different styles of formatting applied in screen play writing.

17. How does the travelogue ‘In memory of Azores’ succeed to bring out the humour ?
Explain.

18. What role do the society play in reinforcing male and female gender roles ?

19. Explain the role of Anglo Saxons to the development of the English language.

Questions 20-23 : Answer any 3 of the following in not less than 150 words. Each
question carries 8 scores. (3  8 = 24)
20. How does the poem ‘No More Hiroshimas’ convey the devastating consequences of
war and the need for promoting peace ? Analyse.
(Hints : anti war poem - outright plea to realise the level of devastation - Use of
repetition and refrain - aversion towards war)

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21. In ‘Journey of the Magi’ Eliot explores the theme of spiritual journey, transformation,
and search for meaning. Elaborate.

(Hints : Poet’s use of imagery and symbolism - testifies influence of religion - search
for a solution to the human dilemma - the connection between belief and doubt - infant
Jesus - spiritual transformation)

22. How does Eliza Doolittle’s character change throughout the play ? What role does
Henry Higgins play in her transformation ?

(Hints : Eliza’s initial characteristics - Cockney accent - Higgins teachings and
influence to Eliza’s growth - changes into Dutchess - her relationship with Higgins and
Pickering)

23. What role does isolation play in Kafka’s ‘The Metamorphosis’ ? How does he employ
the theme of isolation to explore human conditions ?

(Hints : Gregor’s physical isolation - emotional and psychological condition -
alienating effects of modern society - personal responsibilities and social expectations.)

_____________

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