ISC Class 12 Sample Paper 2023 English Literature

ENGLISH PAPER 2 (LITERATURE IN ENGLISH)
(Prescribed Textbooks)
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Maximum Marks: 80
Time Allowed: Three hours
(Candidates are allowed additional 15 minutes for only reading the paper.
They must NOT start writing during 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) What is Ferdinand doing at the beginning of Act III Scene I?

(a) Cursing Prospero.

(b) Gathering wood.

(c) Planning to escape.

(d) Sighing deeply.

(ii) What is Ferdinand willing to become for Miranda in Act III Scene I?

(a) King of Naples.

(b) A patient log man.

(c) Her beloved.

(d) A traitor to Prospero.

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(iii) In the masque scene, whom does Iris tell Ceres not to be afraid of?

(a) Dis

(b) Cupid

(c) Juno

(d) Venus

(iv) Where had Ariel confined the “three men of sin” in the beginning of Act V?

(a) In Caliban’s cave.

(b) In the wrecked ship.

(c) In the line-grove.

(d) In Prospero’s cave.

(v) What are we told about Louise Mallard right at the beginning of the short story,
The Story of an Hour?

(a) She is proud.

(b) She is lonely.

(c) She has a weak heart.

(d) She cannot tolerate noise.

(vi) In the short story, To Build a Fire, who advises the Man not to travel alone in the
cold weather?

(a) The old timer at Sulphur Creek.

(b) His mates.

(c) Another traveller.

(d) His dog.

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(vii) In the short story, The Singing Lesson, what did Mary Beazley give Miss
Meadows as the latter entered the music hall?

(a) Her music books.

(b) A yellow rose.

(c) A yellow chrysanthemum.

(d) A letter from Basil.

(viii) In the poem, Crossing the Bar, which voyage is the poet referring to?

(a) A voyage of discovery.

(b) The voyage from life to death.

(c) The voyage of self-discovery.

(d) The voyage of the imagination.

(ix) What does the word “coppice” mean in the poem The Darkling Thrush?

(a) Grassland

(b) Dense Forest

(c) Woods

(d) Trees

(x) In the poem We are the Music Makers, where are the creative people usually
found?

(a) Palaces.

(b) In crowded cities.

(c) Near streams and sea- breakers.

(d) Markets.

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Question 2

Complete the following sentences by providing a reason for each: [10]

(i) In Act III Scene I of The Tempest, Miranda disobeyed her father and crept out to
meet Ferdinand because ______________________________.

(ii) At the end of Act III of The Tempest, Prospero is not surprised at the love that
has bloomed between Miranda and Ferdinand because ____________________.

(iii) In Act III Scene II of The Tempest, Caliban is annoyed with Trinculo because
______________________________.

(iv) In Act V of The Tempest, Prospero embraces Alonso because ______________.

(v) In the short story, To Build a Fire, the man carried his lunch wrapped in a
handkerchief, next to his skin because ______________________________.

(vi) In the short story The Story of an Hour, Richards hurried to give the news of
Bently Mallard’s death to Mrs. Mallard because _________________________.

(vii) In the short story, The Sound Machine, Mrs. Saunders turned and ran up the
garden into her house because ______________________________.

(viii) In the poem, The Darkling Thrush, all humankind had sought their household
fires because ______________________________.

(ix) In the poem, Birches, the poet often dreams of going back to his childhood
because ______________________________.

(x) In the poem, We are the Music Makers, the poet declares that music makers are
considered failures because ______________________________.

SECTION B – 60 MARKS
The Tempest: William Shakespeare

Question 3

(i) Referring closely to Act IV of the play, explain why Prospero ends the masque [5]
suddenly? What does he tell Ferdinand about the impermanence of the world?

(ii) With close reference to Act III Scene II of the play, describe the plot that Caliban [5]
hatches to murder Prospero.

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(iii) (a) Referring closely to the masque presented by Prospero for Ferdinand and [10]
Miranda, explain the purpose of the masque.

OR

(b) Referring closely to the interaction between Prospero and Alonso in [10]
Act V of the play, describe the changes that you notice in both these
characters.

ECHOES: PROSE

Question 4

(i) Referring closely to the short story The Sound Machine, describe the events that [5]
occurred when Klausner went to the park with his sound machine.

(ii) Describe the interaction between Miss Meadows and the Science Mistress in the [5]
short story The Singing Lesson. Comment on the behaviour of Miss Meadows.

(iii) (a) What do you conclude about the struggles and challenges faced by women [10]
from the short story, The Story of an Hour?

OR

(b) The cold becomes a character in the short story, To Build a Fire. Do you [10]
agree? Give your views by referring to the story.

Question 5

(i) In the poem, Crossing the Bar, discuss why the thought of death poses no fear [5]
for the poet.

(ii) Music makers are change makers. How is this conveyed in the poem We are the [5]
Music Makers?

(iii) (a) How does the poet resolve the crisis in his mind in the poem The Darkling [10]
Thrush? What are his thoughts at the end of the poem?

OR

(b) Dover Beach combines beautiful natural description with a commentary [10]
on the contemporary situation. Discuss.

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