ISC (Arts) इयत्ता १२ - CISCE Important Questions for English Literature

Complete the following sentence by providing a reason.

Beethoven amputated the legs of his piano because ______.

How does Malcolm’s character grow and change over the course of the play? Incorporate the following details and write your answer in a short paragraph of about 100-150 words.

1. Malcolm’s testing of Macduff in Act IV
2. His generalship and the restoration of order through Macduff

In what ways does power corrupt in the play Macbeth? Discuss any one character who is corrupted by power in the play. Incorporate the following details and answer in 100-150 words.

1. The character’s traits before coming to power
2. The character’s degeneration after coming into power

Do you agree with the view that Macbeth is fighting a lost battle against forces beyond his control? Justify your point of view in about 200- 250 words by referring to the Acts studied.

When do you have flashes of sympathy and admiration for Lady Macbeth in the course of the play? Explain by citing examples from the Acts studied. Write your answer in about 200-250 words.

The Medicine Bag traces the narrator’s attitude to his Sioux Grandfather, from mild embarrassment to appreciation. Summarise the reasons for this embarrassment and the change. Write your answer in 100-150 words incorporating the following details.

1. Reasons for embarrassment
2. Specific reasons for the change in attitude

Referring closely to the short story, The Cookie Lady, explore Mrs. Drew’s fascination with Bubber. Answer in 100-150 words incorporating the following details.

1. Mrs. Drew’s repeated interactions with Bubber
2. Role of the cookies in the short story

Tarapada, the central character in the short story, Atithi, is a free soul who cannot be restrained by the bonds of society. Examine this statement in 200-250 words.

Discuss the absence of human characters in the story, There Will Come Soft Rains. How does this absence contribute to the overall tone and message of the narrative? Answer in 200-250 words.

In what ways does the speaker’s cultural background clash with the landlady’s expectations in the poem Telephone Conversation? Write your answer in 100-150 words incorporating the following details.

1. The speaker’s conversation with the landlady
2. The undertones of racial and colour bias in the conversation

Referring to the poem Tithonus, show how his immortality becomes a curse. Answer in 100-150 words incorporating the following details.

1. Circumstances leading to Tithonus receiving a boon
2. Reasons for the boon becoming a curse

Analyse the comparison between death and sleep in the poem, Death Be Not Proud. How does this metaphor contribute to the overall message of the sonnet? Write your answer in about 200-250 words.

The poem Beethoven explores the role of pain and suffering in the process of artistic creativity and excellence. Justify this statement in 200-250 words.

Choose two of the passages (a) to (c) and answer briefly the questions that follow: 

Benedick: I can see yet without spectacles, and I see no such matter. There's her cousin, she were not possessed with a fury, exceeds her as much in beauty as the first of May doth the last of December. But I hope you have no intent to turn husband, have you?

Claudio: I would scarce trust myself though I had sworn the contrary if I Hero would be my wife.

(i) Whom is Benedick referring to in the above lines? 
(ii) Benedick says: 'I see no such matter.' What does he mean by it?
(iii) Explain the lines:

"There's her cousin, she was not possessed with a fury, exceeds her as much in beauty as the first of May doth the last of December". 
(iv) What does the comparison of Beatrice with May suggest about Benedick?
(v) What does Claudio mean by 'sworn the contrary'? 
(vi) Give the meaning of the following words as they are used in the context of the passage: possessed; fury; intent 

Don John: Come, let us to the banquet
                  [Exeunt all but Claudio] 

Claudio: Thus answer 1 in name of Benedick,
But hear this ill news with the ears of Claudio. 'Tis certain so; the prince woos for himself. Friendship is constant in all other things Save in the office and affairs of love. Therefore all hearts in love use their own tongues. Let every eye negotiate for itself, And trust no agent; for beauty is a witch Against whose charms faith melteth into blood. This is an accident of hourly proof, Which I Mistrusted not. Farewell, therefore, Hero.
[Enter Benedick] 

Benedick: Count Claudio?

Claudio: Yea, the same. 

(i) Where are the speakers? Describe Claudio's state of mind?
(ii) What has Don John just revealed to Claudio? 
(iii) Explain the lines:

"Therefore all hearts in love use their own tongues.
Let every eye negotiate for itself,
And trust no agent;"
(iv) How does Don John succeed in conveying his thoughts to Claudio? What is his intention in doing so? 
(v) Why is 'beauty' said to be a 'witch'? Which aspect of Claudio is seen here? 
(vi) Give the meanings of the following words as they are used in the context of the passage: ill; save; office; 

Don John:

Fie, fie, they are not to be nam'd my lord, not to speak of, There is not chastity enough in language Without offence to utter them. Thus, pretty lady, I am sorry for thy much misgovernment. 

Claudio:

O, Hero! What a Hero hadst thou been If half thy outward graces had been plac'd About thy thoughts and counsels of thy heart! But fare thee well, most foul, most fair; farewell Thou pure impiety and impious purity For thee I'll lock up all the gates of love, And on my eyelids shall conjecture hang To turn all beauty into thoughts of harm, And never shall it more be gracious. 

(i) Where are the speakers? What leads Claudio to speak in this manner? 
(ii) What are the charges levelled against Hero by Don Pedro? 
(iii) Explain the lines:

"What an I lero hadst thou been If half thy outward graces had been plac'd About thy thoughts and counsels of thy heart!" 
(iv) What are the immediate reactions of Leonato and Hero to Claudio's words? 
(v) What impressions do we form about Leonato in this scene? 
(vi) Give the meanings of the following words as they are used in the context of the passage: misgovernment; impiety; conjecture 

Choose two of the passages (a) to (c) and answer briefly the questions that follow:

Raina :

Come away from the window (She takes him firmly back to the middle of the room. The moment she releases him he turns mechanically towards the window again. She seizes him and turns him back, exclaiming) Please! (He becomes motionless, like a hypnotized rabbit, his fatigue gaining fast on him. She releases him, and addresses him patronizingly). Now listen. You must trust to our hospitality. You do not yet know in whose house you are. I am a Petkoff. 

The Man: A pet what? 

Raina : [rather indignantly] I mean that I belong to the family of the Petkoffs, the richest and best known in our country. 

The Man: Oh yes, of course. I beg your pardon. The Petkoffs, to be sure. How stupid of me! 

Raina: You know you never heard of them until this moment. How can you stoop to pretend! 

The Man: Forgive me. I'm too tired to think, and the change of subject was too much for me. Don't scold me.

(i) Why did the man keep turning to the window? 
(ii) Which examples of the social superiority of the Petkoff's does Raina give the man?
(iii) Which opera does Raina mention? With whom does she compare herself? What does this tell you about her? 
(iv) In Raina's opinion, what should the man have done instead of threatening her? 
(v) What does the man tell Raina about his father? Why does he do so? 
(vi) What does the man do at the end of the scene? 

Sergius:

Louka! (she stops and looks defiantly at him) A gentleman has no right to hurt a woman under any ` circumstances. [with profound humility, uncovering his head]  beg your pardon. 

Louka:

That sort of apology may satisfy a lady. Of what use is it to a servant? 

Sergius :

[rudely crossed in his chivalry, throws it off with a bitter laugh, and says slightingly) Oh! Do you wish to be paid for the hurt? [He puts on his shako, and takes some money from his pocket].

Louka :

[her eyes filling with tears in spite of herself] No: I want my hurt made well.

Sergius : [sobered by her tone] I low?

(i) Why does Sergius ask Louka's pardon? 
(ii) Why had he hurt her? 
(iii) Why does Louka remind Sergius that she is a servant? 
(iv) Why do Louka's eyes fill with tears? 
(v) How does Louka want her hurt made well? 
(vi) How does Sergius react to the suggestion 

Raina :

[timidly] Nine thousand hotels? 

Bluntschli :

Hotels! Nonsense. If you only knew! Oh, it's too ridiculous. Excuse me: I must give my fellow orders about starting. [He leaves the room hastily, with the documents in his hand]. 

Louka :

[knowing instinctively that she can annoy Raina by disparaging Bluntschli] He has not much heart, that Swiss. He has not a word of grief for his poor father. 

Raina :

[bitterly] Grief! A man who has been doing nothing but killing people for years! What does he care about? What does any soldier care about? [She goes to the door, restraining her tears with difficulty].

Louka :

Major Saranoff has been fighting too, and he has plenty of heart left. [Raina, at the door, draws herself up haughtily and goes out].

(i) What news has Bluntschli just received? 
(ii) What makes Raina ask, `Nine thousand hotels'? 
(iii) Why is Bluntschli in such a hurry to leave? What does Louka comment about him? 
(iv) Why is Raina upset with Bluntschli? 
(v) Why in your opinion, does Louka compare Bluntschli to Sergius? What does she comment when Raina leaves the room?
(vi)  Who enters the room at this point? What news does he give Louka? 

Referring closely to the play, trace Don John's plots against Claudio and Don Pedro from their earliest beginnings. How do the plots end?