English Literature Official 2023-2024 ISC (Commerce) Class 12 Question Paper Solution

What does Antonio refer to when he says “Let it be tonight...” in Act III, Scene iii of the play, The Tempest?

The murder of Alonso and Gonzalo.

The murder of Ferdinand.

Sebastian and Antonio's escape from the island.

Sebastian and Antonio's plan to steal Stephano’s liquor.

What role does Ariel play in Act IV of the play, The Tempest?

He helps the conspirators to plot against Prospero.

He assists Prospero in presenting the “vanity" of his art.

He guides Alonso, Sebastian and Antonio towards self-realisation.

He protects Ferdinand and Miranda.

In the above lines taken from Act IV Scene i of the play, The Tempest, what does Caliban refer to by the phrase “good mischief“?

The act of chasing the strange sounds.

The act of killing Prospero.

The act of marrying Miranda.

The act of stealing the gaudy clothes.

How does Prospero ask to be to be released from his “bands” in the Epilogue of the play, The Tempest?

With the audience clapping their hands.

With laughter from the audience.

With a universal shout from the audience.

With praises for the play from the audience.

“When the doctors came they said she had died of heart disease - of joy that kills."
Which one of the following explains why the short story, The Story of an Hour ends with the phrase "...of joy that kills"?

1. To convey a sense of irony.
2. To make the readers judge Mrs. Mallard.
3. To convey Mrs. Mallard’s sheer sense of shock.
4. To explain Brently Mallard’s shock at the incident.

Only (I) and (IV)

Only (I) and (II)

Only (I) and (III)

Only (II) and (IV)

In the short story, Fritz, what had happened to Fritz according to Jayanta?

Jayanato had misplaced him in the garden.

The dogs had torn him apart.

Fritz had disappeared near the Deodar tree.

Fritz had died of old age.

In the short story, Quality, what causes the death of the younger Gessler brother?

Slow starvation, rigid work schedule and dwindling customers.

Fever and cold due to bad weather.

Rude customers.

Inability to clear loans.

“So was I once myself a swinger of birches."

What mood of the poet is captured in the above lines taken from the poem, Birches?

Boredom

Nostalgia

Amusement

Loneliness

What is the central idea of the poem, John Brown?

The love of a mother for her son.

Wars are necessary.

The illusion that war is glorious.

The heroism of soldiers.

What is the phrase 'The Century's corpse outleant' in the poem, The Darkling Thrush, a metaphor for? 

The passing of time and the end of an era.

The glory of nature.

The funeral of the thrush.

The end of poet's life.

In Act V, Scene I of the play, The Tempest, Ariel reminds Prospero that it was the sixth hour because ______.

At the end of the Masque in Act IV, Scene i of the play, The Tempest, Ferdinand feels that Prospero's behaviour is unusual because ______.

In Act III Scene ii of the play, The Tempest, upon hearing the music of Ariel, Stephanis says that the island will prove to be a “brave kingdom” to him because ______.

In Act V Scene i of the play, The Tempest, the Boatswain does not remember how he arrived at Prospero’s cell because ______.

In the short story, B. Wordsworth, when the narrator’s mother refuses to buy B. Wordsworth's poem, B. Wordsworth remarks 'It is the poet's tragedy' because ______.

In the short story, The Story of an Hour, it is Josephine who breaks the tragic news of Brently Mallard’s death to Mrs Mallard because ______.

In the short story, Fritz, Jayanto was told by his uncle to address the doll as Fritz because ______.

In the poem, John Brown, John Brown drops his medals into his mother's hands because ______.

In the poem, The Darkling Thrush, the poet uses the words “evensong" and “carolling” to describe the thrush's song because ______.

In the poem “Birches,” the poet observes that the birches are bent because ______.

With close reference to Act III, describe Alonso's response to the perceived loss of his son, Ferdinand. Write your answer in a short paragraph of about 100-150 words.

How do Prospero, Ferdinand and Caliban perceive Miranda? Give one example of each of their perceptions, from the Acts studied, to support your answer. Write your answer in a short paragraph of about 100-150 words.

Despite being a half monster and half human, Caliban comes across as superior to Stephano and Trinculo. Justify the statement with supporting evidence from the Acts studied in 200-250 words.

Referring closely to any two instances from the Acts studied, show how music is used to influence the course of events/action in the play, Write your answer in a short paragraph of about 200-250 words.

Describe the event that led the narrator, Shankar, to suggest digging the ground under the Deodar tree in the short story, Fritz. Write your answer in a short paragraph of about 100-150 words.

Based on the short story, The Story of an Hour, discuss what can be inferred about the significance of the open window in Mrs. Mallard’s room. Write your answer in a short paragraph of 100-150 words.

With reference to the short story Quality, trace the journey of the Gessler Brothers from “ld is an Ardt!" to the bitter realization of “Dey dake it away from us, who lofe our boods….bresently i haf no work.” Write your answer in about 200-250 words.

Miss Meadows’ need for societal acceptance makes her overlook Basil’s insensitivity and shortcomings. Discuss with reference to the short story. The Singing Lesson is about 200-250 words.

What do you think prompts the poet’s desire for a temporary escape in the poem, Birches? Why does he wish to come back to Earth? Write your answer in a short paragraph of about 100-150 words.

What leads Mathew Arnold to tell his beloved, “Ah, love, let us be true’, in the last stanza of the poem, The Dover Beach? Write your answer in a short paragraph of 100-150 words.

Show how Carol Ann Duffy presents a disturbing picture of confinement and exploitation in the poem, The Dolphins. Write your answer in about 200-250 words.

How does John Brown convey his firsthand experience of war to his mother and evoke a deep emotional response in the readers? Justify your answer in about 200-250 words with supporting details from the poem, by John Brown.