ICSE Class 10 English Literature Board Exam Question Paper 2024 with Solutions

ICSE Class 10 English Literature in English Board Exam Question Paper with Solutions

SECTION-A

Question 1. Choose the correct answers to the questions from the given options. (Do not copy the questions, write the correct answers only).

1.1. Where does Portia say that she and Narissa will stay until their husbands return? [1 Mark]
1. In Venice
2. At Balmont
3. At Padua
4. In a Monastery

Answer: (4) In a Monastery

Portia informs Lorenzo that she and Nerissa will live in prayer and contemplation at a monastery.

Teacher's Note:
a) Recall the text from Act 3 Scene 4 where Portia tells Lorenzo about her plans before the men return.
b) Pay close attention to spelling variants like 'Narissa' or 'Nerissa' as printed in the question paper.

1.2. What aspect of shylock's nature is revealed in his words, "To bait fish withal; if it will feed nothing else, it will feed any revenge"? [1 Mark]
1. Pride
2. Envy
3. Vengefulness
4. Greed

Answer: (3) Vengefulness

Shylock expresses his deep-seated desire for revenge against Antonio regardless of the financial value of the flesh.

Teacher's Note:
a) This famous line highlights Shylock's single-minded obsession with retribution.
b) Do not confuse his anger with mere greed, as he repeatedly rejects monetary repayment.

1.3. Gratiano explains, "We are the Jasons, we have won the fleeee." In this context the word 'fleeee' refers to ______. [1 Mark]
1. Portia and Narissa
2. Wool of the golden ram
3. A warm woollen blanket
4. Bassanio and Grantiano

Answer: (1) Portia and Narissa

Bassanio and Gratiano compare themselves to Jason who won the golden fleece, metaphorically referring to winning Portia and Nerissa.

Teacher's Note:
a) Understand the mythological allusion to Jason and the golden fleece.
b) Note that the question paper contains a typographical error in the word 'fleeee'.

1.4. "The quality of mercy is not stained." Who say this to whom? [1 Mark]
1. Duke to Shylock
2. Grantiano to Shylock
3. Portia to Shylock
4. Bassanio to Shylock

Answer: (3) Portia to Shylock

Portia, disguised as the young doctor of laws Balthazar, appeals to Shylock to show mercy to Antonio.

Teacher's Note:
a) This is the opening line of Portia's famous mercy speech during the trial scene.
b) Ensure you remember the speaker and listener correctly as many students confuse Portia with the Duke.

1.5. What does Portia ask of Antonio as a remembrance before she leaves the courtroom? [1 Mark]
1. his ring
2. the knife
3. the scroll
4. his gloves

Answer: (4) his gloves

Disguised as Balthazar, Portia asks for Antonio's gloves and Bassanio's ring as a token of remembrance.

Teacher's Note:
a) Antonio offers him three thousand ducats, but Portia asks for the gloves instead.
b) Do not mix up Portia's request from Antonio with her request from Bassanio.

1.6. When Lorenzo says, 'Fair ladies, you drop manna in the way/of starved people.' he means that Portia and Nerissa have ______. [1 Mark]
1. prepared a banquet for their husbands.
2. brought good news for Lorenzo and Antonis.
3. brought divine food from the monastery.
4. returned the rings to Bassanio and Grantiano.

Answer: (2) brought good news for Lorenzo and Antonis.

The arrival of Portia and Nerissa with unexpected joyful news is compared to heavenly manna for starving people.

Teacher's Note:
a) Recognize the biblical reference to manna falling from heaven.
b) Ignore minor spelling errors like 'Antonis' in the options when identifying the correct choice.

1.7. Which of the following statements is NOT true of Maggie? [1 Mark]
1. She was sent to the penthouse.
2. She was bedridden.
3. She had an injured spine.
4. She had suffered a fall.

Answer: (1) She was sent to the penthouse.

Maggie was kept in a modest room downstairs, not a penthouse.

Teacher's Note:
a) Review the details of the short story 'The Blue Bead' regarding Maggie's condition.
b) Read options carefully to spot the negative question requirement ("NOT true").

1.8. The short story 'The Little Match Girl' can be called a fairy tale because ______. [1 Mark]
1. it is set in fairy land.
2. it has elements of magic and fantasy.
3. the little girl meets her fairy godmother.
4. the little girl marries a prince.

Answer: (2) it has elements of magic and fantasy.

The visions seen by the little girl in the light of the matches introduce magical and fantastical elements.

Teacher's Note:
a) Hans Christian Andersen's story blends harsh reality with magical dream sequences.
b) Do not assume a story is a fairy tale just because it features royalty or happy endings.

1.9. Why did the Gujar women strike the big brass gurrahs with stick? [1 Mark]
to produce a musical effect.
to quieten the buffaloes.
to see which ones were empty.
to frighten the crocodiles.

Answer: to frighten the crocodiles.

The Gujar women made loud noises with sticks on brass vessels to scare away lurking crocodiles in the river.

Teacher's Note:
a) Recall the background setting of the riverbank in 'The Blue Bead'.
b) Note that the options in this question lack numbers in the printed paper but follow standard MCQ format.

1.10. Choose the option that lists the sequence of events in the correct order. [1 Mark]
When the rain stopped, they rushed outdoors, forgetting all about Margot in their eagerness to experience the warmth of the sun.
The children carried the pleading and protesting Margot to the closet and locked her in.
It was then that they realised with shame that Margot was still locked in the closet; they had deprived her of what she longed for the most-the sun.
All too soon, the brief summer ended, and the children hurried indoors to escape the heavy rains.
1. 4, 3, 2, 1
2. 3, 1, 2, 4
3. 1, 3, 4, 2
4. 2, 1, 4, 3

Answer: (4) 2, 1, 4, 3

The chronological order starts with locking Margot in the closet, followed by going out to play, the end of summer, and finally realizing with shame that she was left inside.

Teacher's Note:
a) Trace the plot sequence of Ray Bradbury's science fiction story 'All Summer in a Day'.
b) Map each statement to its exact position in the narrative timeline.

1.11. In my Greatest Olympic Prize, 'Der Fehrer' refers to ______. [1 Mark]
1. Hitler
2. A Negro
3. Nazi youth
4. A sophornore

Answer: (1) Hitler

'Der Fuehrer' refers to Adolf Hitler, the dictator of Nazi Germany during the 1936 Berlin Olympics.

Teacher's Note:
a) Understand the historical backdrop of Jesse Owens's memoir.
b) Note the spelling variation 'Der Fehrer' as printed in the question paper.

1.12. Which of the following lines contains the same literary device as the one in 'I wandered lonely as a cloud,' from wordsworth's poem, 'Daffodils'? [1 Mark]
1. 'And miles to go before I sleep/And miles to go before I sleep'
2. 'Fresh as a rose in June'
3. 'Thus Nature spoke-The work was done'
4. 'You're one month on in the middle of May'

Answer: (2) 'Fresh as a rose in June'

The line uses 'as', establishing a direct comparison between two different things, which is a simile, exactly like Wordsworth's line.

Teacher's Note:
a) Identify similes by looking for comparison words like 'like' or 'as'.
b) Distinguish similes from metaphors and personification.

1.13. Which of the following statements is used by Angelou to describe the caged bird? [1 Mark]
1. He opens his throat to sing
2. He dares to claim the sky
3. He leaps on the back of the wind
4. He thinks of another breeze

Answer: (1) He opens his throat to sing

Maya Angelou describes the caged bird singing of unknown things yet still longed for through his bars.

Teacher's Note:
a) Contrast the actions of the free bird and the caged bird in the poem.
b) Memorize key textual descriptions associated with each bird.

1.14. When did the angel appear to Abou Ben Adhem? [1 Mark]
1. On a moonless night
2. Three nights in a row
3. Two nights in succession
4. Twice the same night

Answer: (3) Two nights in succession

The angel visits Abou Ben Adhem on one night and returns the following night with the book of gold.

Teacher's Note:
a) Recall the narrative structure of Leigh Hunt's narrative poem.
b) Pay attention to numerical details in poetic texts.

1.15. Select the option that shows the correct relationship between statements (1) and (2) from Borrowing's poem, 'The Patriot'. [1 Mark]
Statement (1): The old walls rocked with the crowd and cries.
Statement (2): There's nobody on the house-tops now.
1. (1) means the same as (2).
2. (1) is a contrast of (2).
3. (1) is true and (2) is false.
4. (1) is false and (2) is true.

Answer: (2) (1) is a contrast of (2).

Statement 1 describes the enthusiastic crowds welcoming the hero in the past, while Statement 2 highlights the complete desertion of the housetops a year later during his downfall.

Teacher's Note:
a) Note the poet's name is Robert Browning (spelled 'Borrowing' in the question paper error).
b) Analyze how the poem establishes a sharp contrast between past adulation and present rejection.

1.16. 'The eight other athletes stopped in their tracks' means that they ______. [1 Mark]
1. stood poised to run
2. turned slowly around
3. slowed down gradually
4. halted quite suddenly

Answer: (4) halted quite suddenly

The athletes stopped immediately upon seeing a fellow competitor fall during the special olympics race.

Teacher's Note:
a) Understand the idiomatic expression 'stopped in their tracks'.
b) Relate this action to the theme of empathy and sportsmanship in the poem 'Nine Gold Medals'.

SECTION-B

Question 2. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
Portia: Away then! I am lock'd in one of them:
If you do love me, you will find me out.
Nerissa and the rest, stand all aloof.
Let music sound while he doth make his choice;
Then, if he lose, he makes a swan-like end,
Fading in music:

i. Where does the scene take place? What does Portia mean when she says, If you do love me, you will find me out? [3 Marks]

Answer:
1. The scene takes place in Belmont, specifically in a room within Portia's house where the caskets are kept.
2. When Portia says, "If you do love me, you will find me out," she means that if Bassanio truly loves her with genuine understanding, his heart will guide him to choose the correct casket containing her portrait.
3. It implies that true love sees beyond outward appearances and will successfully pass the test.

Teacher's Note:
a) Identify the setting clearly as Belmont, distinct from Venice.
b) Explain the philosophical meaning behind finding her out through true affection.

ii. What TWO words would you use to describe Portia's feelings at this point? Give a reason for your answer. [3 Marks]

Answer:
1. Anxious: Portia feels nervous and tense because her future happiness and marriage depend entirely on Bassanio's choice.
2. Hopeful: She arranges for music to play and expresses confidence in love, showing her desire and positive expectation that he will choose correctly.

Teacher's Note:
a) State two distinct emotional states supported by textual evidence.
b) Connect her anxiety and hope to the stakes involved in the casket test.

iii. Explain Portia’s reference to ‘swan-like end'. [3 Marks]

Answer:
1. Portia uses the poetic metaphor of a 'swan-like end' based on the old legend that mute swans sing a beautiful song just before they die.
2. She means that if Bassanio fails to choose the right casket, his defeat will be graceful, dignified, and accompanied by the fading music.
3. It highlights the tragic yet beautiful weight of his failure.

Teacher's Note:
a) Clarify the myth of the swan's dying song.
b) Explain how this metaphor adds dramatic intensity to the moment of choice.

iv. Later in the scene, Portia gives Bassanio gift. What does she give him? What does this gift symbolise? [3 Marks]

Answer:
1. Portia gives Bassanio a ring as a gift after he successfully chooses the correct lead casket.
2. Commitment and Trust: The ring symbolises Portia's total trust and surrender of her heart, wealth, and self to Bassanio.
3. Test of Fidelity: It also serves as a binding pledge of loyalty, with Portia warning that losing the ring would signify the end of their love.

Teacher's Note:
a) Identify the object given as a ring.
b) Emphasize the symbolic weight of the ring as a recurring motif in the play's plot.

v. What is the theme of the song sung in the background when Bassanio makes his choice? How is the theme reflected in the choice he makes? What does Bassanio find in the casket that he chooses? [4 Marks]

Answer:
1. The theme of the song centers on the distinction between outward appearances and inner truth, cautioning against being deceived by external allure.
2. This theme is reflected when Bassanio rejects the glittering gold and silver caskets and chooses the humble lead casket, recognizing that true worth lies beneath a plain exterior.
3. Inside the lead casket, Bassanio finds Portia's portrait and a descriptive scroll celebrating his wise choice.

Teacher's Note:
a) Connect the song's lyrics directly to Bassanio's decision-making process.
b) List both items found inside the lead casket for full credit.

Question 3. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
Bassanio:
And, I beseech you,
Wrest once the law to your authority.
To do a great right, do a little wrong,
and curb this cruel devil of his will.
Portia:
It must not be. There is no power in Venice
Can alter a decree established:
“I will be recorded for a precedent,

i. Who is on trial? Why is this person on trial? [3 Marks]

Answer:
1. Antonio is the person on trial in this scene.
2. He is on trial because he defaulted on a bond he signed with Shylock, borrowing three thousand ducats.
3. Since Antonio's ships were lost at sea and he could not repay the loan on time, Shylock demands the penalty of a pound of Antonio's flesh.

Teacher's Note:
a) State clearly that Antonio is the defendant facing the penalty.
b) Briefly explain the terms of the defaulted bond.

ii. Explain in your own words Bassanio’s request to portia in the given extract. What reason does he give for his request? [3 Marks]

Answer:
1. Bassanio asks Portia (disguised as the lawyer Balthazar) to bend or slightly break the strict law to achieve a greater moral good.
2. He pleads with her to commit a minor legal wrong ("do a little wrong") in order to save Antonio's life ("do a great right").
3. His reason is his desperate desire to stop Shylock and save his dearest friend from a cruel and fatal penalty.

Teacher's Note:
a) Interpret the paradox in Bassanio's line "To do a great right, do a little wrong".
b) Highlight the desperation behind his appeal.

iii. How does Portia respond to Bassanio's request? What TWO reasons does she give for her response? [3 Marks]

Answer:
1. Portia firmly rejects Bassanio's plea, stating that the law cannot be altered.
2. Legal Integrity: She asserts that no power in Venice can change an established decree or violate the rule of law.
3. Precedent: She warns that bending the law would set a dangerous legal precedent, leading to future abuses and corruption in the justice system.

Teacher's Note:
a) Ensure both reasons (stability of law and danger of precedent) are clearly articulated.
b) Note Portia's strict adherence to legal principles in this phase of the trial.

iv. Who does Bassanio refer to as ‘this cruel devil’? What is this person's response to Portia’s words in the given extract? [3 Marks]

Answer:
1. Bassanio refers to Shylock as 'this cruel devil' due to his merciless and unforgiving demand for a pound of human flesh.
2. Shylock's immediate response is ecstatic praise for Portia's wisdom, calling her a 'Daniel come to judgment'.
3. He is thrilled because he believes the judge is upholding the strict letter of the law in his favor.

Teacher's Note:
a) Identify Shylock as the person meant by the epithet.
b) Describe Shylock's joyful reaction to Portia's apparent refusal to bend the law.

v. How is the ‘cruel devil’ punished at the end of the trial? How fair, in your opinion, is this punishment? Justify your response. [4 Marks]

Answer:
1. Shylock is penalized for conspiring against the life of a Venetian citizen: half his wealth goes to the state and half to Antonio, and he is forced to convert to Christianity.
2. From a legal standpoint, the punishment adheres to Venetian laws protecting citizens against foreign threats.
3. However, morally and ethically, forcing religious conversion and stripping him of his entire livelihood can be seen as excessively harsh and culturally insensitive.
4. This reflects the severe prejudices of the period and highlights the fine line between strict legal justice and vengeance.

Teacher's Note:
a) List the exact components of Shylock's sentence as delivered by Portia.
b) Encourage a balanced critical evaluation of the fairness of the punishment from both legal and humanitarian viewpoints.

SECTION-C

Question 4. Read the following extract from Norah Burke's short story, ‘The Blue Bead’ and answer the questions that follow:
On the way back, she met her mother, out of breath, come to look for her, and scolding.
"I did not see till I was home that you were not there. I thought something must have happened to you."
And Sibia, bursting with her story, cried, “Something did!"

i. What are the tasks that Sibia was required to perform from a very young age? [3 Marks]

Answer:
1. Gathering Water: Sibia walked to the river to collect water for domestic use in heavy clay pots.
2. Fetching Firewood: She searched the jungle for wood to fuel cooking fires.
3. Household Chores and Care: She shouldered heavy responsibilities typical of rural children, helping look after younger siblings and contributing to family survival.

Teacher's Note:
a) Highlight the harsh reality of rural poverty where children take on adult chores.
b) Mention specific duties like water collection and firewood gathering.

ii. What had delayed Sibia and separated her from the other village women on her way home that day? What was Sibia doing when she heard the Gujar woman's cry for help? [3 Marks]

Answer:
1. Sibia was delayed because she spotted a blue bead at the bottom of the river and stayed behind to dive and retrieve it.
2. When she heard the Gujar woman's cry for help, she was standing near the riverbank, having just successfully secured her blue bead.
3. She was daydreaming and playing with stones or preparing to jump across boulders when the cry alerted her to danger.

Teacher's Note:
a) Connect the delay directly to her fascination with the glass bead.
b) Place her exact physical location at the moment the distress call was heard.

iii. What were the dangers that the crocodile had to overcome before it could grow into the ferocious creature that Sibia encountered? [3 Marks]

Answer:
1. Survival as Eggs: As eggs in the sand, they were vulnerable to being eaten by predators like birds and larger carnivores.
2. Environmental Hazards and Rivalry: After hatching, the young crocodile faced harsh river conditions, food scarcity, and fierce competition with siblings and other predators.
3. Learning to Hunt: It had to develop stealth and hunting skills to survive in a hostile aquatic ecosystem.

Teacher's Note:
a) Summarize the background details provided in the story regarding the crocodile's life cycle.
b) Emphasize the natural struggle for existence in the wild.

iv. How does Sibia’s knowledge of the ways of the jungle help her fight the crocodile? [3 Marks]

Answer:
1. Understanding Wildlife: Sibia's familiarity with animal behavior helped her anticipate the crocodile's movements.
2. Use of Improvised Weapons: Growing up in the jungle taught her resourcefulness, enabling her to use her hayfork effectively as a weapon.
3. Courage and Agility: Her physical fitness and fearlessness allowed her to strike precisely at the crocodile's vulnerable eye.

Teacher's Note:
a) Focus on practical survival skills honed by living close to nature.
b) Mention her use of the hayfork aimed at the crocodile's eye.

v. Compare and contrast the mother’s mood with Sibia's in the given extract. Give one reason to explain why each one of them was feeling this way. [4 Marks]

Answer:
1. Mother's Mood: The mother is anxious, breathless, and scolding out of deep worry.
2. Reason for Mother's Anxiety: She realized upon reaching home that Sibia was missing and feared that some fatal accident or wild animal attack had harmed her.
3. Sibia's Mood: Sibia is excited, jubilant, and eager to share her experience.
4. Reason for Sibia's Excitement: She has just survived a thrilling and heroic encounter with a crocodile and successfully saved a woman's life, giving her a huge rush of adrenaline and achievement.

Teacher's Note:
a) Contrast parental fear with youthful exhilaration.
b) Ensure both emotional states are linked to their respective causes.

Question 5. Read the following extract from Jesse Owens's short story, ‘My Greatest Olympic Prize’ and answer the question that follows:
I wasn't too worried about all this. I'd trained, sweated and disciplined myself for six years with the Games in mind. While I was going over on the boat, all I could think about was taking home one or two of those gold medals. I had my eye especially on the running broad jump.

i. What does Owens mean by 'all this'? What games does he refer to? [3 Marks]

Answer:
1. 'All this' refers to the intense training, media pressure, high expectations, and the charged political atmosphere surrounding the Olympics.
2. He refers to the 1936 Summer Olympic Games held in Berlin, Germany.
3. These games were particularly sensitive due to the Nazi regime's propaganda promoting racial supremacy.

Teacher's Note:
a) Explain the historical context of the 1936 Berlin Olympics.
b) Clarify what pressures Owens dismissed as he focused on his goal.

ii. What made Owens confident of winning a gold medal or two? [3 Marks]

Answer:
1. Extensive Training: He had trained, sweated, and disciplined himself rigorously for six years.
2. Focused Preparation: He specialized in his target event, the running broad jump.
3. Proven Track Record: His past collegiate achievements and physical readiness gave him strong self-belief.

Teacher's Note:
a) Highlight the dedication and physical preparation behind his confidence.
b) Mention his specific focus on the broad jump event.

iii. What was the ‘surprise’ that Hitler had kept hidden from the world? How did Owens feel when he came face to face with the ‘surprise’? [3 Marks]

Answer:
1. The 'surprise' was Luz Long, a tall, talented German athlete whom Hitler kept under wraps, expecting him to win the jump events and prove Aryan supremacy.
2. Initially, Owens felt startled and challenged by the sudden appearance of such a formidable competitor.
3. However, this feeling quickly transformed into mutual respect, admiration, and deep friendship.

Teacher's Note:
a) Identify Luz Long as Hitler's secret weapon.
b) Trace the shift in Owens's reaction from surprise to profound camaraderie.

iv. Describe Owens’ performance in the broad jump trials. What doubts filled his mind at this time? [3 Marks]

Answer:
1. Owens performed poorly in the qualifying trials, fouling on his first two attempts.
2. Since athletes were allowed only three trials, one more foul would eliminate him from the finals.
3. Doubts filled his mind that he might fail to qualify, embarrassing himself and dashing his country's hopes for a gold medal.

Teacher's Note:
a) Describe the pressure caused by consecutive fouls.
b) Explain the risk of premature elimination from the competition.

v. What makes Luz Long’s behaviour at the ‘Games’ truly remarkable in the context of the times? Identify a theme that is common to the short story ‘My Greatest Olympic Prize and the poem ‘Nine Gold Medals’. [4 Marks]

Answer:
1. Luz Long's behavior was remarkable because, despite the hostile Nazi propaganda of Aryan supremacy, he openly befriended an African-American athlete and gave him crucial advice to help him qualify.
2. Common Theme: Both works share the theme of true sportsmanship, empathy, and the unifying power of humanity over competitive rivalry.
3. In both stories, fellow competitors help one another, showing that human connection and dignity matter more than winning medals.

Teacher's Note:
a) Emphasize the political danger and moral courage of Long's actions in Nazi Germany.
b) Articulate the shared thematic core between Owens's story and Roth's poem.

SECTION -D

Question 6. Read the following extract from Leigh Hunt's poem, ‘Abou Ben Adhem’ and answer the question that follows:
Exceeding peace had made Ben Adhem bold,
And to the presence in the room he said,

i. The poem begins with a blessing. What is this blessing? Explain its significance. [3 Marks]

Answer:
1. The blessing is the "exceeding peace" that fills Abou Ben Adhem's room when he wakes up.
2. Spiritual Serenity: It reflects his inner tranquility, purity of soul, and a life lived in harmony with spiritual values.
3. Catalyst for Courage: This profound peace removes all fear of the supernatural, emboldening him to speak calmly and directly to the angel.

Teacher's Note:
a) Identify the initial state of 'exceeding peace' as a divine blessing.
b) Explain how it contrasts with typical fearful reactions to supernatural encounters.

ii. Explain in your own words the following lines and phrases from the poem: [3 Marks]
a. ‘Making it rich and like a lily in bloom,’
b. A look made of all sweet accord
c. A great wakening light

Answer:
a. Describes the golden book as glowing with beauty, purity, and spiritual richness like a flourishing flower.
b. Refers to the angel's gentle, peaceful, and benevolent facial expression filled with harmony.
c. Represents a sudden flash of spiritual enlightenment, clarity, and divine awakening.

Teacher's Note:
a) Address all three sub-parts (a, b, and c) clearly and concisely.
b) Interpret the poetic imagery and metaphors accurately.

iii. What was the angel doing in Abou Ben Adhem’s room? What did Abou ask the angel? [3 Marks]

Answer:
1. The angel was writing in a book of gold the names of those who loved the Lord.
2. Abou boldly asked the angel if his own name was included in that sacred list.
3. Upon learning it was not, he made his selfless request to be listed as one who loves his fellow men.

Teacher's Note:
a) State the angel's task clearly based on the text.
b) Highlight Abou's calm curiosity upon discovering his name was absent.

iv. Why did Abou say to the angel, “Write me as one that loves his fellow men”? (Give the context) [3 Marks]

Answer:
1. Context: When Abou asked if his name was in the golden book, the angel replied that it was not.
2. Instead of showing despair, anger, or pleading for divine favor, Abou expressed his deep humanism.
3. He requested to be recorded as a lover of humanity, believing that serving and loving fellow human beings is a true form of devotion.

Teacher's Note:
a) Provide the background context preceding the famous quote.
b) Explain the philosophical shift from direct divine worship to universal love for humanity.

v. Explain the last line of the poem: ‘And lo! Ben Adhem's name led all the rest.” If you had to give the poem a different title, what would you call it? Give a reason for your answer. [4 Marks]

Answer:
1. Explanation of the last line: It reveals that Abou Ben Adhem's name, listed as a lover of his fellow men, topped the divine ledger, signifying that humanitarian love is cherished most by God.
2. Alternative Title: "The Highest Love" or "Love for Humanity".
3. Reason: This title encapsulates the poem's core message that true spiritual greatness and divine grace come from selfless love and service to mankind.

Teacher's Note:
a) Explain the poetic twist at the end of the narrative.
b) Justify the alternative title with reference to the central theme.

Question 7. Read the following extract from Robert Browning's poem, “The Patriot” and answer the question that follows.
Alack, it was I who leaped at he sun
To give it my loving friends to keep!
Nought man could do, have I left undone:
And you see my harvest, what I reap
This very day, now a year is run.

i. What can you conclude of the Patriot's mood from the given lines? Quote the line from the given extract which tells us that the Patriot did his utmost to satisfy his people? [3 Marks]

Answer:
1. The Patriot's mood is one of profound disillusionment, bitterness, and sorrow over human fickleness and betrayal.
2. The quoted line showing he did his utmost is: "Nought man could do, have I left undone:"
3. This reflects his dedication and the unfairness of his tragic reward.

Teacher's Note:
a) Analyze the speaker's emotional state in the extract.
b) Ensure the exact line is quoted accurately with correct punctuation.

ii. The last line of the extract suggests that a year has gone by. How had the speaker been treated a year ago? [3 Marks]

Answer:
1. A year ago, the speaker was treated as a supreme hero and adored by the crowds.
2. The townspeople welcomed him with wild celebrations, throwing roses along his path and rocking church walls with cheers.
3. He enjoyed absolute public adulation and love.

Teacher's Note:
a) Contrast the present suffering with the glorious past described earlier in the poem.
b) Mention specific details like the roses strewn on the path.

iii. How did the situation change a year later? Give details of his present state. [3 Marks]

Answer:
1. Public adoration turned completely into hatred and abandonment within a single year.
2. The Patriot is now bound, bleeding, and being led through silent or hostile streets to his execution.
3. The people who once worshipped him now gather to witness his public downfall and punishment.

Teacher's Note:
a) Detail the dramatic reversal of fortune in the Patriot's life.
b) Highlight the transition from hero to condemned traitor.

iv. Why were only a ‘palsied few” onlookers seated at the windows? ‘Where had the other townspeople gone?‘Why had they gone there? [3 Marks]

Answer:
1. Only a 'palsied few' feeble or paralyzed onlookers remained at the windows because most able-bodied people had left.
2. The other townspeople had gone to the Shambles' Gate.
3. They went there to witness the bloody spectacle of the Patriot's execution.

Teacher's Note:
a) Explain the term 'palsied few' denoting infirm onlookers.
b) Identify the location and purpose of the crowd's gathering.

v. How is the speaker's faith in God revealed at the end of the poem? Do you think the poem ends on a note of hope or despair? Justify your answer. [4 Marks]

Answer:
1. The speaker's faith is revealed in the final line ("I am safer so"), where he believes that God will justly judge him in heaven since earthly men have failed him.
2. The poem ends on a note of spiritual hope rather than absolute despair.
3. Although he faces physical execution and earthly betrayal, his trust in divine justice provides him ultimate peace and redemption beyond the grave.

Teacher's Note:
a) Interpret the concluding line's spiritual significance.
b) Support the argument that transcendent faith triumphs over worldly despair.