ISC Class 12 English Literature Sample Paper 2024 with Solutions

SECTION A - 20 MARKS

Question 1

Choose the correct options for the following questions. [10]

(i) Miranda: Oh, wonder!
                 How many goodly creatures are there here!
                 How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world,
                 That has such people in't!
What leads Miranda to exclaim “O brave new world” in Act V Scene i of the play, The Tempest? [1 Mark]
(a) The realisation that her father is the powerful Duke of Milan.
(b) The sight of Ariel and other spirits.
(c) The sight of Alonso and his courtiers.
(d) The realisation that she would be the Queen of Naples.

Answer: (c) The sight of Alonso and his courtiers.

Miranda has grown up on a remote island with only her father and Caliban. Seeing a group of noblemen for the first time fills her with awe and wonder.

Teacher's Note:
a) This quote is one of the most famous lines in Shakespeare, expressing youthful innocence and wonder.
b) Students often confuse this with her meeting Ferdinand earlier in the play; however, the plural reference to "people" and the full assembly of courtiers occurs in Act V.

(ii) Why do Juno and Iris describe Ceres as “bounteous” during the masque in The Tempest? [1 Mark]
(a) She is the queen of the gods.
(b) She is the goddess of harmony.
(c) She is the nymph of the woods.
(d) She is the goddess of agriculture.

Answer: (d) She is the goddess of agriculture.

Ceres is associated with the harvest, crops, and the earth's abundance.

Teacher's Note:
a) Classical mythology forms the basis of the betrothal masque created by Prospero.
b) Remember that bounteous means yielding abundant crops or generosity in harvest.

(iii) Prospero: Though with their high wrongs I am struck to th’ quick?
                  Yet with my nobler reason 'gainst my fury
                  Do I take part:
Which quality of Prospero is reflected in the decision that he takes eventually in Act V Scene i of the play, The Tempest? [1 Mark]
(a) Honesty
(b) Understanding
(c) Rationality
(d) Forgiveness

Answer: (d) Forgiveness

Prospero chooses mercy over vengeance, deciding that the rarer action is in virtue than in vengeance.

Teacher's Note:
a) This speech marks the turning point where Prospero overcomes his desire for revenge.
b) Students should note how reason triumphs over emotional fury in his character arc.

(iv) How does Ariel’s music influence Stephano and Trinculo in Act III Scene ii of the play, The Tempest? [1 Mark]
(a) It calms them.
(b) It amazes and frightens them.
(c) It helps them express their emotions.
(d) It helps them resolve conflicts with each other.

Answer: (b) It amazes and frightens them.

Ariel plays the tune on a tabor and pipe invisibly, causing fear and wonder in the drunken clowns.

Teacher's Note:
a) Music is used effectively on the island by Ariel to manipulate and disorient characters.
b) Stephano is initially frightened before Caliban reassures him that the isle is full of noises.

(v) Which one of the following qualities describes the narrator’s character in the short story Fritz? [1 Mark]
(a) He is arrogant.
(b) He is rational.
(c) He is indifferent.
(d) He is ambitious.

Answer: (b) He is rational.

Jaygopal adopts a logical and skeptical approach towards Shankar's childhood memories and the ghostly presence of Fritz.

Teacher's Note:
a) The narrator acts as a foil to Shankar's sentimental attachment to his childhood toy doll.
b) His rational outlook makes the final discovery under the deodhar tree even more shocking.

(vi) What is the central idea emphasised in the short story B. Wordsworth? [1 Mark]
(a) Beauty of the nature
(b) Alienation of the artist
(c) Importance of money
(d) Importance of success

Answer: (b) Alienation of the artist

The poet lives on the margins of a materialistic society that fails to understand or value his imagination and art.

Teacher's Note:
a) B. Wordsworth is a tragic figure in a harsh, commercialized urban environment.
b) The story highlights how society marginalizes sensitive, creative souls.

(vii) In the short story The Singing Lesson, what made Miss Meadows change from conducting a mournful song to a happy one? [1 Mark]
(a) Basil’s confession that he is fond of her.
(b) Basil’s telegram telling her to ignore the letter sent by him.
(c) The students’ rendition of the song.
(d) The Headmistress’ confirmation of Miss Meadows doing a good job.

Answer: (b) Basil’s telegram telling her to ignore the letter sent by him.

The telegram restores her hope and happiness, washing away the despair caused by his earlier cruel letter.

Teacher's Note:
a) Katherine Mansfield uses music as a direct reflection of the protagonist's emotional state.
b) The sudden shift from minor to major key mirrors her dramatic mood swing.

(viii) “With the same pains you use to fill a cup
          Up to the brim, and even above the brim.”
The above lines taken from the poem Birches describe how the boy climbs the tree. Which quality of the boy is being highlighted here? [1 Mark]
(a) Curiosity
(b) Courage
(c) Optimism
(d) Mindfulness

Answer: (d) Mindfulness

The boy takes meticulous care and absolute attention to detail in every step of his climb.

Teacher's Note:
a) Robert Frost highlights the precise, careful discipline involved in youthful play.
b) Mindfulness here refers to complete awareness and caution so as not to snap the birch tree prematurely.

(ix) “The sea is calm tonight.”
Which one of the following explains why the poem Dover Beach starts with the above line? [1 Mark]
(I) To help readers visualise the setting of the poem.
(II) To convey that religious faith is diminishing in the world.
(III) To urge readers to show more compassion and peace in the world.
(IV) To express that the apparent calm is deceptive.
(a) Only (I)
(b) Only (I) and (IV)
(c) Only (III) and (IV)
(d) Only (I), (III) and (IV)

Answer: (b) Only (I) and (IV)

The serene description sets the physical scene while also foreshadowing the melancholic roar of the pebbles, indicating that the peace is transient and deceptive.

Teacher's Note:
a) Matthew Arnold uses sensory contrast between the calm sea and the turbulent human condition.
b) Statement I establishes setting, and Statement IV captures the underlying psychological tension.

(x) In the poem The Darkling Thrush, which poetic device has the poet used while describing the wind as the ‘death-lament’? [1 Mark]
(a) Simile
(b) Onomatopoeia
(c) Visual imagery
(d) Metaphor

Answer: (d) Metaphor

The wailing of the wind is directly identified as a death-lament for the dying century without using words like 'like' or 'as'.

Teacher's Note:
a) Thomas Hardy infuses inanimate nature with sorrowful human attributes.
b) A metaphor establishes a direct equivalence, heightening the gloomy atmosphere of the poem.

Question 2

Complete the following sentences by providing a reason for each in brief. Do not write the question. [10]

(i) In Act III Scene i of The Tempest, Miranda says that she does not remember the face of any woman because ____________________________. [1 Mark]

Answer: she has lived in isolation on a remote island with her father Prospero and Caliban as her only companions since she was a toddler.

Teacher's Note:
a) Miranda's sheltered upbringing emphasizes her innocence and lack of worldly exposure.
b) Students must mention her isolation and the absence of female figures on the island.

(ii) In Act III Scene iii of The Tempest, Alonso becomes very upset after Ariel visits them as a harpy because ____________________________. [1 Mark]

Answer: Ariel accuses Alonso, Sebastian, and Antonio of their past crimes against Prospero and warns them that divine vengeance has doomed them to madness on the island.

Teacher's Note:
a) The harpy speech triggers a profound guilty conscience in the usurping lords.
b) Alonso believes his son Ferdinand has drowned as punishment for this sin.

(iii) In Act IV Scene i of The Tempest, Prospero feels that the efforts he has taken to civilise Caliban are in vain because____________________________. [1 Mark]

Answer: Caliban's base and vicious nature is incapable of moral improvement, culminating in his plot to assassinate Prospero.

Teacher's Note:
a) Nature versus nurture is a prominent theme reflected in Caliban's character.
b) Despite education and care, Caliban remains rebellious and unrepentant.

(iv) In Act V Scene i of The Tempest, Prospero decides to present himself as the Duke of Milan to Alonso, Sebastian and Antonio because__________________. [1 Mark]

Answer: he wants to restore his rightful political identity and prove to his enemies that he is alive and regretaining his dukedom.

Teacher's Note:
a) This revelation reestablishes order and resolves the political conflict of the play.
b) It shocks the usurpers who thought him dead or permanently banished.

(v) In the short story Fritz, the narrator suggested digging the ground where Fritz was buried because ____________________________________. [1 Mark]

Answer: he wanted to verify Shankar's uncanny claims and put an end to the mystery surrounding whether Fritz was a real human child or merely a toy doll.

Teacher's Note:
a) The excavation brings a chilling climax to the psychological mystery.
b) It blurs the line between childhood imagination and reality.

(vi) In the short story The Singing Lesson, Miss Meadows assumed that Basil had committed suicide because_______________________________. [1 Mark]

Answer: his cold, abrupt letter of rejection contained a desperate final line stating that he was not going to care anymore and was ending it all.

Teacher's Note:
a) Miss Meadows' emotional vulnerability makes her catastrophize the situation.
b) The dramatic overreaction highlights her deep insecurity regarding her relationship.

(vii) In the short story Quality, Gessler’s competitor was more successful than he was because_________________________________. [1 Mark]

Answer: the competitor focused on mass production, aggressive advertisement, and flashy publicity rather than genuine craftsmanship and material quality.

Teacher's Note:
a) Gessler brothers represent traditional artisans destroyed by modern commercialism.
b) Quality cannot compete with slick marketing in a capitalist economy.

(viii) In the poem Birches, the poet compares life to a ‘pathless wood’ because________________________________. [1 Mark]

Answer: life is full of complexities, confusions, and obstacles where one can easily get lost or face unexpected trials without a clear roadmap.

Teacher's Note:
a) The metaphor captures human vulnerability and uncertainty in life's journey.
b) Escaping temporarily into a birch tree offers a refreshing perspective.

(ix) In the poem The Dolphins, the poet says that the dolphins are in their ‘element’ and yet not free because ______________________________. [1 Mark]

Answer: they are confined within the artificial boundaries of a man-made pool and exploited for human entertainment.

Teacher's Note:
a) Environmental degradation and animal captivity are central themes of the poem.
b) Physical presence in water does not equal natural freedom.

(x) In the poem John Brown, John Brown’s mother boasted about her son going to war because _________________________________. [1 Mark]

Answer: she was blinded by false patriotic pride and social glorification of military sacrifice without realizing the brutal reality of war.

Teacher's Note:
a) The mother's ignorant pride contrasts sharply with the horrifying reality of her son's fate.
b) It satirizes blind jingoism and societal glorification of violence.

SECTION B - 60 MARKS

The Tempest: William Shakespeare

Question 3

(i) Provide two details from the play to show the growing love between Miranda and Ferdinand when the former visits the latter. What are Prospero’s feelings as he secretly observes the two? Write your answer in a short paragraph of about 100-150 words. [5 Marks]

Answer:
When Miranda visits Ferdinand carrying heavy logs in Act III Scene i, their growing love is evident through mutual declarations of affection and Ferdinand's willingness to endure servitude just to serve her. Miranda weeps at his hard labor and proposes marriage to him, while Ferdinand praises her as a wonder and vows to make her queen. As Prospero secretly observes them, he feels immensely pleased and gratified that his grand design is succeeding perfectly. Although he maintains a stern exterior to test their commitment, his parental heart is filled with joy and satisfaction at their pure, reciprocal devotion.

Teacher's Note:
a) Students must mention both the interaction between the lovers and Prospero's hidden emotional reaction.
b) Word limit and conciseness are essential for short paragraph questions carrying 5 marks.

(ii) What are Prospero’s reasons for presenting the masque? Why does it end abruptly? Write your answer in a short paragraph of about 100-150 words. [5 Marks]

Answer:
Prospero presents the classical masque featuring Juno, Ceres, and Iris to celebrate the betrothal of Miranda and Ferdinand, blessing their union with wishes of honor, riches, and a prosperous future. He also wishes to entertain the young couple and showcase his magical prowess. However, the masque ends abruptly because Prospero suddenly remembers the dangerous conspiracy of Caliban, Stephano, and Trinculo against his life. His sudden agitation shatters the illusion, leading to his famous philosophical speech about the transient nature of mortal life and all earthly pageantry.

Teacher's Note:
a) Clarify both the purpose of the masque and the dramatic interruption caused by Caliban's plot.
b) Connect the abrupt ending to Prospero's realization of human mortality.

(iii) (a) With reference to Act III Scene ii of the play, describe Caliban’s plot to murder Prospero with the help of Trinculo and Stephano. What do his interactions with Trinculo and Stephano reveal about his personality and desires? Write your answer in about 200-250 words. [10 Marks]

Answer:
In Act III Scene ii, Caliban plots to assassinate Prospero by exploiting Stephano and Trinculo's intoxication. He urges Stephano to catch Prospero unawares while he is napping, emphasizing the need to seize his books of magic, without which Prospero is powerless. Caliban instructs them to batter his skull, pierce his puncheon, or brain him with a log, while securing his daughter Miranda for Stephano, whom Caliban hails as king of the island. Caliban's interactions with the two drunkards reveal his gullibility, subservience, and deep-seated thirst for revenge. Having failed to realize that Stephano is a foolish, drunken butler rather than a divine savior, Caliban readily transfers his allegiance, groveling before him and kissing his feet. His primary desires are freedom from Prospero's tyranny and the reclaiming of his island. However, his method shows his ignoble nature, as he relies on treacherous assassination rather than honorable combat. His obsession with Miranda's beauty and his desire to populate the island with a new race underscores his primitive and carnal instincts. Through this episode, Shakespeare portrays Caliban as both a victim of colonization and a vengeful plotter incapable of true nobility.

Teacher's Note:
a) Detail the specific steps of the assassination plan as narrated by Caliban.
b) Analyze Caliban's character traits, focusing on his desperation, revenge, and misplaced loyalty.

OR

(b) With any two supporting details from Act V, explain what Prospero’s reconciliation with his enemies and renunciation of his magic indicate about his character. Write your answer in about 200-250 words. [10 Marks]

Answer:
Prospero's reconciliation with his enemies and his renunciation of his magical art in Act V reflect profound maturity, spiritual growth, and ultimate human wisdom. Two key supporting details highlight this transformation: first, when he forgives Alonso, Antonio, and Sebastian despite their grave treachery, declaring that "the rarer action is / In virtue than in vengeance"; second, his solemn vow to break his staff, drown his book deeper than plummet ever sounded, and return to Milan to await his mortality. These actions indicate that Prospero has evolved from a bitter, vengeful exile obsessed with retribution into a compassionate, forgiving father and ruler. His reconciliation demonstrates moral elevation; he chooses mercy and restoration over retaliation, recognizing that true power lies in grace and human connection rather than supernatural control. Furthermore, his renunciation of magic signifies his acceptance of human limitations and mortality. By abandoning his books and staff, he relinquishes superhuman control to reintegrate fully into human society, acknowledging that his ultimate duties belong to his kingdom and his soul rather than arcane arts. Thus, Act V completes Prospero's arc from a wrathful sorcerer to a wise, merciful human being.

Teacher's Note:
a) Ensure two distinct details from Act V are explicitly cited and analyzed.
b) Discuss the psychological and moral growth of Prospero from vengeance to forgiveness.

ECHOES: PROSE

Question 4

(i) Describe any three ways in which B. Wordsworth influenced the narrator’s thinking in the short story, B. Wordsworth. Write your answer in a short paragraph of about 100-150 words. [5 Marks]

Answer:
B. Wordsworth profoundly transformed the narrator's imagination and perception of the world in three distinct ways. First, he taught the young boy to look beyond the mundane realities of urban life, opening his eyes to the profound beauty of nature, such as the mystery of the stars and the secret life of plants. Second, he introduced him to the wonder of poetry, teaching him that the greatest poet in the world was someone who could write about nothing. Third, B. Wordsworth instilled in him a deep sense of empathy, emotional depth, and wonder, making him cherish quiet companionship over material possessions and shaping his lifelong appreciation for art and imagination.

Teacher's Note:
a) Clearly enumerate three distinct impacts on the narrator's mindset.
b) Keep the paragraph concise and focused on thematic transformation.

(ii) What, according to you, is the reason for Mrs. Mallard’s death in The Story of an Hour? In a short paragraph of about 100-150 words, explain why her death might be considered ironic. [5 Marks]

Answer:
Mrs. Mallard dies from a sudden heart attack brought on by profound shock and bitter disappointment when she discovers that her husband, Brently Mallard, is actually alive. Having tasted the sweet illusion of absolute freedom and independence following the news of his death, the sudden crushing realization that her old life of subjugation is back overwhelms her fragile heart. Her death is profoundly ironic because the doctors diagnose it as death from "joy that kills," believing she died of overwhelming happiness upon seeing her living husband. In reality, she died because her newly found freedom was snatched away instantly, proving that the joy of liberation, rather than marital reunion, caused her fatal collapse.

Teacher's Note:
a) Explain both the literal cause of death and the dramatic irony intended by Kate Chopin.
b) Contrast the doctors' misunderstanding with Mrs. Mallard's true emotional state.

(iii) (a) The story Quality is a commentary on the tension between the dedication of a true craftsman and commercial enterprise. Substantiate this statement in about 200–250 words with reference to the lives of the Gessler brothers, as portrayed in the story. [10 Marks]

Answer:
John Galsworthy's short story Quality presents a poignant exploration of the tragic clash between traditional artisanship and modern commercial enterprise through the lives of the Gessler brothers. The Gesslers are quintessential craftsmen who treat bootmaking not merely as a commercial trade, but as a sacred art. They use only the finest leather, personally measure and craft every pair to ensure absolute durability and perfection, and refuse to compromise on quality for the sake of profit or speed. In stark contrast, the rising commercial enterprises prioritize mass production, low costs, attractive advertisements, and flashy storefronts over the actual utility and durability of goods. Because the Gessler brothers refuse to advertise or cut corners, their customer base shrinks. They spend all their earnings on rent and superior leather, working tirelessly through day and night, leading ultimately to severe poverty and starvation. The death of the younger brother from slow starvation and the elder brother's demise from sheer exhaustion symbolize the brutal annihilation of pure craftsmanship by ruthless industrial capitalism. Galsworthy uses their tragic fate to lament how modern society values cheap, superficial commercial success over true dedication, integrity, and uncompromising quality.

Teacher's Note:
a) Focus on the contrast between artisan dedication and industrial capitalism.
b) Use specific references to the Gessler brothers' working methods and eventual tragic downfall.

OR

(b) With the help of supporting evidence from the short story, The Singing Lesson, explain how Basil’s letter of rejection made Miss Meadows feel? How did it reflect in her interaction with the Science Mistress and the students? Write your answer in about 200 -250 words. [10 Marks]

Answer:
Basil’s letter of rejection plunges Miss Meadows into an abyss of utter despair, emotional paralysis, and humiliation. The letter, stating that marriage between them would be a mistake and expressing cold indifference, shatters her dreams of domestic happiness and social security. She feels as though her whole world has collapsed, reducing her life to a dreary, hopeless void. This overwhelming grief and bitterness manifest immediately in her interactions with others around her. When she encounters the Science Mistress, Miss Wyatt, who innocently shows her a cold chrysanthemum, Miss Meadows responds with uncharacteristic harshness and coldness, remarking that it looks like a funeral token. Entering her music classroom, she vents her inner agony on her students, treating them with unprecedented severity. She forces them to abandon a joyful song and demands they sing a mournful, agonizing lament: "A lament is what I want," she declares sharply. She criticizes their performance mercilessly, making a sensitive student named Mary Beazley cry by highlighting her flat singing. Her inner turbulence turns her into a tyrant in the classroom, projecting her personal romantic rejection onto helpless children. Only when the telegram arrives later from Basil reversing his decision does her demeanor transform instantly back to radiant joy.

Teacher's Note:
a) Detail the psychological impact of Basil's letter on Miss Meadows.
b) Describe her cold behavior towards the Science Mistress and her harsh treatment of the choir students.

REVERIE: POETRY

Question 5

(i) “We were blessed and now we are not blessed.”
With reference to the above lines from the poem The Dolphins, explain why the dolphin thinks that they were ‘essed’? What is their life like now? Write your answer in a short paragraph of about 100-150 words. [5 Marks]

Answer:
The dolphins consider themselves formerly ‘blessed’ because they once lived freely in their natural, vast ocean habitat, swimming in pure water, communicating through songs, and living in complete harmony with the rhythms of nature. In contrast, their life now is one of cruel confinement and misery inside a cramped, man-made pool. They are imprisoned within artificial boundaries, forced to perform demeaning tricks for human amusement, surrounded by polluted gray water, and cut off forever from the deep sea and their companions. Their existence has been reduced from joyful freedom to bleak, agonizing captivity.

Teacher's Note:
a) Contrast the dolphins' past freedom with their present state of captivity.
b) Highlight the environmental message of human cruelty and ocean degradation.

(ii) Describe how the poet in the poem John Brown establishes the hollowness behind the glorification of war. Write your answer in a short paragraph of about 100-150 words, supporting your analysis with any two details from the poem. [5 Marks]

Teacher's Note:
a) Ensure two specific details from the poem are included in the paragraph.
b) Emphasize the anti-war theme and satirical critique of blind nationalism.

(iii) (a) How does the poet use visual imagery to convey despair and despondency in the poem, The Darkling Thrush? What effect does the song of the thrush have on the mood of the poet? Write your answer in about 200-250 words. [10 Marks]

Answer:
Thomas Hardy uses powerful and bleak visual imagery in the opening stanzas of The Darkling Thrush to paint a picture of profound despair, despondency, and a dying century. The landscape is depicted as cold, desolate, and lifeless. The frost is described as ‘spectre-grey,’ and the cloudy winter twilight is likened to the ‘corpser-sky’ of the dying year. The tangled stems of climbing plants across the sky resemble broken strings of a lyre, symbolizing the loss of music and joy in the universe. Every living creature appears huddled and frozen against the biting wind, while the landscape itself seems to be the corpse of the dying century, buried in cloud-drawn sepulchers. This chilling visual imagery successfully evokes a mood of utter hopelessness and gloom. However, this profound despair is pierced by the sudden, joyous song of an aged, frail, and slender thrush. The bird bursts into a full-hearted evocation of ecstatic sound amid the desolate gloom. The effect of this song on the poet is profound: though he remains unable to see any rational cause for such optimism in the bleak world, the bird's hopeful melody instills in him a sense of bewildered wonder. It suggests that there exists a blessed hope, unknew to him, hinting at resilience, renewal, and a lingering spark of life in a bleak universe.

Teacher's Note:
a) Detail specific visual images like 'spectre-grey' and 'corpse-sky'.
b) Analyze the psychological shift in the poet upon hearing the thrush's song.

OR

(b) What is the central idea of the poem Dover Beach? How does the poet resolve the conflict in his mind, towards the end of the poem? Justify your answer in about 200-250 words with supporting details from the poem. [10 Marks]

Answer:
The central idea of Matthew Arnold’s Dover Beach is the loss of religious faith in the modern Victorian world and the resulting spiritual crisis, isolation, and despair. The poet begins by describing a calm, serene sea at night from the cliffs of Dover. However, the sound of the retreating pebbles reminds him of the ‘eternal note of sadness,’ comparing the sea of faith to a once full girdle that is now withdrawing from the world’s shores, leaving humanity exposed in a dark, naked, and desolate reality. Arnold resolves the internal conflict caused by this overwhelming spiritual desolation by turning away from the hostile, meaningless external world toward human love and personal relationships. In the final stanza, he makes an earnest plea to his beloved: “Ah, love, let us be true / To one another!” He realizes that while the world offers neither joy, nor love, nor light, nor certitude, nor peace, and is merely a darkling plain where ignorant armies clash by night, true human connection, fidelity, and compassion can serve as a vital refuge and anchor against the surrounding chaos and despair. Thus, personal love becomes the ultimate salvation in a faithless, fractured universe.

Teacher's Note:
a) Explain the central theme of spiritual disillusionment and loss of faith.
b) Discuss how human love is presented as the only solace and resolution to existential despair in the concluding stanza.