ISC Class 12 English Literature Sample Paper 2025 with Solutions

SECTION A - 20 MARKS

Question 1 [10]
Choose the correct options for the following questions.

(i) How does Lady Macbeth attempt to divert the attention of the guests from Macbeth’s strange behaviour at the banquet? [1 Mark]
(a) She uses her social grace and charm to distract the guests.
(b) She engages the guests in conversation and entertainment.
(c) She pretends that Macbeth has an illness that is momentary.
(d) She speaks of Macbeth’s courage in troubled times.

Answer: (c) She pretends that Macbeth has an illness that is momentary.

Lady Macbeth covers up Macbeth's outburst by telling the lords that he has suffered from this strange fit since his youth.

Teacher's Note:
a) Recall Lady Macbeth's quick thinking and presence of mind when managing the lords.
b) Students should not confuse her public excuses with her private reprimands to Macbeth.

(ii) What is Macbeth's reaction when he sees Banquo’s ghost at the banquet? [1 Mark]
(a) He pretends to remain calm and collected.
(b) He is terrified and loses control over himself.
(c) He blames Ross and Lennox for playing tricks on him.
(d) He is proud and boastful.

Answer: (b) He is terrified and loses control over himself.

Macbeth's guilt-ridden conscience causes him to panic openly and shout at the empty chair.

Teacher's Note:
a) Note the sharp contrast between Macbeth's outward bravery and his internal dread.
b) Pay close attention to stage directions indicating his extreme agitation.

(iii) What does Banquo’s soliloquy in Act III Scene i of the play Macbeth, reveal about him? [1 Mark]
(a) He is afraid of Macbeth.
(b) He is puzzled and confused.
(c) He is jealous of Macbeth and wishes to seize the throne.
(d) He is suspicious of Macbeth’s actions.

Answer: (d) He is suspicious of Macbeth’s actions.

Banquo voices his fear that Macbeth played most foully for the crown.

Teacher's Note:
a) Banquo suspects that prophecy has fulfilled itself through foul play by Macbeth.
b) This suspicion makes Banquo a direct threat to Macbeth, leading to his eventual murder.

(iv) In Act V of the play Macbeth, which one of the following do you think reflects the tragic arc of the play? [1 Mark]
(P) Macbeth’s soliloquy; “Out, out brief candle, Life’s but a walking shadow.”
(Q) Lady Macbeth’s breakdown: “What’s done cannot be undone.”
(R) Macduff’s greeting: “Hail, King of Scotland.”
(S) Malcolm’s final words: “So, thanks to all at once and to each one, whom we invite to see us crowned at Scone.”
(a) (P) and (R)
(b) (P) and (Q)
(c) (R) and (S)
(d) (P) and (S)

Answer: (b) Only (P) and (Q)

Statements (P) and (Q) capture the deep nihilism and psychological ruin central to the tragic downfall of the protagonists.

Teacher's Note:
a) The tragic arc focuses on the internal collapse and philosophical disillusionment of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth.
b) Options (R) and (S) represent the restoration of political order rather than the tragic arc itself.

(v) Read the two statements from the short story, The Cookie Lady and choose the correct option from the ones given below. [1 Mark]
Statement I: “Why don’t you read to me from your books? You know I don’t see too well anymore and it’s comfort to me to be read to.”
Statement II: “You don’t mind if I touch your arm, do you?”
(a) Statement I and II are similar.
(b) Statement I and II are not related to each other.
(c) Statement II is the reason for Statement I.
(d) Statement I is the reason for Statement II.

Answer: (d) Statement I is the reason for Statement II.

Mrs. Drew engages Bubber with books and treats so she can get close to him physically and drain his youth.

Teacher's Note:
a) Recognise the manipulative nature underlying Mrs. Drew's seemingly innocent requests.
b) Statement I sets up the context of trust and proximity that allows for the physical contact in Statement II.

(vi) Which of the following BEST captures the central idea of the short story, The Medicine Bag? [1 Mark]
(a) Embracing one’s cultural roots.
(b) Disrespect for the older generation.
(c) The fruits of modernisation.
(d) Peer pressure in adolescents.

Answer: (a) Embracing one’s cultural roots.

Martin evolves from feeling embarrassed by his Sioux heritage to proudly accepting and wearing the medicine bag.

Teacher's Note:
a) The story highlights the importance of cultural continuity across generations.
b) Focus on the transformation of the protagonist's perspective.

(vii) Which natural element plays a crucial role in the end of the story There Will Come Soft Rains? [1 Mark]
(a) Hail
(b) Wind
(c) Heat
(d) Rain

Answer: (b) Wind

A sudden wind blows a bough crashing through the kitchen window, starting the fire that destroys the automated house.

Teacher's Note:
a) Note the irony that despite all advanced technological safeguards, a simple natural gust of wind destroys the house.
b) Read carefully to distinguish between the title elements and the actual catalyst for destruction.

(viii) In the poem Telephone Conversation, the potent metaphor “stench of rancid breath” is used to: [1 Mark]
(a) evoke a strong sense of repulsion and disgust.
(b) describe bad odour in the telephone booth.
(c) create a toxic atmosphere.
(d) create a mental image of the lady with bad breath.

Answer: (a) evoke a strong sense of repulsion and disgust.

The harsh sensory imagery reflects the speaker's intense disgust towards the landlady's cold and prejudiced inquiries.

Teacher's Note:
a) Metaphors in protest poetry often bridge physical sensations with moral repugnance.
b) Do not take the imagery literally; it mirrors the ugliness of racial prejudice.

(ix) Why does Shane Koyczan begin the poem, Beethoven, with the word “Listen”? [1 Mark]
(a) To highlight the fact that Beethoven was abused.
(b) To make the poem appealing and lend rhythm.
(c) To add novelty to the beginning.
(d) To align it with the theme of music.

Answer: (d) To align it with the theme of music.

The opening imperative draws the audience into the auditory and emotional world of a deaf composer.

Teacher's Note:
a) Connect the artistic motif of listening with the profound irony of Beethoven's deafness.
b) Pay attention to how structural devices set the tone in performance poetry.

(x) How is Death personified in the opening lines of the poem, Death be Not Proud? [1 Mark]
(a) As a desperate man
(b) As a gentle agent of Fate
(c) As a mighty conqueror
(d) As a reaper of souls

Answer: (c) As a mighty conqueror

John Donne addresses Death directly, challenging the conventional view of Death as a fearsome conqueror of men.

Teacher's Note:
a) Notice the defiant tone used to strip Death of its terror.
b) Memorise the key metaphysical conceits employed in Donne's holy sonnets.

Question 2 [10]
Complete the following sentences by providing a reason for each in brief. Do not write the question.

(i) Macbeth returns to the witches in Act IV Scene i because _______________. [2 Marks]

Answer:
he seeks to know more of the prophecies and desires reassurance regarding his insecure throne.

Teacher's Note:
a) Highlight Macbeth's growing paranoia and psychological dependence on the supernatural.
b) Ensure answers remain brief and directly address the prompt.

(ii) In Act V Scene viii of the play Macbeth, Macbeth initially refuses to fight Macduff because _______________. [2 Marks]

Answer:
he was already burdened with guilt and his soul was too charged with the blood of Macduff's family.

Teacher's Note:
a) Mention Macbeth's fleeting conscience and reluctance to add more blood to his tally.
b) Contrast this momentary hesitation with his later defiant stance once cornered.

(iii) In Act III Scene iv of the play Macbeth, Lady Macbeth dismissed the guests at the banquet without standing on any ceremony because _______________. [2 Marks]

Answer:
she recognised signs of Macbeth's troubled mind and feared he would blurt out the truth about the murders.

Teacher's Note:
a) Emphasise Lady Macbeth's desperate attempt to salvage the situation before total exposure.
b) Note how public control slips away from the royal couple.

(iv) The escape of Fleance in Act III Scene iii of the play, Macbeth, is significant because _______________. [2 Marks]

Answer:
it ensures that Banquo's line could potentially survive, fulfilling the witches' prophecy that Banquo's descendants would inherit the throne.

Teacher's Note:
a) Fleance's escape serves as the turning point where Macbeth's absolute control begins to unravel.
b) Highlight the inevitability of fate despite human intervention.

(v) In the short story, Atithi, Motilal Babu and Annapurna choose Tarapada as a prospective groom for their daughter because _______________. [2 Marks]

Answer:
they want to temper Charusashi's wild nature and because he is their only daughter's choice, allowing him to stay with them after marriage.

Teacher's Note:
a) Explain the traditional domestic context and the desire to settle an independent wanderer.
b) Keep explanations concise and focused on plot motivation.

(vi) In the short story, The Cookie Lady, Mrs. Drew wanted Bubber to keep visiting her because _______________. [2 Marks]

Answer:
she drew from his vitality and enjoyed the physical transformation as she grew younger again by stealing his youth.

Teacher's Note:
a) Bring out the eerie, supernatural element underpinning the narrative.
b) Connect Mrs. Drew's physical rejuvenation directly to Bubber's exhaustion.

(vii) In the short story, Indigo, Aniruddha asked Sukhanram if there were ghosts in the bungalow because _______________. [2 Marks]

Answer:
the place was spooky and old dak bungalows had a notorious reputation for being haunted.

Teacher's Note:
a) Identify the setting and atmosphere established in the exposition of the story.
b) Note the foreshadowing of psychological or uncanny experiences.

(viii) In the poem, Telephone Conversation, the speaker resented the landlady asking him about the colour of his skin because _______________. [2 Marks]

Answer:
being judged and categorised on the basis of skin colour was ignorant, dehumanising, and insulting.

Teacher's Note:
a) Highlight the theme of systemic racism and reductionist objectification.
b) Emphasise the dignity with which the speaker responds to indignity.

(ix) In the poem, Small Towns and the River, the dead are placed pointing west because _______________. [2 Marks]

Answer:
when the soul rises, it will walk towards the east toward heaven, following a sacred generational ritual.

Teacher's Note:
a) Relate this custom to the deep cultural connection between human life and natural geography in the poem.
b) Ensure terms like orientation and cultural symbolism are clearly understood.

(x) Beethoven amputated the legs of his piano because _______________. [2 Marks]

Answer:
he was deaf and got down on his knees so that he could feel the vibrations directly through the floorboards.

Teacher's Note:
a) Illustrate the extreme dedication of the artist overcoming profound physical adversity.
b) This detail underscores the sensory adaptation depicted in Koyczan's poem.

SECTION B - 60 MARKS

MACBETH - WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

Question 3

(i) 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. [5 Marks]
(a) Malcolm’s testing of Macduff in Act IV
(b) His generalship and the restoration of order through Macduff

Answer:
Malcolm evolves from a cautious, fleeing prince into a wise, strategic leader capable of reclaiming Scotland. Initially displaying suspicion and political maturity in England, he tests Macduff's loyalty by falsely accusing himself of immense vices to ensure Macduff is not a secret agent of Macbeth. This calculated caution demonstrates his growth into a shrewd ruler who understands the deceitful nature of power. Later, as a general leading the English forces alongside Macduff, Malcolm demonstrates tactical brilliance by ordering soldiers to cut down branches from Birnam Wood for camouflage, fulfilling the witches' prophecy. His leadership restores rightful order, culminating in his coronation at Scone, where he rewards his loyal thanes and heals the bleeding nation.

Teacher's Note:
a) Ensure students address both the psychological testing phase and his military leadership.
b) Word count must be maintained strictly within the 100-150 word limit.

(ii) 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. [5 Marks]
(a) The character’s traits before coming to power
(b) The character’s degeneration after coming into power

Answer:
Power in Macbeth acts as a corrosive force that erodes moral integrity and unleashes unbridled tyranny. Macbeth himself exemplifies this profound corruption. Before coming to power, Macbeth is lauded as brave, loyal, and noble - a valiant defender of Duncan known as 'brave Macbeth'. However, once ambition is stoked by the witches and fulfilled by regicide, his character undergoes a catastrophic degeneration. He transforms from an honorable soldier into a paranoid, bloodthirsty tyrant who slaughters innocent families, including those of Macduff and Banquo, merely to secure his crown. Suspicion replaces trust, and tyranny replaces justice, illustrating how absolute power destroys the soul of a once-noble man.

Teacher's Note:
a) Focus on the psychological trajectory from noble hero to isolated tyrant.
b) Check that both pre-power traits and post-power degeneration are clearly contrasted.

(iii) (a) 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. [10 Marks]

Answer:
Macbeth's downfall is a complex interplay between supernatural manipulation, external pressures, and his own fatal flaw of vaulting ambition. While forces beyond his control, such as the equivocal prophecies of the witches and the relentless persuasion of Lady Macbeth, undoubtedly shape his destiny, Macbeth is ultimately the architect of his own ruin. The witches plant the seeds of ambition, but they never command him to commit murder; every bloody deed is chosen through his own free will.

Throughout the play, Macbeth's soliloquies reveal the intense battle within his conscience. He recognises the moral gravity of regicide before killing Duncan, yet he proceeds driven by unchecked desire. His tragedy is not merely that he fights external forces, but that he yields willingly to internal corruption. When compared to Banquo, who faces the same temptations but chooses moral integrity, or Macduff, who acts out of duty and patriotism, Macbeth's choices appear starkly self-destructive. Ultimately, the forces he battles are reflections of his own dark desires. The tragedy concludes not with him defeated by invincible fate alone, but consumed by the psychological monsters he created within himself.

Teacher's Note:
a) Evaluate the balance between free will and predestination in Shakespearean tragedy.
b) Ensure textual references to soliloquies and comparisons with Banquo or Macduff are integrated smoothly.

OR

(b) 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. [10 Marks]

Answer:
Lady Macbeth is initially portrayed as a ruthless, dominant figure who invokes evil spirits to unsex her and drive her husband toward regicide. However, as the play progresses, cracks emerge in her unyielding facade, evoking profound psychological sympathy and moments of poignant human vulnerability. We admire her initial fierce dedication and mental fortitude in managing the immediate aftermath of Duncan's murder, such as when she smears blood on the grooms and calmly tells Macbeth that 'a little water clears us of this deed.'

Sympathy for her arises strongly in Act III Scene ii, when she experiences deep isolation and disillusionment, admitting in an aside that 'Nought's had, all's spent, where our desire is got without content.' Her ambition has brought no peace, only torment. The ultimate awakening of our compassion occurs in Act V, during her sleepwalking scene. Here, the once-formidable queen is reduced to a tragic, broken figure desperately trying to wash imaginary blood from her hands, lamenting, 'All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand.' Her descent into madness and death by suicide transforms her from a villainous instigator into a deeply tragic victim of her own conscience, eliciting profound pity from the audience.

Teacher's Note:
a) Track the emotional shift from condemnation to empathy across the dramatic acts.
b) Use direct quotes from the sleepwalking scene and Act III to substantiate emotional responses.

PRISM - A COLLECTION OF SHORT STORIES

Question 4

(i) 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. [5 Marks]
(a) Reasons for embarrassment
(b) Specific reasons for the change in attitude

Answer:
Initially, Martin feels deeply embarrassed by his Sioux grandfather, Joe Iron Shell, because the old man does not fit the romanticized, cinematic stereotypes of Native Americans that Martin had boasted about to his friends and girlfriend, Cheryl. When Grandpa unexpectedly arrives at their doorstep looking frail, dusty, and traditional, Martin worries about peer ridicule and how his urban friends will react to his cultural roots. However, this embarrassment transforms into profound appreciation as Martin spends time with his grandfather. Grandpa shares stories of his ancestors, passes down the sacred medicine bag containing a piece of sacred sage, and prepares Martin for the cultural rite of passage. Understanding the deep heritage, love, and sacrifice embodied in the medicine bag fills Martin with pride and respect for his ancestry.

Teacher's Note:
a) Emphasise the shift from adolescent superficiality to cultural pride.
b) Check that both causes of embarrassment and catalysts for change are explicitly covered.

(ii) 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. [5 Marks]
(a) Mrs. Drew’s repeated interactions with Bubber
(b) Role of the cookies in the short story

Answer:
Mrs. Drew's fascination with young Bubber stems from her desperate desire to regain her lost youth and vitality. Through repeated, calculated interactions under the guise of offering warmth and companionship, she lures the boy into her isolated home. The cookies play a central, symbolic role in this eerie psychological manipulation; they serve as the sweet bait that masks her predatory intentions. Each visit, fuelled by delicious treats and soothing stories, allows Mrs. Drew to physically drain Bubber's life force and energy through touch, transferring his youth to her aging body while leaving him exhausted. The story chillingly uses baking and hospitality as instruments of parasitic rejuvenation.

Teacher's Note:
a) Bring out the Gothic undertones and the symbolic role of domestic comfort masking supernatural theft.
b) Maintain the prescribed word limit.

(iii) (a) 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. [10 Marks]

Answer:
Rabindranath Tagore's Atithi presents Tarapada as the quintessential embodiment of a free spirit, akin to a bird that refuses to be caged by domesticity or societal conventions. From his runaway days with a theatrical party to his arrival in Motilal Babu's household, Tarapada charms everyone with his carefree nature, musical talent, and deep connection with the natural world. He remains completely indifferent to material wealth, social status, or the formal constraints of formal education and responsibilities.

When Motilal Babu and Annapurna attempt to tie him down by arranging his marriage to their daughter Charusashi, offering him a settled life and secure future, Tarapada feels the invisible chains of domesticity tightening around him. Marriage represents an anchor that would halt his endless journey across rivers and open skies. True to his restless, nomadic soul, rather than succumbing to the domestic trap and societal expectations, Tarapada slips away into the night before the wedding ceremony. His final flight back to nature underscores the thematic message that certain spirits belong to the vast open world rather than the confines of human society.

Teacher's Note:
a) Analyse Tarapada's character traits as a symbolic wanderer.
b) Discuss the societal pressure of marriage versus individual freedom.

OR

(b) 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. [10 Marks]

Answer:
Ray Bradbury's There Will Come Soft Rains is a haunting post-apocalyptic narrative defined by the chilling complete absence of living human beings, who have been vaporised by a nuclear blast. The story's only inhabitant is an automated, fully functioning smart house that mechanically continues its daily routines - cooking meals, cleaning floors, and reciting poetry - oblivious to the fact that its creators are dead. This total absence of humanity creates a stark, eerie tone of mechanical indifference, highlighting the absurdity of technology functioning mindlessly in a vacuum.

The absence of human characters serves as a powerful satirical and philosophical commentary on human folly and hubris. It underscores how humankind has engineered tools capable of total self-destruction while nature and technology remain entirely unconcerned. The house's ultimate destruction by a natural fire, sparked by a fallen bough, reinforces the central thematic message: nature endures long after human civilization and its mechanical monuments have turned to ash. The story concludes with the mechanical voice repeating the date, emphasizing the chilling detachment of a world left behind by man.

Teacher's Note:
a) Examine the dystopian and post-apocalyptic motifs.
b) Highlight the philosophical triumph of nature over human technology.

RHAPSODY: POETRY

Question 5

(i) 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. [5 Marks]
(a) The speaker’s conversation with the landlady
(b) The undertones of racial and colour bias in the conversation

Answer:
Wole Soyinka's Telephone Conversation highlights a sharp cultural and racial clash between an African speaker seeking rented accommodation and a prejudiced English landlady. During the telephone exchange, the speaker honestly reveals his racial identity before viewing the apartment to avoid awkwardness, triggering an uncomfortable silence filled with cold racial bias. Instead of engaging with his character or credentials, the landlady reduces him to a biological classification through her blunt, dehumanising question: 'ARE YOU DARK? OR VERY LIGHT?' This interrogation exposes the pervasive undertones of colour prejudice in Western society, contrasting the speaker's dignity and cultured articulation with the landlady's ignorant obsession with skin pigmentation.

Teacher's Note:
a) Focus on the theme of institutionalised and casual racism.
b) Ensure both dialogue dynamics and racial undertones are addressed within word limits.

(ii) Referring to the poem Tithonus, show how his immortality becomes a curse. Answer in 100-150 words incorporating the following details. [5 Marks]
(a) Circumstances leading to Tithonus receiving a boon
(b) Reasons for the boon becoming a curse

Answer:
Tithonus, loved by Eos, the goddess of Dawn, receives the gift of eternal life when he asks her for immortality. However, in her youthful carelessness, Eos forgets to ask for eternal youth alongside eternal life. Consequently, Tithonus continues to age indefinitely, shrivelling into a helpless, grey shadow of a man confined to the Eastern chambers of the sky. This immortality becomes a cruel curse because he is trapped in a decaying, decrepit body while his divine lover remains radiantly youthful and immortal. He loses his human vitality, his strength, and his companionship, ultimately pleading with the gods to take back the gift and let him rest in earth's quiet darkness.

Teacher's Note:
a) Highlight the irony of asking for immortality without eternal youth.
b) Connect Tithonus's physical decay with his psychological suffering.

(iii) (a) 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. [10 Marks]

Answer:
John Donne's metaphysical sonnet Death Be Not Proud relies fundamentally on the extended conceit that death is akin to sleep, using this comparison to strip Death of its terrifying reputation. In the opening lines, the speaker asserts that 'Rest and sleep, which but thy pictures be, / Much pleasure, then from thee much more must flow.' By arguing that physical sleep provides rest, comfort, and pleasure to humans, Donne reasons that true death, which is merely a deeper sleep, must offer even greater peace and spiritual liberation.

Furthermore, this comparison downpowers Death by showing that people willingly surrender to sleep every night without fear. If sleep brings rest and rejuvenation, death is simply a brief transition into eternal awakening. The poet uses this metaphor to mock Death's perceived omnipotence, pointing out that Death is enslaved to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men, and often consorts with poison, war, and sickness. Ultimately, the comparison serves the sonnet's triumphant theological message: just as humans wake refreshed after sleep, Christian souls wake to eternal life where 'death shalt be no more.' Death itself ultimately dies.

Teacher's Note:
a) Explain metaphysical conceits and how Donne personifies and deconstructs abstract concepts.
b) Discuss the theological triumph over mortality at the conclusion of the sonnet.

OR

(b) 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. [10 Marks]

Answer:
Shane Koyczan's poem Beethoven vividly portrays how profound physical and emotional suffering acts as the crucible for supreme artistic genius. Rather than treating Beethoven's deafness and personal trials as impediments to his music, the poem frames his agony as the very source of his revolutionary creativity. When silence descends upon the composer, cutting him off from the external world of sound, he is forced inward, transforming his internal pain into transcendent symphonies.

The poem illustrates Beethoven's struggle against adversity through striking imagery, such as him amputating the legs of his piano to feel the vibrations directly through the floorboards. His physical affliction strips away ordinary distractions, allowing him to compose music that echoes the raw pulse of human suffering and triumph. The pain of isolation, abuse, and failing health becomes the ink with which he writes masterpieces like the Ninth Symphony. When performed, his music does not merely entertain; it overwhelms audiences, healing their spirits and proving that out of immense darkness and personal torment, art achieves its highest, most immortal excellence.

Teacher's Note:
a) Analyse how physical suffering is transmuted into artistic brilliance.
b) Use specific textual references such as the modified piano and the visceral impact of his music on audiences.