LITERATURE IN
ENGLISH
ENGLISH Paper -2
(Two hours)
Answers to this paper must be
written on the paper provided separately. You will not be allowed to
write during the first 15 minutes.
This time is to
be spent in reading the question paper.
The time given
at the head of the paper is the time allowed for writing the answers.
Attempt five
questions in all.
You must attempt one question
from each of the Sections A, B and C and any two other
questions.
The intended
marks for questions or parts of questions are given in brackets [ ]
SECTION
A-DRAMA
The Merchant of
Venice: Shakespeare
Question
1.
Read
the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
Portia: Go draw aside the curtains, and
discover
The several
caskets to this noble prince,-
Now make your
choice.
Morocco: The first, of gold, who this inscription
bears:
(i) Where are Portia and the Prince of Morocco?
Why is he here? What is the inscription on the gold casket? [3]
(ii) What are
the inscriptions on the other two caskets? How would the Prince know if he
chose
the right casket? [3]
(iii)Why
does the Prince of Morocco decide to choose the gold casket? [3]
(iv)
Why does the Prince of Morocco reject the other two caskets? [3]
(v) Give a character sketch of the
Prince of Morocco based on your observations now, and from an earlier scene.
[4]
Question
2.
Read
the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
Duke: How shalt thou hope for mercy,
rendering
none?
Shylock: What judgment shall I dread, doing no
wrong?
You have among
you many a purchased slave,
Which, like your
asses and your dogs and
mules,
You
use in abject and in slavish parts, Because you bought them: shall I say to
you,
(i)
What does Shylock continue to say about
the treatment of slaves? How does he
connect
this argument to his demand for the pound of flesh? [3]
(ii)
Why does the Duke decide
to dismiss the court? Whose entry prevents him from doing so? What are the
contents of the letter that this person hands over to the
Duke? [3]
(iii)
What does Shylock do in the meantime
that makes Gratiano declare he wishes to
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hold opinion
with Pythagoras? What was Pythagoras’ view?
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[3]
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(iv)
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What details
of the bond are used by Portia to outwit Shylock?
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[3]
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(v)
Why does Shylock hate
Antonio? What recent incident in Shylock’s personal life made him feel bitter?
What do you personally feel about Shylock’s mental
condition? [4]
SECTION B-POETRY
A Collection of
Poems
Question
3 .
Read
the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
“I looked around to get some aid- the
only things I found Were big, deep craters in the earth- bodies on the ground.
I kept on firing at them, sir. I tried to do my best,
But finally sat
down with this small pain in my chest.”
(Small Pain in
My Chest: Michael Mack)
(i)
Where is the soldier boy sitting? What
had he requested for earlier? How can you
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conclude from
his words, in the poem, that he is very brave and optimistic?
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[3]
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(ii)
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Describe the
battle as narrated by the soldier boy.
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[3]
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(iii)
What evidence of physical injury can be
seen on the soldier boy? What does he say
about
what his wife and mother would think? [3]
(v)
What does the soldier boy say about the
sun? What does it indicate about his physical How does the poet react in the
end? What does he express about their wounds? What
is
the message conveyed through the poem? [4]
Question
4.
Read
the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
Remember
me? I am Professor Sheth. Once I taught you geography. Now
I am retired,
though my health is good.
(The Professor:
Nissim Ezekiel)
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(i)
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What else does
Professor Sheth say about his health later on?
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[3]
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(ii)
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What does
Professor Sheth mention about his sons?
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[3]
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(iii)
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What
are the Professor’s views on change, progress and values?
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[3]
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(iv)
What ‘joke’ does the Professor make
about his student? Do you personally think this
joke
is funny? Why? [3]
(v)
What are the different
aspects of ‘Indian English’ that the Professor uses while speaking? How far do
you think is the poet accurate in his depiction of the ‘typical
Indian
mentality’? [4]
SECTION C-PROSE
A Collection of
Short Stories
Question
5.
Read
the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
On
the other hand I know that I shall remember all my life that Todd owes me a
dollar. It will make no difference, I trust, to our friendship; but I shall
never be able to forget it. I don’t know how it is with other people; but if
any man borrows a dollar from me I carry the recollection of it to the grave.
(i) When did Todd borrow a dollar from the
narrator? How did it happen? [3]
(ii)
Where did Todd send him a note from?
What did the narrator expect to find in it?
What
was there in the note? Why was the narrator confused by it? [3]
(iii)
When did Todd return?
Where did the narrator meet him? What did the narrator suggest? [3]
(iv)
What other hints did the narrator drop
to make Todd remember that he owed him a
dollar?
What were Todd’s responses? [3]
4
begin?
What final instruction did he give, in conclusion, to the reader that indicates
he truly wanted his dollar back? [4]
‘Different
people react differently when faced with danger.’ How did Kabeer’s speech about
people
from different walks of life showcase the extraordinary bravery of people in
‘India’s
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Heroes’?
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[16]
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