ICSE 2017 English Literature Question Paper for Class 10

About this paper

This is the ICSE Class 10 Literature in English (English Paper 2) question paper from the 2017 examination, paper code T17 012. It gives two hours for writing after 15 minutes of reading time. Candidates answer five of the twelve questions, at least one from each of Section A (Drama), Section B (Poetry) and Section C (Prose). The plays are Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice and John Galsworthy's Loyalties. The poems are Longfellow's A Psalm of Life and Tagore's Where the Mind is Without Fear. The prose texts are the story India's Heroes, Tagore's Kabuliwala, Orwell's Animal Farm and Braithwaite's To Sir, With Love. Extract questions are marked 3, 3, 3, 3 and 4, and Questions 8, 10 and 12 are 16-mark essays. This copy has the questions only.

Exam

ICSE Class 10

Subject

English Literature

Year

2017

Paper code

T17 012

Time allowed

2 hours + 15 min reading

Questions

12

Pages

7

Answers included

No, questions only

Paper pattern

• Section A – Drama

  Questions 1–4: extract questions on The Merchant of Venice (Questions 1–2) and Loyalties (Questions 3–4), 16 marks each

• Section B – Poetry

  Questions 5–6: extract questions on A Psalm of Life and Where the Mind is Without Fear, 16 marks each

• Section C – Prose

  Questions 7–12: an extract and a 16-mark essay each on the short stories, Animal Farm and To Sir, With Love

Topics covered

• The Merchant of Venice
• Loyalties
• A Psalm of Life
• Where the Mind is Without Fear
• India's Heroes
• Kabuliwala
• Animal Farm
• To Sir, With Love

Questions from this paper

1. Who had tried the caskets before the Prince of Arragon? Which casket had that suitor chosen, and what did he find inside?
2. Explain 'Tell me not in mournful numbers, Life is but an empty dream!' What should not be considered the goal of life?
3. To whom is Tagore praying in 'Where the Mind is Without Fear', and whose mind does the opening of the poem refer to?
4. Describe the first meeting and the last meeting between the Kabuliwala and Mini. What realisation dawns on the Kabuliwala after the last meeting?
5. Boxer lives his life in patient and unquestioning service. How far is this statement true? Throw light on Boxer's character.
6. Give an account of the trip to the Victoria and Albert Museum that Braithwaite planned for his class.