ICSE 2018 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 2018 examination, paper code T18 012. It gives two hours for writing after 15 minutes of reading time. Candidates answer five questions, at least one from each section, and not more than two further questions from books already chosen. In drama they take one play only, either Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice or Galsworthy's Loyalties. The poems are Michael Mack's Small Pain in My Chest and Nissim Ezekiel's The Professor. In prose they choose one book: the short stories (Norah Burke's Journey by Night and Stephen Leacock's My Lost Dollar), Animal Farm, or To Sir, With Love. Extract questions have five parts, and the alternate questions are 16-mark essays. Questions only.

Exam

ICSE Class 10

Subject

English Literature

Year

2018

Paper code

T18 012

Time allowed

2 hours + 15 min reading

Questions

12

Pages

8

Answers included

No, questions only

Paper pattern

• Section A – Drama

  Questions 1–4: answer one or both questions from only one play, either The Merchant of Venice or Loyalties; extract questions of 16 marks each

• Section B – Poetry

  Questions 5–6: extract questions on Small Pain in My Chest and The Professor, 16 marks each; answer one or both

• Section C – Prose

  Questions 7–12: an extract and a 16-mark essay from only one book — the short stories, Animal Farm or To Sir, With Love

Topics covered

• The Merchant of Venice
• Loyalties
• Small Pain in My Chest
• The Professor
• Journey by Night
• My Lost Dollar
• Animal Farm
• To Sir, With Love

Questions from this paper

1. Which casket did Morocco finally choose? What reasons did he give for rejecting the casket made of lead?
2. How was Bassanio persuaded to give away the ring Portia had given him at their marriage? What does this reveal of his relationship with Antonio?
3. What message did Dancy's letter contain? What is your opinion of Dancy at the end of the play?
4. With close reference to the text, show how Stephen Leacock uses humour and exaggeration to describe his attempts to get back his lost dollar.
5. Give a brief account of the Battle of the Cowshed and Snowball's role in it.
6. Give a brief description of Braithwaite's encounter with a stranger at St. James Park. How did this meeting change the course of his life?