ICSE 2019 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 2019 examination, paper code T19 012. It gives two hours for writing after 15 minutes of reading time. Candidates answer five questions from only three books, at least one from each section and no more than two extra questions from books already chosen. Drama is one play: Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice or Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap. The poems are Southey's After Blenheim, Browning's The Patriot and David Roth's Nine Gold Medals. Prose is one book: the short stories (A Face in the Dark, My Greatest Olympic Prize and All Summer in a Day), Orwell's Animal Farm, or Jack London's The Call of the Wild. This copy has the questions only.

Exam

ICSE Class 10

Subject

English Literature

Year

2019

Paper code

T19 012

Time allowed

2 hours + 15 min reading

Questions

18

Pages

13

Answers included

No, questions only

Paper pattern

• Section A – Drama

  Questions 1–6: three questions each on The Merchant of Venice and The Mousetrap; answer from only one play, 16 marks a question

• Section B – Poetry

  Questions 7–9: extract questions on After Blenheim, The Patriot and Nine Gold Medals, 16 marks each

• Section C – Prose

  Questions 10–18: three questions each on the short stories, Animal Farm and The Call of the Wild; answer from only one book

Topics covered

• The Merchant of Venice
• The Mousetrap
• After Blenheim
• The Patriot
• Nine Gold Medals
• A Face in the Dark
• My Greatest Olympic Prize
• All Summer in a Day
• Animal Farm
• The Call of the Wild

Questions from this paper

1. What does the opening extract reveal of the relationship between Antonio and Bassanio? Mention one way in which this relationship was put to the test later in the play.
2. How does Portia succeed in saving Antonio? What does this reveal of her character?
3. Who was the victim in The Mousetrap? Why was the victim murdered, and what was the signature tune the murderer whistled?
4. What, according to Southey, are the consequences often associated with great and famous victories? What message does After Blenheim convey?
5. Name the planet on which 'All Summer in a Day' is set, and describe everyday life on that planet.
6. How was Thornton talked into a wager that involved Buck, during a conversation in the Eldorado Saloon?