ICSE 2023 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 2023 examination, paper code T23 012. It carries 80 marks and gives two hours for writing after 15 minutes of reading time. Section A is compulsory: 16 one-mark multiple-choice questions on the play, the short stories and the poems. They then answer four 16-mark extracts: one on The Merchant of Venice, one on the Treasure Trove short stories, one on the Treasure Trove poems, and one extra from any of those sections. The extracts set are An Angel in Disguise, All Summer in a Day, Daffodils and I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. Questions only.

Exam

ICSE Class 10

Subject

English Literature

Year

2023

Paper code

T23 012

Maximum marks

80

Time allowed

2 hours + 15 min reading

Questions

7

Pages

8

Answers included

No, questions only

Paper pattern

• Section A

  16 marks

  Question 1: 16 compulsory multiple-choice questions, one mark each, on the drama, short stories and poems

• Section B – Drama

  Questions 2 and 3: extracts from The Merchant of Venice, 16 marks each (parts worth 3, 3, 3, 3 and 4); answer at least one

• Section C – Prose

  Questions 4 and 5: extracts from An Angel in Disguise and All Summer in a Day, 16 marks each; answer at least one

• Section D – Poetry

  Questions 6 and 7: extracts from Daffodils and I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, 16 marks each; answer at least one

Topics covered

• The Merchant of Venice
• An Angel in Disguise
• All Summer in a Day
• The Blue Bead
• The Little Match Girl
• My Greatest Olympic Prize
• Daffodils
• I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
• The Patriot
• Abou Ben Adhem
• Nine Gold Medals

Questions from this paper

1. Who does Portia refer to as 'my lord'? Where is he, and why had he left in such haste?
2. What is the principal that Shylock asks for? Why does Portia refuse to give it to him?
3. Describe the way in which the children's mother died in 'An Angel in Disguise'. What factors led to her death?
4. Who is Margot in 'All Summer in a Day'? How does the author describe her, and where do the children live?
5. What mood do the words 'wandered' and 'lonely' convey at the opening of 'Daffodils'? What led to a change in Wordsworth's mood?
6. What does the caged bird sing about? Which groups of people do the free bird and the caged bird represent?