English literature:

General Instructions

1. Attempt five questions in all.

2. You must attempt one question from each of the Sections A, B and C and
any two other questions.
3. The intended marks for questions or parts of questions are given in brackets [
].

SECTION A - DRAMA

Shakespeare : Julius Caesar

Question 1
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:

Cassius : Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world

Like a Colossus; and we petty men
Walk under his huge legs, and peep about
To find ourselves dishonourable graves.
Men at some time are masters of their fates:
The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars,
But in ourselves, that we are underlings.

i. What is referred to as 'a Colossus'? Why does Cassius compare Caesar to

the Colossus? [3]
ii. 'Men at some time are masters of their fates.' Name two people who warn
Caesar about his fate. What do they say? What is Caesar's reaction to the
warnings? [3]
iii. Later in the scene, what reasons does Caesar give to Antony for considering
Cassius 'dangerous'?
iv. Which two instances does Cassius give to prove that Caesar is a physically
weak person?
v. Mention any three vital errors of judgement that Brutus makes. In your
opinion, which particular trait in his character brings about his downfall? [4]

Question 2
Read the extract given below and answer the question that follow:

Antony : If you have tears, prepare to shed them now,

 You all do know this mantle: I remember
The first time ever Caesar put it on;
'T was on a summer's evening, in his tent,
That day he overcame the Nervii.
Look, in this place ran Cassius' dagger through:
See what a rent the envious Casca made:
Through this the well-beloved Brutus stabb'd;

i. Who were the 'Nervii'? Why does Antony mention the names of Cassius,
Casca and Brutus as he shows the mob the mantle? [3]
ii. State two arguments put forward by Antony earlier to prove that Caesar was
not ambitious. [3]
iii. 'Through this the well-beloved Brutus stabb'd.' Why does Antony refer to
Brutus as 'well-beloved'? Why was the stabbing of Caesar by Brutus referred
to as 'the most unkindest cut of all'? [3]
iv. Which document does Antony have with him during his speech? What are the
contents of the document? [3]
v. At the end of the play, Antony says of Brutus, 'This was the noblest Roman of
them all ......' What explanation does Antony give to justify his statement? [4]

Question 3
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:

Ronnie (opening his eyes) : Yes, Father?

Arthur I am reading the account of the debate. Would you like
to listen, or would you rather go to bed?
Ronnie Oh, I'd like to listen, of course, Father. I was listening,
too, only I had my eyes shut-
Arthur Very well. (Reading)

i. How old is Ronnie? How was Ronnie introduced to the readers in the
beginning of the play? [3]
ii. What is 'the debate' about? In 'the account' what is said about Ronnie? [3]
iii. Who enters shortly after? What does this person say and what is Arthur's
reply? [3]
iv. What does Catherine say when she enters and sees Ronnie fast asleep? [3]
v. What is Ronnie accused of ? How do Dickie and Grace react to the
accusation? State, giving one reason, the impression you form of Ronnie from
the above extract. [4]
Question 4
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:

Grace : John? I hope you didn't speak to him, Kate.

Catherine: Of course I did.
Grace : Kate, how could you! What did he say?
Catherine: He wished us luck.
Grace : What impertinence! The idea of John Watherstone coming
calmly up in Court to wish you luck I think it's the most
disgraceful, cold blooded

i. Who is John Watherstone? How is he introduced to the readers in the earlier

part of the play? [3]
ii. Why does Grace say, 'I hope you didn't speak to him'? What opinion does
Grace have of John at this time? Do you agree with it? Give a reason to
support your answer. [3]
iii. What advice does Grace give to Dickie a little later? Why does she advise him
so? [3]
iv. Soon after, why does Desmond enter by the garden door? Give a brief
account of the conversation that takes place between Catherine and
Desmond. [3]
v. Which character in the play has appealed to you the most? Give reasons to
justify your answer. [4]

SECTION B - Poetry
Images of Life**

Question 5**
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:

It's a warm wind, the west wind, full of birds' cries;

I never hear the west wind but tears are in my eyes,
For it comes from the west lands, the old brown hills,
And April's in the west wind, and daffodils.

i. Why does the poet call the west wind 'a warm wind'? Why do the poet's eyes
get filled with tears when he hears the west wind? [3]
ii. Why does the poet consider the west land a 'fine land'? State four features of
the west land as mentioned in the poem. [3]
iii. How does the west wind try to capture the attention of the poet and what
effect does it have on the poet? [3]
 iv. The west wind describes the poet as a person who is suffering. Mention what
the west wind says about this. What relief does the west wind offer?
v. Name the poet. Give briefly the theme of the poem. In what way has this
poem appealed to you? [4]

Question 6**
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:

My right side bled, my cheek was torn, and I

Dislodged, detachedly, a piece of glass,
All the time wondering what had come to pass.
Where was my wife? Alarmed, I gave a shout, .........

(i) Who is the speaker and from which poem has this extract been taken? What
other physical injuries had the speaker received? [3]

(ii) Describe the appearance of the speaker's wife when she 'emerged' in response
to his shout. Where did the speaker intend to go with her and why? [3]

(iii) Why did the speaker then tell his wife to 'go on ahead'? What made her leave
the place? How did the speaker feel after she had left? [3]

(iv) Later in the poem, the speaker says: 'It took some time for me to understand.'
What did the speaker understand? Who were the four people, the speaker saw on
the way to the hospital? What was common to them all? [3]

(v) What is the 'incident' described in the poem? Name the poet. What are your
feelings after reading the poem? [4]

SECTION C - Prose**
Figments of Imagination

Question 7**
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:

"You can't find faces in Rome," Michelangelo grumbled to Pope Julius.

"There's no character in the faces here. They all look alike!"
"And what do you see in my face?" the Pope asked, almost in jest.
Without even a pause, the artist replied, "A burning candle."

i. What task had Pope Julius assigned to Michelangelo? Why had the Pope
chosen Michelangelo and not Bramante? What were Michelangelo's reasons
for accepting the assignment? [3]
ii. Narrate briefly two instances from the story that show Michelangelo as
'eccentric'. [3]
 iii. Explain the following:
(a) 'There's no character in the faces here.'
(b) 'A burning candle.' [3]
iv. Briefly describe how Michelangelo found the face of Judas for his assignment.
[3]
v. Who is the author of this story? What message does the story convey? How
has this story appealed to you? [4]

Question 8**
Briefly narrate the story "Dusk" and bring out the humour and irony in the story. [16]

The Old man and the Sea**

Question 9**
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:

The iridescent bubbles were beautiful. But they were the falsest things in the sea
and the old man loved to see the big sea turtles eating them. The turtles saw them,
approached them from the front, then shut their eyes so they were completely
carapaced and ate them filaments and all.

i. How does the old man describe the 'iridescent bubbles' earlier? Why does the
old man sometimes have welts and sores on his arms and hands? [3]
ii. What else does the old man love besides loving 'to see the big sea turtles
eating them'? What opinion does the old man have of the turtles? [3]
iii. How does the old man keep himself fit and strong? Why does he talk to
himself while out at sea? [3]
iv. State your feelings for the old man after he returns to the harbour from his
fishing trip. [3]
v. Who wishes the old man 'good luck' before he sets out to sea? Describe the
relationship between this person and the old man. What was the opinion of
the other fisherman about the old man? [4]

Question 10**

Give an account of all that happens from the time the fish took the bait till the old
man said, 'God let him jump'. [16]

The Village by the Sea

(Anita Desai)

Question 11
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
"We are farmers and fishermen from Alibagh," said man quietly before he moved on.

"We have come to speak to the Chief Minister."

"You do that," the policeman told him. "You do that he is waiting for you, with tea
and a garland and a sweet for each of you." He burst out laughing again, winking at
the bus-driver as he did so, and then blew his whistle shrilly to make them move.
Hari and his companion moved on, very hurt and offended.

(i) Who is Hari? Briefly explain the reasons that compelled Hari to leave his village.
[3]

(ii) Later in Bombay, why did Hari face threats from another policeman? Who saved
him? How? [3]

(iii) Which place were the farmers and fishermen from Alibagh heading for? What
had inspired them to do so? [3]

(iv) State two reasons why Hari had joined the procession. How did Hari feel after
the conclusion of the meeting with the Chief Minister? [3]

(v) At the end of the story, who gives Hari the confidence he needs? What advice
does this person give him? How is it similar to what Mr. Panwallah had told Hari
earlier in the story? [4]

Question 12

Briefly narrate Hari's encounter with the man living in the shack, who had information
about new factories. Why was Hari disappointed after the encounter? [16]