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Prescribed Play - ISC Class 12 English Literature Questions with Answers, Page 3

61 past-paper questions on Prescribed Play from ISC Class 12 English Literature papers (2021-2017), newest first, in full. Questions 41-60 are on this page, 20 to a page. Tap "Show answer" under a question to see its answer.

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2019 · 10 marks · Short answerOpen: Proserpine : Another lecture? Morell : Yes. The Hoxton Freedom Group want me to…
Proserpine : Another lecture? Morell : Yes. The Hoxton Freedom Group want me to address them on Sunday morning (he lays great emphasis on Sunday, this being the unreasonable part of the business) What are they? Proserpine : Communist Anarchists I think.
(i)[1.0]
Where are Morell and Proserpine? How does Morell learn about the lecture?
(ii)[2.0]
Why do you think Morell lays such emphasis on the word ‘Sunday’?
(iii)[2.0]
What does he say when he learns that they are Communist Anarchists
(iv)[2.0]
How do we know that Morell leads a busy life?
(v)[2.0]
Whom does he go on to term ‘near relatives’? What does he mean by this?
(vi)[1.0]
Who enters soon after this? What is Morell’s attitude towards this person?

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2018 · 10 marks · Short answerOpen: Sergius : Louka! (she stops and looks defiantly at him) A gentleman has no…
Sergius : Louka! (she stops and looks defiantly at him) A gentleman has no right to hurt a woman under any circumstances. [with profound humility, uncovering his head] I beg your pardon. Louka : That sort of apology may satisfy a lady. Of what use is it to a servant? Sergius : [rudely crossed in his chivalry, throws it off with a bitter laugh, and says slightingly) Oh! You wish to be paid for the hurt? [He puts on his shako, and takes some money from his pocket]. Louka : [her eyes filling with tears in spite of herself] No: I want my hurt made well. Sergius : [sobered by her tone] How?
(i)[1.0]
Why does Sergius ask Louka’s pardon?
(ii)[2.0]
Why had he hurt her?
(iii)[2.0]
Why does Louka remind Sergius that she is a servant?
(iv)[2.0]
Why do Louka’s eyes fill with tears?
(v)[2.0]
How does Louka want her hurt made well?
(vi)[1.0]
How does Sergius react to the suggestions?

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2018 · 20 marks · Short answerOpen: Choose two of the passages (a) to (c) and answer briefly the questions that…
Choose two of the passages (a) to (c) and answer briefly the questions that follow:
(a)
Benedick : I can see yet without spectacles, and I see no such matter. There’s her cousin, an she were not possessed with a fury, exceeds her as much in beauty as the first of May doth the last of December. But I hope you have no intent to turn husband, have you? Claudio : I would scarce trust myself though I had sworn the contrary, if Hero would be my wife. (i) Whom is Benedick referring to in the above lines? [1] (ii) Benedick says: ‘I see no such matter.’ What does he mean by it? [2] (iii) Explain the lines: [1½] “There’s her cousin, an she were not possessed with a fury, exceeds her as much in beauty as the first of May doth the last of December”. (iv) What does the comparison of Beatrice with May suggest about Benedick? [2] (v) What does Claudio mean by ‘sworn the contrary’? [2] (vi) Give the meaning of the following words as they are used in the [1½] context of the passage: possessed; fury; intent
(b)
Don John : Come, let us to the banquet [Exeunt all but Claudio] Claudio : Thus answer I in name of Benedick, But hear these ill news with the ears of Claudio. ’Tis certain so; the prince woos for himself. Friendship is constant in all other things Save in the office and affairs of love. Therefore all hearts in love use their own tongues. Let every eye negotiate for itself, And trust no agent; for beauty is a witch Against whose charms faith melteth into blood. This is an accident of hourly proof, Which I mistrusted not. Farewell, therefore, Hero. [Enter Benedick] Benedick : Count Claudio? Claudio : Yea, the same. (i) Where are the speakers? Describe Claudio’s state of mind. [1] (ii) What has Don John just revealed to Claudio? [2] (iii) Explain the lines: [1½] “Therefore all hearts in love use their own tongues. Let every eye negotiate for itself, And trust no agent;” (iv) How does Don John succeed in conveying his thoughts to Claudio? What is his intention in doing so? [2] (v) Why is ‘beauty’ said to be a ‘witch’? Which aspect of Claudio is seen here? [2] (vi) Give the meanings of the following words as they are used in the [1½] context of the passage: ill; save; office;
(c)
Don John : Fie, fie, they are Not to be nam’d my lord, not to be spoke of, There is not chastity enough in language Without offence to utter them. Thus, pretty lady, I am sorry for thy much misgovernment. Claudio : O Hero! What a Hero hadst thou been If half thy outward graces had been plac’d About thy thoughts and counsels of thy heart! But fare thee well, most foul, most fair; farewell Thou pure impiety and impious purity For thee I’ll lock up all the gates of love, And on my eyelids shall conjecture hang To turn all beauty into thoughts of harm, And never shall it more be gracious. (i) Where are the speakers? What leads Claudio to speak in this manner? [1] (ii) What are the charges levelled against Hero by Don Pedro? [2] (iii) Explain the lines: [1½] “What a Hero hadst thou been If half thy outward graces had been plac’d About thy thoughts and counsels of thy heart!” (iv) What are the immediate reactions of Leonato and Hero to Claudio’s words? [2] (v) What impressions do we form about Leonato in this scene? [2] (vi) Give the meanings of the following words as they are used in the context [1½] of the passage: misgovernment; impiety; conjecture

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2018 · 10 marks · Short answerOpen: Raina : [timidly] Nine thousand hotels? Bluntschli : Hotels! Nonsense. If you…
Raina : [timidly] Nine thousand hotels? Bluntschli : Hotels! Nonsense. If you only knew! Oh, it’s too ridiculous. Excuse me: I must give my fellow orders about starting. [He leaves the room hastily, with the documents in his hand]. Louka : [knowing instinctively that she can annoy Raina by disparaging Bluntschli] He has not much heart, that Swiss. He has not a word of grief for his poor father. Raina : [bitterly] Grief ! A man who has been doing nothing but killing people for years! What does he care? What does any soldier care? [She goes to the door, restraining her tears with difficulty]. Louka : Major Saranoff has been fighting too; and he has plenty of heart left. [Raina, at the door, draws herself up haughtily and goes out].
(i)[1.0]
What news has Bluntschli just received?
(ii)[2.0]
What makes Raina ask, ‘Nine thousand hotels’?
(iii)[2.0]
Why is Bluntschli in such a hurry to leave? What does Louka comment about him?
(iv)[2.0]
Why is Raina upset with Bluntschli?
(v)[2.0]
Why, in your opinion, does Louka compare Bluntschli to Sergius? What does she comment when Raina leaves the room?
(vi)[1.0]
Who enters the room at this point? What news does he give Louka?

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2018 · 10 marks · Short answerOpen: Raina : Come away from the window (She takes him firmly back to the middle of…
Raina : Come away from the window (She takes him firmly back to the middle of the room. The moment she releases him he turns mechanically towards the window again. She seizes him and turns him back, exclaiming) Please! (He becomes motionless, like a hypnotized rabbit, his fatigue gaining fast on him. She releases him, and addresses him patronizingly). Now listen. You must trust to our hospitality. You do not yet know in whose house you are. I am a Petkoff. The Man : A pet what? Raina : [rather indignantly] I mean that I belong to the family of the Petkoffs, the richest and best known in our country. The Man : Oh yes, of course. I beg your pardon. The Petkoffs, to be sure. How stupid of me! Raina : You know you never heard of them until this moment. How can you stoop to pretend! The Man : Forgive me. I’m too tired to think; and the change of subject was too much for me. Dont scold me.
(i)[1.0]
Why did the man keep turning to the window?
(ii)[2.0]
Which examples of the social superiority of the Petkoffs does Raina give the man?
(iii)[2.0]
Which opera does Raina mention? With whom does she compare herself ? What does this tell you about her?
(iv)[2.0]
In Raina’s opinion, what should the man have done instead of threatening her?
(v)[2.0]
What does the man tell Raina about his father? Why does he do so?
(vi)[1.0]
What does the man do at the end of the scene?

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2017 · 10 marks · Case basedOpen: Petkoff : [vexed] Now who could have supposed you were going to do such a…
Petkoff : [vexed] Now who could have supposed you were going to do such a thing? Sergius : [with fire] Everyone that knew me. But enough of myself and my affairs. How is Raina; and where is Raina? Raina : [suddenly coming around the corner of the house and standing at the top of the steps in the path] Raina is here.
ARMS AND THE MAN — George Bernard Shaw Question 2 Choose two of the passages (a) to (c) and answer briefly the questions that follow:
(i)[1.0]
Which action of Sergius upsets Petkoff?
(ii)[2.0]
How does Catherine react to Raina’s sudden appearance?
(iii)[2.0]
What opinion on “soldiering” does Sergius convey to Catherine?
(iv)[2.0]
What does Petkoff comment on the subject of “soldiering”?
(v)[2.0]
State what Sergius reveals about his interaction with Bluntschli.
(vi)[1.0]
State Petkoff’s opinion of “That Swiss fellow”.

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2017 · 10 marks · Case basedOpen: Bluntschli : [promptly] Instinct, dear young lady. Instinct, and experience of…
Bluntschli : [promptly] Instinct, dear young lady. Instinct, and experience of the world. Raina : [wonderingly] Do you know, you are the first man I ever met who did not take me seriously? Bluntschli : You mean, dont you, that I am the first man that has ever taken you quite seriously? Raina : Yes: I suppose I do mean that. [Cosily, quite at ease with him] How strange it is to be talked to in such a way! You know, Ive always gone on like that. Bluntschli : You mean the-?
ARMS AND THE MAN — George Bernard Shaw Question 2 Choose two of the passages (a) to (c) and answer briefly the questions that follow:
(i)[1.0]
What reasons did Bluntschli give for disbelieving Raina?
(ii)[2.0]
How has his ‘instinct’ and ‘experience’ helped him?
(iii)[2.0]
What confession does Raina make soon after this?
(iv)[2.0]
How does Bluntschli reassure Raina that he does not despise her?
(v)[2.0]
How did Raina react to the observation made by Bluntschli?
(vi)[1.0]
Which action of Bluntschli makes Raina very happy?

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2017 · 10 marks · Case basedOpen: The Man : Ah, perhaps not. No, of course not! Well, it’s a funny sight. It’s…
The Man : Ah, perhaps not. No, of course not! Well, it’s a funny sight. It’s like slinging a handful of peas against a window pane: first one comes; then two or three close behind him; and then all the rest in a lump. Raina : [her eyes dilating as she raises her clasped hands ecstatically] Yes, first one! The bravest of the brave! The Man : [prosaically] Hm! You should see the poor devil pulling at his horse.
ARMS AND THE MAN — George Bernard Shaw Question 2 Choose two of the passages (a) to (c) and answer briefly the questions that follow:
(i)[1.0]
What made the man speak in this manner?
(ii)[2.0]
What is a funny sight? Why is it funny?
(iii)[2.0]
“Yes, first one! The bravest of the brave!” Explain these lines.
(iv)[2.0]
Why did the man say that, “You should see the poor devil pulling at his horse”? Why did he need to do this?
(v)[2.0]
What did the man say next about young and old soldiers?
(vi)[1.0]
What does the extract tell us about the character of the man?

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2017 · 10 marks · Case basedOpen: Leonato : No, not so, villain; thou beliest thyself. Here stand a pair of…
Leonato : No, not so, villain; thou beliest thyself. Here stand a pair of honourable men. A third is fled, that had a hand in it. I thank you, princes, for my daughter’s death. Record it with your high and worthy deeds. ’Twas bravely done, if you bethink you of it. Claudio : I know not how to pray your patience, Yet I must speak. Choose you revenge yourself; Impose me to what penance your invention Can lay upon my sin. Yet sinn’d I not But in mistaking
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING — Shakespeare Question 1 Choose two of the passages (a) to (c) and answer briefly the questions that follow:
(i)[1.0]
Where are Claudio and Leonato? Who are the others present?
(ii)[2.0]
Who are the “pair of honourable men” referred to by Leonato? Why has the “third” person fled?
(iii)[1.5]
Explain the lines: “Record it with your high and worthy deeds. ’Twas bravely done, if you bethink you of it.”
(iv)[2.0]
Describe Leonato’s mood in these lines. Why does Claudio pray for Leonato’s patience?
(v)[2.0]
What “penance” does Leonato impose on Claudio?
(vi)[1.5]
Give the meanings of the following words as they are used in the context of the passage: hand; bethink; invention

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2017 · 10 marks · Case basedOpen: Don John : I wonder that thou, being-as thou say’st thou art-born under Saturn…
Don John : I wonder that thou, being-as thou say’st thou art-born under Saturn, goest about to apply a moral medicine to a mortifying mischief. I cannot hide what I am: I must be sad when I have cause, and smile at no man’s jests; eat when I have stomach, and wait for no man’s leisure; sleep when I am drowsy, and tend on no man’s business; laugh when I am merry, and claw no man in his humour. Conrad : Yea, but you must not make the full show of this till you may do it without controlment.
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING — Shakespeare Question 1 Choose two of the passages (a) to (c) and answer briefly the questions that follow:
(i)[1.0]
Who are Don John and Conrad?
(ii)[2.0]
Who was born under Saturn? How does Saturn influence the temperament of people?
(iii)[1.5]
Explain the lines: “I cannot hide what I am: I must be sad when I have cause, and smile at no man’s jests”
(iv)[2.0]
What advice does Conrad give to Don John regarding his brother Don Pedro? How does Don John react to it?
(v)[2.0]
Is John happy to take Conrad’s advice? What act of villainy does he plan to do next?
(vi)[1.5]
Give the meanings of the following words as they are used in the context of the passage: claw; humour; controlment

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