Oswal 36 Sample Question Papers ISC Class 12 English-II Solutions

Section-A

Answer 1.

(i) (d) Loss of his son

(ii) (a) By Juno’s gait

(iii) (c) Drown it deeper than plummet’s sound

(iv) (a) Venus

(v) (a) the relationship between an eponymous poet and a fascinated child

(vi) (d) Both (a) and (b)

(vii) (d) Both (a) and (b)

(viii) (b) depression

(ix) (d) Both (b) and (c)

(x) (c) Repetition

Answer 2.

(i) Prospero has promised him freedom from his captivity after his mission of reforming his enemies through his magic is nearing an end, so Ariel sings in happiness for his forthcoming freedom.

(ii) he is not able to stand properly since he is intoxicated by the drink that Stephano gave him.

(iii) he is bidding a final farewell from the world of magic and expects his audience to forgive him for his faults and seeks standing applause for his magical production.

(iv) he wanted to impress the couple, Ferdinand and Miranda and entertain them with a little blessing from the goddesses for the couple.

(v) the elder one would always say, “I will ask my brudder,” when being asked for the time of delivery while taking orders for his shoes.

(vi) after her husband’s death she felt finally free from the burdens of married life and wanted to live her own life.

(vii) she had made the girls doleful by making them sing ‘a Lament’ with her imposition of a serious and sad expression as she herself was pained to the deepest core of her heart at Basil’s letter informing her of the breakup of their engagement.

(viii) he heard the song of a songbird which spread warmth and hope into the earlier desolate and dead landscape.

(ix) what he thirsts for, is a brief respite from the harsh realities of existence.

(x) the world may have a dream-like quality, variety, beauty and freshness but no longer offers joy, love or clarity due to diminished standing of the Christian faith against the rising tide of scientific discoveries.

Section-B

Answer 3.

(i) Prospero is a happy man ever since Ferdinand passed the test of love with admirable finesse. He apologises to Ferdinand for his rude behaviour and the rigorous punishment meted out to him. However, he has compensated for it by offering Miranda’s hand in marriage to Ferdinand as she is the thread of his very being and the sole reason for his existence. He proudly tells Ferdinand, “I ratify this gift” and adds he is not at all boasting as Ferdinand would find her qualities surpassing all the praises. Then, he strictly warns the young man not to take advantage of her innocence before the knot is tied, for if he tries to do so, no blessings from Heaven will sanctify their marriage. They will begin to hate each other as disagreements and friction will be a daily hurdle in the way towards their happy married life. Prospero here appears as a typical father hugely concerned about the welfare of his daughter for he loves her.

(ii) Prospero finds his mission fulfilled towards the end of the play. He has conquered his enemies in the way he wants. His sole aim in punishing Alonso and others is to make them realise the magnitude of their crime. The time they spent in the island has been effectively used for this, and Alonso is a fully reformed man who, later in Act V Scene i, returns Prospero’s kingdom and position. More importantly, his daughter is going to marry the Prince of Naples which seems as a poetic justice for what the father and daughter have gone through. Secondly, Prospero with the help of Ariel has successfully handled the conspiracy hatched by Caliban, Stephano and Trinculo. They are being chased by wild dogs and their bodies are subject to black and blue spots due to pinches, body aches of old age and pains as punishment.
At the end of it all, Prospero feels his enemies are under his control and he remains the undisputed master of his own fate.

(iii) (a) Although Prospero has been upset and enraged by the wicked act of Alonso, Antonio and Sebastian, towards the end of the play he seems to have come to terms with the injustice done.'

The tempest Prospero conjures up seems deadly and sinister. Ferdinand getting lost in the sea is a
great blow to his father. The harrowing experience Alonso and others go through after the shipwreck, seems a living nightmare to them. However, the audience comes to know that killing them has never been Prospero’s intention. Already Ariel has been instructed not to hurt a single hair of them. And towards the end, when he succeeds in making the sinners understand the intensity of their crime, and forces them to repent, he decides to forgive.

Prospero forgives even Antonio and Sebastian because the wise magician realises the finest quality of a human being is to forgive; not to take revenge using extreme means.

OR

(b) Caliban, Stephano and Trinculo provide light-hearted comedy in the play. Their humour is coarse and not of the intellectual kind and it can be termed as farcical.

In the initial stage of Act III Scene ii, Caliban is the butt of joke. It starts with Stephano announcing that they will drink only wine and no water till the barrel is empty. He bids his ‘servant monster’ to drink in moderation as the monster’s eyes seems to be ‘set in his head’. Then Trinculo jests whether his eyes should be in the tail of this ‘half fish - half monster’ due to intoxication. At this, Caliban appeals to Stephano to punish Trinculo. Stephano, as though their lord, threatens to hang the court jester by the nearest tree. However, the height of this foolery happens when Ariel says ‘thou liest’ as Caliban starts accusing Prospero of cruelty and cheating. Caliban feels it is Trinculo who says this and complains to Stephano who in turn, admonishes Trinculo. Again when Caliban suggests Stephano that he should kill Prospero by smashing a nail in his head, Ariel, being invisible, mimics Trinculo’s voice telling that he is lying and Stephano cannot kill Prospero.

The second instance of comedy happens in Act IV Scene i when the three are nearing Prospero’s cell. Trinculo keeps teasing Stephano by addressing him as king. Their attention is diverted by gaudy clothes hung near the cell. Stephano fights with Trinculo for a garment that has caught his fancy, but royally gifts some of the garments to reward his jokes. Both of them ignore Caliban’s plea to stop their tomfoolery. At this time, they are chased by hunting dogs set on by the spirits under the control of Prospero’s magic.

Thus, the loud and ridiculous developments take the form of slapstick comedy that appeals to a certain section of the audience as a comical relief as well as comical interlude.

Answer 4.

(i) In the short story “Quality”, Gessler’s shop is described as a small, modest tenement located in a quiet part of London. It is described as having a single window display that is ‘neither flashy nor attentiongrabbing’. The display of the tall brown boots, made of patent leather with a marvelous nutty glow would have been made by one who could see ‘Soul of the Boot’. It is a split-level shop with the craftsmen working in the upper level. One goes to the shop restfully as one enters a church. The customer has to wait in the simple wooden chair waiting for one of the brothers to come down. There is always a soothing smell of leather, as ‘the incense of his trade’, exuding an air of quiet dedication to the ‘craft of shoemaking’. The atmosphere is calm and peaceful, reflecting Gessler’s focused and patient approach to his work. The true essence of the shop lies in the quality of craftsmanship and attention to detail. Overall, Gessler’s shop effuses “Quality” derived from traditional craftsmanship, quite different from other jazzy set ups catering to flashy but hollow display of inferior quality.

(ii) Shankar thought, despite being overshadowed by other important cities like Udaipur, Bundi held its own place in historical importance and architectural grandeur. In his own words, “simply as a beautiful place, Bundi was perfect”. The famous fort of Bundi placed amidst the hills had an elephant on the top of the gate, turrets, the throne, and silver bed. The whole of the area held the charm of the old Rajputana except for electrical poles. The streets were cobbled and houses had balconies jutting out. The carvings done on these and the wooden doors evidenced the work of master craftsmen. It was difficult to believe that they were living in the age of machines. The circuit house they stayed was splendid. Built during the time of the British, it must have been at least hundred years old. It was a single -story building with a sloping tiled roof. There was a huge garden around with a large number of roses and the trees behind them sheltered local birds such as parrots and peacocks providing a quiet ambience of serenity.

(iii) (a) Marriage and its importance to women is a major theme of the story. Miss Meadows is a thirty-yearold music teacher. She considers herself to be lucky even to be proposed by a young handsome man like Basil. Unfortunately without any cogent reason, he calls off their engagement. Miss Meadows is plunged into a state of despair and scornful rejection. She feels like escaping from all to save herself from the terrible embarrassment of rejection. This shows the importance of marriage in the life of a woman nearing thirty. How marital status gets tied to a woman’s image and social status is stated clearly when she thinks of giving up a steady job just to avoid people seeing her as a rejected spinster to be made fun of.

Cold despair and its effect on victims is another theme explored. How despair can influence the mental make-up of a person is made clear through the emotional journey of the jilted woman. With a knife twisting in her heart, Miss Meadows walks towards her class. On meeting the ‘sweet’ science teacher, she feels resentment building up. But the full force of her despair makes a land fall on her students who are forced to sing ‘The Lament’ in all its pathos and intensity. The young children begin to cry; the older ones become red in the face. However, when she gets the telegram of Basil that he is not calling off the engagement, in a complete volte face she returns to her usual cheerful self, and comes back to her class with an youthful exuberance. The song she conducts is a happy musical song full of cheer, joy and warmth. This shows how much the likelihood of getting married brings hope, love and joy to her life.

OR

(b) Marriage is a trap in which “men and women believe they have a right to impose a private will upon a fellow creature”. This is the unsavoury truth that Louise realises in her ‘moment of illumination’. The intention may be justifiable as it is a crime to dominate over the rights of the other. The partners feeling stifled by the invisible bindings cannot be an ideal state, and this becomes even more relevant in the case of women.

Mrs. Mallard, a young, fair homemaker, takes it for granted that she has lost her husband through hearsay. She weeps her heart out; but soon her mind takes a trip to unexpected realm of emotions. She feels ‘something coming to her’, something too subtle and elusive to name. It is as though she has been waiting for it, “creeping out of the sky, reaching toward her through the sounds, the scent and the colour that filled the air”. Her pulses beat fast, and the coursing blood warms and relaxes her body as she whispers under her breath-“free, free, free…”

Louise has no complaints against her husband. He has been loving and tender. There has been no violence and yet the vows of marriage had been tightening around her, stifling her personality. A monstrous feeling of joy overwhelms her as she thinks of the years that will belong to her absolutely.

She will live for herself. “Free! Body and Soul free!” She spreads her arms to welcome her new life. She prays God grants her more days to live.

With a feverish triumph in her eyes, she gets up to face the world like the goddess of Victory. Contrary to expectations, her husband walks in through the front door. The sudden sight of her husband and his being alive brings an excitement that her weak heart is unable to cope with, and she suffers a massive cardiac arrest resulting in her death. A massive heart attack could be due to unbridled joy of seeing her husband alive. But it could also be due to massive disappointment of losing her new found freedom.

Answer 5.

(i) In “The Dolphins” by Carol Ann Duffy, the recurring imagery of water and confinement serves as a powerful symbol to convey the central themes of captivity and the loss of freedom experienced by the dolphins. The water, which should represent their natural habitat and freedom, becomes a symbol of their confinement and isolation. The dolphins are trapped within the limits of their pool, as indicated by phrases like “We sink to the limits of this pool.” This image of confinement in water reflects their physical and emotional imprisonment.

Furthermore, the water imagery underscores the idea that the dolphins’ world is controlled by humans. While water is their element, they are not free to swim and thrive in it as they should be. The man and the coloured ball manipulate and control their movements, as described in the lines, “There is a man and our mind knows we will die here.” This portrayal of control and manipulation within their watery world highlights the central themes of exploitation and the loss of autonomy.

(ii) In Bob Dylan’s poem “John Brown”, the moral dilemma faced by soldiers when participating in a war is vividly depicted. John Brown, the young soldier, is initially sent off to war with pride and expectations of glory, as evidenced by his mother’s enthusiasm and his uniform. However, as the poem unfolds, it becomes clear that war has shattered these illusions. John returns home mutilated, both physically and mentally, with his face “all shot up,” his hand blown off, and wearing a metal brace.

The poem delves into John’s inner turmoil and the haunting experiences of war. His inner conflict between duty and conscience becomes evident when he drops his medals into his mother’s hands, rejecting the idea of a “good old-fashioned war.” The poem underscores the idea that soldiers often grapple with the moral dilemma of killing and being killed, realising that the glory of war is an illusion. ‘John Brown’ serves as a strong reminder of the emotional and moral toll war exacts on those who participate, revealing the harsh realities beneath the patriotic veneer.

(iii) (a) Matthew Arnold masterfully employs a range of figures of speech in “Dover Beach” to evoke the shifting mood and central theme of disillusionment. One prominent figure of speech is metaphor, which is used to create vivid imagery and symbolism. The “Sea of Faith” is metaphorically portrayed as a once-full entity now in decline, symbolizing the erosion of religious faith and spiritual certainty.

Arnold also uses personification to give human qualities to abstract concepts. For instance, the sea is described as having a “melancholy, long, withdrawing roar,” endowing it with a sense of sadness and retreat, mirroring the waning of faith. This personification intensifies the mood of disillusionment.

The poem employs simile when Arnold compares the world to “a land of dreams” and “a darkling plain.” These similes highlight the stark contrast between the idealised perception of the world and the harsh reality, reinforcing the theme of disillusionment.

Additionally, Arnold employs onomatopoeia to create auditory imagery, as seen in the “grating roar” of pebbles drawn by the waves. This onomatopoeic description emphasizes the harshness of the world and the dissonance experienced by the speaker.

Matthew Arnold skilfully uses metaphor, personification, simile, and onomatopoeia to craft a poem that not only describes the shifting mood from calmness to disillusionment but also reinforces the central theme of spiritual crisis and the loss of faith in the modern world. These figures of speech enrich the poem’s language and contribute to its powerful emotional impact.

OR

(b) In Robert Frost’s poem “Birches”, the desire to escape from the real world is a central theme, but it is accompanied by the recognition of the limits imposed by reality. The poem explores the idea that while escapism is a natural human inclination, it must be balanced with an acknowledgment of the constraints of the real world.

The act of swinging on birch trees is presented as a form of escapism in the poem. The young boy in the poem finds solace in swinging on the bent birch trees. The poet uses them figuratively as a means to temporarily escape from the challenges and complexities of life. This represents the universal human desire for moments of respite from the burdens of reality.

However, Frost also emphasizes the limits imposed by the real world. He describes the trees as being “bent to left and right” by ice storms, highlighting the harshness of nature and the weight of life’s trials. The boy’s swinging may provide a brief escape, but it does not permanently alter the trees’ bent and burdened state. This reflects the idea that while escapism can offer temporary relief, it does not fundamentally change the realities of life.

Furthermore, Frost introduces the notion of balance and moderation in seeking escape. The boy in the poem learns to swing without going too far, maintaining his “poise” and carefully climbing the trees. This suggests that while the desire to escape is natural, it should be pursued in moderation and with an awareness of the boundaries set by the real world.

The poem, therefore, explores the universal human desire for escapism while also acknowledging the limits and constraints imposed by the real world. The poem underscores the importance of finding moments of relief without losing touch with the realities of life.

ISC 36 Sample Question Papers

All Subjects Combined for Class 12 Exam 2024

ISC 36 Sample Question Papers

All Subjects Combined for Class 12 Exam 2024

ISC 36 Sample Question Papers

All Subjects Combined for Class 12 Exam 2024

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