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The Council of the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) releases the ISC Class 12 Literature in English Specimen Paper every year for the final exam. The Literature in English exam paper of the ISC Class 12 is also known as the English Paper 2. The English Paper 1 exam is known as English language and the exam is held separately for both these papers. The syllabus and exam pattern are also different for both these exam papers.
The Literature in English or English Literature Specimen Paper 2024-25 has been published on the official website of the CISCE at cisce.org. Along with the English Literature Specimen Paper, the Specimen papers for other subjects is also released by the Council. Literature in English is an important subject for the ISC class 12 students whose marks have a great influence on the future academic prospects.
ISC Class 12 Literature in English Specimen Paper 2024-25
The ISC Class 12 English Specimen Paper 2024-25 is the best resource for 2025 board exam preparation. The Literature in English subject is an important part of the Arts stream of class 12th of the CISCE board. The Specimen Paper is an important reference material that helps students understand the exam pattern and the type of questions that can be asked on the actual exam day. Solving the Specimen paper is very important to score excellent marks in the board exam.
These Specimen papers are made in accordance with the most recent exam pattern and cover the whole ISC Class 12 English Literature Syllabus. The Literature in English Class 12 ISC Specimen Paper will definitely help students become more confident. Therefore, it is recommended that students practice them before taking the ISC 12th board exam that is going to be held in February 2025.
ISC Literature in English Class 12 Specimen Paper 2024-25 Details
The most effective tool for assessing students’ performance prior to the board exam is the ISC Specimen Paper for Class 12 Literature in English. English literature is one of the many interesting and intellectually engaging disciplines that is taught in the ISC Class 12.
Exam patterns change along with the academic scene, and the release of the ISC Class 12 Literature in English Specimen Paper 2024-25 offers an intriguing investigation of literary domains. Some of the important details regarding the ISC Class 12 Literature in English exam paper is given below.
Maximum Marks: 80 Marks
Time Limit of the Exam: 3 hours
Time allocated for Reading the Paper: Additional 15 Minutes
Number of Sections:
Sections Name: A and B
Section A Marks: 20 Marks
Section B Marks: 60 Marks
ISC English Literature Class 12 Specimen Paper 2025 Instructions
The ISC Class 12 English Literature Specimen Paper 2024-25 consist of many important instructions that are crucial to know before the exam. Some important details mentioned in the instructions section of the ISC English Literature Class 12 Specimen Paper 2025 is given below.
- Candidates are allowed additional 15 minutes for only reading the paper. They must NOT start writing during this time
- Answer all questions in Section A and Section B.
- The intended marks for questions or parts of questions are given in brackets [ ].
ISC Class 12 Literature in English Specimen Paper 2025 PDF
For the convenience of students, we have provided the direct link to download the English Literature Specimen Paper PDF below. Students must therefore prepare ISC Class 12 Literature in English Specimen Paper in order to achieve good marks on the ISC Class 12 board exam. After doing extensive research, subject matter specialists creates the ISC Literature in English Specimen Paper for students.
Download ISC Class 12 Literature in English Specimen Paper 2025 PDF
Importance of ISC Class 12 Literature in English Specimen Paper
By practicing the ISC Class 12 Specimen paper for Literature in English, students can understand all the important concepts included in the textbook. The ISC Class 12 Specimen Paper can help students prepare for the final exam in an efficient manner. Through the specimen paper, students can evaluate their level of readiness. Furthermore, students can have a better knowledge of the question paper’s layout and marks distribution by going through the specimen paper.
ISC Class 12 Literature in English Previous Year Specimen Paper
In the ISC Class 12 English Literature board exam paper, questions are often asked from the previous year resources like exam papers and specimen papers. That is why, it becomes increasingly important for candidates to solve the past year official questions. To help students in this regard, we are providing the ISC Class 12 Literature in English previous year’s specimen paper questions below.
Section A – 20 Marks
Question 1
Choose the correct options for the following questions. [10]
(i) Miranda: Oh, wonder!
How many goodly creatures are there here!
How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world,
That has such people in’t!
What leads Miranda to exclaim “O brave new world” in Act V Scene i of the play, The Tempest?
(a) The realisation that her father is the powerful Duke of Milan.
(b) The sight of Ariel and other spirits.
(c) The sight of Alonso and his courtiers.
(d) The realisation that she would be the Queen of Naples.
(ii) Why do Juno and Iris describe Ceres as “bounteous” during the masque in The Tempest?
(a) She is the queen of the gods.
(b) She is the goddess of harmony.
(c) She is the nymph of the woods.
(d) She is the goddess of agriculture.
(iii) Prospero: Though with their high wrongs I am struck to th’ quick?
Yet with my nobler reason ‘gainst my fury
Do I take part:
Which quality of Prospero is reflected in the decision that he takes eventually in Act V Scene i of the play, The Tempest?
(a) Honesty
(b) Understanding
(c) Rationality
(d) Forgiveness
(iv) How does Ariel’s music influence Stephano and Trinculo in Act III Scene ii of the play, The Tempest?
(a) It calms them.
(b) It amazes and frightens them.
(c) It helps them express their emotions.
(d) It helps them resolve conflicts with each other.
(v) Which one of the following qualities describes the narrator’s character in the short story Fritz?
(a) He is arrogant.
(b) He is rational.
(c) He is indifferent.
(d) He is ambitious.
(vi) What is the central idea emphasised in the short story B. Wordsworth?
(a) Beauty of the nature
(b) Alienation of the artist
(c) Importance of money
(d) Importance of success
(vii) In the short story The Singing Lesson, what made Miss Meadows change from conducting a mournful song to a happy one?
(a) Basil’s confession that he is fond of her.
(b) Basil’s telegram telling her to ignore the letter sent by him.
(c) The students’ rendition of the song.
(d) The Headmistress’ confirmation of Miss Meadows doing a good job.
(viii) “With the same pains you use to fill a cup
Up to the brim, and even above the brim.”
The above lines taken from the poem Birches describe how the boy climbs the tree. Which quality of the boy is being highlighted here?
(a) Curiosity
(b) Courage
(c) Optimism
(d) Mindfulness
(ix) “The sea is calm tonight.”
Which one of the following explains why the poem Dover Beach starts with the above line?
(I) To help readers visualise the setting of the poem.
(II) To convey that religious faith is diminishing in the world.
(III) To urge readers to show more compassion and peace in the world.
(IV) To express that the apparent calm is deceptive.
(a) Only (I)
(b) Only (I) and (IV)
(c) Only (III) and (IV)
(d) Only (I), (III) and (IV)
(x) In the poem The Darkling Thrush, which poetic device has the poet used while describing the wind as the ‘death-lament’?
(a) Simile
(b) Onomatopoeia
(c) Visual imagery
(d) Metaphor
Question 2
Complete the following sentences by providing a reason for each in brief. Do not write the question. [10]
(i) In Act III Scene i of The Tempest, Miranda says that she does not remember the face of any woman because ____________________________.
(ii) In Act III Scene iii of The Tempest, Alonso becomes very upset after Ariel visits them as a harpy because ____________________________.
(iii) In Act IV Scene i of The Tempest, Prospero feels that the efforts he has taken to civilise Caliban are in vain because____________________________.
(iv) In Act V Scene i of The Tempest, Prospero decides to present himself as the Duke of Milan to Alonso, Sebastian and Antonio because__________________.
(v) In the short story Fritz, the narrator suggested digging the ground where Fritz was buried because ____________________________________.
(vi) In the short story The Singing Lesson, Miss Meadows assumed that Basil had committed suicide because_______________________________.
(vii) In the short story Quality, Gessler’s competitor was more successful than he was because_________________________________.
(viii) In the poem Birches, the poet compares life to a ‘pathless wood’ because________________________________.
(ix) In the poem The Dolphins, the poet says that the dolphins are in their ‘element’ and yet not free because ______________________________.
(x) In the poem John Brown, John Brown’s mother boasted about her son going to war because ________________________________
Section B – 60 Marks
Question 3
(i) Provide two details from the play to show the growing love between Miranda and Ferdinand when the former visits the latter. What are Prospero’s feelings as he secretly observes the two? Write your answer in a short paragraph of about 100-150 words. [5]
(ii) What are Prospero’s reasons for presenting the masque? Why does it end abruptly? Write your answer in a short paragraph of about 100- 150 words. [5]
(iii) (a) With reference to Act III Scene ii of the play, describe Caliban’s plot to murder Prospero with the help of Trinculo and Stephano. What do his interactions with Trinculo and Stephano reveal about his personality and
desires? Write your answer in about 200-250 words. [10]
OR
(b) With any two supporting details from Act V, explain what Prospero’s reconciliation with his enemies and renunciation of his magic indicate about his character. Write your answer in about 200-250 words. [10]
ECHOES: PROSE
Question 4
(i) Describe any three ways in which B. Wordsworth influenced the narrator’s thinking in the short story, B. Wordsworth. Write your answer in a short paragraph of about 100-150 words. [5]
(ii) What, according to you, is the reason for Mrs. Mallard’s death in The Story of an Hour? In a short paragraph of about 100-150 words, explain why her death might be considered ironic. [5]
(iii) (a) The story Quality is a commentary on the tension between the dedication of a true craftsman and commercial enterprise. Substantiate this statement in about 200–250 words with reference to the lives of the Gessler brothers, as portrayed in the story. [10]
OR
(b) With the help of supporting evidence from the short story, The Singing Lesson, explain how Basil’s letter of rejection made Miss Meadows feel? How did it reflect in her interaction with the Science Mistress and the students? Write your answer in about 200 -250 words. [10]
REVERIE: POETRY
Question 5
(i) “We were blessed and now we are not blessed.” [5]
With reference to the above lines from the poem The Dolphins, explain why the dolphin thinks that they were ‘blessed’? What is their life like now? Write your answer in a short paragraph of about 100-150 words.
(ii) Describe how the poet in the poem John Brown establishes the hollowness behind the glorification of war. Write your answer in a short paragraph of about 100-150 words, supporting your analysis with any two details from the
poem. [5]
(iii) (a) How does the poet use visual imagery to convey despair and despondency in the poem, The Darkling Thrush? What effect does the song of the thrush have on the mood of the poet? Write your answer in about 200-250 words. [10]
OR
(b) What is the central idea of the poem Dover Beach? How does the poet resolve the conflict in his mind, towards the end of the poem? Justify your answer in about 200-250 words with supporting details from the poem. [10]