SECTION – C (Literature)
1. Extract: 1×2 = 2 Marks
Extract 1:
“I will arise and go now, for always night and day
I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;
While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey,
I hear it in the deep heart’s core.”
Answer the following questions:
1. What does the phrase ‘pavements grey’ symbolise in the poem?
2. How does the sound of the lake water affect the poet’s emotions?
OR
Extract 2:
“My parents were widely regarded as an ideal couple. My mother, Ashiamma, was a
generous woman with an immense faith in goodness. My father, Jainulabdeen, possessed
great wisdom and kindness.”
Answer the following questions:
1. What qualities of Kalam’s parents influenced his character most deeply?
2. Which of the following best describes Kalam’s attitude towards his parents?
a) Critical and distant
b) Admiring and respectful
c) Fearful and obedient
d) Indifferent and casual
2. Answer any two questions in 50–60 words. 2×2 = 4 Marks
a) How does W.B. Yeats use nature to express his longing for peace and simplicity in *The
Lake Isle of Innisfree*?
b) Explain how the Saint in *A Legend of the Northland* teaches a moral lesson about
selfishness and generosity.
c) Describe one incident from *My Childhood* that shows Dr. Kalam’s respect for people of
all religions. How does it reflect his values?
3. Answer any one question in 70–80 words. 1×3 = 3 Marks
a) How does the imagery in *The Lake Isle of Innisfree* help create a contrast between the
modern city and the ideal rural life imagined by the poet?
OR
b) Examine how Dr. Kalam’s experiences in *My Childhood* show that family values and
early lessons play a crucial role in shaping one’s personality.
ANSWER KEY
Extract 1:
1. The phrase ‘pavements grey’ symbolises the dull, lifeless, and monotonous city life that
contrasts with the natural beauty and calm of Innisfree.
2. The sound of the lake water brings the poet comfort and peace, reminding him of the
harmony and tranquility he longs for in nature.
Extract 2:
1. Dr. Kalam’s parents influenced him through their generosity, faith, wisdom, and kindness,
shaping his moral and spiritual outlook.
2. (b) Admiring and respectful
Short Answer Questions:
a) Yeats uses nature—like the lake, bees, and cabin—to express his desire for a peaceful,
simple life away from the chaos of the city. Nature becomes a symbol of purity and calm.
b) The Saint teaches that greed leads to punishment and that one should be selfless. The
woman’s selfishness transforms her into a bird, teaching the importance of kindness and
charity.
c) When Dr. Kalam’s friend was not allowed to sit with him because of religion, his teacher
and father taught him tolerance and equality. This shows his belief in unity and respect for
all faiths.
Long Answer Questions:
a) Yeats contrasts the noisy, grey city with the serene, colourful Innisfree. The imagery of
‘lake water lapping,’ ‘bee-loud glade,’ and ‘purple glow’ evokes calmness. The poet’s vision
reveals that true peace lies in harmony with nature, not in material life.
b) Dr. Kalam’s simple childhood, guided by loving and principled parents, taught him
humility, respect, and harmony. Incidents like sharing meals with people of other faiths
showed him the power of unity in diversity. His upbringing shaped him into a
compassionate leader.