RBSE Class 12th 2020 English Literature-SS-20-2020 Previous Year Papers

ENGLISH LITERATURE

SENIOR SECONDARY EXAMINATION, 2020

Time: 3¼ Hours    Maximum Marks: 80

No. of Questions: 27    No. of Printed Pages: 7    S S-20-Eng. Lit.

SS-20-Eng. Lit.   [ Turn over

SECTION — A (READING)

(1 – 5) : Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow :

Swami Rama Tirtha was one of the most remarkable personalities that heralded the birth of New India. He was born in the village of Muraliwala, in the Punjab, in 1873; and died near Tehri Garhwal (Himalayas) in 1906, accidentally, while he was bathing in the Ganga. He was then only thirty-three years of age!

“Then work, work; work with all your heart, with all your might, remembering that work is worship, and remembering also that work is life. Genuine work will be found to be its own reward. Work is the normal state of man.”

These words were uttered by Tirtha Rama Gosain, M.A. (the future Swami Rama Tirtha), in course of a lecture on “How to Excel in Mathematics” in 1898, when he was Professor of Mathematics at Forman Christian College, Lahore. Only two years later, he retired into the Himalayas, became a sanyasi, went to Japan and America, returned to India in 1904, and got accidentally drowned in 1906 as stated above.

‘One crowded hour of glory is worth an age without a name!’ Mahatma Gandhi declared : “Swami Rama’s teachings have got to be propagated. He was one of the greatest souls not only of India but of the whole world. I adore his ideals.”

We get glimpses of Swami Rama’s greatness, genius and ideals even from a brief perusal of his life-sketch and writings or speeches. A few moments spent in the sunlight will suffice to acquaint us with the source of its effulgence.

SS-20-Eng. Lit.

Comprehension Passage

Tirtha Rama Gosain’s career, from his infancy to his blossoming forth into a Prophet of New India, is very inspiring. At school he surprised his Persian teacher by his recitations from the Gulistan and Bostan. Later he gained mastery of Sanskrit, Mathematics and English Literature. The Mathematics Paper at the B.A. examination was found very difficult by most candidates, and there were complaints about it in the public press. Nine out of thirteen questions were expected to be attempted. But Tirtha Rama solved all the thirteen and requested the examiner to assess any nine out of those he had answered! He secured 98 percent marks. It is little wonder, therefore, that he became Professor of Mathematics in his own college immediately after graduating M.A. He was born in an obscure village, his mother died soon after his birth, and his father was a poor priest. With all these handicaps, he won scholarship after scholarship, at school and college, and spent most of the money in buying books. He also helped poor students from his savings. His dress and food were of the simplest. Often he would go without meal to purchase oil for his lamp.

1. When and where was Swami Rama Tirtha born?

   Swami Rama Tirtha was born in an obscure village. His mother died soon after his birth, and his father was a poor priest.

2. What does Swami Rama Tirtha ask us to remember about work?

   The passage does not explicitly state what Swami Rama Tirtha asks us to remember about work. However, from his life example, he teaches us to work with dedication, simplicity, and selflessness, helping others despite hardships.

3. How did he surprise his Persian teacher?

   He surprised his Persian teacher by his recitations from the Gulistan and Bostan, showing his mastery of Persian literature at a young age.

4. "... adore his ideals." Who does 'I' here refer to?

   The passage does not contain the phrase "... adore his ideals." Therefore, the referent of 'I' cannot be determined from the given text.

5. Find the words from the passage which mean the same as:

   1. (i) spread more widely

      The word is "blossoming forth" (meaning to develop or spread widely).

   2. (ii) high fame and honour

      The word is "Prophet" (in the context of being a revered and honored figure).

Read the following Poem and answer the questions that follow :

He that loves a rosy cheek
Or a coral lip admires
Or from star-like eyes doth seek
Fuel to maintain his fires :
As old time makes these decay,
So his flames must waste away.

But a smooth and steadfast mind,
Gentle thoughts and calm desires
Hearts with equal love combined
Kindle never-dying fires
Where these are not, I despise
Lovely cheeks or lips or eyes.

1. ‘As old Time makes these decay, ..... What does ‘these’ here refer to ?

   Answer: ‘These’ refers to the physical attributes mentioned earlier in the poem: a rosy cheek, a coral lip, and star-like eyes.

2. What qualities does the poet associate with true love ?

   Answer: The poet associates true love with a smooth and steadfast mind, gentle thoughts, calm desires, and hearts combined with equal love. These qualities kindle never-dying fires, unlike physical beauty which fades with time.

3. ..... star-like eyes ...... Which figure of speech is used in this line ?

   Answer: The figure of speech used is a simile (or metaphor, as it directly compares eyes to stars without using 'like' or 'as'). However, in the context of the line, it is a metaphor because the eyes are directly called 'star-like', implying they shine like stars.

4. What extinguishes the flame of a lover’s passion ?

   Answer: The passage of time (old time) extinguishes the flame of a lover’s passion because it causes physical beauty (rosy cheeks, coral lips, star-like eyes) to decay, and thus the love based on such beauty fades away.

5. Find the words from the poem which mean the same as

   • (i) to arouse – Kindle
   • (ii) firm and constant – Steadfast

SECTION – B (WRITING)

1. Write an essay in about 50-200 words on any one of the following topics: 8

   • India — a land of fairs and festivals.
   • OR
   • Truth and Non-Violence — Need of the Hour.

2. Write a report in about 50-200 words on the Career Day Celebration in your school. 7

   OR

   Write a speech in about 50-200 words to be delivered in your school prayer assembly on “The Importance of Books”.

SECTION – C (GRAMMAR)

(3 – 7): The following sentences have not been edited. There is an error in each sentence. Identify the error and write it correctly in your answer book:

3. He is far to young to drive a car.

   Error: to → Correct: too

4. I went for a walk everyday.

   Error: everyday → Correct: every day

5. Poonam is more beautiful then Puja.

   Error: then → Correct: than

6. The man which is honest always succeeds.

   Error: which → Correct: who

7. Slow and steady win the race.

   Error: win → Correct: wins

SS-20-Eng. Lit. [ Turn over ]

SECTION – D (GRAMMAR)

Transform the following sentences into indirect speech:

8. The teacher said, “Work hard Raman”.

   Answer: The teacher ordered Raman to work hard.

9. Puneet said to me, “Do you play cricket”?

   Answer: Puneet asked me if I played cricket.

10. The hermit said, “Man is Mortal”.

    Answer: The hermit said that man is mortal.

11. Reena said to Alka, “I went to the market yesterday”.

    Answer: Reena told Alka that she had gone to the market the previous day.

12. I said to Kamal, “Please give me your book”.

    Answer: I requested Kamal to give me his book.

SECTION – D (LITERARY TERMS)

23. Write notes on any two of the following literary terms in about 50 words each. (2×3=6)

1. (i) Metaphysical Poetry

   Metaphysical poetry, popular in the 17th century, is characterized by intellectual wit, complex imagery, and the use of conceits (extended metaphors). Poets like John Donne explored themes of love, religion, and mortality, often blending emotion with philosophical reasoning. The verse is known for its abrupt openings, colloquial language, and dramatic tone.

2. (ii) Anglo-Indian Literature

   Anglo-Indian literature refers to works written in English by Indian authors or about Indian experiences. It emerged during the British colonial period and often deals with themes of cultural conflict, identity, and the fusion of Eastern and Western traditions. Notable writers include Rudyard Kipling, Mulk Raj Anand, and R. K. Narayan.

3. (iii) Interior Monologue

   Interior monologue is a narrative technique that presents a character's inner thoughts, feelings, and reactions directly to the reader, often in a stream-of-consciousness style. It reveals the unspoken mental processes of a character, creating a deep psychological portrait. This technique was famously used by James Joyce in Ulysses and Virginia Woolf in Mrs Dalloway.

4. (iv) Impressionism

   Impressionism in literature is a style that focuses on subjective impressions, sensory experiences, and the fleeting moments of consciousness rather than objective reality. Writers use vivid imagery, fragmented narrative, and symbolic language to evoke moods and emotions. It emphasizes the artist's personal perception of a scene or event.

SECTION – E (TEXT)

24. Answer any two of the following questions in about 100 words each: (2×6=12)

1. (i) ‘Captain Hagberd was an eccentric person.’ Elaborate. (To-morrow)

   Captain Hagberd, from Joseph Conrad's story To-morrow, is indeed an eccentric character. He is obsessed with the idea that his long-lost son Harry will return home "tomorrow." This fixed belief dominates his life, causing him to neglect reality and live in a world of delusion. He builds a house and waits endlessly, ignoring the passage of time and the advice of others. His eccentricity is marked by his stubbornness, his repetitive speech about "tomorrow," and his inability to accept that his son may never come back. This obsession isolates him from the community and even from his own wife, making him a tragic figure trapped in his own fantasy.

2. (ii) Write the central idea of the poem ‘On Time’. (On Time)

   The central idea of John Milton's poem On Time is the triumph of eternity over the fleeting nature of time. The poet personifies Time as a devourer that brings decay and death to all earthly things. However, he asserts that Time itself will eventually be destroyed when the soul ascends to heaven and enters eternal bliss. The poem conveys that while time governs the mortal world, it has no power over the immortal soul. True victory lies in the spiritual realm where time ceases to exist, and the soul enjoys everlasting peace and joy. Thus, the poem is a meditation on mortality and the hope of eternal life.

3. (iii) The essay ‘Why the Novel Matters’ establishes the superiority of the novel. Discuss.

   In his essay Why the Novel Matters, D. H. Lawrence argues that the novel is the most important form of literature because it deals with the whole of human life. Unlike philosophy or science, which focus on abstract ideas or parts of existence, the novel presents life in its fullness—body, mind, and spirit together. Lawrence believes that the novel can capture the complexity and fluidity of human relationships, emotions, and experiences. It does not preach but shows life as it is, with all its contradictions. The novel, according to Lawrence, helps readers understand themselves and others better, making it a vital and superior art form that truly matters.

25. Answer any four of the following questions in about 50 words each. 4×3=12

SECTION – F (FICTION)

26. Answer any one of the following questions in about 60 words: 4

OR

27. Answer the following question in about 100 words: 6