ENGLISH LITERATURE 1ST TERM EXAM

(50 MARKS)

1. ( 5 x 3 = 15 )
PORTIA :
But mercy is above the sceptred sway,
It is enthroned in the hearts of Kings,
It is an attribute of God himself;
An earthly power doth then show likest God’s When Mercy seasons justice.

a) Where is Portia at this time? What name has she assumed? How is she
dressed?
b) What does ‘sceptred sway’ mean? How is mercy an attribute of God
himself?
c) Give any three things that Portia has said about the quality of Mercy just
before this extract.
d) What does Portia ask Shylock to ‘consider’ just after this extract? When we
pray for mercy, what does that prayer teaches us? Why according to Portia
had she spoken at length to Shylock?
e) Does the speech of Portia make Shylock relent? What is his reply?

2. ( 5 x 3 = 15 )
The angel wrote and vanished. The next night It came again with a great awakening
light, and showed the names whom love of God had blest, And Lo! Ben Adhem’s
name led all the rest
a) What did Abou Ben Adhem find the angel doing? What made him bold enough to
speak to the angel? What did Abou ask the angel?
b) What did the angel reply? How did Abou react to it? What did he expect?
c) What did the angel agree to write? How did he appear the next night?
d) What was a matter of delight and satisfaction to Abou?
e) What does the poem preach? In what way is it relevant even today?
3. ( 5 + 5 = 10)
Answer the following questions with reference to the short story ‘My Greatest
Olympic Prize’.
a) What was Hitler’s Aryan-Superiority Theory? How did Jesse Owens refute this
theory?
b) Luz Long is an epitome of true sportsmanship. Do you agree with this statement?
Give reasons to support your answer.

4. (10)
a) Describe the character of Jesse Owens as depicted in the story ‘My Greatest
Olympic Prize’. Give examples from the story to support your answer.