Appreciation of English Literary Texts

Model Paper for 2021 (5)

Part I - Section A - Answer all questions. (Attempt to answer all questions in this section within 50
minutes)
(i) There was a time indeed
They used to shake hands with their heart;
(a) From which work are these lines taken? Who has written them?
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(b) Who are referred to as ‘they’ here? What has happened to them now?
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(c) With whose influence have they changed? What is the tone of the poetic persona here?
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(ii) They looked like frightened beads, I thought;
He stirred his velvet head

(a) From which work are these lines taken? Who has written them?
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(b) What are referred to as ‘they’ here? Name two figures of speech available here.
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(c) Why did ‘he’ behave this way? Name an auditory imagery.
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(iii) I had great sympathy and compassion for them, but had no real experience from which I
could draw parallels.

(a) From which work are these lines taken? Who is the author of them?
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(b) Who are referred to as ‘they’ here? What kind of experience does the speaker refer to here?
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(c) After feeling like this, what really happens to the speaker?
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(iv) A few decent tears were looked for on the part of Nicholas when the moment for the
departure of the expedition arrived.
(a) From which work is this extract taken? Who wrote them?
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(d) Why were a few decent tears looked on the part of Nicholas? Who expected him to cry?
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(e) What is the expedition referred to here? What was the purpose of organizing this expedition?
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(i) You do love her, don’t you? Well, then why not save up money for her by selling the cloth?
(a) From where are these lines taken? Who wrote them?
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(b) Who is the speaker? To whom are these words addressed?
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(c) Who is referred to as ‘she’ here? What kind of attitude of the speaker is shown here?
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 (ii) Not one of the swine wants to pay me! Just because I’m too gentle with them, because I’m a
rag, just weak wax in their hands! I’m much too gentle with them!
(a) From where are these lines taken? Who wrote them?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………...
(b) Who is the speaker? Who are referred to as ‘they’ by the speaker?
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(c) Why does the speaker speak this way? Is the speaker too gentle? If not what technique is seen here?

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Section B

After days and days of hopeless waiting, when a colourful air letter had arrived by post, he had almost felt
the same joy as if Mali had come back. He hardly had the patience to read the printed instruction ‘To open,
cut here’, but thrust his finger in desperately and gashed the air letter until it split longitudinally, forcing
him to piece it together like a jigsaw puzzle for deciphering. The message simply said, ‘Arrived. New York is
big. The buildings are very tall, not like ours. Thousands of motor cars in the streets. Food is difficult. I am
in a hostel. Next week I go to school.’ Jagan read it with pleasure, although he was somewhat disturbed at
the boy’s mention of ‘school’ rather than ‘college’. It had arrived by the first post, and he sat on the hall
bench and poured over it nearly an hour, scanning every word and visualizing Mali in that enormous
background. He could not keep the good news to himself. The first entrance open to him was the Truth
Printing Works. Nataraj was at his desk, ever affable and welcoming visitors. The door was only half open,
and when the light was blocked Nataraj looked up from his proofs and smiled, and immediately Jagan
made the announcement: ‘Mali has reached . . .’

‘Have you received a telegram?’

‘Oh, no, he’s prudent. Won’t waste ten rupees when ten cents – any idea how much a cent is worth in our
money?’

1) What do Jagan’s reaction to receiving Mali’s letter show about his feelings toward Mali? (1 mark)

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2) What kind of feelings of Mali toward his father are exhibited in his letter? (2 Marks)
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3) Can Jagan actually be pleased with Mali’s circumstance? If not, why? (2 Marks)
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4) Write what is meant by the expressions in bold print. (2 Marks)
a) ………………………………………………………………………………………………………
b) ……………………………………………………………………………………………………
5) Describe Jagan’s situation in Mali’s absence and how it affects him. (3 Marks)
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Prepared by Prasad Rathnasekara B.A.(Eng), M.A.(Linguistics), Music Visharad

Contact on:-0773433440 email: prasad.freelancewriter@gmail.com