Chapter-wise Important Questions from Board Exam Perspective
Class 12 English
(Special Note: Learn the Central Theme or Idea of All Chapters.)
FLAMINGO – PROSE
1. The Last Lesson (Alphonse Daudet)
- How did M. Hamel explain the importance of one’s language?
- Describe the atmosphere in the classroom when M. Hamel gave his last lesson.
- How did Franz’s attitude towards school change that day?
- How was Franz’s experience at school on the day of the last lesson different from other days? Describe
the changes in his attitude towards M. Hamel and the French language.
2. Lost Spring (Anees Jung)
- What does the title Lost Spring signify?
- Describe the hardships faced by Saheb-e-Alam and Mukesh.
- How is poverty the root cause of child labour, as depicted in the story?
- Why does Mukesh want to be a motor mechanic, and how is his dream different?
3. Deep Water (William Douglas)
- How did Douglas develop a fear of water?
- Describe the method Douglas used to overcome his fear of swimming.
- What is the deeper meaning of Douglas’s experience with fear?
- How does the story Deep Water highlight the importance of determination?
4. The Rattrap (Selma Lagerlöf)
- How does the peddler’s view of the world as a rattrap change?
- Why did the peddler decline the ironmaster’s invitation at first?
- How did Edla Willmansson transform the peddler’s life?
- What role does kindness play in changing a person, as seen in The Rattrap?
5. Indigo (Louis Fischer)
- Why was Gandhi deeply moved by the plight of the poor peasants in Champaran?
- What was Gandhi’s strategy in dealing with the British landlords?
- How did the Champaran episode prove to be a turning point in India’s struggle for independence?
- What values of Gandhi are highlighted in Indigo?
6. Poets and Pancakes (Asokamitran)
- What does the title Poets and Pancakes signify?
- Describe the make-up department of Gemini Studios.
- How does the author present the ironies of the film industry?
- What was the impact of the visit of the English poet to Gemini Studios?
7. The Interview (Christopher Silvester)
- What are the different views on interviews?
- How does Umberto Eco describe his writing style?
- What makes The Name of the Rose a unique novel, according to Umberto Eco?
8. Going Places (A. R. Barton)
- What kind of a girl is Sophie? What are her dreams?
- How does Sophie’s fantasy world clash with reality?
- What role does Sophie’s brother, Geoff, play in the story?
FLAMINGO – POETRY
1. My Mother at Sixty-Six (Kamala Das)
- How does the poet express her feelings about her aging mother?
- Explain the contrast between the poet’s inner emotions and outer expressions.
2. Keeping Quiet (Pablo Neruda)
- What does the poet mean by "Keeping Quiet"?
- How is the theme of universal peace and introspection highlighted in the poem?
3. A Thing of Beauty (John Keats)
- Why does Keats call a thing of beauty “a joy forever”?
- How does beauty help us to overcome despair?
4. Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers (Adrienne Rich)
- How does Aunt Jennifer’s embroidery reflect her life?
- What do the tigers symbolize in contrast to Aunt Jennifer’s character?
VISTAS
1. The Third Level (Jack Finney)
- What is the ‘Third Level’ in Grand Central Station? Is it real or a figment of imagination?
- How does the story explore the theme of escapism?
2. The Tiger King (Kalki)
- How does the story satirize blind superstition and power?
- Describe the irony in the Maharaja’s death.
3. Journey to the End of the Earth (Tishani Doshi)
- Why did the author visit Antarctica? What does she learn there?
- How does Antarctica help us understand climate change?
4. The Enemy (Pearl S. Buck)
- How does Dr. Sadao’s character reflect humanitarian values?
- How does the story highlight the conflict between duty and ethics?
5. On the Face of It (Susan Hill)
- How does the play challenge stereotypes about people with disabilities?
- What lessons does Mr. Lamb try to teach Derry?
6. Memories of Childhood (Zitkala-Sa and Bama)
- How do the two excerpts reflect the theme of social discrimination?
- Compare and contrast the childhood experiences of Zitkala-Sa and Bama.
