ISC 12 English Paper-2 Exam 2025-26: Most Important Questions with Answers

The ISC Class 12th English Paper-2 (Literature in English) board exam is scheduled for February 16, 2026 (Monday) at 2:00 PM.

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In this article, we have provided the most important questions from ISC English Paper-2 along with detailed answers that will significantly strengthen your exam preparation.

ISC English Paper-2 includes questions from Drama, Prose, Poetry, and Short Stories. Many students struggle to score well in this paper because they don't understand how to focus on the right questions.

You can read the important questions below along with their answers to improve your preparation. Start studying now!

ISC Class 12 English Paper-2 Most Important Questions

Choose the correct options for the following questions: [10]

Q.1 In the Masque in Act IV of the play The Tempest, how does Ceres know that, Juno is coming?

(a) By Juno’s gait

(b) Through Prospero’s words

(c) By Venus’ disappearance

(d) By the nymphs

Ans. (a) By Juno’s gait

Q.2 What does Ceres say to bless the young couple?

(a) That their barns will never be empty

(b) That they will rule as king and queen

(c) That they will overcome all obstacles

(d) That they will travel around the world

Ans. (a) That their barns will never be empty

Q.3 In Act V, Scene I of the play The Tempest, Alonso says, “Irreparable is the loss.” What is the irreparable loss being referred to here?

(a) Loss of his kingdom

(b) Loss of his crew members

(c) Loss of his ship

(d) Loss of his son

Ans. (d) Loss of his son

Q.4 What does Prospero intend to do with his book before his interaction with Alonso in Act V of the play, The Tempest?

(a) Burn it to ashes

(b) Pass it to Caliban

(c) Drown it deeper than plummet’s sound

(d) Gift it to Miranda

Ans. (c) Drown it deeper than plummet’s sound

Q.5 Where did B. Wordsworth live in the short story, B. Wordsworth?

(a) Miguel Street

(b) Alberto Street

(c) St. Clair Avenue

(d) Savanna

Ans. (a) Miguel Street

Q.6 In the short story, To Build a Fire, which “wild idea” came into the Man’s head when all seemed lost?

(a) To identify the hidden pool

(b) Not to share his lunch with the dog

(c) To set the dog free

(d) To kill the dog and crawl into its carcass for warmth

Ans. (d) To kill the dog and crawl into its carcass for warmth

Q.7 In the short story, The Story of an Hour, what according to the doctor did Mrs. Mallard die of?

(a) Her ill health

(b) The torture by her husband

(c) Joy that kills

(d) Falling down the stairs

Ans. (c) Joy that kills

Q.8 In the poem, Dover Beach, where is the “eternal note of sadness” heard?

(a) The French coast where the light gleams and goes

(b) The cliffs of England

(c) The sound of the wind

(d) The grating roar of the pebbles flung by the waves

Ans. (d) The grating roar of the pebbles flung by the waves

Q.9 In the poem, Birches, how are the crystal shells shed?

(a) By the sun’s warmth

(b) By the gentle breeze

(c) By the footsteps of people

(d) By the boy swinging on the birches

Ans. (a) By the sun’s warmth

Q.10 In the poem, We are the Music Makers, what are the ‘sea-breakers’?

(a) Explorers

(b) Sea-pirates

(c) Large ships

(d) Large waves

Ans. (a) Explorers

👉 Read Also - ISC Class 12 Study Material

Complete the following sentences by providing a reason for each: [10]

Q.11 In Act III, Scene II of the play The Tempest, Stephano and Trinculo are angry with Caliban as they struggle out of the filthy pool because ............ .

Q.12 In Act V of the play The Tempest, Prospero greets Gonzalo first because ............ .

Q.13 At the end of Act III, Scene I of the play The Tempest, Gonzalo urges the other lords to follow the “three men of sin” because ............ .

Q.14 In Act III, Scene II of the play, The Tempest, Stephano threatens to tie Trinculo to the next tree because ............ .

Q.15 In the short story, The Sound Machine, Dr. Scott thought Klausner was ill when Klausner rang up the doctor because ............ .

Q.16 Towards the end of the story B. Wordsworth, the poet told the boy to never visit him because ............ .

Q.17 In the short story, To build a Fire, the fire built by the Man under the tree was extinguished because ............ .

Q.18 In the poem, The Darkling Thrush, the poet thinks the bird has some awareness which the poet did not have because ............ .

Q.19 In the poem, Dover Beach, the poet wants his beloved to be “true” to him because ............ .

Q.20 Towards the end of the poem Birches, the poet expresses a wish to return to Earth because ............ .

Answer. 

11. .................. they accuse him for being responsible of getting into the filthy pool stinking of horse’s urine and also for losing there bottle of drinks.

12. .................. he is thankful to the noble old man , his ‘ true preserver’ who placed his magic books and other essentials in the broken ship in which he and Miranda were banished.

13. .................. they are in a desperate state after listening to Harpy’s speech and they may do something dreadful to themselves in such a condition.

14. .................. he is angry with Trinculo for troubling Caliban who seems to worship him like a God. He threatens to hang Trinculo.

15. In the short story “The Sound Machine” by Roald Dahl, Dr. Scott believed that Klausner was ill when Klausner rang up the doctor because he did sound very agitated and upset on the phone. Klausner told Dr. Scott that he had been listening to the sounds made by plants, and he had discovered that they were screaming when they were cut. Dr. Scott believed that Klausner was suffering from some sort of mental illness or nervous breakdown, as he found Klausner’s claims to be highly unusual and irrational.

16. In the short story “B.Wordsworth” by Roald Dahl, towards the end of the story, B. Wordsworth, the poet, tells the boy to never visit him again because he does not want the boy to learn the truth about his writing process.

17. In the short story “To Build a Fire” by Jack London, the fire built by the man under the tree was extinguished because a pile of snow fell from the tree onto the fire.

18. In the poem “The Darkling Thrush” by Thomas Hardy, the poet thinks the bird had some awareness which the poet did not have, because the bird continues to sing despite the bleak and desolate surroundings.

19. In the poem “Dover Beach” by Matthew Arnold, the poet wants his beloved to be “true” to him because he sees their love as a source of stability and hope in a world that is in a state of decline.

20. In the poem “Birches” by Robert Frost, the poet expresses a wish to return to Earth because he wants to be reminded of the joys and pleasures of the physical world.

Short and Long Answer Type Question

Q.21 Referring closely to Act III Scene III, relate the stern warning of Ariel to the “three men of sin”. What impact does his warning have on the three sinners? [5]

Ans. Ariel in the form of Harpy, scolds ‘the three men of sin’ or evil doers because of their crime against Prospero. Destiny has made the sea belch them into this island because they are the most unfit to live. Alonso, has been punished by the loss of his son by the supernatural powers and the same powers have condemned them to slow torture worse than death. The only way out of this perdition is repentance. If they repent, Fate may relent; otherwise the elements of fury will descend upon them with vengeance making them miserable. These warnings affect Alonso the most because he hears the waves whisper Prospero’s name, condemning him with the death of his only son. The words of Harpy put the sinners in a wild and reckless mood. Their guilt has started affecting them like slow poison and they may do some acts that will have terrible consequences.

Q.22 With close reference to Act V describe how Prospero has used the spirits of “hills, brooks, groves” to give shape to his magical acts. What does he finally decide to do with his magical powers? [5]

Ans. Prospero, towards the end of the play, addresses “elves of hills, brooks, standing lakes, and groves” with whose help he has fulfilled his intentions and is now ready to throw away his magic powers. The wise old Duke of Milan given to occult has effectively taken his revenge against his enemies by showing them the right way to escape perdition is through repentance. For this, he uses the spirit of air, Ariel and other spirits of the island.

The scene of shipwreck is an illusion created with the help of Ariel. The giant waves that seemed to engulf the royal ship, the thunder, lightning and the flames that flitted across the ship have all been doings of Ariel under the command of his master. The Harpy is also a magical illusion to convey a message to the sinners. An impressive Masque that is staged to amuse Ferdinand is full of the fairies of forests, brooks and streams. Ceres the goddess of Earth, Iris the Goddess of rainbow, and Juno, the queen of goddesses are all depicted with help of the spirits. The dance of the farmers and woodland nymphs is also well orchestrated by Ariel.

Q.23 Referring closely to the short story The Singing Lesson, show how the Headmistress’ summons to Miss Meadows eventually brings the latter out from cold despair to a realm of hope, love and joy. [5]

Ans. In the short story “The Singing Lesson” by Katherine Mansfield, the Headmistress’ summons to Miss Meadows eventually brings the latter out from cold despair to a realm of hope, love and joy.

The story is set in a girls’ school, where Miss Meadows is a music teacher. Miss Meadows is described as a lonely, unhappy woman who is living a life of quiet desperation. She has no friends, no family, and no sense of purpose or meaning in her life. Her only solace is in her music, which she uses as a means of escape from the world. However, when the Headmistress summons Miss Meadows to her office, she is forced to confront her despair and face the reality of her situation. The Headmistress informs Miss Meadows that she has been requested to perform at a concert, which at first fills her with dread and anxiety. However, as the Headmistress encourages her and offers her support, Miss Meadows begins to feel a glimmer of hope. As the story progresses, Miss Meadows begins to rehearse for the concert and discovers a new sense of purpose and joy in her music. She becomes more confident and expressive, and begins to enjoy the process of making music with her students. Through the Headmistress’ encouragement and support, Miss Meadows is able to move from a place of cold despair to a realm of hope, love, and joy. She discovers that there is still meaning and purpose to be found in her life, and that she can use her music to connect with others and make a positive impact on the world.

Overall, “The Singing Lesson” is a story about the transformative power of human connection and the potential for hope and joy in even the most despairing of situations. The Headmistress serves as a catalyst for Miss Meadows’ transformation, providing the support and encouragement she needs to rediscover her passion for music and find a sense of purpose in her life.

Q.24 Referring closely to the short story, The Sound Machine, give specific instances to show how Klausner was obsessed with sound. [5]

Ans. In the short story “The Sound Machine” by Roald Dahl, Klausner is obsessed with sound and uses his invention, the sound machine, to hear the sounds of plants and animals that are normally inaudible to the human ear.

There are several instances in the story that demonstrate Klausner’s obsession with sound. For example:

• Klausner spends all his time tinkering with his sound machine, even neglecting his job and family. When his wife complains that he is ignoring her, Klausner tells her that he is “busy with more important things.”
• Klausner is excited when he hears the sound of a tree being cut down with his sound machine, exclaiming that it is “wonderful.” He is so focused on the sounds that he is hearing that he doesn’t seem to consider the implications of what he is doing.
• When Dr. Scott comes to visit him, Klausner is eager to show off his sound machine and plays the sounds of various plants and animals for him. He is dismissive of Dr. Scott’s suggestion that his invention is dangerous, saying that he is “doing something important” and that the sounds he is hearing are “fascinating.”
• Klausner becomes increasingly obsessed with the sounds he is hearing, and starts to imagine that the plants and animals are communicating with each other in a way that humans cannot understand. He becomes so obsessed that he even considers using his sound machine to listen in on human conversations.

Overall, the story portrays Klausner as a man who is so obsessed with sound that he is willing to sacrifice everything else in his life to pursue his invention. His obsession blinds him to the potential dangers of what he is doing, and ultimately leads to his downfall.

Q.25 Referring closely to the poem: Dover Beach, show how the poet correlates the gradual receding of the “Sea of Faith” with the gradual loss of human faith in religion. [5]

Ans. In his poem “Dover Beach,” Matthew Arnold explores the theme of the decline of religious faith and the impact that this decline has on society. The poem uses the metaphor of the “Sea of Faith” to describe the gradual receding of religious faith in modern society, and the poem’s speaker expresses his concern about the consequences of this loss of faith.

The poem begins with a description of the Dover Beach at night time, where the “Sea of Faith” is “retreating” and the “grating roar” of the waves on the shore symbolizes the dwindling of religious faith. The speaker compares the receding sea to the loss of faith in the world, and suggests that this retreat is occurring throughout modern society.

The speaker then reflects on the past, describing how the “Sea of Faith” was once full and encompassing, and how people were once able to find solace and comfort in their religious beliefs. He mourns the loss of this faith, comparing it to the “melancholy, long, withdrawing roar” of the waves on the beach.

The speaker’s concern about the loss of faith is revealed in his discussion of the present, where he observes that the world is a “darkling plain” without the guidance and comfort of religion. He suggests that the loss of faith has left people feeling lost and alone, and that the absence of religion has led to a general sense of despair and disillusionment.

Finally, the speaker ends the poem with a call to action, urging his beloved to “be true” to him and to remain steadfast in their love, despite the uncertainty and turmoil of the world around them. This call to action suggests that the only way to combat the loss of faith is through the steadfastness of personal relationships and a commitment to human connection.

In conclusion, “Dover Beach” uses the metaphor of the “Sea of Faith” to symbolize the gradual loss of religious faith in modern society. The speaker mourns this loss of faith, and suggests that it has led to a general sense of despair and disillusionment. However, the poem ends with a call to action, urging readers to remain steadfast in their personal relationships and to find hope and solace in the connections they make with others.

Q.26 Referring closely to the poem, The Darkling Thrush, examine the poet’s encounter with the aged thrush as a passage from amazement to introspection. [5]

Ans. In “The Darkling Thrush,” Thomas Hardy’s encounter with the aged thrush serves as a catalyst for a shift in his emotions from amazement to introspection. The poem is set on a bleak winter day, and the speaker initially feels despondent and despairing as he surveys the dismal landscape. However, his encounter with the thrush, which seems to defy the harshness of winter, leads him to reflect on the power of nature and the human spirit.

At the beginning of the poem, the speaker describes a “spectre-gray” winter landscape that fills him with a sense of “desolate” and “decaying” hopelessness. The desolation of the landscape seems to mirror the speaker’s own feelings of despair and uncertainty. However, as the speaker listens to the song of the thrush, he is struck by the bird’s ability to sing in the face of the bleakness around it. The song is a “full-hearted” burst of joy, and the speaker is moved by the thrush’s ability to find hope and beauty in the midst of despair.

As the speaker reflects on the thrush’s song, he begins to see his own situation in a new light. He realizes that the bird’s song is a symbol of hope and resilience, and that the power of nature can help to lift the human spirit even in the darkest of times. The speaker becomes introspective, and he begins to contemplate the meaning of his own existence. He realizes that the world is a complex and mysterious place, and that the beauty of the natural world is a source of comfort and inspiration.

In the final stanza of the poem, the speaker reflects on the power of the thrush’s song to inspire him to see the world in a new way. He realizes that the bird’s song is a symbol of the resilience of the human spirit, and that it offers hope and comfort in the midst of despair. He ends the poem with a sense of renewed hope and wonder, suggesting that the encounter with the thrush has allowed him to see the world in a new light.

In conclusion, “The Darkling Thrush” traces the speaker’s encounter with an aged thrush as a passage from amazement to introspection. The bird’s song inspires the speaker to reflect on the power of nature and the resilience of the human spirit, and to see the world in a new light. The encounter with the thrush serves as a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is beauty and hope to be found in the natural world.