ICSE Class 10 English Syllabus

English syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for English in ICSE Class 10, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Treasure Trove of Short Stories

   2 topics

   • The Lumber Room
   • The Letter
2. 2

   Merchant of Venice

   5 topics

   • Act 1
   • Act 2
   • Act 3
   • Act 4
   • Act 5
3. 3

   A Collection of Poems

   5 topics

   • The Frog and the Nightingale
   • Mirror
   • Not Marble, nor the Gilded Monuments
   • Ode to a Nightingale
   • The Patriot

English flashcards for ICSE Class 10

23 of 51 cards from the English deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. Who wrote the short story 'The Lumber Room'?

   Saki (the pen name of H. H. Munro).

2. In 'The Lumber Room', what trick does Nicholas use to prove the aunt wrong about the frog?

   He deliberately puts a frog into his bread-and-milk, then proves it is there, showing the aunt knows fewer things than she claims.

3. As punishment in 'The Lumber Room', where are the other children taken, and why does the trip fail?

   They are taken to Jagborough sands as a treat (to exclude Nicholas), but it fails because the tide is high and Bobby's boots are too tight, ruining the outing.

4. What forbidden place does Nicholas explore in 'The Lumber Room', and what does he most admire there?

   He sneaks into the lumber-room and most admires a large framed tapestry showing a hunter who has shot a stag, with wolves approaching.

5. How does Nicholas get the aunt 'trapped' in 'The Lumber Room'?

   The aunt falls into the rain-water tank in the gooseberry garden; when she calls for help, Nicholas pretends he thinks she is the Evil One tempting him, and refuses to fetch the ladder.

6. What is the central theme/moral of 'The Lumber Room'?

   The triumph of a child's imagination and intelligence over rigid, unimaginative adult authority and unfair discipline.

7. Who is the author of the short story 'The Letter'?

   Dhumketu (the pen name of Gaurishankar Govardhanram Joshi), a Gujarati writer.

8. Who is the protagonist of 'The Letter' and what does he wait for every day?

   Ali, an old former hunter (shikari), who goes daily to the post office waiting for a letter from his daughter Miriam.

9. In 'The Letter', what change had come over Ali after his daughter left?

   The once-keen hunter lost interest in hunting; loneliness made him understand the pain he had caused animals, and he longed only for his daughter's letter.

10. How is the postmaster's attitude transformed at the end of 'The Letter'?

    After his own daughter falls ill and he experiences a father's anxiety, he understands Ali's suffering and feels deep remorse for having mocked and ignored him.

11. What is the irony at the close of 'The Letter'?

    Ali dies before his daughter's letter arrives; the letter finally comes the very day the postmaster, now sympathetic, waits to hand it over himself.

12. In Merchant of Venice Act 1, why is Antonio described as sad at the play's opening?

    Antonio says he does not know the cause of his sadness; his friends suggest it is worry over his merchant ships or being in love, but he denies both.

13. In Act 1, why does Bassanio need money, and what does Antonio do?

    Bassanio wants money to woo the wealthy heiress Portia; Antonio has no ready cash (it is tied up in ships), so he agrees to borrow on his credit from a moneylender.

14. What are the terms of the bond agreed in Merchant of Venice Act 1?

    Shylock lends Antonio 3000 ducats for three months; if unpaid, Shylock may cut off a pound of Antonio's flesh from near his heart.

15. In Act 1, what reasons does Shylock give for hating Antonio?

    Antonio is a Christian, lends money without interest (lowering rates), and has publicly insulted and spat on Shylock for his usury.

16. What is the condition of Portia's father's will in Merchant of Venice Act 1?

    Suitors must choose among three caskets of gold, silver, and lead; the one who picks the casket containing Portia's portrait wins her hand.

17. In Merchant of Venice Act 2, what does the Prince of Morocco choose and what is inside?

    Morocco chooses the gold casket; inside is a skull (death's head) with a scroll: 'All that glisters is not gold.'

18. In Act 2, what does the Prince of Arragon choose and find?

    Arragon chooses the silver casket; inside is a portrait of a blinking idiot/fool, reproving him for believing he deserves Portia.

19. In Merchant of Venice Act 2, how does Jessica escape, and what does she take?

    Jessica, Shylock's daughter, disguises herself as a boy/page, elopes with Lorenzo, and takes gold and jewels (including a turquoise ring) from her father.

20. In Act 2, what role does Launcelot Gobbo play?

    Launcelot is Shylock's clownish servant who decides to leave Shylock and become Bassanio's servant; he provides comic relief.

21. In Merchant of Venice Act 3, what reaction does Shylock have on learning of Jessica's flight and Antonio's losses?

    He grieves over his lost ducats and daughter but rejoices that Antonio's ships are wrecked, vowing to enforce the bond and take his pound of flesh.

22. Quote and explain Shylock's famous 'Hath not a Jew eyes' speech in Act 3.

    Shylock argues a Jew has the same senses, feelings, and humanity as a Christian ('If you prick us, do we not bleed?'), justifying revenge as a lesson learned from Christians.

23. In Merchant of Venice Act 3, which casket does Bassanio choose, and why is he right?

    Bassanio chooses the lead casket, reasoning that outward show deceives; it contains Portia's portrait, winning him her hand.

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