2 papers · 2025–2026

Most asked in ICSE English Literature

What the board keeps coming back to, measured across every English Literature paper from 2025–2026. Revise these first — then sit a full paper and get it marked.

Chapters that appear every year

How many of the 2 papers each chapter appeared in, and the marks it carries in an average paper.

Topics asked again and again

The same idea, set in different years. If it came up this often, expect it.

2 years

Act 3 Scene 1 — Antony over the body

Julius Caesar (Drama)

20252026

2 years

Act 4 Scene 3 — the quarrel

Julius Caesar (Drama)

20252026

2 years

The bulletin board

The Last Lesson

20252026

Quick check: five MCQs

One from each of the most-asked chapters. Pick an answer — it is marked straight away.

1(i)2026 Julius Caesar (Drama)

MCQ1 mark

Shared context

Choose the correct answers to the questions from the given options. (Do not copy the questions, write ONLY the correct answers.)

What were Julius Caesar's dying words?

Choose an answer

'Caesar, now be still…''Et tu brute? Then fall Caesar!''This is the most unkindest cut of all;''By your leave, gods; this is a Roman's part.'

1(vii)2026 The Elevator

MCQ1 mark

Shared context

Choose the correct answers to the questions from the given options. (Do not copy the questions, write ONLY the correct answers.)

What did Martin dislike about the elevator in his apartment building?

Choose an answer

The unpleasant smellIts dirty floorIts small sizeThe poor ventilation

1(xiii)2026 When Great Trees Fall

MCQ1 mark

Shared context

Choose the correct answers to the questions from the given options. (Do not copy the questions, write ONLY the correct answers.)

The mood in the poem, 'When Great Trees Fall', moves from __________.

Choose an answer

hurt to wondercalm to distresshope to despairfear to hope

1(xiv)2026 The Glove and the Lions

MCQ1 mark

Shared context

Choose the correct answers to the questions from the given options. (Do not copy the questions, write ONLY the correct answers.)

In the poem, 'The Glove and the Lions', King Francis exclaims, 'rightly done!'. What action of Count de Lorge does he applaud when he says this?

Choose an answer

Leaping into the pit full of angry lions.Retrieving the lady's glove from the pit.Flinging the glove angrily in the lady's face.Sighing for the 'beauteous lively dame'.

1(xv)2026 A Considerable Speck

MCQ1 mark

Shared context

Choose the correct answers to the questions from the given options. (Do not copy the questions, write ONLY the correct answers.)

Select the option that shows the correct relationship between Statement 1 and Statement 2 based on the poem, ‘A Considerable Speck’. Statement 1: The mite on the paper ran, crept, faltered, hesitated and cowered. Statement 2: The poet-narrator realised that it was an intelligent living creature.

Choose an answer

Statement 1 is true and Statement 2 is false.Statement 1 is false and Statement 2 is true.Statement 1 is the reason for Statement 2.Statement 2 is a contradiction of Statement 1.

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Repeated questions, with answers

The latest time each of the top repeated topics was set.

2(i)2026 Julius Caesar (Drama)

Reasoning3 marks

Shared context

Read the extract from 'Julius Caesar' Act 3, Scene 1, given below and answer the questions that follow: Antony: Pardon me, Julius! Here wast thou bay'd, brave hart; Here didst thou fall; and here thy hunters stand, Sign'd in thy spoil, and crimson'd in thy lethe. O world, thou wast the forest to this hart; And this indeed, O world, the heart of thee. How like a deer, strucken by many princes, Dost thou here lie! Cassius: Mark Antony — Antony: Pardon me, Caius Cassius: The enemies of Caesar shall say this; Then, in a friend, it is cold modesty.

Why does Antony say, 'Pardon me, Julius!'?

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5(i)2025 The Last Lesson

Short answer3 marks

Shared context

Read the following extract from Alphonse Daudet's short story, 'The Last Lesson' and answer the questions that follow: "My children, this is the last lesson I shall give you. The order has come from Berlin to teach only German in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. The new master comes tomorrow. This is your last French lesson. I want you to be very attentive." What a thunder-clap these words were to me! Oh the wretches; that was what they had put up at the town-hall!

What does the word, ‘that’ in the extract refer to? What other ‘bad news’ had the villagers received from the bulletin board outside the town-hall?

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