ICSE Class 10 English Literature Mid-Term 2026: Important Questions & Chapters to Revise Before the Exam

You may have read the prescribed poems, prose and Julius Caesar Act III for your ICSE Class 10 English Literature Mid-Term Exam, but effective revision involves more than remembering the storyline. Which themes and character traits should you focus on? Which dialogues and incidents are worth revising? And how can you frame answers that match the marks allotted? Focusing on these areas can help you revise the literature portions more effectively before the exam.

To support this preparation, PW has brought its Class 10 Mid-Term Marathon, a focused revision session covering important concepts, previous-year questions, specimen-paper questions, themes, tone, keywords, word meanings and significant dialogues. The session also includes 3-marker, 5-marker and 7-marker questions, helping you practise different question formats and strengthen your understanding of the prescribed texts.

Important ICSE Class 10 English Literature Chapters to Revise

Before attempting the questions, revise the major themes, characters, incidents, dialogues and literary elements from the chapters covered in the PW Mid-Term Marathon. Pay attention to details that can help you frame answers for different mark-based questions.

Haunted Houses

The poem by H. W. Longfellow presents the connection between houses, memories and the spiritual world.

Revise:

• Ghosts: Represent the memories of people who lived in the houses in the past rather than frightening or harmful spirits.

• Nature of the ghosts: They are harmless, quiet, invisible and intangible.

• Movement of the phantoms: They move silently through doorways, stairways, passages and rooms.

• Memories: The memories of former inhabitants continue to remain associated with the house after their death.

• Stranger and narrator: The stranger sees only the present, whereas the narrator perceives both the past and the present.

• Ownership: Human ownership of houses and land is temporary, while memories can continue after the owners are gone.

• Physical and spiritual worlds: The poem presents the spiritual world as existing around the physical world.

• Inner conflict: The poem also refers to the struggle between human desires and more noble instincts.

Important keywords include harmless, intangible, impalpable, phantoms, memories, physical world, spiritual world, materialistic world, ownership, impermanence, inner conflict, and noble instinct.

The Elevator

The story focuses on Martin’s intense fear of elevators and the suspense created by his experiences.

Revise:

• Martin’s fear of the elevator

• The elevator being poorly lit, dirty and cramped

• The elevator appearing full even with three people

• The doors that slam shut quickly

• Martin’s fear of getting trapped inside

• His fear that the elevator may fall

• Martin’s decision to use the staircase

• The dark and poorly lit staircase

• Martin becoming breathless after climbing to the 17th floor

• The fat lady entering the elevator

• The stop button

• The cliff-hanger ending

The Photographer

The story focuses on the narrator’s experience with a photographer who changes his photograph considerably.

Revise:

• The narrator’s visit to the photographer

• The heavily retouched and altered photograph

• The difference between the photograph and the narrator’s actual appearance

• The narrator’s feelings of betrayal

• His sense of being objectified

• His defence of his authentic appearance

• The passionate monologue

• Personification in relation to the machine

Important keywords include retouched, altered, authentic appearance, betrayed, objectified, monologue, and personification.

The Girl Who Can

The story highlights the importance of education through Mami’s attitude towards Ajua’s schooling.

Revise:

• Mami’s lack of formal education

• Her strong belief in the value of education

• Education as a way to overcome the darkness of ignorance

• Mami’s hopes for Ajua

• Ajua’s attitude towards going to school

• The role of education in changing Ajua’s future

• The discussion about the distance of the school

The central idea to remember is education as a means of overcoming ignorance and creating better opportunities.

The Glum and the Lions

The poem introduces a scene involving Lorge, the Count of Lorge, his beloved and the royal lion.

Revise:

• Lorge and its setting

• The Count of Lorge

• The Count’s beloved

• The crowning show

• The royal beast/lion

• The opening scene

• The lady’s reaction to the Count

• Her belief in the Count’s bravery and his ability to prove his love

• Atë: The goddess of folly

• Bellona: The goddess of war

Pay special attention to the details of the opening scene, as these can be used in descriptive and specimen-paper-style questions.

When Great Trees Fall

The poem explores the emotional impact of losing a great or important person and the lasting influence of that person.

Revise:

• The loss of a significant person

• The effect of loss on the soul

• The idea of the soul becoming shrunk or withered

• The connection between people

• The role of a person who nurtures, protects and guides another

• The continuation of a person’s influence and memory after their loss

Julius Caesar – Act III

Act III contains important speeches, dialogues and developments that are essential for revision.

Revise:

• Brutus’s speech

• Antony’s speech

• Brutus’s reasons for opposing Caesar

• Brutus’s statement that he loved Rome more than Caesar

• Cassius and the crowd

• Important dialogues

• Character motivations

• The effect of Brutus’s and Antony’s speeches on the situation

ICSE Class 10 English Literature: 3, 5 & 7-Mark Important Questions

Most Important 3-Marker Questions

1. What do the “ghosts” in Haunted Houses actually represent?

Answer:

The ghosts represent the memories of people who lived in the houses in the past. They are not harmful spirits. Their memories remain connected with the houses even after the people have died.

2. Where do we meet the “phantoms” in Haunted Houses?

Answer:

The phantoms are encountered at doorways, stairways, passages and through rooms. They move silently and leave behind intangible impressions of the past.

3. What is the nature of the ghosts in Haunted Houses?

Answer:

The ghosts are harmless, quiet, invisible and intangible. They do not frighten or harm people. Instead, they represent the memories and impressions of those who lived in the house earlier.

4. What is the difference between the stranger and the narrator in Haunted Houses?

Answer:

The stranger can perceive only the present. The narrator, however, can perceive both the past and the present and is aware of the memories associated with the house.

5. What is meant by “impalpable” in Haunted Houses?

Answer:

“Impalpable” means something that cannot be touched or physically felt. In the poem, it describes the intangible nature of the memories and impressions associated with the past.

6. Why does Martin dislike the elevator?

Answer:

Martin dislikes the elevator because it is poorly lit, dirty and cramped. He also fears that its doors may shut suddenly, that he could become trapped inside, or that the elevator might fall.

7. Why did Martin use the staircase instead of the elevator?

Answer:

Martin used the staircase because he wanted to avoid the elevator, which frightened him. However, the staircase was also dark and poorly lit, and climbing to the 17th floor left him breathless.

8. Why was the narrator upset with the photographer?

Answer:

The narrator was upset because the photographer heavily retouched and altered his photograph. The final picture did not resemble his real appearance, making him feel betrayed and objectified.

9. Why does Mami value education in The Girl Who Can?

Answer:

Mami considers education a way to escape the darkness of ignorance. She believes that education can transform Ajua’s life and give her opportunities that she herself did not have.

10. Why is education important to Mami even though she never attended school?

Answer:

Although Mami never attended school, she understands the value of education. She believes that education can remove ignorance and help create a better future for Ajua.

Most Important 5-Marker Questions

1. Explain the idea of memories in the first part of Haunted Houses.

Answer:

The first part of the poem presents houses as places that retain the memories of people who lived there in the past. The “ghosts” are not frightening spirits but the memories and impressions left behind by former inhabitants. They move silently through doorways, stairways and passages.

Even after people die, their memories remain associated with the places where they once lived. The poem therefore shows how the emotional presence of people can continue even after their physical presence has disappeared.

2. Explain the difference in perception between the stranger and the narrator in Haunted Houses.

Answer:

The stranger can see only the physical world around him in the present. He notices the people and objects that exist before him but does not perceive the memories connected with the house.

The narrator has a deeper awareness. He can perceive both the past and the present and recognises the presence of memories belonging to people who lived in the house earlier. This contrast highlights the importance of memory and the invisible history associated with a place.

3. Explain the idea of ownership presented in Haunted Houses.

Answer:

The poem presents human ownership of houses and land as temporary. People may own property during their lifetime, but they cannot retain their material possessions after death. The former owners eventually disappear, while the house continues to exist.

However, their memories remain associated with the house. The poem therefore contrasts the temporary nature of material ownership with the lasting presence of memories.

4. Explain the major reasons for Martin’s fear of the elevator.

Answer:

Martin fears the elevator for several reasons. It is poorly lit, dirty and cramped, making him uncomfortable. It appears full even when only three people are inside. The doors slam shut quickly, which increases his anxiety.

Martin also fears that he could become trapped inside the elevator or that it might fall. These fears make him so uncomfortable that he tries to avoid using it.

5. Describe the narrator’s reaction to the altered photograph in The Photographer.

Answer:

The narrator is shocked when he sees the photograph because the photographer has heavily retouched and altered his appearance. The resulting image barely resembles the person he sees himself as.

He feels that the photographer has ignored his authentic appearance and treated his face as something that could be changed according to his preference. The narrator consequently feels betrayed and objectified and responds through a passionate monologue defending his own appearance.

6. How does The Girl Who Can present education as a means of overcoming ignorance?

Answer:

Mami sees education as a source of knowledge that can remove the darkness of ignorance. Although she never attended school herself, she understands that education can give Ajua opportunities that may not otherwise be available to her.

Mami wants Ajua to learn and develop useful skills so that her future can be different from her own. Through Mami’s views, the story presents education as a means of personal growth and social change.

7. Describe the opening scene of The Glum and the Lions.

Answer:

The opening scene is set in Lorge, a fictional place. The Count of Lorge is present with his beloved during a crowning show. The scene also includes the royal beast, the lion, and the people watching the spectacle.

The opening establishes the setting and introduces the Count, his beloved and the royal surroundings. The details of this scene are important for understanding the events that follow in the poem.

Most Important 7-Marker Questions

1. Discuss the central idea of Haunted Houses with reference to memories and the spiritual world.

Answer:

Haunted Houses presents houses as places where the memories of former inhabitants continue to exist. The “ghosts” in the poem are not frightening spirits. They represent the memories and impressions of people who once lived in the houses.

These phantoms are harmless, invisible and intangible. They move silently through doorways, stairways, passages and rooms. Their presence suggests that although people may disappear physically, their memories can remain connected with the places where they lived.

The poem then expands this idea by introducing the spiritual world surrounding the physical world. The spiritual world is compared to an atmosphere surrounding the Earth. The poem also refers to the inner struggle between ordinary human desires and more noble instincts. Thus, Haunted Houses connects memories, spirituality and human experience.

2. Explain the significance of the stranger and the narrator in Haunted Houses.

Answer:

The stranger represents someone who perceives only the physical world of the present. He can see the people and objects around him but cannot recognise the memories connected with the house.

The narrator, in contrast, has a deeper perception. He can see both the past and the present and is aware of the people who lived in the house earlier. This difference shows that a place can contain an invisible history that is not apparent to everyone.

The contrast between the two perspectives reinforces the poem’s central idea that memories can remain attached to a place even after the people associated with them are gone.

3. Discuss Martin’s fear of the elevator and how the story builds suspense.

Answer:

Martin has an intense fear of elevators. The elevator is poorly lit, dirty and cramped, making him uncomfortable. It appears full even with only three people, and its doors slam shut quickly. Martin also worries that he may become trapped inside or that the elevator could fall.

To avoid the elevator, Martin uses the staircase. However, the staircase is also dark and poorly lit, and the long climb to the 17th floor leaves him breathless.

The suspense increases when the fat lady enters the elevator, greets Martin and presses the stop button. The story ends at this point, creating a cliff-hanger and leaving the reader uncertain about what will happen to Martin.

4. Explain the conflict between authenticity and alteration in The Photographer.

Answer:

The narrator visits the photographer expecting his photograph to represent his actual appearance. Instead, the photographer heavily retouches and alters the image. The resulting photograph looks very different from the narrator himself.

The narrator is deeply upset because he feels that his authentic appearance has not been respected. He feels betrayed and objectified, as though his face were merely an object that could be modified according to someone else’s preference.

His passionate monologue expresses his defence of his natural appearance. The conflict therefore lies between the narrator’s desire for authenticity and the photographer’s decision to alter his appearance.

5. Discuss the importance of education in The Girl Who Can.

Answer:

Education is presented as a source of knowledge and a means of creating better opportunities. Mami never attended school herself, but she understands that education can remove the darkness of ignorance.

She wants Ajua to receive an education because she believes that learning can change her daughter’s future. Ajua does not completely understand Mami’s deeper concerns, but she likes going to school.

Through Mami’s attitude, the story highlights the importance of education in overcoming limitations and creating possibilities for the next generation.

6. Explain the importance of Brutus’s speech in Act III.

Answer:

Brutus’s speech is important because it explains why he acted against Caesar. He states that he loved Rome more than Caesar and presents his actions as being motivated by concern for Rome.

The speech helps you understand Brutus’s character and his justification for opposing Caesar. It also becomes important when considered alongside Antony’s speech, which approaches the situation differently.

The two speeches are significant because they influence the crowd and help shape the events that follow. They also reveal important aspects of Brutus’s and Antony’s characters and their different ways of addressing the Roman people.

How to Prepare for the ICSE Class 10 English Literature Mid-Term Exam

Preparing for English Literature requires more than remembering the storyline. You should revise the themes, characters, important incidents, literary devices, dialogues and key expressions from each chapter. You can use the following points to make your revision more effective:

• Revise Themes and Central Ideas: Focus on the main themes, messages, conflicts and ideas in poems, prose and drama. Make sure you can explain how these ideas are developed through characters, events and important lines.

• Focus on Characters and Important Incidents: Revise the motivations, traits and actions of important characters. Pay attention to incidents that influence the plot or reveal an important aspect of a character.

• Practise Literary Elements: For poetry, revise imagery, tone, contrasts, symbolism and important expressions. For prose and drama, focus on characterisation, setting, conflict, important dialogues and their significance.

• Prepare Mark-Based Questions: Practise 3-mark, 5-mark and 7-mark questions and frame answers according to the marks allotted. Support your answers with relevant details, examples or references from the text.

• Revise Important Words and Dialogues: Learn the meanings of important words and expressions and revise significant dialogues, especially from Julius Caesar. Understanding their context will help you answer explanation-based questions more effectively.

• Improve Answer Writing: Write clear, complete answers in your own words and avoid simply memorising prepared responses. Practise presenting your ideas within the time available so that you can attempt all sections confidently.

The key is to understand the texts rather than memorise answers. Use your revision to check whether you can recall important themes, explain character motivations, interpret literary elements and support your answers with relevant details from the prescribed chapters. 

Note: For more important questions and a deeper understanding of the concepts covered here, watch the PW Class 10 Mid-Term Marathon video and revise along with the explanations.

How Does the PW Mid-Term Marathon Help With English Literature Revision?

The PW ICSE Class 10 English Literature Mid-Term Marathon brings together important portions of the poems, prose chapters and Act III of Julius Caesar for focused exam preparation. You can use the session to:

• Revise Important Themes: Revisit ideas such as memory and spirituality in Haunted Houses, education in The Girl Who Can, and loss in When Great Trees Fall.

• Understand Characters and Motivations: Examine Martin’s fear, the narrator’s reaction in The Photographer, Mami’s views on education, and the motivations of characters in Act III of Julius Caesar.

• Practise Exam-Oriented Questions: Work through PYQs, specimen-paper questions and competency-focused questions based on the chapters covered.

• Review Key Dialogues and Keywords: Revise important expressions, word meanings, speeches and dialogues that can be useful while framing answers.

• Strengthen Chapter Revision: Use quick revision to recall important incidents, themes and concepts before attempting longer questions.

The marathon can be used alongside your textbook and class notes to reinforce your understanding and identify portions that need further revision before the mid-term examination.