Class 12 English Core Competency Focused Questions
Compiled by: Siddharth Joshi
Flamingo (Prose)
The Last Lesson
• - Justify the title 'The Last Lesson'.
• - Franz was shocked when he heard that it was the last lesson in French and he hardly
knew his mother tongue. Reflect on the importance of valuing one's language and
culture.
Lost Spring
• - Why should child labour be eliminated and how?
• - 'Lost Spring' explains the grinding poverty and traditions that condemn thousands of
people to a life of abject poverty. Discuss.
• - Justify the title of the story 'Lost Spring'.
• - What values do we need to inculcate among people to bring back the spring in the lives
of street children and bangle makers?
Deep Water
• - Have you ever had a fear that you have now overcome? Share your experience.
• - Narrate other stories about the conquest of fear and what people have said about
courage.
• - Imagine you participated in the rescue of a drowning child. Describe your experience.
• - Write about your attempt to learn something new, detailing the challenges and how
you overcame them.
The Rattrap
• - Discuss the differences in hospitality and kindness shown by the crofter, the
ironmaster, and his daughter.
• - How does the metaphor of the rattrap highlight the human predicament?
• - The story focuses on human loneliness and the need to bond with others. Discuss.
• - Identify elements in the story that resemble a fairy tale.
Indigo
• - Discuss the leadership qualities exhibited by Mahatma Gandhi during the Champaran
movement.
• - How did the Champaran episode prove to be a turning point in India's freedom
struggle?
Poets and Pancakes
• - Analyze the satirical elements in 'Poets and Pancakes'.
• - Discuss the portrayal of the film industry in the chapter.
The Interview
• - Examine the ethical dilemmas faced by journalists as presented in 'The Interview'.
• - Discuss the varying perspectives on interviews shared by different personalities in the
chapter.
Going Places
• - Explore the theme of adolescent fantasizing in 'Going Places'.
• - Discuss the impact of socio-economic background on the aspirations of the
protagonist.
Flamingo (Poetry)
My Mother at Sixty-Six
• - Why does the poet put on a smile despite the fear and ache inside her heart?
• - In today's fast-paced life, how can children maintain an involved and inclusive
relationship with their elderly parents?
• - Describe the emotional bond you share with your mother.
Keeping Quiet
• - What is the central idea of the poem 'Keeping Quiet'?
• - Though written in the last century, how is 'Keeping Quiet' relevant in the 21st century?
A Thing of Beauty
• - Why is grandeur associated with the mighty dead? How does the poet glorify nature in
this context?
• - Discuss the traits of Romanticism in the poem.
A Roadside Stand
• - Analyze the poet's attitude towards the plight of rural people as depicted in 'A
Roadside Stand'.
• - Discuss the contrast between urban prosperity and rural poverty presented in the
poem.
Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers
• - Examine the use of symbolism in the poem 'Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers'.
• - Discuss the feminist undertones present in the poem.
Vistas
The Third Level
• - Do you see an intersection of time and space in the story?
• - Can apparent illogicality sometimes turn out to be a futuristic projection? Discuss.
• - Philately helps keep the past alive. Discuss other ways in which this is done.
• - Compare the interweaving of fantasy and reality in 'The Third Level' and 'Adventure'
by Jayant Narlikar.
The Tiger King
• - In the death of The Tiger King, how is the adage 'one cannot change what is written in
one’s destiny' reinforced?
• - Discuss how the story serves as a political satire.
Journey to the End of the Earth
• - 'Take care of the small things and the big things will fall into place.' Discuss with
reference to the lesson.
• - Why is Antarctica the place to go to understand the earth’s past, present, and future?
The Enemy
• - Examine the conflict between duty and conscience as portrayed in 'The Enemy'.
• - Discuss the transformation of Dr. Sadao's character throughout the story.
On the Face of It
• - Analyze the theme of isolation and friendship in 'On the Face of It'.
• - Discuss how the play challenges societal attitudes towards physical disabilities.
Memories of Childhood
• - Reflect on the common themes of discrimination and resilience in the two
autobiographical excerpts.
• - Discuss the significance of the title 'Memories of Childhood'.
