• Prose Section
  
  

 1. The Last Leaf by O. Henry

    Content: A heartwarming story about hope, friendship, and sacrifice, centered around two struggling artists and an old painter who makes the ultimate sacrifice to save one of them.

    Objective: To understand themes of selflessness, hope, and the transformative power of art, encouraging empathy and appreciation for life's small miracles.

2. The Romance of a Busy Broker by O. Henry

    Content: A humorous yet poignant story about a busy broker who becomes so consumed by work that he fails to recognize his new wife.

    Objective: To explore themes of modern day work pressure, neglect of personal relationships, and the humor in human folly.

3. The Last Lesson by Alphonse Daudet

    Content: This story portrays the impact of losing one's mother tongue when a school in Alsace is forced to stop teaching French after a political shift.

    Objective: To highlight the importance of language in cultural identity and the emotions surrounding the loss of one's heritage.

4. The Bet by Anton Chekhov

    Content: A thought provoking story about a banker and a lawyer who make a bet on whether the death penalty is more humane than life imprisonment.

    Objective: To encourage critical thinking about the value of life, freedom, and the psychological impact of isolation.

5. The Eyes Have It by Ruskin Bond

    Content: A simple yet profound story about a blind man who pretends to be sighted while sharing a train compartment with a blind woman.

    Objective: To understand themes of perception, human interaction, and the irony of blindness, both literal and figurative.

6. The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin

    Content: A story that explores the complex emotions of a woman who briefly experiences freedom after hearing of her husband’s death, only to have it taken away when he returns.

    Objective: To examine themes of marriage, freedom, and the constraints of societal roles, especially for women.

7. The Monkey’s Paw by W. W. Jacobs

    Content: A chilling tale of a mystical monkey’s paw that grants three wishes with unintended, tragic consequences.

    Objective: To explore themes of fate, consequence, and the dangers of interfering with the natural order of life.

•  Poetry Section

1. The Darkling Thrush by Thomas Hardy

    Content: A poem reflecting Hardy’s sense of despair and hopelessness as he observes a desolate winter landscape, with a thrush singing as a symbol of hope.

    Objective: To analyze the contrast between despair and hope, and Hardy’s use of nature to reflect human emotions.

2. Ode to the West Wind by Percy Bysshe Shelley

    Content: A powerful ode in which Shelley addresses the west wind as a symbol of change and transformation, both in nature and the human spirit.

    Objective: To appreciate the Romantic ideals of nature’s power, change, and the poet’s desire for renewal and revolution.

3. Daffodils by William Wordsworth

    Content: A classic poem that celebrates the beauty of nature and its power to uplift the human spirit, as Wordsworth reminisces about a field of daffodils.

    Objective: To understand the healing power of nature and the Romantic philosophy of finding joy and solace in the natural world.

4. A Psalm of Life by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

    Content: A motivational poem urging readers to live life with purpose, act boldly, and leave a lasting legacy.

    Objective: To inspire positive action, personal growth, and resilience in the face of life’s challenges.

5. The Bangle Sellers by Sarojini Naidu

    Content: A vivid depiction of traditional Indian life and the symbolic significance of bangles at different stages of a woman's life.

    Objective: To explore themes of tradition, womanhood, and the connection between cultural symbols and personal milestones.

6. The Ballad of Father Gilligan by W. B. Yeats

    Content: A story of an overworked priest who, through divine intervention, finds that his duties have been fulfilled in his absence.

    Objective: To understand the themes of faith, divine grace, and the human limitations of religious figures.

•  Drama Section

1. Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare

    Content: This historical tragedy explores the political assassination of Julius Caesar, focusing on themes of betrayal, ambition, and the consequences of political power struggles.

    Objective: To analyze themes of loyalty, morality, and the dangers of political ambition, as well as Shakespeare’s portrayal of historical events.