CBSE Class 10 English: First Flight Prose — Complete Notes 2026

A Letter to God — G.L. Fuentes

• Lencho's faith: writes letter to God for money lost to hailstorm; God 'replies' via post office workers
• Irony: Lencho calls helpful workers 'a bunch of crooks' for taking 30 pesos (postage)
• Theme: faith (absolute), irony, the meaning of good deeds; CBSE asks explain irony

Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

• Extract from Mandela's autobiography; describes inauguration as President of South Africa (May 10, 1994)
• Two obligations: obligation to family (private) and obligation to people and country (public)
• Courage not absence of fear but triumph over it; 'brave man is not he who does not feel afraid'
• Theme: freedom, apartheid's end, responsibility; CBSE asks what twin obligations Mandela refers to

Two Stories About Flying

• His First Flight (Liam O'Flaherty): young seagull afraid to fly; hunger forces him to leap; discovers he can soar; theme: courage, overcoming fear
• Black Aeroplane (Frederick Forsyth): mysterious plane guides pilot through storm; second pilot's identity unknown; theme: faith in the unknown, mystery

From the Diary of Anne Frank

• Anne's loneliness despite crowd; no real friends; starts diary as trusted confidante; describes herself as outside observer
• Kitty: diary personified as friend; Anne's insight about loneliness and self-reflection even as a 13-year-old
• CBSE: why did Anne want a friend so desperately? What qualities does she look for?

Hundred Dresses — Eleanor Estes

• Wanda Petronski: poor Polish immigrant; teased about wearing same blue dress; claims 100 dresses at home
• Maddie: bystander who feels guilty; Peggy: ringleader; Wanda withdraws silently
• Theme: bullying, social exclusion, guilt, empathy; CBSE asks Maddie's feelings and what she resolves to do

Glimpses of India (Three parts)

• Coorg: Kodagu — 'Scotland of India'; Brahmagiri peak; source of Kaveri; coffee and spices; Kodava warriors
• A Baker from Goa: bread-bakers (paders); bread integral to Goan life; baker's distinctive half-pants costume
• Mijbil the Otter: Gavin Maxwell's pet otter; mischievous; carried in airplane hold; CBSE: otter's characteristics

CBSE English Exam Strategy

• For 5-mark long answers: write 120–150 words; paragraph 1 (introduction to text/theme), 2–3 main points, conclusion
• Value-based questions: identify moral/value in the chapter; 3–4 sentence answer
• Character sketch: describe character using evidence from the text; do not give personal opinions without support