ICSE Class 10 English Literature Syllabus 2026-27 — Complete Guide with Prescribed Texts & Tips

What's New in 2026-27?

The ICSE Class 10 English Literature syllabus for 2026-27 retains its focus on Shakespeare's drama, modern prose, and poetry. CISCE continues to emphasise contextual understanding over rote memorisation — students must demonstrate the ability to analyse characters, themes, literary devices, and the author's purpose. The competency-based approach means questions increasingly require personal response and critical thinking rather than simple recall.

English Literature (Paper 2) carries 80 marks for the theory examination and 20 marks for Internal Assessment, for a total of 100 marks. Duration: 2 hours.

Syllabus Overview

Section	Content	Approximate Marks
Drama	The Merchant of Venice — William Shakespeare (unabridged)	~20 marks
Prose (Short Stories)	Treasure Trove — A Collection of ICSE Short Stories & Poems (Evergreen Publications)	~30 marks
Poetry	Treasure Trove — Selected Poems	~30 marks

Chapter-wise Detailed Syllabus

1. Drama — The Merchant of Venice (Shakespeare)

Students study the complete, unabridged text of The Merchant of Venice. This is not an abridged or simplified version — students must read the original Shakespearean text. Key areas of study include:

• Plot and Structure — The bond story, the casket story, the ring subplot, and how Shakespeare weaves them together
• Character Analysis — Shylock (tragic villain or victim?), Portia (intelligence and resourcefulness), Antonio (melancholic merchant), Bassanio (loyal friend), Jessica (rebellion against father)
• Themes — Justice vs. Mercy, Appearance vs. Reality, Prejudice and Discrimination, Friendship and Loyalty, Love and Sacrifice
• Literary Devices — Dramatic irony, soliloquy, foreshadowing, imagery, and Shakespeare's use of prose vs. verse
• Important Scenes — The bond agreement (Act I), the casket scenes (Act II-III), the trial scene (Act IV), the ring resolution (Act V)

Questions typically include context questions (extract-based), character analysis, and thematic essays. Students should be able to quote short passages and explain their significance.

2. Prose — Short Stories from Treasure Trove

The following short stories are prescribed for study:

• The Little Match Girl — Hans Christian Andersen. A poignant tale of a poor girl selling matches on New Year's Eve. Themes: poverty, innocence, social indifference, hope.
• The Blue Bead — Norah Burke. A story set in rural India about a young girl's encounter with a crocodile. Themes: courage, innocence, the power of nature, daily life in villages.
• My Greatest Olympic Prize — Jesse Owens. The true story of friendship between Jesse Owens and Luz Long at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Themes: sportsmanship, friendship transcending rivalry, courage against prejudice.
• All Summer in a Day — Ray Bradbury. A science fiction story set on Venus where the sun appears only once every seven years. Themes: jealousy, cruelty of children, the preciousness of nature, regret.

For each story, students should know the plot, characters, themes, literary devices, and be prepared to answer context-based questions and write character sketches.

3. Poetry from Treasure Trove

The following poems are prescribed for study:

• I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings — Maya Angelou. Contrasts the free bird with the caged bird as a metaphor for freedom and oppression. Key devices: metaphor, imagery, repetition, contrast.
• The Patriot — Robert Browning. A dramatic monologue about a leader who goes from hero to traitor in one year. Themes: fickleness of public opinion, betrayal, faith in divine justice.
• Abu Ben Adhem — Leigh Hunt. A narrative poem about a man who loves his fellow humans and is blessed by God. Themes: love for humanity, true devotion, divine reward.
• Nine Gold Medals — David Roth. Based on a true story from the Special Olympics where runners help a fallen competitor. Themes: sportsmanship, compassion, true meaning of victory.

For each poem, students must understand the central theme, poetic devices (metaphor, simile, alliteration, imagery, personification, rhyme scheme), tone, and be able to explain stanzas in context.

Exam Pattern 2026-27

Component	Details	Marks
Section A — Drama	Two context questions from The Merchant of Venice	16 marks
Section A — Prose	Two context questions from short stories (answer any one)	16 marks
Section A — Poetry	Two context questions from poems (answer any one)	16 marks
Section B	Essay-type questions on drama, prose, poetry (choice provided)	32 marks
Internal Assessment	Projects, periodic tests, class performance	20 marks
Total		100 marks

Prescribed Textbooks

• The Merchant of Venice — William Shakespeare (unabridged, any standard ICSE edition)
• Treasure Trove: A Collection of ICSE Short Stories and Poems — Evergreen Publications
• ICSE English Literature guides by Evergreen, Avichal, or Morning Star for reference answers

Preparation Tips

1. Read The Merchant of Venice in full — Do not rely only on summaries. Read the original text at least twice. Understanding Shakespeare's language is essential for context questions.
2. Maintain a character diary — For each character in the drama and stories, note key traits, important quotes, and how they change through the narrative.
3. Memorise key quotes — In Literature, quoting from the text strengthens your answer. Memorise 2-3 important quotes per chapter/poem.
4. Practise context questions — Context questions require you to identify the speaker, explain the context, and analyse the significance. Practise with previous years' papers.
5. Understand poetic devices — For every poem, identify at least 5 literary devices and explain how they contribute to the theme. This is frequently tested.
6. Write thematic essays — Practise writing 200-word essays on themes like 'Justice vs Mercy in The Merchant of Venice' or 'The significance of the caged bird metaphor.'
7. Create comparison charts — Compare characters, themes, and literary devices across texts. CISCE occasionally asks comparative questions.