English (Compulsory) इंग्रजी

Quick summary

Letters and emails are the most common forms of written communication in college and at work. This topic covers formal and informal letters, the parts and layout of a formal letter (block format), and how to write a clear, polite email, with sample outlines.

Key points

• Formal letters: to officials, principals, companies, editors — applications, complaints, enquiries, orders.
• Informal letters: to friends and family — friendly tone, personal news.
• Full block format (most used today): every line starts from the left margin; no indentation.
• Parts of a formal letter: sender's address, date, receiver's designation and address, subject line, salutation, body, complimentary close, signature, name (and designation).
• Salutation and close: "Sir/Madam" or "Dear Sir/Madam" → "Yours faithfully"; "Dear Mr Patil" (name known) → "Yours sincerely".
• Body in three short parts: purpose (why you write), details, request or action expected.
• Email parts: To, Cc, Bcc, Subject, greeting, body, closing, signature, attachments.
• Cc (carbon copy) – visible copy to others; Bcc (blind carbon copy) – hidden copy.
• Email rules: clear subject line, short paragraphs, polite tone, no full capital letters (reads like shouting), check attachments, use a proper email ID (not a funny one) for official mails.
• Always proofread before sending.

Important terms

• Subject line – one-line summary of the letter's purpose.
• Salutation – greeting at the start.
• Complimentary close – polite ending before signature.
• Enclosure (Encl.) – documents attached with a letter.
• Netiquette – good manners online.

Language study

Sample formal letter (outline)

Sample email

Useful phrases: "I am writing to…", "I would be grateful if…", "Please find attached…", "I look forward to your reply."

5 important questions

Q1. What is the difference between Cc and Bcc?

Cc sends a copy that all receivers can see. Bcc sends a copy secretly; other receivers cannot see the Bcc addresses.

Q2. When do we use "Yours faithfully" and "Yours sincerely"?

"Yours faithfully" when the salutation is "Dear Sir/Madam" (name not known). "Yours sincerely" when the person is addressed by name, e.g. "Dear Dr Deshmukh".

Q3. Write a letter to the manager of a company complaining about a defective microscope.

• Sender's address, date, receiver's address.
• Subject: Complaint about defective microscope (Invoice No. ...).
• Para 1: when and what was bought.
• Para 2: the defect (fine adjustment not working, lens scratched).
• Para 3: request replacement or repair within a time limit.
• Close: Yours faithfully, name, designation; Encl.: copy of invoice.

Q4. Write the essential features of a good email.

• Correct address and clear subject line.
• Polite greeting.
• Short, focused paragraphs.
• Formal language, no slang or emojis in official mail.
• Mention attachments.
• Closing and signature with name and contact.
• Proofread; reply on time.

Q5. Describe the layout of a formal letter in full block format.

• Sender's address and date at top left.
• Receiver's designation and address.
• Subject line.
• Salutation.
• Body in short paragraphs, no indentation, a blank line between paragraphs.
• Complimentary close, signature, name.
• Enclosures if any.

Exam tip

Use the full block format and always write a subject line. Marks are given for format, so do not skip the address or date.

Quick summary

An advertisement (जाहिरात) is a public notice that informs people and persuades them to buy, sell, rent, join or act. Students are asked to draft short classified advertisements (for sale, to-let, missing, situations vacant) and display advertisements for products or events. This topic gives the types, the features of a good advertisement, formats and solved examples.

Key points

• Purpose: to inform, attract attention, create interest and persuade the reader to act.
• Classified advertisements are short, plain-text notices printed under headings such as For Sale, To Let, Wanted, Lost and Found, Missing, Situations Vacant, Matrimonial. They are charged by the word or line, so they are brief.
• Display advertisements use a catchy headline, a slogan, pictures, attractive layout, features, offers and contact details. They are used for products, services, events and courses.
• The AIDA formula guides good advertising: Attention, Interest, Desire, Action.
• A classified advertisement should state what is offered, its main features, price or terms, and whom to contact (name, phone, address).
• Keep it short; full sentences are not necessary in classified advertisements, but all key details must be there.
• A missing person advertisement gives name, age, height, complexion, clothes worn, when and where last seen, and a contact number; it may mention a reward.
• Avoid false claims; advertisements must be honest and must not mislead (this is also protected under consumer law).
• Online ads (social media, websites) follow the same principles and add links and hashtags.

Important terms

• Slogan – a short, catchy line that is easy to remember ("Taste the freshness").
• Classified – grouped under headings in a newspaper's advertisement columns.
• Copy – the written words of an advertisement.
• Target audience – the people the advertisement is meant for.
• Call to action – words asking the reader to act ("Call now", "Visit today").

Language study

Classified: For Sale

Classified: To Let

Classified: Missing

Display ad outline

1. Brand name and catchy headline.
2. Slogan.
3. Three or four key features or benefits.
4. Offer or price.
5. Address, phone, website.

5 important questions

Q1. What is the AIDA formula?

It is a plan for writing advertisements: catch the reader's Attention, raise Interest, create Desire, and lead to Action (buy, call, visit).

Q2. Draft a classified advertisement for the sale of a used laptop.

FOR SALE: Dell laptop, Intel i5, 8 GB RAM, 512 GB SSD, 3 years old, good battery, with charger and bag. Price ₹22,000. Contact Sneha, 97XXXXXX44, Civil Lines, Nagpur.

Q3. Distinguish between classified and display advertisements.

• Length: classified short; display can be longer.
• Layout: classified plain text; display uses design, pictures, colours.
• Cost: classified charged per word/line; display per column-centimetre, costlier.
• Users: classified by individuals; display by companies and institutions.
• Examples of each.

Q4. Design a display advertisement for a new herbal toothpaste.

• Brand and headline: "DantShakti – Nature's Care for Your Smile".
• Slogan: "Strong teeth, fresh breath, naturally."
• Features: neem and clove, no artificial colour, fights cavities, fresh for 12 hours.
• Offer: 20% extra free on 150 g pack.
• Call to action and contact: available at all medical stores; website and helpline.

Q5. What are the qualities of a good advertisement?

• Attractive headline and clear message.
• Brief and easy to understand.
• Truthful, without exaggeration.
• Gives complete details: features, price, contact.
• Suited to the target audience.
• Ends with a call to action.

Exam tip

In classified advertisements, put the heading in capitals (FOR SALE, TO LET, MISSING) and always end with contact details; examiners deduct marks when these are missing.

Quick summary

This topic covers two kinds of writing asked in the university paper: writing a story from a given outline, and reporting an event as a newspaper or college-magazine report. Story writing tests imagination and narration; reporting tests accurate, objective presentation of facts.

Key points

Story writing from an outline

• Read the outline carefully and follow every hint in the same order; do not change the main events.
• Give the story a suitable title and, if asked, a moral.
• Structure: beginning (setting and characters), middle (problem or conflict, events), end (climax and resolution).
• Write in the past tense, with short paragraphs and some dialogue to make it lively.
• Add details of place, time, feelings and actions to fill the gaps between hints.

Reporting an event

• A report gives facts about something that happened: a function, accident, seminar, sports meet, cleanliness drive, science exhibition.
• Format: Headline → byline (by a staff reporter / name) → place and date line → introductory paragraph with the 5 Ws and 1 H (who, what, when, where, why, how) → details in order of importance → concluding paragraph.
• Use the third person, past tense and often the passive voice ("A tree plantation drive was organised…").
• Be objective: report facts and quotes, not your personal opinion.
• Keep the headline short and catchy, without full stops.
• The order of importance (most important first) is called the inverted pyramid.

Important terms

• Outline – a list of hints giving the main events of a story.
• Climax – the most exciting or turning point of a story.
• Moral – the lesson of a story.
• Byline – the line giving the reporter's name.
• Inverted pyramid – news style that puts the most important facts first.

Language study

Sample report

Useful linking words for stories: once upon a time, one day, suddenly, meanwhile, after a while, at last, finally.

5 important questions

Q1. What are the 5 Ws and 1 H in a report?

Who, What, When, Where, Why and How. The first paragraph of a news report should answer them.

Q2. Suggest a title and moral for the outline: "A crow, thirsty – pitcher with little water – drops pebbles – water rises – drinks – flies away."

Title: "The Clever Crow". Moral: "Where there is a will, there is a way."

Q3. Develop a story from an outline (any given). Explain the steps you follow.

• Read and understand all hints.
• Decide the setting and characters.
• Write the beginning, the conflict, the climax and the ending in paragraphs.
• Add dialogue and feelings; keep the past tense.
• Give a title and moral.
• Check spelling, tense and paragraphing.

Q4. Write a report on a blood-donation camp held in your college.

• Headline: "Students Donate 120 Units of Blood".
• Byline, place and date.
• Intro: who organised it (NSS unit), when, where, in collaboration with which blood bank.
• Details: inauguration, number of donors, doctors present, awareness talk.
• Quotes from the principal or a doctor.
• Conclusion: certificates, thanks, plans for future camps.

Q5. Distinguish between a story and a report.

• Purpose: story entertains or teaches; report informs.
• Content: story may be imaginary; report is factual.
• Language: story is descriptive and personal; report is objective, third person.
• Structure: beginning–middle–end vs headline–intro–details.
• Title vs headline; moral vs no opinion.

Exam tip

For a report, never forget the headline, byline and place-date line; for a story, never forget the title and use every hint in the outline.

Quick summary

Idioms, phrases, phrasal verbs, foreign words and one-word substitutes make English rich and precise. The university paper asks students to explain idioms and use them in sentences, give one word for a group of words, and explain common foreign words used in English. This topic gives the meanings and lists the most frequently asked items.

Key points

• An idiom is a group of words whose meaning is different from the meanings of the separate words: "to burn the midnight oil" = to study or work late at night.
• A phrase is a group of words without a finite verb that works as one unit ("in spite of", "at a loss").
• A phrasal verb is a verb + particle with a special meaning: give up (stop), look after (take care of), carry out (do).
• A one-word substitute replaces a long description with one exact word: "one who looks on the bright side" → optimist.
• Many foreign words are used in English, mostly from Latin and French: et cetera, bona fide, alma mater, rendezvous.
• Idioms should be used in the right situation; they are common in speech and informal writing, less in formal scientific reports.
• When using an idiom in a sentence, the sentence must make its meaning clear from the context.
• Learn them in groups (animals, body parts, colours) and use them in your own sentences.

Important terms

• Idiomatic expression – an idiom.
• Particle – the small word (up, off, out) in a phrasal verb.
• Loanword – a word borrowed from another language.
• Substitution – using one word in place of many.
• Context – the surrounding words that show meaning.

Language study

Idioms

One-word substitutes

Foreign words: ad hoc (for a particular purpose), vice versa (the other way round), status quo (the existing state), per capita (per person), café, déjà vu (feeling of having seen before), en route (on the way).

5 important questions

Q1. Use in sentences: (a) to burn the midnight oil (b) once in a blue moon.

(a) Before the semester exam, Ravi burnt the midnight oil. (b) My cousin from Pune visits us once in a blue moon.

Q2. Give one word: (a) a place where dead bodies are kept (b) one who is present everywhere.

(a) Mortuary (b) Omnipresent.

Q3. What are idioms? Explain any five with examples.

• Definition and how idioms differ from literal phrases.
• Five idioms with meaning and one sentence each (from the table).
• Note on using idioms appropriately.

Q4. Explain the meaning of these foreign words and use them in sentences: ad hoc, vice versa, bona fide, per capita, status quo.

• Ad hoc: an ad hoc committee was formed for the fest.
• Vice versa: teachers learn from students and vice versa.
• Bona fide (genuine): only bona fide students may enter the library.
• Per capita: per capita income has risen.
• Status quo: the court ordered the status quo to be maintained.

Q5. Explain phrasal verbs with ten examples.

• Definition: verb + adverb/preposition with new meaning.
• give up, look after, put off (postpone), carry out, find out, turn down (refuse), bring up (raise a child), call off (cancel), run out of (have no more), go through (examine).
• One sentence each.

Exam tip

When using an idiom, write a sentence that shows its meaning clearly; a sentence like "He hit the nail on the head" alone gets fewer marks than one with context.

Quick summary

A scientific (laboratory) report tells others what you did in an experiment, what you found and what it means. This topic covers the standard IMRaD structure, the style of scientific writing, how to present data in tables and graphs, and common mistakes to avoid.

Key points

• Most scientific reports follow IMRaD: Introduction, Methods, Results and Discussion.
• Title: short and specific — "Effect of Temperature on Growth of E. coli".
• Abstract: a short summary (aim, method, main result, conclusion).
• Introduction: background and the aim/objective of the experiment.
• Materials and Methods: what was used and how, in enough detail for someone to repeat it. Usually in past tense and often passive voice: "The medium was autoclaved at 121 °C for 15 minutes."
• Results: the observations — numbers, tables, graphs — without explanation.
• Discussion: what the results mean, comparison with known facts, errors and limitations.
• Conclusion: one short paragraph answering the aim.
• References: sources used, in a fixed style.
• Scientific style is objective, precise and impersonal: facts, not feelings; exact units (mL, °C, µm); no exaggeration.
• Tables have a number and title above them; figures/graphs have a number and caption below them.
• Label graph axes with quantity and unit, e.g. "Time (h)".

Important terms

• Hypothesis – a testable prediction.
• Variable – a factor that changes (independent, dependent, controlled).
• Control – a set-up kept without the test factor, for comparison.
• Data – recorded observations.
• Plagiarism – using others' words or ideas without credit.

Language study

Personal vs scientific style

• Personal: "I took some milk and boiled it a lot."
• Scientific: "100 mL of milk was boiled for 10 minutes."

Tense guide

Useful phrases: "The aim of this experiment was to…", "It was observed that…", "The results indicate that…", "A possible source of error is…".

5 important questions

Q1. What does IMRaD stand for?

Introduction, Methods, Results and Discussion — the standard structure of a scientific report or research paper.

Q2. Rewrite in scientific style: "We put the plates in the incubator for one whole day."

"The plates were incubated for 24 hours."

Q3. Explain the structure of a laboratory report.

• Title and abstract.
• Introduction with aim.
• Materials and methods.
• Results with tables/graphs.
• Discussion of meaning and errors.
• Conclusion.
• References.
• One line on each part's purpose.

Q4. What are the features of scientific writing style?

• Objective and impersonal.
• Precise words and exact units.
• Short, clear sentences.
• Passive voice common in methods.
• Logical order.
• No exaggeration, emotion or slang.
• Sources cited.

Q5. Write a short report on a Gram staining practical.

• Title: Gram staining of a bacterial culture.
• Aim: to classify the given culture as Gram-positive or Gram-negative.
• Materials: culture, slide, crystal violet, Gram's iodine, alcohol, safranin, microscope.
• Method: smear, heat fix, stain steps in order (past passive).
• Result: purple cocci in clusters observed under oil immersion.
• Conclusion: the organism is Gram-positive.

Exam tip

Use past passive in methods and never mix results with discussion. Always mention units.

Quick summary

A presentation is a planned talk given to an audience, often with slides. This topic covers how to plan, structure and deliver a good presentation — knowing your audience, making clear slides, using body language and voice well, handling nervousness, and answering questions.

Key points

• Plan: know your purpose (inform, persuade, demonstrate), your audience (classmates, teachers, examiners) and your time limit.
• Structure: Introduction (greeting, topic, why it matters, outline) → Body (2–4 main points with examples) → Conclusion (summary, take-home message, thank you, invite questions).
• Opening ideas: a question, a surprising fact, a short story or a picture.
• Slides: one idea per slide; about 5–6 bullet points; large readable font; few colours; pictures and graphs rather than long paragraphs. Slides support you — do not read them word for word.
• Many speakers follow a rough rule of about one slide per minute.
• Delivery: stand straight, keep eye contact with all parts of the room, use natural hand gestures, speak at a moderate speed, vary your pitch, pause after key points.
• Voice: clear pronunciation, enough volume, avoid fillers ("umm", "basically", "like").
• Nervousness (stage fear) is normal: practise aloud, time yourself, breathe slowly, start with a prepared opening line.
• Questions: listen fully, repeat or rephrase the question, answer briefly; if you don't know, say so politely and offer to find out.
• Check equipment (projector, laptop, pen drive) before starting.

Important terms

• Audience analysis – understanding who will listen and what they know.
• Visual aids – slides, charts, models, videos.
• Body language – posture, gestures, facial expression.
• Fillers – meaningless sounds or words in speech.
• Signposting – phrases that guide the listener through the talk.

Language study

Signposting phrases

• Opening: "Good morning, everyone. Today I am going to talk about…"
• Outline: "My talk has three parts. First… second… finally…"
• Moving on: "Now let us look at…", "This brings me to my next point."
• Referring to slides: "As you can see in this graph…"
• Concluding: "To sum up…", "The key message is…"
• Questions: "Thank you for listening. I am happy to take questions."

Sample opening (5-minute talk on biofertilizers)

5 important questions

Q1. What is signposting in a presentation?

Using guiding phrases such as "First…", "Next…", "To conclude…" so that the audience can follow the order of the talk.

Q2. Give two tips for designing slides.

Keep one idea per slide with only a few short bullet points, and use large clear fonts with graphs or pictures instead of long paragraphs.

Q3. Describe the structure of an effective presentation.

• Introduction: greeting, attention-getter, topic, outline.
• Body: main points in logical order, each with example or data.
• Conclusion: summary, key message.
• Question-answer session.
• Give a sample signposting phrase for each part.

Q4. Explain the role of body language and voice in a presentation.

• Posture: upright, relaxed — shows confidence.
• Eye contact: connects with audience.
• Gestures: natural, to stress points.
• Facial expression: friendly smile.
• Voice: clear, audible, varied pitch, right speed, pauses.
• Avoid fillers and turning back to the screen.

Q5. How can a speaker overcome stage fear?

• Prepare content well and practise aloud.
• Rehearse before friends or a mirror.
• Arrive early, check equipment.
• Deep breathing before starting.
• Memorise the first few lines.
• Focus on friendly faces.
• Treat mistakes calmly and continue.

Exam tip

In long answers, add a few signposting phrases as examples — they show practical understanding.

Quick summary

A paragraph develops one idea; an essay develops a topic through several connected paragraphs. This topic covers the parts of a good paragraph, unity and coherence, the structure of an essay (introduction, body, conclusion), types of essays and tips for writing them in exams.

Key points

• A paragraph has three parts: topic sentence (main idea), supporting sentences (explanation, examples, facts), and concluding sentence (sums up or links ahead).
• Unity: every sentence in a paragraph relates to one main idea.
• Coherence: sentences follow a logical order and are joined by linking words.
• Essay structure: Introduction (hook, background, thesis statement) → Body (usually 3 or more paragraphs, one point each) → Conclusion (restate thesis, summarise, final thought).
• Thesis statement: one sentence in the introduction giving the main argument or purpose.
• Types of essays: descriptive (describes a place, person), narrative (tells a story), expository (explains facts, e.g. "Uses of Microbes"), argumentative/persuasive (takes a side, e.g. "Should plastic be banned?"), reflective (personal thoughts).
• Planning before writing: brainstorm points, arrange them, then write. Spend a few minutes on an outline even in the exam.
• Use simple, correct sentences; avoid repetition and very long sentences.
• Respect the word limit given in the question.

Important terms

• Topic sentence – sentence stating the paragraph's main idea.
• Thesis statement – main claim of the essay.
• Transition words – linkers like however, therefore, moreover.
• Hook – an interesting opening line.
• Outline – plan of points before writing.

Language study

Linking words

Sample paragraph

• Topic sentence: first line. Supporting: lines 2–4. Concluding: last line with "Therefore".

Essay outline: "Role of Science in Rural Development"

1. Introduction: India's villages and the need for development; thesis.
2. Agriculture: improved seeds, biofertilizers, irrigation.
3. Health: vaccines, clean water, sanitation.
4. Communication and energy: mobile internet, solar power.
5. Conclusion: science must reach every village.

5 important questions

Q1. What is a topic sentence?

The sentence, usually first in a paragraph, that states the main idea which the rest of the paragraph explains.

Q2. Define unity and coherence in a paragraph.

Unity means all sentences support one main idea. Coherence means sentences are arranged logically and connected smoothly with linking words.

Q3. Write a paragraph of about 120 words on "Importance of Trees".

• Topic sentence: Trees are vital for life on Earth.
• Support: give oxygen, absorb CO₂, prevent soil erosion, give shade, fruit, wood, medicine, home for birds.
• Example: forests of Bhandara/Gondia region support wildlife.
• Concluding sentence: We must plant and protect trees.

Q4. Explain the structure of an essay.

• Introduction: hook, background, thesis.
• Body paragraphs: one point each with topic sentence and examples.
• Transitions between paragraphs.
• Conclusion: restate thesis, summarise, closing thought.
• Planning and revision steps.

Q5. Write an essay outline on "Mobile Phones: Boon or Bane".

• Introduction: mobile phones everywhere; thesis — useful if used wisely.
• Benefits: communication, online learning, UPI payments, emergency help.
• Harms: addiction, health issues, fake news, cyber fraud.
• Balance: digital discipline, screen-time limits.
• Conclusion: a tool whose effect depends on the user.

Exam tip

Make a 4–5 point outline before you start the essay; it keeps your answer organised and saves time.

Quick summary

"The Postmaster" (1891) is a short story by Rabindranath Tagore, the Nobel Prize-winning Bengali writer. A young postmaster from Calcutta is posted to the small village of Ulapur, where an orphan girl, Ratan, looks after him. She grows deeply attached to him, but when he leaves the village he cannot understand or return her love. The story is a quiet study of loneliness, affection and human separation.

Key points

• Setting: Ulapur, a remote Bengal village; the post office is near an indigo factory whose owner had it opened.
• The postmaster is a city man from Calcutta who feels lonely and out of place, "like a fish out of water". He tries to write poems and longs for company.
• Ratan, an orphan girl of about twelve or thirteen, does his household work for a little food and pay.
• In the evenings they talk; he tells her about his mother, brother and sister at home, and she begins to treat them as her own family.
• He starts teaching her to read; she learns the alphabet eagerly.
• During the rainy season he falls ill with fever. Ratan nurses him day and night "like a mother", bringing the doctor and medicine.
• After recovering he decides to leave Ulapur. His request for a transfer is refused, so he resigns.
• When he tells Ratan, she asks if he will take her home with him. He laughs and says it cannot be.
• He offers her almost all his salary; she refuses, falls at his feet and asks him not to worry about her, then runs away.
• On the boat, he feels pain and thinks of going back, but the current carries him on; he consoles himself with the thought that meetings and partings are part of life.
• Ratan, without such philosophy, keeps wandering round the post office, hoping he will return.

Important terms

• Pathos – the quality that makes readers feel pity and sadness.
• Irony – the difference between what Ratan hopes and what really happens.
• Philosophy of detachment – the postmaster's thought that life is full of meetings and partings.
• Characterisation – the way the writer presents characters.
• Rural setting – the village background that deepens the loneliness.

Language study

• Indigo factory, monsoon, fever, transfer, resignation – words that build the setting and plot.
• Tagore's style: simple narration, rich nature imagery (rain, river, bamboo groves), gentle authorial comments.
• Notice the contrast: the educated man's reasoning versus the child's simple, hopeful love.

5 important questions

Q1. Why did the postmaster feel lonely in Ulapur?

He was a city-bred man from Calcutta. The village had no educated company, little work and no entertainment, so he felt out of place.

Q2. Why did Ratan refuse the money?

She loved him like family and wanted his affection, not payment. Money could not replace the bond she felt, so she was hurt by the offer.

Q3. Write a character sketch of Ratan.

• An orphan girl, poor and alone in the world.
• Hardworking and loyal; does all the household work.
• Affectionate; adopts the postmaster's family in her imagination.
• Eager to learn; quickly learns the alphabet.
• Caring; nurses him like a mother during his illness.
• Innocent and hopeful; keeps waiting for him even after he leaves.
• Symbol of selfless love that is not understood.

Q4. Discuss the theme of loneliness and human relationships in "The Postmaster".

• Loneliness of the postmaster in a strange village.
• Loneliness of Ratan as an orphan.
• Their relationship fills both gaps for a time.
• The relationship is unequal: for him temporary, for her everything.
• Separation shows how adults hide feelings behind practical reasons and philosophy.
• Ratan's waiting shows the deep hurt of the powerless.

Q5. Comment on the ending of the story.

• The postmaster feels a pang on the boat but does not return.
• He comforts himself with ideas about the world's meetings and partings.
• Ratan, with no such comfort, lingers near the post office.
• Tagore's comment on the human heart clinging to false hope.
• The ending creates pathos and leaves the reader thinking.

Exam tip

Use the names Ulapur and Ratan and mention the illness, the refused transfer, the resignation and the refused money in long answers; these are the key turning points.

Quick summary

"After Twenty Years" (1906) is a short story by the American writer O. Henry (William Sydney Porter), famous for surprise endings. Two close friends promised to meet at the same place in New York exactly twenty years later. One has become a wanted criminal and the other a policeman, and the meeting ends in an arrest. The story is about friendship, change, duty and conscience.

Key points

• Setting: a New York street, about 10 p.m., on a cold, windy, rainy night.
• A policeman on his beat sees a man standing in the doorway of a dark hardware store, an unlit cigar in his mouth.
• The man explains that twenty years ago the place was "Big Joe" Brady's restaurant. He and his best friend Jimmy Wells dined there before he left for the West to make his fortune; they agreed to meet there twenty years later, whatever happened.
• When he strikes a match, the policeman sees a pale, square-jawed face, keen eyes and a small white scar near his right eyebrow; he also wears a large diamond scarf-pin.
• He boasts that he has done well in the West and believes Jimmy will come if he is alive. The policeman moves on.
• About twenty minutes later, a tall man in a long overcoat arrives and greets him as Bob. They walk arm in arm.
• Under the bright lights of a drug store, Bob realises the man is not Jimmy: his nose is different.
• The tall man is a plain-clothes policeman. He tells "Silky" Bob that he is under arrest, wanted by the Chicago police.
• He hands Bob a note from Jimmy Wells, the policeman on the beat. Jimmy recognised Bob's face, when the match was struck, as the man wanted in Chicago. He could not arrest his friend himself, so he sent a plain-clothes man to do it.
• Themes: true friendship versus duty, how people change, honesty versus crime, conscience.

Important terms

• Twist ending – a sudden, unexpected end; O. Henry's trademark.
• Plain-clothes man – a police officer not in uniform.
• Beat – the area a policeman patrols.
• Dramatic irony – the reader learns too late that Bob was talking to Jimmy all along.
• Moral dilemma – a hard choice between two duties.

Language study

• Habitual, swagger, staunch, egotism (too much talk about oneself), simultaneously.
• Clues the writer hides: the policeman's quiet questions, his leaving quickly, the details he notes about Bob's face.
• "Twenty years is a long time, but not long enough to change a man's nose" – a key clue line.

5 important questions

Q1. Why had Bob come to the hardware store that night?

To keep an appointment made twenty years earlier with his friend Jimmy Wells to meet at "Big Joe" Brady's restaurant, which had stood at that spot.

Q2. How did Bob realise the man was not Jimmy?

Under the drug store's lights he saw that the man's nose was different; twenty years could not change a man's nose so much.

Q3. Bring out the surprise ending of "After Twenty Years".

• Readers expect a happy reunion of friends.
• The policeman on the beat seems unimportant.
• The tall man turns out to be a plain-clothes policeman.
• The note reveals that the first policeman was Jimmy himself.
• Jimmy recognised the wanted face when the match was struck.
• The twist makes readers re-read the clues; it is typical O. Henry.

Q4. Compare the characters of Jimmy Wells and Silky Bob.

• Bob: ambitious, boastful, rich, went West, became a criminal, yet loyal to the appointment.
• Jimmy: steady, honest, stayed in New York, became a policeman.
• Both kept the promise and came on time.
• Jimmy chooses duty over friendship but shows kindness by not arresting Bob himself.
• Contrast shows how choices shape character.

Q5. Discuss the conflict between friendship and duty in the story.

• Jimmy's love for his old friend.
• His duty as a policeman to arrest a wanted man.
• His solution: he lets another officer make the arrest and writes a note.
• The note shows both honesty and emotion.
• Message: duty to society must come first, but humanity can still be shown.

Exam tip

Remember three clues: the scar near the right eyebrow, the lit match, and the different nose. Mention them to show you understand how the twist is built.

Quick summary

"Ulysses" is a dramatic monologue by the Victorian poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson, written in 1833 and published in 1842. The ageing Greek hero Ulysses (Odysseus), now king of Ithaca after the Trojan War, is bored with a quiet life and decides to set out on one last voyage with his old sailors. The poem celebrates the restless human desire to explore and never give up.

Key points

• Background: Tennyson wrote it soon after the death of his close friend Arthur Hallam; it expresses the need to go on living bravely. The story draws on Homer's Odyssey and Dante's Inferno.
• Form: a dramatic monologue of 70 lines in blank verse (unrhymed iambic pentameter).
• Part 1: Ulysses calls himself an "idle king" ruling a "savage race" by a still hearth, beside an "aged wife" (Penelope). He cannot rest from travel and wants to "drink life to the lees".
• He has enjoyed and suffered greatly, become famous, and says "I am a part of all that I have met". Every experience is an arch through which the untravelled world shines.
• He feels it is dull "to rust unburnished, not to shine in use"; even a little life left should be used to gain new knowledge.
• Part 2: He hands his sceptre to his son Telemachus, who is patient and prudent, fit to govern the people and honour the gods. Each has his own work.
• Part 3: He speaks to his mariners at the port. Old age still has its honour and work; "'Tis not too late to seek a newer world."
• He plans to sail beyond the sunset, perhaps to the Happy Isles where they may see the great Achilles.
• Ending: though weakened by time and fate, they are "strong in will / To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield."
• Themes: the thirst for knowledge and adventure, courage in old age, refusal to give up, contrast between active and passive life.

Important terms

• Dramatic monologue – a poem in which one character speaks to a silent listener, revealing his mind.
• Blank verse – unrhymed lines of iambic pentameter.
• Ithaca – the Greek island kingdom of Ulysses.
• Telemachus – son of Ulysses and Penelope.
• Happy Isles – in Greek myth, islands where heroes live after death.

Language study

• Mete and dole – measure out and hand out (laws and rewards).
• Lees – the last part of wine in a cup; "drink life to the lees" = live fully.
• Unburnished – not polished; metaphor of a rusting sword.
• Figures of speech: metaphor (life as wine, experience as an arch), simile ("like a sinking star"), alliteration, enjambment.

5 important questions

Q1. Why is Ulysses dissatisfied with his life in Ithaca?

He feels idle as a king doing routine work among people who do not understand him; he longs for adventure and new knowledge.

Q2. Explain: "I am a part of all that I have met."

Every place, person and experience on his travels has shaped him. He is the sum of his experiences, and each one makes him want more.

Q3. Examine "Ulysses" as a dramatic monologue.

• One speaker, Ulysses; silent listeners (first himself, then the mariners).
• A dramatic moment: his decision to sail again.
• Reveals his character: restless, proud, brave, slightly cold towards family.
• Natural, speech-like blank verse.
• Three movements: complaint, handing over to Telemachus, appeal to mariners.

Q4. Discuss the central theme of the poem.

• Thirst for knowledge and adventure.
• Old age is no excuse for rest.
• Contrast of the active life (Ulysses) and the dutiful civic life (Telemachus).
• Courage in the face of death.
• Final line as a message of determination.
• Link to Tennyson's grief and resolve after Hallam's death.

Q5. Write a character sketch of Ulysses as presented by Tennyson.

• Heroic adventurer and famous warrior.
• Restless, curious, loves experience.
• Self-confident, even proud.
• Practical judge of his son's abilities.
• Inspiring leader of his old companions.
• Determined to the end: "not to yield".

Exam tip

Learn the last line and two or three key phrases ("drink life to the lees", "a part of all that I have met"). Quote briefly and explain in your own words.