CLASS 12 3RD SEMESTER WBCHSE MODEL SET : Ulysses

CLASS 12 3RD SEMESTER WBCHSE MODEL SET  

Complete Question Paper with Solved Answers 

SECTION A: MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS (MCQs)

1. The expression "Life piled on life were all too little" suggests that Ulysses:

A. regrets having lived too long.

B. believes even many lifetimes would not satisfy his desire for experience and knowledge.

C. wishes to spend the rest of his life peacefully.

D. feels that old age has made life meaningless.

Answer: B. believes even many lifetimes would not satisfy his desire for experience and knowledge.

Explanation: Ulysses feels that a single life is far too short to absorb all the world's wisdom and experience, so even multiple cumulative lifetimes ("life piled on life") would still be insufficient.

2. The metaphor "I am become a name" primarily implies that Ulysses:

A. has forgotten his real identity.

B. has become famous for his heroic deeds and legendary reputation.

C. has been abandoned by his people.

D. no longer wishes to be remembered.

Answer: B. has become famous for his heroic deeds and legendary reputation.

Explanation: Through his travels and epic battles at Troy, Ulysses has attained universal renown, turning his name into a synonym for heroic exploration.

3. Why does Tennyson contrast Ulysses with Telemachus?

A. To show that one is right and the other is wrong.

B. To highlight two equally valuable but different approaches to duty and life.

C. To prove that youth is superior to old age.

D. To criticise Telemachus for lacking courage.

Answer: B. To highlight two equally valuable but different approaches to duty and life.

Explanation: Tennyson presents Telemachus as an ideal civil ruler capable of patient, domestic governance ("by slow prudence to make mild a rugged people"), while Ulysses represents the restless spirit of heroic adventure ("He works his work, I mine").

4. Which of the following best explains the symbolic meaning of the phrase "To sail beyond the sunset"?

A. Travelling to a neighbouring kingdom.

B. Escaping political responsibilities.

C. Pursuing the unknown despite the certainty of death.

D. Returning home after a long voyage.

Answer: C. Pursuing the unknown despite the certainty of death.

Explanation: The "sunset" and "the baths of all the western stars" symbolize the western boundary of the known world as well as the twilight of life (death); sailing beyond it signifies the ultimate quest into the infinite unknown.

5. The tone of the final stanza is best described as:

A. nostalgic and regretful.

B. determined and inspiring.

C. humorous and playful.

D. fearful and uncertain.

Answer: B. determined and inspiring.

Explanation: The final stanza culminates in an indomitable, rousing call to heroic action: "To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield."

SECTION B: REARRANGEMENT

6. Arrange the progression of Ulysses' thoughts:

   A. Acceptance of old age

   B. Dissatisfaction with present life

   C. Confidence in Telemachus

   D. Renewed determination to explore

A. B, C, A, D

B. A, B, C, D

C. B, A, C, D

D. C, B, A, D

Answer: A. B, C, A, D

Explanation: The poem begins with frustration over ruling Ithaca (B: Dissatisfaction with present life), transitions to entrusting the kingdom to his son (C: Confidence in Telemachus), acknowledges that he and his mariners are old (A: Acceptance of old age), and ends with an unyielding vow to sail onward (D: Renewed determination to explore).

7. Arrange the following according to the development of the poem's central idea:

   A. Restlessness

   B. Reflection on past experiences

   C. Delegation of responsibility

   D. Renewed quest for the unknown

A. A, B, C, D

B. B, A, D, C

C. A, C, B, D

D. C, A, B, D

Answer: A. A, B, C, D

Explanation: Ulysses starts by expressing his restless spirit ("I cannot rest from travel" - A), reflects on what he has seen and achieved ("Much have I seen and known" - B), delegates his sceptre to Telemachus (C), and finally embarks on a renewed quest ("beyond the sunset" - D).

8. Arrange these images as they appear in the poem:

   A. Idle king among barren rocks

   B. Drinking life to the lees

   C. Blameless Telemachus

   D. Sailing beyond the sunset

A. A, B, C, D

B. B, A, C, D

C. A, C, B, D

D. B, C, A, D

Answer: A. A, B, C, D

Explanation: The images appear in exact chronological sequence: lines 1-2 (idle king among barren rocks) -> line 6-7 (drink life to the lees) -> line 33-40 (blameless Telemachus) -> line 60 (to sail beyond the sunset).

9. Arrange the following according to the emotional progression of the speaker:

   A. Frustration

   B. Reminiscence

   C. Hope

   D. Inspiration

A. A, B, C, D

B. B, A, D, C

C. A, C, B, D

D. B, C, A, D

Answer: A. A, B, C, D

Explanation: Ulysses begins with frustration over his idle reign (A), fondly reminisces about past glories and battles (B), expresses hope for the remaining time ("something ere the end" - C), and delivers an inspiring call to action to his sailors (D).

10. Arrange the thematic progression of the poem:

   A. Human limitations

   B. Love of knowledge

   C. Sense of duty

   D. Indomitable spirit

A. B, A, C, D

B. A, B, C, D

C. C, A, B, D

D. B, A, D, C

Answer: A. B, A, C, D  (or sequence reflecting: Love of knowledge -> Human limitations -> Sense of duty -> Indomitable spirit / thematic flow)

Explanation: First section highlights the restless yearning to follow knowledge (B), recognizes that life is short and mortal limitations exist (A), addresses civic governance and duty via Telemachus (C), and concludes with heroic defiance against fate (D).

SECTION C: ASSERTION-REASON QUESTIONS

11. Assertion (A): Ulysses considers old age an obstacle but not a defeat.

Reason (R): He believes that physical weakness cannot destroy mental courage or aspiration.

A. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.

B. Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.

C. A is true, but R is false.

D. A is false, but R is true.

Answer: A. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.

Explanation: Ulysses explicitly states "Old age hath yet his honour and his toil" and "Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will", directly affirming that physical decline does not quell heroic resolve.

12. Assertion (A): Ulysses praises Telemachus without expressing any desire to imitate him.

Reason (R): Ulysses believes that different individuals have different responsibilities and strengths.

A. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.

B. Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.

C. A is true, but R is false.

D. A is false, but R is true.

Answer: A. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.

Explanation: Ulysses acknowledges his son's suitability for civil administration ("Most blameless is he...") and concludes "He works his work, I mine", recognizing separate spheres of virtue.

13. Assertion (A): The poem celebrates knowledge gained through experience rather than through books alone.

Reason (R): Ulysses describes himself as having become "a part of all that I have met."

A. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.

B. Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.

C. A is true, but R is false.

D. A is false, but R is true.

Answer: A. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.

Explanation: Ulysses' worldview is forged through living, traveling, and actively encountering varied cultures and trials; becoming part of what he has met demonstrates direct experiential knowledge.

14. Assertion (A): The final voyage in the poem may be interpreted as both a literal journey and a symbolic journey towards death.

Reason (R): The imagery of sailing beyond the sunset suggests crossing into the unknown.

A. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.

B. Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.

C. A is true, but R is false.

D. A is false, but R is true.

Answer: A. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.

Explanation: The physical voyage out to the western ocean mirrors the journey toward mortality ("until I die", "touch the Happy Isles"), making R the direct rationale for the dual interpretation.

15. Assertion (A): Tennyson presents Ulysses as a flawless hero.

Reason (R): Ulysses neglects his domestic responsibilities in favour of personal ambition.

A. Both A and R are true.

B. A is true, but R is false.

C. A is false, but R is true.

D. Both A and R are false.

Answer: C. A is false, but R is true.

Explanation: Tennyson paints a complex Victorian dramatic monologue: Ulysses abandons his kingdom and aging wife ("Match'd with an aged wife", leaving the people he calls "a savage race"), revealing he is not presented as an unblemished, flawless hero.

SECTION D: COLUMN MATCHING

1. Match the Quotation with the Most Appropriate Interpretation:

Column A (Quotation) Column B (Interpretation)

A. "I cannot rest from travel" 1. Acceptance of mortality

B. "I am become a name" 2. Endless desire for exploration

C. "Death closes all" 3. Legendary reputation

D. "To strive, to seek, to find..." 4. Perseverance despite adversity

. Options:

   A. A-2, B-3, C-1, D-4

   B. A-3, B-2, C-4, D-1

   C. A-1, B-3, C-2, D-4

   D. A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4

Answer: A. A-2, B-3, C-1, D-4

Explanation: A matches 2 (endless yearning to travel); B matches 3 (fame and reputation); C matches 1 (death ends everything); D matches 4 (unyielding perseverance).

2. Match the Character/Group with the Quality They Represent:

Column A (Character / Group) Column B (Quality Represented)

A. Ulysses 1. Responsible governance

B. Telemachus 2. Spirit of adventure

C. Mariners 3. Loyal companionship

D. Ithacans 4. Ordinary domestic life / mundane existence

. Options:

   A. A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4

   B. A-3, B-2, C-1, D-4

   C. A-1, B-3, C-4, D-2

   D. A-4, B-1, C-2, D-3

Answer: A. A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4

Explanation: Ulysses represents adventure (2), Telemachus represents civic duty (1), mariners represent steadfast comrades (3), and the Ithacan subjects represent common domestic existence (4).

3. Match the Image with its Symbolic Meaning:

Column A (Image) Column B (Symbolic Meaning)

A. Barren crags 1. Human limitations

B. Arch of experience 2. Endless possibilities of knowledge

C. Sunset 3. End of life / mortality

D. Sea voyage 4. Quest for the unknown / active living

. Options:

   A. A-4, B-2, C-3, D-1

   B. A-1, B-2, C-3, D-4

   C. A-3, B-2, C-1, D-4

   D. A-4, B-3, C-2, D-1

Answer: B. A-1, B-2, C-3, D-4  (or Barren crags: stagnant sterile life / limitations; Arch: limitless knowledge; Sunset: death; Sea voyage: spiritual quest)

Explanation: The barren crags depict static confinement/limitations; the arch portrays horizon-expanding knowledge; sunset depicts mortal twilight; the sea voyage embodies the heroic quest.

4. Match the Literary Device with the Example:

Column A (Device) Column B (Example)

A. Metaphor 1. "The sounding furrows"

B. Personification 2. "The arch wherethro' gleams..."

C. Imagery 3. "Death closes all"

D. Symbolism 4. "Beyond the sunset"

. Options:

   A. A-2, B-3, C-1, D-4

   B. A-1, B-2, C-4, D-3

   C. A-4, B-1, C-2, D-3

   D. A-3, B-4, C-1, D-2

Answer: A. A-2, B-3, C-1, D-4

Explanation: A matches 2 (Experience is an arch - metaphor); B matches 3 ("Death closes all" treats death as an active closer - personification); C matches 1 ("sounding furrows" provides auditory/visual imagery); D matches 4 ("beyond the sunset" symbolizes uncharted afterlife/eternity).

5. Match the Theme with the Supporting Idea:

Column A (Theme) Column B (Supporting Idea / Line)

A. Love of knowledge 1. "I am a part of all that I have met"

B. Sense of duty 2. Praise for Telemachus

C. Heroic perseverance 3. "To strive, to seek..."

D. Restlessness 4. "I cannot rest from travel"

. Options:

   A. A-1, B-2, C-3, D-4

   B. A-2, B-1, C-4, D-3

   C. A-4, B-3, C-1, D-2

   D. A-3, B-2, C-4, D-1

Answer: A. A-1, B-2, C-3, D-4

Explanation: Love of knowledge is reflected in cumulative learning (1); Sense of duty is seen in leaving statecraft to Telemachus (2); Heroic perseverance in line 3; Restlessness in line 4.

SECTION E: CASE STUDY / EXTRACT-BASED QUESTIONS

Case Study 1. Read the extract carefully:

"I cannot rest from travel: I will drink

Life to the lees: All times I have enjoy'd

Greatly, have suffer'd greatly..."

Question: What does the phrase "drink life to the lees" suggest about Ulysses?

a. He wants to live every moment to the fullest.

b. He wishes to become a king again.

c. He regrets his adventurous life.

d. He wants to forget his past.

Answer: a. He wants to live every moment to the fullest.

Explanation: "Lees" refers to the sediment at the bottom of a wine cask; to drink to the lees means consuming wine to the very last drop, symbolizing experiencing life completely and intensely.

Case Study 2. Read the extract carefully:

"Yet all experience is an arch wherethro'

Gleams that untravell'd world whose margin fades

For ever and for ever when I move."

Question: Why does Ulysses compare experience to an arch?

a. Experience limits his knowledge.

b. Every experience opens the way to new discoveries.

c. He wants to build a great monument.

d. He believes knowledge has an end.

Answer: b. Every experience opens the way to new discoveries.

Explanation: Like passing under an architectural arch, each milestone reached provides a vista into an even broader, previously unseen territory.

Case Study 3. Read the extract carefully:

"Death closes all: but something ere the end,

Some work of noble note, may yet be done,

Not unbecoming men that strove with Gods."

Question: What is Ulysses' attitude towards old age?

a. He accepts old age as a time of complete rest.

b. He believes old age should be spent in comfort.

c. He feels one should continue to achieve noble deeds despite growing old.

d. He is afraid of death.

Answer: c. He feels one should continue to achieve noble deeds despite growing old.

Explanation: Ulysses insists that even though death is inevitable, old age possesses dignity and must be used for meaningful, noble endeavors.

Case Study 4. Read the extract carefully:

"Come, my friends,

'T is not too late to seek a newer world."

Question: What does this appeal reveal about Ulysses?

a. He is dissatisfied with his companions.

b. He inspires others to pursue new adventures despite old age.

c. He wants to conquer Ithaca.

d. He plans to retire from public life.

Answer: b. He inspires others to pursue new adventures despite old age.

Explanation: He speaks as an inspiring leader rallying his aged comrades to look beyond physical decline and embark together on high aspirations.

Case Study 5. Read the extract carefully:

"To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield."

Question: Which quality of Ulysses is best reflected in this line?

a. Laziness and comfort

b. Determination and perseverance

c. Fear of failure

d. Obedience to fate

Answer: b. Determination and perseverance

Explanation: This iconic line summarizes the Victorian ethos of boundless resilience, persistent effort, and unyielding spirit against all odds.

SECTION F: TRUE / FALSE MCQs

Instructions: Read the quoted lines carefully and choose the correct option.

1. "I cannot rest from travel; I will drink

Life to the lees."

Statement: These lines suggest that Ulysses wishes to experience every possible aspect of life until its very end.

A. True

B. False

Answer: A. True

Explanation: The metaphor of drinking life to the lees denotes living life to the fullest and exhausting every possible experience before death.

2. "Yet all experience is an arch wherethro'

Gleams that untravell'd world..."

Statement: The quoted lines suggest that the more knowledge one acquires, the fewer opportunities remain for further discovery.

A. True

B. False

Answer: B. False

Explanation: The statement is false because the poem asserts the exact opposite: as one advances, the horizon recedes ("margin fades for ever and for ever"), revealing ever more opportunities for discovery.

3. "This is my son, mine own Telemachus..."

Statement: Through these lines, Ulysses acknowledges Telemachus's ability to govern effectively, although his own ambitions are different.

A. True

B. False

Answer: A. True

Explanation: Ulysses praises his son's prudence and capacity to civilize the people, contrasting it with his own calling ("He works his work, I mine").

4. "'Tis not too late to seek a newer world."

Statement: The quoted line reflects the belief that age should never discourage a person from pursuing new goals.

A. True

B. False

Answer: A. True

Explanation: The core message of the poem is that age does not negate the pursuit of noble endeavors or personal growth.

5. "To sail beyond the sunset, and the baths

Of all the western stars..."

Statement: The voyage described in these lines may be interpreted both as a literal sea journey and as a symbolic journey towards death or the unknown.

A. True

B. False

Answer: A. True

Explanation: Sailing beyond the western stars carries both literal exploration of the open seas and the metaphorical transition across mortality into the afterlife.