Chapter Notes›Class 10 English Language & Literature

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Class 10 English Language & LiteratureChapter Notes

8 chapters · Definitions, key points, formulas & exam tips · Updated 2025-26

Ch 1

A Letter to God

Key Definitions

Irony: A situation where the outcome is opposite to what is expected. The men who helped Lencho are called 'a bunch of crooks' by him.

Naive Faith: Lencho's simple, unquestioning belief in God despite all evidence.

Key Points to Remember

→Author: G.L. Fuentes (translated from Spanish).
→Lencho's crops are destroyed by a hailstorm — he writes a letter to God asking for 100 pesos.
→Post office employees collect 70 pesos and send it to Lencho.
→Lencho, thinking God sent 100 pesos, writes again accusing the post office workers of stealing 30 pesos.
→Theme: Unshakeable faith vs. human cynicism.

Exam Tips

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Central irony: the people who helped Lencho are called thieves by him.

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Character traits: Lencho — innocent, deeply religious; Post office workers — kind, helpful.

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Moral: Faith is powerful but must be tempered with gratitude and realism.

Ch 2

Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

Key Definitions

Apartheid: A system of racial segregation in South Africa where Black people were denied rights.

Reconciliation: Restoring friendly relations. Mandela pursued reconciliation, not revenge.

Key Points to Remember

→Autobiography extract — describes inauguration as President of South Africa.
→ANC (African National Congress): Mandela's party that fought against apartheid.
→Mandela: imprisoned for 27 years on Robben Island.
→Two obligations: family + people/community.
→Mandela's definition of freedom: not just personal freedom but freedom for all.
→Twin obligations: to family and to his community/nation.
→Courage is not absence of fear but triumph over it.

Exam Tips

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Contrast: apartheid vs. freedom — before and after 1994.

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Mandela's definition of a great man vs. a saint.

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Values: courage, sacrifice, resilience — mention in long answers.

Ch 3

Two Stories About Flying

Key Definitions

His First Flight: Story of a young seagull who is afraid to fly and must overcome his fear.

Black Aeroplane: Story of a pilot who encounters a strange black aeroplane in storm clouds and is guided to safety.

Key Points to Remember

→His First Flight (Liam O'Flaherty): seagull overcomes fear by diving for food; mother uses hunger as motivation.
→Theme: Courage, overcoming fear, trust.
→Black Aeroplane (Frederick Forsyth): pilot in old Dakota encounters mysterious black aeroplane; mystery — no such plane appears in the record.
→Theme: Mystery, gratitude, unexplained help.

Exam Tips

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Contrast the two stories: both deal with flight but have different themes.

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The mystery in Black Aeroplane — who was the pilot? Open to interpretation.

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Role of hunger/motivation in overcoming fear (seagull story).

Ch 4

From the Diary of Anne Frank

Key Definitions

Holocaust: The genocide of Jewish people by Nazis during World War II.

Diary as Confidante: Anne treats her diary (Kitty) as her only true friend.

Key Points to Remember

→Anne Frank: Jewish girl hiding in Amsterdam with family during WWII.
→Diary written between 1942–1944 while hiding from Nazis.
→Anne's frustration: she cannot talk to anyone truly; her diary is her only friend.
→Paper has more patience than people — key quote.
→Theme: Loneliness, hope in hopeless times, growing up.
→Anne died in Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in 1945, aged 15.

Exam Tips

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Why does Anne consider paper more patient than people?

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What does the diary reveal about Anne's personality — intelligent, sensitive, hopeful.

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Historical context of Holocaust — mention in 5-mark questions.

Ch 5

Glimpses of India

Key Definitions

Coorg: A hill station in Karnataka — 'Scotland of India'. Known for coffee and spices.

Tea from Assam: Story about a train journey and the history of tea in Assam.

Key Points to Remember

→A Baker from Goa (Lucio Rodrigues): Portuguese influence in Goa, bread-making tradition, the 'pader' (baker).
→Coorg (Lokesh Abrol): People of Coorg — Greek/Arabic origin theory, coffee, spices, Kaveri river, Coorg regiment.
→Tea from Assam (Arup Kumar Datta): Rajvir and Pranjol's journey, legend of tea discovery, Brahmaputra valley.

Exam Tips

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Each sub-part is independent — identify which story the question refers to.

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Coorg's martial tradition: only civilians allowed to carry firearms; Coorg regiment.

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The legend of tea: Chinese emperor / Buddhist monk — know both versions.

Ch 6

Mijbil the Otter

Key Definitions

Otter: A semi-aquatic mammal. Mijbil was a Marsh otter from Iraq.

Key Points to Remember

→Author: Gavin Maxwell.
→Mijbil brought from the Tigris marshes in Iraq.
→Mijbil's journey: Basra → London; airliner incident — Mij escaped from box.
→Mij's habits: played with marbles, obsession with running along the skirting board.
→People's reactions to Mij on London streets — curiosity, funny names given.
→Theme: Human-animal bond, unconventional pets.

Exam Tips

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How did Mij travel from Iraq to London? What happened on the plane?

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Describe Mij's playful nature with examples.

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Why does the author say 'Maxwell's otter' became a recognisable term?

Ch 7

Madam Rides the Bus

Key Definitions

Death: Valli's first encounter with death — the cow hit by a fast-moving vehicle.

Key Points to Remember

→Author: Vallikkannan (Tamil).
→Valli: eight-year-old girl fascinated by the bus.
→Saves sixty paise by not spending on treats.
→Her first solo bus ride — planned secretly from mother.
→On the return journey, sees the dead cow — her excitement turns to sadness.
→Theme: Childhood curiosity, growing up, first encounter with death.

Exam Tips

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How did Valli plan her trip? Detail of saving money and gathering information.

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Valli's refusal to look out of the window on return — why?

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Significance of the dead cow — loss of innocence.

Ch 8

The Sermon at Benares

Key Definitions

Nirvana: In Buddhism — freedom from suffering and the cycle of rebirth.

Mustard Seed: Kisa Gotami asked to bring a mustard seed from a house that has never known death — impossible task that teaches acceptance.

Key Points to Remember

→Author: Betty Renshaw.
→Siddhartha Gautama becomes the Buddha.
→Kisa Gotami: loses her son, wants him revived; Buddha asks her to bring mustard seed from a house where no one has died.
→Lesson: Death is universal; grief is overcome through acceptance.
→Theme: Suffering, acceptance, wisdom.

Exam Tips

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What is the parable of the mustard seed? What does it teach?

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How did Buddha attain enlightenment? — sat under peepal tree in Bodh Gaya.

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The Buddha's teachings on grief — 'the living are few, the dead are many.'

Frequently Asked Questions

Are these notes based on 2025-26 CBSE syllabus for Class 10 English Language & Literature?

Yes. All chapter notes here are based on the latest 2025-26 CBSE syllabus for Class 10 English Language & Literature. Deleted topics are clearly marked so you focus only on what will be tested in your board exam.

How to study Class 10 English Language & Literature notes effectively for board exams?

Read each chapter's notes once to build understanding. Then close the notes and try to recall every key point, definition, and formula from memory. Anything you miss is your weak area — revisit only those points. This active recall method takes less time and retains far more than re-reading.

What is the difference between NCERT notes and chapter summaries?

Chapter notes contain detailed definitions, key terms, formulas, and concept breakdowns — they're for learning and understanding. Chapter summaries are shorter paragraph-style overviews — they're for quick revision. Use notes when you're studying a chapter for the first time; use summaries the night before the exam.

Do I need to memorise formulas for Class 10 English Language & Literature CBSE board exam?

Yes. Formulas listed in these notes must be memorised precisely — CBSE doesn't give formula sheets during exams. Write each formula 5–10 times, then recall it without looking. In the exam, write the formula first, then substitute values — this helps you earn partial marks even if the final answer has a calculation error.

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