Class 12 English Summary - Literature Last Minute Revision

Unit One: Short Stories

1. Neighbours - Tim Winton

Author: Tim Winton
Title: Neighbours
Genre: Short Story
Theme: Cultural differences, acceptance, change, and harmony.
Summary: The story portrays the lives of a young couple who move into a multicultural neighbourhood. Initially, they struggle to accept their foreign neighbours but gradually grow to appreciate their kindness and warmth. The story highlights the gradual change in the couple’s perception and how their initial biases turn into understanding and acceptance.
Characters: Young couple, various neighbours (Macedonian family, Polish widower, etc.).

2. A Respectable Woman - Kate Chopin

Author: Kate Chopin
Title: A Respectable Woman
Genre: Short Story
Theme: Inner conflict, attraction, societal expectations.
Summary: The story revolves around Mrs. Baroda, who struggles with her feelings toward her husband's friend, Gouvernail. Despite her attraction to him, she strives to maintain her respectability and commitment to her husband. The story explores themes of desire, repression, and societal norms.
Characters: Mrs. Baroda, Gouvernail, Gaston.

3. A Devoted Son - Anita Desai

Author: Anita Desai
Title: A Devoted Son
Genre: Short Story
Theme: Family duty, generational conflict, love, and sacrifice.
Summary: The story follows Rakesh, a devoted son who achieves great success as a doctor but faces conflict when his father resents the care Rakesh provides in his old age. The narrative highlights cultural expectations, duty, and the complexities of familial relationships.
Characters: Rakesh, his father Varma, his mother, Rakesh’s wife.

4. The Treasure in the Forest - H. G. Wells

Author: H. G. Wells
Title: The Treasure in the Forest
Genre: Short Story
Theme: Greed, danger, and misfortune.
Summary: The story depicts two men, Evans and Hooker, who go in search of hidden treasure on an island. Their greed leads them to a tragic end as they succumb to poisoned darts set as traps by the native inhabitants. It conveys the destructive nature of greed.
Characters: Evans, Hooker.

5. My Old Home - Lu Xun

Author: Lu Xun
Title: My Old Home
Genre: Short Story
Theme: Nostalgia, friendship, social change.
Summary: The narrator returns to his old home and reflects on his childhood friendship with a servant named Runtu. He feels saddened by how societal changes and class differences have affected their bond. The story explores memory, change, and disillusionment.
Characters: The narrator, Runtu.

6. The Half-closed Eyes of the Buddha and the Slowly Sinking Sun - Shankar Lamichhane

Author: Shankar Lamichhane
Title: The Half-closed Eyes of the Buddha and the Slowly Sinking Sun
Genre: Short Story
Theme: Culture, tradition, and modernity.
Summary: The story contrasts the timelessness of Buddha’s serene gaze with the chaos of the modern world. Through various vignettes, the author reflects on Nepalese culture, spirituality, and the struggle to preserve identity amidst change.
Characters: Various unnamed characters representing different aspects of society.

7. A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings - Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Author: Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Title: A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings
Genre: Short Story (Magical Realism)
Theme: Human cruelty, exploitation, faith.
Summary: The story depicts a strange old man with wings who is treated cruelly by the townspeople. Despite being exploited for profit, he remains patient and silent until he eventually flies away. The story highlights human insensitivity and the miraculous hidden in the ordinary.
Characters: Pelayo, Elisenda, Old Man, Gonzaga, Neighbor lady, Spider Woman.

Unit Two: Poems

1. A Day - Emily Dickinson

Author: Emily Dickinson
Title: A Day
Genre: Poem
Theme: Life, death, and immortality.
Summary: The poem describes the transition from morning to night, using it as a metaphor for life and death. It captures the innocence of a child’s perspective and the inevitable passage towards death.
Characters: The narrator, children (as symbols of innocence).

2. Every Morning I Wake - Dylan Thomas

Author: Dylan Thomas
Title: Every Morning I Wake
Genre: Poem
Theme: Life, renewal, spirituality.
Summary: The poem reflects the poet’s appreciation for life and the natural world, expressing gratitude for each new day. It conveys themes of faith, resilience, and renewal.
Characters: The narrator.

3. I Was My Own Route - Julia de Burgos

Author: Julia de Burgos
Title: I Was My Own Route
Genre: Poem
Theme: Identity, freedom, feminism.
Summary: The poem explores the poet’s struggle for personal freedom and independence, challenging societal norms and expectations. It reflects the poet’s quest for identity and self-expression.
Characters: The narrator.

4. The Awakening Age - Ben Okri

Author: Ben Okri
Title: The Awakening Age
Genre: Poem
Theme: Hope, unity, rebirth.
Summary: The poem envisions a world united by love and understanding, emphasizing the need for solidarity and hope to overcome societal challenges.
Characters: The narrator, humanity as a collective.

5. Soft Storm - Abhi Subedi

Author: Abhi Subedi
Title: Soft Storm
Genre: Poem
Theme: Change, resilience, emotional turmoil.
Summary: The poem captures the emotional turbulence and subtle changes experienced by an individual amidst societal and personal struggles.
Characters: The narrator.

Unit Three: Essays

1. On Libraries - Oliver Sacks

Author: Oliver Sacks
Title: On Libraries
Genre: Essay
Theme: Love for reading, intellectual growth, cultural preservation.
Summary: Oliver Sacks reflects on his lifelong passion for books and libraries, emphasizing their role in shaping his intellectual journey. He describes libraries as safe havens for curiosity, learning, and personal growth.
Characters: The narrator.

2. Marriage as a Social Institution - Stephen L. Nock

Author: Stephen L. Nock
Title: Marriage as a Social Institution
Genre: Essay
Theme: Marriage, social structure, cultural norms.
Summary: The essay discusses marriage as a fundamental social institution, examining its role in providing social order and stability. Nock analyzes the ways in which marriage is shaped by cultural, economic, and legal factors.
Characters: None (Analytical essay).

3. Knowledge and Wisdom - Bertrand Russell

Author: Bertrand Russell
Title: Knowledge and Wisdom
Genre: Essay
Theme: Distinction between knowledge and wisdom, intellectual humility.
Summary: Russell distinguishes between knowledge, which involves acquiring information, and wisdom, which involves making sound judgments based on experience. He emphasizes the importance of humility and compassion in the pursuit of wisdom.
Characters: None (Philosophical essay).

4. Humility - Yuval Noah Harari

Author: Yuval Noah Harari
Title: Humility
Genre: Essay
Theme: Humility, human history, and societal progress.
Summary: Harari argues that humility involves recognizing the limits of human understanding and knowledge. He discusses how humility can foster learning, cooperation, and progress throughout history.
Characters: None (Analytical essay).

5. Human Rights and the Age of Inequality - Samuel Moyn

Author: Samuel Moyn
Title: Human Rights and the Age of Inequality
Genre: Essay
Theme: Human rights, inequality, justice.
Summary: Moyn critiques the modern human rights movement for its focus on political rights over economic equality. He calls for a renewed emphasis on addressing inequality as a fundamental human rights issue.
Characters: None (Analytical essay).

Unit Four: One-act Plays

1. A Matter for Husband - Ferenc Molnar

Author: Ferenc Molnar
Title: A Matter for Husband
Genre: One-act Play
Theme: Love, manipulation, deception.
Summary: The play revolves around a love triangle involving a wife, her husband, and her lover. Through witty dialogue and manipulation, the characters reveal their true motives and desires.
Characters: Alfred (the actor), Nandor (the husband), The Lady (Nandor’s wife).

2. Facing Death - August Strindberg

Author: August Strindberg
Title: Facing Death
Genre: One-act Play
Theme: Sacrifice, family duty, despair.
Summary: The play depicts a father’s struggle to provide for his daughters. Facing financial ruin and social disgrace, he makes a desperate decision to ensure their future security.
Characters: Durand (the father), His daughters.

3. The Bull - Bhimnidhi Tiwari

Author: Bhimnidhi Tiwari
Title: The Bull
Genre: One-act Play
Theme: Tradition, conflict, reconciliation.
Summary: The play illustrates the conflict between traditional values and modernity through a dispute over a bull. It explores themes of pride, cultural heritage, and compromise.
Characters: Village elders, youth, the bull.