CBSE Class XI English Elective
Complete Chapter-wise Syllabus 2025-26 | Subject Code: 001
Course Overview
Theory Paper
80
Marks
Seminar
20
Marks
Duration
3
Hours
Total Books
3
Books
Learning Objectives
- Develop higher competence in English language and literature
- Enhance critical thinking and analytical skills through literary texts
- Foster appreciation for global and Indian classical literature
- Build creative writing and expression skills
- Develop independent text interpretation abilities
- Strengthen reading comprehension and vocabulary
- Prepare for advanced literary studies and competitive examinations
- Cultivate effective communication and presentation skills
Marks Distribution
| Section | Component | Marks | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Reading Comprehension | 25 | 31.25% |
| B | Creative Writing Skills | 15 | 18.75% |
| C | Literature (Textbook + Drama + Fiction) | 40 | 50% |
| D | Seminar (Internal Assessment) | 20 | 20% |
| Total | 100 | 100% | |
Literature carries the highest weightage with 50% of total theory marks
Prescribed Books & Chapters
Download NCERT Books
Access all NCERT textbooks for Class XI English Elective from official sources
Book 1: Woven Words (NCERT Textbook)
Short Stories (6 Chapters)
- Chapter 1: The Lament
- Chapter 2: A Pair of Mustachios
- Chapter 3: The Rocking-horse Winner
- Chapter 4: The Adventure of the Three Garridebs
- Chapter 5: Pappachi's Moth
- Chapter 6: The Third and Final Continent
Poetry (8 Poems)
- Poem 1: The Peacock
- Poem 2: Let me Not to the Marriage of True Minds
- Poem 3: Coming
- Poem 4: Telephone Conversation
- Poem 5: The World is too Much with Us
- Poem 6: Mother Tongue
- Poem 7: Hawk Roosting
- Poem 8: Ode to a Nightingale
Essays (7 Chapters)
- Essay 1: My Watch
- Essay 2: My Three Passions
- Essay 3: Patterns of Creativity
- Essay 4: Tribal Verse
- Essay 5: What is a Good Book?
- Essay 6: The Story
- Essay 7: Bridges
Book 2: Fiction - The Old Man and the Sea
Novel by Ernest Hemingway (Unabridged)
- Complete novel study including themes and characters
- Literary analysis and critical appreciation
- Understanding of narrative techniques
- Symbolism and metaphors in the text
- Character development and plot structure
- Hemingway's writing style and literary contributions
Book 3: Drama - Arms and the Man
Play by George Bernard Shaw
- Complete play analysis including all three acts
- Character study and development
- Themes: War, love, heroism, and social satire
- Shaw's dramatic techniques and style
- Stage directions and theatrical elements
- Historical and social context of the play
- Critical appreciation and literary significance
Section-wise Detailed Breakdown
Section A: Reading Comprehension (25 Marks)
HIGHEST WEIGHTAGE - 31.25% of Total Theory Marks
Question 1: Unseen Passage 12 Marks
- Literary or discursive passage (950-1000 words)
- 12-15 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
- Objective type questions testing comprehension
- Focus on vocabulary, inference, and analysis
Question 2: Poetry 8 Marks
- Unseen poem (10-12 lines)
- 8-9 Multiple Choice Questions
- Literary devices and poetic techniques
- Theme and meaning interpretation
Question 3: Case-based Passage 5 Marks
- Short passage with visual input (100-120 words)
- 5-7 Multiple Choice Questions
- Data interpretation and analysis
- Contemporary issues and current affairs
Section B: Creative Writing Skills (15 Marks)
CREATIVE EXPRESSION - 18.75% of Total Theory Marks
Question 4: Essay Writing 5 Marks
- Word limit: 120-150 words
- Types: Argumentative, Discursive, Reflective, Descriptive
- Contemporary topics and issues
- Focus on structure, content, and language
Question 5: Article Writing 5 Marks
- Word limit: 120-150 words
- Choice of 1-2 topics
- Contemporary issues and current affairs
- Journalistic style and format
Question 6: Speech Writing 5 Marks
- Word limit: 120-150 words
- Choice of 1-2 topics
- Contemporary issues and social topics
- Appropriate tone and persuasive language
Section C: Literature (40 Marks)
LITERATURE FOCUS - 50% of Total Theory Marks
Textbook: Woven Words 20 Marks
Question 7: Reference to Context (10 Marks)
- Prose extract (1/2 options) - 5 marks
- Poetry extract (1/2 options) - 5 marks
- Context, explanation, and literary analysis
Question 8: Short Answer Questions (4 Marks)
- Two SAQs (2/3 options, 30-40 words each)
- 2 marks each (2×2=4 marks)
- Character, theme, and plot-based questions
Question 9: Short Answer Questions (6 Marks)
- Two SAQs (2/3 options, 50-60 words each)
- 3 marks each (3×2=6 marks)
- Analytical and interpretative questions
Drama: Arms and the Man 10 Marks
Question 10: Long Answer Questions (10 Marks)
- Two LAQs (2/3 options, 80-100 words each)
- 5 marks each (5×2=10 marks)
- Character analysis and thematic questions
- Dramatic techniques and literary significance
Fiction: The Old Man and the Sea 10 Marks
Question 11: Short Answer (2 Marks)
- One SAQ (1/2 options, 30-40 words)
- Factual and basic comprehension
Question 12: Short Answer (3 Marks)
- One SAQ (1/2 options, 50-60 words)
- Analytical and interpretative
Question 13: Long Answer (5 Marks)
- One LAQ (1/2 options, 120-150 words)
- Critical analysis and evaluation
Seminar Component (20 Marks)
CONTINUOUS ASSESSMENT - 20% of Total Marks
Seminar Requirements
Internal Assessment throughout the academic session
Focus: Presentation skills, literary understanding, and critical analysis
Seminar Activities
Book Review Presentation
- Comprehensive review of prescribed or supplementary texts
- Analysis of themes, characters, and literary techniques
- Personal interpretation and critical evaluation
- Question and answer session
Poetry Reading & Interpretation
- Recitation of poems with proper pronunciation
- Interpretative tasks and literary analysis
- Discussion of poetic devices and techniques
- Creative expression and presentation skills
Critical Review of Films/Plays
- Analysis of film adaptations of literary works
- Critical evaluation of dramatic performances
- Comparison between text and visual medium
- Discussion on director's interpretation
Theatre Workshop
- Conducting mini theatre workshops
- Role-playing and dramatic interpretation
- Discussion on acting techniques
- Collaborative learning and group activities
Assessment Criteria
- Content knowledge and literary understanding
- Presentation skills and confidence
- Critical thinking and analytical abilities
- Communication skills and language proficiency
- Creativity and originality in interpretation
- Participation in question-answer sessions
- Time management and organization
- Use of appropriate literary terminology
Examination Pattern (March 2026)
Question Paper Design
Total Marks: 80 | Duration: 3 Hours
Subject Code: 001
| Question Type | Cognitive Level | Marks | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Remembering and Understanding | Knowledge & Comprehension | 32 | 40% |
| Applying | Application | 24 | 30% |
| Analysing, Evaluating and Creating | Higher Order Thinking | 24 | 30% |
| Total Theory + Seminar | 100 | 100% | |
Assessment Features
- Equal emphasis on literature appreciation and language skills
- MCQ-based reading comprehension for objective assessment
- Creative writing tasks focusing on contemporary issues
- Literature questions testing critical analysis and interpretation
- Reference to context for understanding literary techniques
- Graduated difficulty levels from basic to advanced
- Integration of reading, writing, and speaking skills
- Continuous assessment through seminar presentations
Key Success Tips
Preparation Strategy
- Read all prescribed texts thoroughly with focus on themes and characters
- Practice reading comprehension from various sources daily
- Develop vocabulary through extensive reading of literature
- Practice creative writing in different formats (essay, article, speech)
- Understand literary devices and their usage in prescribed texts
- Prepare detailed character sketches for drama and fiction
- Practice poetry analysis focusing on theme, style, and literary devices
- Participate actively in seminar sessions and presentations
- Read supplementary literature to broaden understanding
- Practice previous year question papers and sample papers
- Develop critical thinking and analytical writing skills
- Stay updated with contemporary issues for creative writing topics
Career Connections
Literature & Writing
- English Literature (Honors/General)
- Creative Writing
- Comparative Literature
- Literary Criticism
- Poetry and Fiction Writing
- Translation Studies
- Content Writing
Media & Journalism
- Print and Digital Journalism
- Literary Journalism
- Magazine Editing
- Feature Writing
- Book Reviewing
- Cultural Reporting
- Editorial Writing
Education & Academia
- English Teaching (B.Ed, M.Ed)
- Research in Literature
- Academic Writing
- Educational Content Development
- Literary Research
- Curriculum Development
- Educational Publishing
Theatre & Performing Arts
- Theatre Studies
- Drama and Performance
- Script Writing
- Theatre Direction
- Literary Adaptation
- Arts Management
- Cultural Programming
Publishing & Communications
- Book Publishing
- Editorial Services
- Literary Agent
- Public Relations
- Corporate Communications
- Digital Marketing
- Content Strategy
Civil Services & Administration
- Civil Services (IAS, IPS, IFS)
- Foreign Service
- Cultural Affairs
- Information Services
- Policy Communication
- International Relations
- Diplomatic Services
Important Resources
Official CBSE Resources
- NCERT Woven Words Textbook Class XI
- The Old Man and the Sea - Ernest Hemingway
- Arms and the Man - George Bernard Shaw
- CBSE Sample Papers 2025-26
- Previous Year Question Papers
- CBSE Marking Schemes
Supplementary Reading
- Literary Criticism and Theory texts
- Contemporary short story collections
- Modern poetry anthologies
- Essay collections by renowned authors
- Literary magazines and journals
- Online literary resources
Digital Resources
- BBC Literature documentaries
- TED Talks on literature and writing
- Online literary courses
- Poetry reading videos
- Theatre performances and adaptations
- Author interviews and discussions
Current Affairs Sources
- The Hindu Editorial
- Indian Express Opinion
- Literary magazines and reviews
- Cultural sections of newspapers
- Book review supplements
- Literary festival coverage
Writing Resources
- Style guides for creative writing
- Grammar and usage handbooks
- Vocabulary building resources
- Essay writing templates
- Literary analysis frameworks
- Citation and referencing guides
Community Resources
- Literature discussion groups
- Book clubs and reading circles
- Writing workshops
- Poetry reading sessions
- Theatre groups and drama clubs
- Literary festivals and events
Academic Timeline
| Period | Academic Activity | Focus Areas |
|---|---|---|
| April - July 2025 | Introduction & Foundation Building | Woven Words short stories and essays, basic literary concepts |
| August - October 2025 | Poetry & Creative Writing | Poetry analysis, creative writing skills, seminar preparations |
| November - December 2025 | Drama Study | Arms and the Man complete analysis, theatre workshops |
| January 2026 | Fiction Study | The Old Man and the Sea, novel analysis techniques |
| February 2026 | Revision & Seminar Assessment | Comprehensive revision, final seminar presentations |
| March 2026 | Final Examination | Theory paper, practical assessment completion |