Class 12 English Core – Full Syllabus Notes
CBSE Academic Session 2026–27 | Quick Revision + Exam Notes
Books: Flamingo and Vistas. The syllabus below follows the official CBSE 2026–27 curriculum.
Exam focus: Reading, creative writing, literature, extracts, short answers and long answers. Grammar is tested through
writing exercises.
FLAMINGO – PROSE
1. The Last Lesson
Summary: Franz is a schoolboy in Alsace when an order makes French no longer the language taught in schools. M.
Hamel conducts his final French lesson. The story highlights love for one’s language, regret for wasted opportunities,
patriotism and the pain of losing freedom.
Exam points: Themes: language and identity; patriotism; regret; freedom. Key characters: Franz, M. Hamel. Exam idea: the last lesson
becomes a symbol of cultural loss and resistance.
2. Lost Spring
Summary: Anees Jung presents the lives of poor children such as Saheb, a ragpicker, and Mukesh, a bangle-maker.
Poverty, child labour and social exploitation prevent them from pursuing education and their dreams.
Exam points: Themes: poverty; child labour; exploitation; dreams. Saheb represents lost childhood; Mukesh represents determination
to change his future.
3. Deep Water
Summary: William Douglas describes his fear of water after traumatic childhood experiences. Through systematic
training and repeated practice, he overcomes the fear and gains confidence.
Exam points: Themes: fear; courage; determination; victory over weakness. Message: persistent effort can overcome deeply rooted
fear.
4. The Rattrap
Summary: A poor peddler thinks the world is a rattrap that traps people through temptations. The kindness of Edla and
the trust shown to him awaken his better nature, leading him to change.
Exam points: Themes: human goodness; temptation; redemption; compassion. Edla’s kindness is central to the peddler’s
transformation.
5. Indigo
Summary: Gandhi visits Champaran to help peasants forced to grow indigo under an unfair system. His calm leadership,
truth and non-violence help the peasants gain justice and confidence.
Exam points: Themes: leadership; civil disobedience; self-reliance; justice. Gandhi’s method combines courage, discipline and
non-violence.
6. Poets and Pancakes
Summary: Asokamitran describes life inside Gemini Studios, including make-up practices, office politics, the visit of a
famous poet and the influence of films and literature.
Exam points: Themes: film industry; hierarchy; satire; art and politics. The chapter uses humour to reveal studio culture.
7. The Interview
Summary: The chapter discusses the interview as a modern journalistic form. Christopher Silvester traces its history,
while an interview with Umberto Eco reveals his writing habits and ideas.
Exam points: Themes: journalism; privacy; communication; creativity. Eco discusses how he uses spare time productively.
8. Going Places
CBSE Academic Session 2026–27 | Quick Revision + Exam Notes
Books: Flamingo and Vistas. The syllabus below follows the official CBSE 2026–27 curriculum.
Exam focus: Reading, creative writing, literature, extracts, short answers and long answers. Grammar is tested through
writing exercises.
FLAMINGO – PROSE
1. The Last Lesson
Summary: Franz is a schoolboy in Alsace when an order makes French no longer the language taught in schools. M.
Hamel conducts his final French lesson. The story highlights love for one’s language, regret for wasted opportunities,
patriotism and the pain of losing freedom.
Exam points: Themes: language and identity; patriotism; regret; freedom. Key characters: Franz, M. Hamel. Exam idea: the last lesson
becomes a symbol of cultural loss and resistance.
2. Lost Spring
Summary: Anees Jung presents the lives of poor children such as Saheb, a ragpicker, and Mukesh, a bangle-maker.
Poverty, child labour and social exploitation prevent them from pursuing education and their dreams.
Exam points: Themes: poverty; child labour; exploitation; dreams. Saheb represents lost childhood; Mukesh represents determination
to change his future.
3. Deep Water
Summary: William Douglas describes his fear of water after traumatic childhood experiences. Through systematic
training and repeated practice, he overcomes the fear and gains confidence.
Exam points: Themes: fear; courage; determination; victory over weakness. Message: persistent effort can overcome deeply rooted
fear.
4. The Rattrap
Summary: A poor peddler thinks the world is a rattrap that traps people through temptations. The kindness of Edla and
the trust shown to him awaken his better nature, leading him to change.
Exam points: Themes: human goodness; temptation; redemption; compassion. Edla’s kindness is central to the peddler’s
transformation.
5. Indigo
Summary: Gandhi visits Champaran to help peasants forced to grow indigo under an unfair system. His calm leadership,
truth and non-violence help the peasants gain justice and confidence.
Exam points: Themes: leadership; civil disobedience; self-reliance; justice. Gandhi’s method combines courage, discipline and
non-violence.
6. Poets and Pancakes
Summary: Asokamitran describes life inside Gemini Studios, including make-up practices, office politics, the visit of a
famous poet and the influence of films and literature.
Exam points: Themes: film industry; hierarchy; satire; art and politics. The chapter uses humour to reveal studio culture.
7. The Interview
Summary: The chapter discusses the interview as a modern journalistic form. Christopher Silvester traces its history,
while an interview with Umberto Eco reveals his writing habits and ideas.
Exam points: Themes: journalism; privacy; communication; creativity. Eco discusses how he uses spare time productively.
8. Going Places
