Class 9 – 10 · subject library

High School English

Chapter notes, previous year papers, sample tests and Q&A for english — across CBSE, ICSE, IB and state boards. Free.

40 chapters~693 min read Free · printable

📌 Board-specific:CBSE English ICSE English ISC English IB English

Chapters

40 chapters — sequenced for revision.

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The Fun They Had (Isaac Asimov)

'The Fun They Had' — Isaac Asimov's prescient 1951 science-fiction short story set in 2155, where children Margie and Tommy discover a real printed book about old-style schools with human teachers, classrooms, and friends. A poignant commentary on the future of education, technology, and human connection. CBSE Class 9 English Beehive Chapter 1.

CBSE⏱ 18 minRead chapter

The Sound of Music (Evelyn Glennie + Bismillah Khan)

'The Sound of Music' — a two-part chapter telling the inspiring stories of two extraordinary musicians. Part I, by Deborah Cowley, profiles Evelyn Glennie, the world's first professional percussionist who is profoundly deaf. Part II, by an anonymous author, celebrates Ustad Bismillah Khan, India's legendary shehnai maestro and Bharat Ratna (2001). CBSE Class 9 English Beehive Chapter 2.

CBSE⏱ 25 minRead chapter

The Little Girl (Katherine Mansfield)

'The Little Girl' — Katherine Mansfield's tender short story about Kezia, a little girl whose fear of her stern father transforms into love and understanding when her mother falls ill and Kezia has to spend a night with him alone. A moving exploration of fatherhood, fear, miscommunication, and the warmth that lies beneath silent love. CBSE Class 9 English Beehive Chapter 3.

CBSE⏱ 20 minRead chapter

A Truly Beautiful Mind (Albert Einstein)

'A Truly Beautiful Mind' — a biographical sketch of Albert Einstein (1879-1955), the world's greatest physicist. The chapter traces his childhood as a 'slow learner' to his revolutionary theories (E=mc², relativity), Nobel Prize (1921), his exile from Nazi Germany, his role in the atomic age, and his later years as a champion of peace and democracy. CBSE Class 9 English Beehive Chapter 4.

CBSE⏱ 22 minRead chapter

The Snake and the Mirror (Vaikom Muhammad Basheer)

'The Snake and the Mirror' — Vaikom Muhammad Basheer's witty autobiographical story about a young homeopathic doctor whose vain self-admiration before a mirror is interrupted by a deadly cobra slithering onto his shoulder. A masterpiece of humour, suspense, and self-discovery — and a quiet meditation on vanity. CBSE Class 9 English Beehive Chapter 5.

CBSE⏱ 18 minRead chapter

My Childhood (A.P.J. Abdul Kalam)

'My Childhood' — an excerpt from former President APJ Abdul Kalam's autobiography 'Wings of Fire'. The chapter recounts his early years in Rameswaram, his loving family, his Hindu friends, and two formative incidents that shaped his belief in India's composite culture and communal harmony. A foundational text on secularism, hard work, and modest origins. CBSE Class 9 English Beehive Chapter 6.

CBSE⏱ 22 minRead chapter

Reach for the Top (Santosh Yadav + Maria Sharapova)

'Reach for the Top' — two inspiring profiles of women who scaled the heights of their fields. Part I: Santosh Yadav, the first woman in the world to climb Mount Everest twice (1992, 1993). Part II: Maria Sharapova, the Russian tennis prodigy who became Wimbledon champion at 17. Stories of determination, family sacrifice, and breaking gender barriers. CBSE Class 9 English Beehive Chapter 7.

CBSE⏱ 25 minRead chapter

Kathmandu (Vikram Seth)

'Kathmandu' — an evocative excerpt from Vikram Seth's celebrated 1983 travelogue 'Heaven Lake: Travels through Sinkiang and Tibet'. The author describes his impressions of two contrasting religious shrines in the Nepalese capital — the bustling Hindu Pashupatinath temple and the serene Buddhist Bodhnath stupa — and ends with a meditative encounter with a flute-seller. CBSE Class 9 English Beehive Chapter 8.

CBSE⏱ 20 minRead chapter

If I Were You (Douglas James)

'If I Were You' — a witty one-act play by Douglas James. Gerrard, a sharp-tongued playwright, faces a dangerous intruder who plans to kill him and steal his identity to escape the police. Through quick thinking, clever lies, and a brilliant trick, Gerrard turns the tables and gets the criminal locked up. A masterclass in wit, suspense, and presence of mind. CBSE Class 9 English Beehive Chapter 9 — the only drama text in the book.

CBSE⏱ 18 minRead chapter

The Road Not Taken (Robert Frost)

'The Road Not Taken' — Robert Frost's iconic 1916 poem about a traveller facing two diverging paths in a yellow wood. Often misread as a celebration of non-conformity, the poem is actually a subtler meditation on choice, regret, and the stories we tell ourselves about our decisions. CBSE Class 9 English Beehive Poetry 1.

CBSE⏱ 18 minRead chapter

Wind (Subramania Bharati)

'Wind' — Subramania Bharati's powerful poem (translated from Tamil by A.K. Ramanujan) about the destructive force of the wind and the need to build strength to face life's storms. A motivational allegory urging us to be like firm-rooted trees, with strong bodies, strong hearts, and firm minds. CBSE Class 9 English Beehive Poetry 2.

CBSE⏱ 15 minRead chapter

The Lake Isle of Innisfree (W.B. Yeats)

'The Lake Isle of Innisfree' — W.B. Yeats's beloved 1888 poem about longing for a simple rural retreat. While walking on a noisy London street, the poet dreams of a small cabin on a tiny Irish island where he can live alone with bee-loud glades, lake water lapping, and the deep peace of solitude. CBSE Class 9 English Beehive Poetry 3.

CBSE⏱ 15 minRead chapter

No Men Are Foreign (James Kirkup)

'No Men Are Foreign' — James Kirkup's powerful 1959 anti-war poem that affirms the universal brotherhood of humanity. Despite uniforms, borders, and political divisions, all human beings share the same body, the same earth, the same hopes — and when we wage war, we wage war on ourselves. CBSE Class 9 English Beehive Poetry 6.

CBSE⏱ 15 minRead chapter

On Killing a Tree (Gieve Patel)

'On Killing a Tree' — Gieve Patel's striking poem about the difficulty of truly destroying a tree. It takes much more than a single jab of a knife — the roots must be uprooted, exposed to sun and air, until the tree withers. A profound meditation on nature's resilience, the violence of human destruction, and the deeper roots of life. CBSE Class 9 English Beehive Poetry 7.

CBSE⏱ 16 minRead chapter

The Lost Child (Mulk Raj Anand) — Moments 1

'The Lost Child' — Mulk Raj Anand's tender short story about a small Indian boy who, dazzled by the wonders of a village fair, suddenly loses his parents in the crowd. As his loneliness and fear overwhelm him, he is helped by a kind stranger — but all he wants is to be with his parents again. A timeless tale of childhood, fear, parental love, and human compassion. CBSE Class 9 English Moments Chapter 1.

CBSE⏱ 18 minRead chapter

The Adventures of Toto (Ruskin Bond) — Moments 2

'The Adventures of Toto' — Ruskin Bond's delightful, humorous story about a mischievous monkey named Toto, bought by Grandfather for 5 rupees from a tonga-driver. Toto terrorises Nana the donkey, breaks dishes, escapes from cages, and turns the household upside down. Eventually the family has to give him up — but his adventures leave us laughing. CBSE Class 9 English Moments Chapter 2.

CBSE⏱ 18 minRead chapter

The Happy Prince (Oscar Wilde) — Moments 5

'The Happy Prince' — Oscar Wilde's heart-rending fairy tale about a golden statue who sacrifices his jewels and gold to relieve the suffering of his city's poor, and a faithful swallow who helps him until they both die of love. A timeless allegory of compassion, sacrifice, and the soul's true worth. CBSE Class 9 English Moments Chapter 5.

CBSE⏱ 22 minRead chapter

The Last Leaf (O. Henry) — Moments 7

'The Last Leaf' — O. Henry's moving short story about Sue, Johnsy, and old Behrman — three artists in Greenwich Village. As pneumonia ravages New York, Johnsy decides she will die when the last ivy leaf falls. But Behrman, a failed painter who has dreamed of a masterpiece for years, paints a leaf on the wall in a winter storm to save her life — at the cost of his own. CBSE Class 9 English Moments Chapter 7.

CBSE⏱ 20 minRead chapter

A Letter to God (G.L. Fuentes)

'A Letter to God' by Gregorio Lopez y Fuentes — a Mexican farmer Lencho's deep faith in God leads him to write a letter asking for money after his crops are destroyed by hail. The story explores faith, hope, irony, and human nature. CBSE Class 10 English (First Flight) Chapter 1.

CBSE⏱ 18 minRead chapter

Nelson Mandela — Long Walk to Freedom

An autobiographical extract from Nelson Mandela's 'Long Walk to Freedom' — the inauguration of South Africa's first democratic government in 1994, end of apartheid, Mandela's reflections on freedom, oppression, and the meaning of courage. CBSE Class 10 English (First Flight) Chapter 2.

CBSE⏱ 22 minRead chapter

Two Stories About Flying

Two contrasting stories about flying — 'His First Flight' (a young seagull overcomes fear to take his first flight) and 'The Black Aeroplane' (a pilot lost in a storm is guided by a mysterious black plane). Themes of fear, courage, mystery, and survival. CBSE Class 10 English (First Flight) Chapter 3.

CBSE⏱ 20 minRead chapter

From the Diary of Anne Frank

An extract from Anne Frank's famous diary — written by a Jewish teenage girl hiding from Nazis in Amsterdam during World War II. Themes of loneliness, friendship, growing up, and the power of writing. CBSE Class 10 English (First Flight) Chapter 4.

CBSE⏱ 20 minRead chapter

Glimpses of India

Three short pieces — 'A Baker from Goa' (Portuguese bakery culture), 'Coorg' (Karnataka's coffee paradise), and 'Tea from Assam' (Assam's tea gardens) — celebrating India's diverse cultural and natural heritage. CBSE Class 10 English (First Flight) Chapter 5.

CBSE⏱ 22 minRead chapter

Mijbil the Otter

Gavin Maxwell's true account of his pet otter Mijbil — adopted in Iraq, transported to London. The story explores the human-animal bond, otter behaviour, and life with an unusual pet. CBSE Class 10 English (First Flight) Chapter 6.

CBSE⏱ 18 minRead chapter

Madam Rides the Bus

A short story by Vallikkannan about Valliammai (Valli), an 8-year-old Tamil girl, who saves money to take her first solo bus ride to town. The story explores childhood curiosity, independence, and the realities of life and death. CBSE Class 10 English (First Flight) Chapter 7.

CBSE⏱ 18 minRead chapter

The Sermon at Benares

An account of the Buddha's first sermon at Benares (Varanasi) — including the famous parable of Kisa Gotami's grief over her dead son. The story teaches that sorrow and death are universal, and acceptance brings peace. CBSE Class 10 English (First Flight) Chapter 8.

CBSE⏱ 16 minRead chapter

The Proposal

A one-act comedy play by Anton Chekhov — Lomov visits Chubukov's house to propose marriage to his daughter Natalya, but petty quarrels (over land, then a dog) repeatedly derail the proposal. A hilarious satire on marriage and trivial disputes. CBSE Class 10 English (First Flight) Chapter 9.

CBSE⏱ 18 minRead chapter

Dust of Snow (Robert Frost)

A short, beautiful poem by Robert Frost. A simple incident — snow falling from a hemlock tree shaken by a crow — transforms the poet's mood from sadness to hope. Themes of nature's healing power and unexpected joy. CBSE Class 10 English (First Flight) Poetry.

CBSE⏱ 10 minRead chapter

Fire and Ice (Robert Frost)

Another Robert Frost gem — a tight 9-line meditation on how the world might end. Fire (desire) and ice (hatred) are equally destructive. A compact poem of big ideas, perfect for extract-based questions. CBSE Class 10 English (First Flight) Poetry.

CBSE⏱ 10 minRead chapter

A Tiger in the Zoo (Leslie Norris)

Leslie Norris contrasts a tiger's natural wild majesty with its sad captivity in a concrete cell. A powerful poem about freedom, confinement, and the cruelty of keeping wild animals caged. CBSE Class 10 English (First Flight) Poetry.

CBSE⏱ 12 minRead chapter

How to Tell Wild Animals (Carolyn Wells)

Carolyn Wells offers a comically absurd guide to identifying wild animals — if a tiger eats you, it's a Bengal Tiger; if a bear hugs you to death, it's a bear. A humorous poem with dark undertones. CBSE Class 10 English (First Flight) Poetry.

CBSE⏱ 12 minRead chapter

The Ball Poem (John Berryman)

A boy loses his ball, and the world tells him — there's no buying it back. John Berryman's quiet, profound poem about learning to cope with loss. First experience of the EPISTEMOLOGY OF LOSS. CBSE Class 10 English (First Flight) Poetry.

CBSE⏱ 12 minRead chapter

Amanda! (Robin Klein)

Every child knows an Amanda — the daydreamer who escapes constant adult nagging into a world of mermaids, orphans, and Rapunzel. Robin Klein's beloved poem captures the tension between parental control and a child's need for imaginative freedom. CBSE Class 10 English (First Flight) Poetry.

CBSE⏱ 12 minRead chapter

A Triumph of Surgery (James Herriot)

Tricki, a pampered dog, is loved to sickness by his rich owner Mrs Pumphrey. Veterinarian James Herriot 'kidnaps' the dog to save its life — and the cure is simple: no food, just play. A heartwarming, humorous story about overindulgence. CBSE Class 10 English (Footprints Without Feet) Chapter 1.

CBSE⏱ 16 minRead chapter

The Thief's Story (Ruskin Bond)

A 15-year-old thief, a trusting man named Anil, and a stolen bundle of rupee notes returned before dawn. Ruskin Bond's gentle, profound story about how trust and kindness can transform a person. CBSE Class 10 English (Footprints Without Feet) Chapter 2.

CBSE⏱ 14 minRead chapter

A Question of Trust (Victor Canning)

Horace Danby is a 'respectable' thief who robs once a year to feed his love of rare books — until he meets a mysterious young woman who turns the tables on him completely. CBSE Class 10 English (Footprints Without Feet) Chapter 4.

CBSE⏱ 16 minRead chapter

The Midnight Visitor (Robert Arthur)

Secret agent Ausable is fat, speaks with an American accent in Paris, and has a room on the 6th floor — with no balcony. When a rival agent with a gun demands a secret document, Ausable spins a tale that turns the tables. CBSE Class 10 English (Footprints Without Feet) Chapter 3.

CBSE⏱ 14 minRead chapter

Footprints without Feet (H.G. Wells)

A brilliant scientist discovers how to turn himself invisible — and immediately descends into theft and violence. H.G. Wells' classic tale asks: what happens when power falls into the hands of someone without morals? CBSE Class 10 English (Footprints Without Feet) Chapter 5.

CBSE⏱ 14 minRead chapter

The Making of a Scientist (Robert W. Peterson)

Richard Ebright was a curious child who collected butterflies in Pennsylvania. He became one of the world's leading molecular biologists — discovering how cells read their DNA. This is the story of how curiosity, competition, and perseverance 'make' a scientist. CBSE Class 10 English (Footprints Without Feet) Chapter 6.

CBSE⏱ 16 minRead chapter

Bholi (K.A. Abbas)

Bholi — the 'simpleton' — was ugly, stammering, and an object of ridicule. Then education gave her a voice. K.A. Abbas's powerful story about how a school transforms a girl into a woman who can say 'no'. CBSE Class 10 English (Footprints Without Feet) Chapter 8.

CBSE⏱ 18 minRead chapter