PLUS TWO ENGLISH NOTES

THE 3 LS OF EMPOWERMENT AMIGO BROTHERS

It is a speech by Christine Lagarde. She is the first woman It is a short story of two best friends Antonio cruz and
finance minister of France. It is a speech on women Felix vargas. Even though they are friends they consider
empowerment. She explains 3 Ls of women themselves as brothers. Both of them want to become the
empowerment: light weight champion of the world. Once they had to
LEARNING: Education is the foundation of any change. fight each other. It was a fierce fight. There were three
It helps women to acquire knowledge, skills and power. deadly rounds. None of them won the match. Both of
“if you educate a boy, you train a man. If you educate a them left the ring arm in arm. They didn’t wait for the
girl, you train a village” is a meaningful African adage. announcement. They were the champions in the world of
LABOUR: Labour helps women to achieve their true friendship.
potential. But at present women get low wages, low status
and low security when compared to men. Equal pay for THE HOUR OF TRUTH
equal work should be the main objective.
LEADERSHIP: Leadership helps women to rise and fulfil It is a one act play by Percival wilde. It shows the
their abilities and talents. corrupting influence of money on people. Robert Baldwin
is the hero. He works in a private bank owned by John
Women must have confidence to come out of the comfort Gresham. Gresham is arrested for misusing bank money.
zone. She must be ready to dare the difference. Baldwin is the only witness. Gresham offers him a
hundred thousand dollars just to say three words- ‘i don’t
Challenges faced by women: remember’ in the court. His family forces him to accept
the bribe. Baldwin is sincere, honest and truthful. He
. women are denied economic role. rejects the offer. His honesty is rewarded. He gets a job at
. women are denied equal opportunity in education, labour the third national bank. Honesty is the best policy.
and leadership.
. lack of confidence and courage. A THREE WHEELED REVOLUTION
. male domination
. they are not ready to dare the difference It is an interview with Irfan Alam who started his life fro
the grass root level. Irfan Alam is an entrepreneur who
MATCHBOX changed the lives of many people through his innovative
entrepreneurship. One day while he was travelling in a
“Matchbox” is an interesting short story by Ashapurna rickshaw, Irfan felt very thirsty. He realised that the
Debi. The story takes place in a Bengali joint family. drivers could not afford to buy and stock bottles. Soon a
Nomita is very poor and beautiful and she is married to a business idea clicked Irfan’s mind. He decided to create
rich family on her good looks. Her husband Ajit opens an agency with the help of rickshaw pullers. He named
and reads the letters of Nomita without her permission. this unit SammaN. It was a revolutionary step in his life.
These are the letters of her widowed mother seeking His life teaches the lesson that it is important to take risks
financial help. To the outer world Nomita is a queen who to achieve one’s dream. The risks in our life create new
enjoy all comforts of life. But in reality she suffers ideas, skills, opportunities and experiences. To Irfan alam,
silently. Unable to suffer she quarrels with him in a wild entrepreneurship as a career is an important tool to tackle
fury. She lights a matchstick and burns her sari. unemployment.

DIDI
Significance of the title matchbox- the title is highly
appropriate because Nomita has enough gunpowder to Shaheen Mistri is an Indian social activist and educator
destroy all the family members. born in Mumbai. On one hot summer day, three children
‘Match’ can mean marriage and ‘box’ means trap. So her came begging at the window of her car. That was the
marriage proved to be a real trap, because she lost her turning point in shaheen mistri’s life. She suddenly
freedom, joy and peace. realised her destiny- her life would have more meaning if
she stayed in India. She got to know the slums of Mumbai
HOREGALLU which required housing, water and education. She
mobilised volunteers from st. Xavier’s college to teach
Horegallu is a flat stone bench. It is a simple arrangement the slum children. She founded the Akansha foundation in
in our villages to help travellers. Horegallu symbolizes 1991. children were taught basic English, maths, values,
the care and protection we receive from others. The self esteem and confidence. She is also the CEO of Teach
grandfather and Ratna play the role of horegallu in the for India. The lesson talks about the challenging life of
lives of people around them. A horegallu is essential in Shaheen mistri to change the lives slum children.
our journey. Both grandfather and Ratna could only listen
the worries of other people. Thus they could solve the
problems of others.
WHEN A SAPLING IS PLANTED humorous. At the end, lady assistant resigns her job and
goes to animal clinic.
It is a nobel prize acceptance speech at Oslo in 2004 by
the kenyan environmentalist and political activist Wangari
Maathai. In the speech she says that forests in kenya are
being cleared and replaced by commercial plantations. It CRIME AND PUNISHMENT
destroyed local biodiversity and capacity of forests to R K Narayan
preserve water. She adds that tree has become a symbol of
peace in Kenya. Wangari Maathai with other women The background is a single child school where the teacher
started Green Belt Movement which focussed planting give some maths lessons. The boy was not in a mood to
trees, environmental conservation and women’s rights. study. He made the teacher angry by deliberately giving
They succeeded in planting millions of trees across the him wrong answers. The teacher got angry and slapped
world. She calls on young people to commit themselves to the boy. The boy began blackmailing the teacher saying
protecting nature for future generations to come. that he would complain to his parents. The teacher was
forced to act many roles and became tired.
DANGERS OF DRUG ABUSE (for essay/article/write- The naughty and mischievous behaviour of the child is
up/speech…) the result of overparenting in many families because the
actions and behaviours of a single child are not corrected
Dr. Hardin Jones warns against the overuse and by their siblings and living in solitude.
abuse of drugs. Nowadays people believe that any illness
can be treated by taking a pill. This has led to widespread Aptness of the title/significance of the title ‘crime and
drug abuse. They use drugs not only when they are punishment’
depressed but when they feel good too. They depend on
drugs not to solve their problems but to forget them. Title of the lesson perfectly apt to the story. Here,
Medicines and sensual drugs are different. slapping the boy was a crime committed by the teacher.
Medicines cure illness whereas sensual drugs stimulate Blackmailing and forcing the teacher to act as his toy was
brain’s pleasure centres. These sensations, moods, the punishment by the boy and the teacher experienced
thoughts and actions which are governed by brain are the agony and the insult from the boy.
easily upset by drugs. Drugs can never give total
satisfaction; only natural pleasures can give it.
Drug-related health disorders are many and varied. ANY WOMAN- Katherine Tynan
Dirty needles and solutions used for injecting drugs can
cause abscesses in the arms and veins, liver disease and The poem portrays the feelings and views of any woman
infection of the kidneys and brain. Marijuana and tobacco who are the backbones of family and society. The poem
smoking can cause lung diseases. Heavy users of alcohol, conveys the message that women are the keystone of the
volatile solvents, amphetamines, or marijuana may find house. She is the pillars of the house. They have the
that their livers are permanently damaged. Babies of responsibility of managing the house and bringing up
women addicted to opiates are likely to be born addicted their children. A mother is the life, light and love that fills
and to suffer from withdrawal symptoms. Cocaine and a house. According to the poet, women are to be respected
amphetamines can cause hair to fall out. Finally, an for their contribution to the society and she must be
overdose of any of the sensual drugs can lead to protected against all atrocities by the society.
respiratory or cardiac failure and death.
His mental disturbance can be quite similar to Most dominant figure of speech is metaphor.
paranoia. He suspects everything external and draws into For example: ‘I am the pillars of the house’
himself. Lastly, the addict feels depressed and dead Alliteration: light of love alive.
inside. He fails to respond to his environment and other
people. The damage to the brain is the most subtle but the MENDING WALL- Robert Frost.
least understood result of drug abuse.
‘Mending Wall’ is a thought provoking poem by Robert
POST EARLY FOR CHRISTMAS Frost. The poet and his neighbour repair the stone wall
between their farms. The poet says that ‘something there
It is a one act play RH Wood. The play takes place inside is that doesn’t love a wall’ but his neighbour says ‘good
a small post office in an English village during Christmas. fences make good neighbours’. The speaker tries to
The play is about a parcel mistaken for a time bomb. In convince the neighbour that the wall is useless because
the opening, a young lady assistant deals with many funny there are no cows to cross the farm. His neighbour’s
customers. A farmer brings a news of parcel bomb opinion reveals that he is an uncivilized person living in
somewhere. At that time a tourist comes to send a parcel dark stone age. The poem presents the two opposite
to his friend. A ticking sound is heard fro the parcel. The attitude towards life- the poet represents nature that is
farmer says that is a time bomb. A policeman enters the against the walls. It only creates separation between
post office. The tourist also comes to take back his gloves. human minds and between nations. But his neighbour
The policeman questions him and finally throws the sticks to the necessity of walls to maintain good relations
parcel into a bucket of water. But it was a clock. The between people and nations. The ‘wall’ in the poem is
tourist got angry. The way it is presented is very symbolic which represents the man-made barriers that
exist between people, groups and nations based on race, is bold and courageous. But she never burns away the
caste, gender and religion. fake mask of Ajit. She is like a matchbox.

STAMMER- Satchidanandan 2) Ajit

Poet says stammer is not a handicap, but a mode of Ajit is a character in the story ‘matchbox’. He is the
speech. Stammer is the silence between the word and its husband of Nomita. He is from a rich joint family. He is
meaning. When a whole set of people stammer, it presented as a dominant husband. He has an ugly habit of
becomes their mother tongue. Everybody stammers in this reading Nomita’s letters without her permission. He
world. It is the collective inability of people to do good doesn’t want to help Nomita’s mother. He even insults his
things. The poet ironically comments that God himself wife. He is overpowering in nature.
must have stammered when He created man. That is why
all words of man carry different meanings. The poet 3) Grandfather:
finally comments that language of poetry is similar to
stammer as poetry fails to express what the poet actually Grandfather was a retired school teacher. He used to sit
wants to communicate. under the bunyan tree and talked to those travellers
resting there. He was ready to spend time for others. He
RICE- Chemmanam Chacko refreshed the travellers by listening and talking to them.
He was a man of patience. He was like another horegallu.
Chemmanam Chacko, the great Malayalam poet created s
space for himself through his satire. ‘Rice’ mourns the 4) Ratna:
loss of paddy fields to rubber plantations. Th poem is a
contrast between expectation and reality. The poet returns Ratna was a senior clerk in a company. She was ready to
home after lots of expectations about his homeland. He spend time for others. She was ready hear the problems of
dreams the picture of rice planting season and he is eager others. She was a woman of patience. She always smiles
to eat athikira rice. But the reality was just the opposite. and rejoices in life through the act of kindness. She was
The rich paddy fields are replaced with tall rubber trees. like another horegallu. According to Ratna, revealing
Without any sentiments his father says they have stopped others’ secret is a worst kind of betrayal.
paddy farming because it is not profitable. It is
foolishness because the Govt. gives rice to those who 5) Robert Baldwin:
have no paddy fields. The poet humorously concludes the
poem commenting on the Chief Minister’s visit to the Robert Baldwin is the hero of the play “The Hour of
centre to demand more rice and he pathetically ask Truth”. He works in a private bank owned by John
himself whether he get some husk from the centre too. Gresham. Gresham is arrested for misusing bank money.
Baldwin is the only witness. Gresham offers him a
THIS IS GOING TO HURT JUST A LITTLE BIT- hundred thousand dollars just to say three words- ‘i don’t
Ogden Nash remember’ in the court. His family forces him to accept
the bribe. Baldwin is sincere, honest and truthful. He
The poem is a humorous graphic description of the poet rejects the offer. His honesty is rewarded. He gets a job at
while sitting in a dentist’s chair. Poet says dental torture is the third national bank. Honesty is the best policy.
both physical and mental. One loses one’s dignity while
sitting in a dentist’s chair. Poet has beautifully employed 6) Teacher:
exaggeration and metaphor. The work of a dentist on the
mouth is compared to the work on a road. Dentist’s use of The teacher is an important character in the story “Crime
mirror is most threatening. He may mistaken right for left and Punishment”. The background is a single child school
and vice versa. Dentist is compared to a female bear, an where the teacher give some maths lessons. The boy was
Ursa. The irony is that when the patient is relieved, the not in a mood to study. He made the teacher angry by
dentist says he should return after three months for review deliberately giving him wrong answers. The teacher got
check up. For the poet, this is the most vicious circle. angry and slapped the boy. The boy began blackmailing
the teacher saying that he would complain to his parents.
CHARACTERS: The teacher was forced to act many roles and became
tired. The teacher is presented as a toy in the hands of the
1) Nomita child.

Nomita is the main character in the story ‘Matchbox’. She

is the only daughter of a poor widowed mother. She lover
her mother very much. Nomita is a poor Bengali house
wife. The rich Ajit marries her because of her beauty. Ajit
has the habit of reading the letters addressed to Nomita
without her permission. She gets angry with her husband
and burns her sari. Nomita is a typical Indian woman. She
DISCOURSES:
Sd/
1)Job Application Letter & Resume/Bio-data/ CV Babu xxxx

From, 2) APPRECIATION AND COMPARISON OF 2 POEMS

Babu xxxx
New street (Name of the poem from text) is a very beautiful poem
Mumbai written by (name of author). It delivers a powerful and
thought provoking message. The poet’s use of language is
30th December 2025 truly captivating, with vivid imagery and expressive
words. The rhyming scheme and rhythm enhance the
To, beauty of the poem. The imagery in the poem paints a
The Director vivid picture, making it easy to visualize the scenes. The
ABC Institute poem evokes deep emotions and connects with the reader
Pune on a personal level.

Sub: Application for the post of.............. ……………………………………………………………

………………...(about the textual
Sir, poem)....................... ……………………………………
In response to your advertisement, i would like to ……………………………………………………………
apply for the post of.............in your institution. I have
completed my post graduation in social work with 75% of It is both intellectually stimulating and emotionally
marks. I have also completed Diploma in computer. I touching. The poem is relatable and leaves a lasting
have been working as a...............in a private institution for impression on the reader. It has a freshness of outlook
the last five years. even when the theme is universal. We can read the poem
If I am selected, i will work hard for the growth of your from different angles. It is very interesting and
institution. My resume is enclosed herewith. I look meaningful. The poem is a masterpiece that leaves the
forward to hearing from you at the earliest. reader inspired.
The same idea is also communicated in the poem
Yours truly, (name of poem from question paper) by.............................
Sd/ The poem shows the vibrant imagination of the poet. The
Babu xxxxx poem shows much social and contemporary relevance.
Mumbai. .............................................................................................
.............................................................................................
Bio-Data .................(about the poem from question paper)...............
.........................................................................................
Current Address:
Both the poems convey good message. We can also
Babu xxxx see striking contrasts in both poems. Both poets view the
New street same idea from different angles. Language used by the
Mumbai poets is simple and clear. Both poems through its versatile
babu123@[Link] style of presentation and structure attain perfection.
09567xxxxxxxx
3) e-mail format
Objective: To become an expert...............
To be a part of social development. To: abc@[Link]
Subject:................................
Education: PG with 75% from university of Bombay in
2020. Dear,
UG with 80 % from university of Mysore in
2018. How are you? Hope you are well. I am sending this e-
Experience: 5 years experience as an............in a private mail to share an amazing experience.
institution.(experience certificate enclosed)
Skill: Computerised accounting .............................................................................................
Software programming. .............................................................................................
Activities: Volunteer of UNESCO ............................................................................................
Leadership in charity organisation.
Achievement: Participated in the national seminar on the I conclude my words here. Have a wonderful day. Mail
topic ‘trends in human development’ me as soon as possible.
Languages known: English, malayalam, tamil
Interest: Swimming, Riding Thanking you.
Declaration: I hereby declare that the details above are Yours lovingly,
true to the best of my knowledge. xyz@[Link]
 It was followed by a discussion. All of them emphasized
the importance of............................................................
4) speech format Vote of thanks was proposed by.............................
The programme was ended with national anthem.

Good morning everyone, 8) Interview Questions:

Respected dignitaries on and off the dais, a warm
welcome to all. I am very happy to be here on this 1. What is the turning point in your life?
occasion. I would like to talk to you few words on the A: Continuous failures are the turning point in my life.
topic.............................................. 2. What prompted you to select this field?
It is a relevant topic of discussion in today's world. It is a A: My childhood experiences and the realities around
golden opportunity in my life to stand before you to me prompted me to select this field.
express my views. I have a lot of ideas about the topic.
3. Are you happy with your present position?
..........................................................................................
A: Yes, I am very happy with it.
...................................main topic...................................... 4. How did you achieve this position?
.......................................................................................... A: I achieved this position by overcoming many
challenges.
Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to conclude my 5. How did you balance work and personal life?
words. I am very thankful to the audience for your kind A: My work never interrupts my personal life. I
participation and patience. Wishing you all a great day. enjoyed both.
6. What is your advice to the new generation?
Thank you. A: Work hard. It will bring you success.

5) BLURB 9)Informal Letter

It is a wonderful work to read and enjoy. The theme is is Place,

thought provoking. The language used by the author is Date.
powerful. The settings are beautifully created to present
the theme. It is a must read among the modern books. The Dear,
social relevance of the book make it it a best seller. How are you? Hope you are fine. I think it is long
Characters are interesting and inspiring. since we wrote each other. I am writing this letter to
tell you an important matter.
6) ANNOUNCEMENT/COMPEERING before staging
.........................................................................................
a skit or play:
.........................................................................................
Here is a special announcement. We are going to stage a ......................(main content)........................................
special item. Yes, it is a skit. It is based on the play............
the play was written by...............The play will be staged in Please convey my regards to all at home. I
the school auditorium at sharp 2 pm. The play was conclude my words. Let us hope to meet at the earliest.
directed by the famous director Mr. Kiran Lal and the
music is given by Mr. Kailas. The characters are 10. Live TV Report
interesting and inspiring. The role of the characters are
enacted by students of plus two. Let me invite all of you Hello friends, I am Babu from 24 News. I am here
to this wonderful moment. It has a good message. Watch at..................Wow! It is really unbelievable. This event
and enjoy. will be written in golden ink in the history of time.
Thank you. Thousands of people are gathered here. It is really
amazing.
7) Report of a seminar/programme .........................................................................................
....................(main content).............................................
The social club of our school has conducted a ....................................................................................
programme/ seminar on the topic................on.................
at the school auditorium. Welcome speech was done by We will get back after a short break. Till then bye fro
the principal. Babu with cameraman Shaji.
The programme was inaugurated by.................
The programme was chaired by.......................
Felicitation speech was made by.....................
Paper presentations were done by........................

.....................(about the topic)..................................

11. Letter to Editor
......................................................................................
.......................................................................................
From,
 Name
Address

10.12.2025

To,
The Editor
The Indian Express
Sir,
Sub:...................................................
I read The Indian Express daily. You report everything
truthfully. I am writing this letter to express my
concern about.......................................................
..............................(main content)...........................
.........................................................................................
.....................................................................................

Kindly publish through the appropriate columns of

your esteemed daily. It will be great to get an
awareness to the common people. It is an important
issue. Similar issues come up everyday. The Govt. and
the people should open their eyes. It is time to be
active. I conclude the letter here. Let us hope for a
better tomorrow.

Yours truly,
Sd/
Name.

12. News report

13. Blog writing
14. Profile writing
15. Précis writing
16. Conversation
17. Write up/article/essay
18. Debate
19. Dos and Donts
20. Significance of the title.

Yasar Arfath
Hsst, Ghss Irikkur