The Maharashtra HSC English 2026 question paper had 80 marks and a three-hour time limit. The English (01) paper, code J-101, covered prose, poetry, writing skills and novels. Its reading passages focused on Soapy's wish to change his life and the influence of family and parenting on children.

Download the English 2026 question paper for the passages, questions and choices. The answers below explain selected grammar, comprehension, poetry and novel questions. The writing responses are examples, not an official board marking scheme.

Maharashtra HSC English 2026 Paper Pattern

The paper had four sections and five main questions. Questions 1 and 2 belonged to Prose. Together they carried 34 marks, including language study, summary writing and a mind map. The remaining marks were divided between Poetry, Writing Skills and Novel.

Writing Skills had four groups, A to D, with a choice of three tasks in each group. Students had to attempt one task from each group. Choosing several tasks from Group A did not replace a response from Group B, C or D.

Maharashtra HSC English 2026 Prose and Grammar Answers

Soapy: Passage and Answers

The first extract came from The Cop and the Anthem. Soapy was heading towards Madison Square when music from an old church stopped him. The anthem reminded him of an earlier life with affection, friends, ambitions and self-respect. He began to recognise how far he had fallen and decided to seek work.

The change was more specific than simply feeling happy after hearing music. Soapy wanted to overcome the habits that had trapped him, revive his ambitions and ask a fur importer about a driving job. These details explain the passage's contrast between regret and determination.

Soapy's resolve did not prevent his arrest. A policeman questioned him outside the church, and a magistrate later sentenced him to three months on the island. For Question 1 A1, the two missing branches concern his recollection of his earlier life and his arrest and sentence. Listening to the anthem and his transformation were already supplied in the question.

For the activity on the effects of the organ music, relevant points include the change in his outlook, his resolve to fight his situation, his wish to revive old ambitions and his decision to find work. The question required these ideas in a web diagram.

Question 1 A4: Sample personal response I once left an assignment until the last evening and could not finish it properly. I regretted wasting the time available to me. Since then, I have divided large assignments into smaller tasks and started earlier. This has helped me submit better work without a last-minute rush.

Question 1 A5(1): Past continuous

The answer is (c): A fur importer was offering him a place as driver. The past continuous uses was or were followed by the -ing form. Had offered is past perfect; had been offering is past perfect continuous.

Question 1(A) A5(2): A modal expressing certainty

Suggested answer: (b) He will be somebody in the world.

Here, will presents Soapy's future with confidence. Must can express a strong deduction in other sentences, but it is not always more certain than will. This is a suggested answer based on the sentence's meaning, not an official marking key.

Question 1(A) A6: Antonyms from the passage

Suggested answer: (i) conquer; (ii) standstill.

The passage uses conquer for overcoming something and standstill for a stop in movement. The first answer takes defeat in the sense of failure or loss; the meaning of the word matters here.

Non-textual Grammar

Family and Parenting: Comprehension Answers

The second passage compared joint and nuclear families before describing parenting styles. In a joint family, tasks and responsibilities are shared, and children learn to adjust to different family members. The passage also mentions conflicts and divided parental attention. In a nuclear family, it describes close parent-child relationships and greater attention to children, alongside difficulty in adjustment. These are the passage's observations, not rules that describe every family.

Question 2(A) A1: True-or-false statements

Suggested answers and wording notes: (a) False; (d) False. Parts (b) and (c) need care because their wording goes beyond the passage.

(a) False. In a nuclear family, parent-child relationships are very intimate.

(b) Wording is unclear. The passage says conflicts and misunderstandings sometimes occur in joint families. It does not say there are more than in another type of family, so that comparison is not established.

(c) Wording is unclear. The passage says children in nuclear families lack adjustment. It does not say parental flexibility has the worst effect or directly causes this difficulty.

(d) False, based on the passage's focus on family. A child's socialisation and development begin within the family, not only at school.

No official marking scheme has been checked for this activity. The notes above explain what the passage supports; they do not claim an official ruling on (b) or (c).

For Question 2 A2, the relevant sentences describe authoritarian parents as rigid and punitive and their children as unfriendly, unsocial and uninvolved. Authoritative parents take a different approach: they encourage independence while setting limits and being firm when needed.

For Question 2 A3, the passage connects children becoming demanding and selfish with receiving too much attention. It connects dependence and immaturity with inconsistent behaviour by permissive parents. Both answers need the cause given in the passage rather than a general opinion about parenting.

The vocabulary answers in Question 2 A6 are influence and intimate. Their meaning comes from the discussion of parents shaping behaviour and the close relationship between parents and children.

Question 2 A4: Sample personal response A friendly family atmosphere helps children speak openly about their worries. Parents can listen without agreeing to every demand. Clear rules, shared work and time together can help children feel secure and learn to respect others. Children also need room to make small decisions and learn from mistakes.

The passive sentence above follows the option in the paper, although its wording is awkward. A more natural version is: The children are not given complete attention by their parents.

Summary Writing and Mind Mapping

The summary needed to connect family types, parents' roles, children's personality development and socialisation. Listing only the advantages of a joint family would leave out much of the passage. A suitable title is Family and a Child's Development.

Sample summary

Families influence how children relate to others and develop their personalities. Joint families share work and responsibilities, while nuclear families allow closer parental attention. Both have difficulties described in the passage. Inconsistent, permissive parenting can encourage dependence, while rigid, authoritarian behaviour can make children withdrawn. Authoritative parents encourage independence, set limits and remain firm when needed, helping children develop social skills. Family relationships and parenting thus shape children's adjustment and socialisation.

The mind-map topic was Competitive Exams. A sample could place that topic at the centre, with branches for purpose, eligibility, subjects, question format and preparation. These are possible ideas for the activity, not a claim that every competitive exam follows the same rules.

• Purpose: Admission or selection
• Eligibility: Qualification and conditions
• Subjects: Topics in the syllabus
• Question format: Objective or descriptive
• Preparation: Papers and revision

Maharashtra HSC English 2026 Poetry Answers

Father Returning Home

The extract from Dilip Chitre's Father Returning Home showed the father's loneliness after returning from work. His weak tea, stale chapati and children's unwillingness to share jokes and secrets make the distance within the family clear. Being at home does not give him the closeness he needs.

Question 3 A1: The two thematic statements are (c), Isolation from the society makes the father introvert, and (d), The father is lost in his own thoughts.

Question 3(A) A2: Food and the children's behaviour

Suggested answer: (a) He drinks weak tea and eats a stale chapati. (b) His sullen children often refuse to share jokes and secrets with him.

Both details come directly from the poem. His plain meal and the children's silence show how lonely he feels even at home.

Question 3(A) A4: Figure of speech

Suggested answer: Alliteration: the /m/ sound repeats in 'Man's' and 'man-made'.

The repeated opening sound is an example of alliteration. The line can also be read as a paradox: a person feels cut off from a world made by people. No official marking scheme has been checked, so this explanation does not claim which alternative the Board accepted.

A personal response on family relationships can discuss listening, sharing time or showing concern. It should answer the actual prompt and need not copy the poem's family situation. For the short poetry-writing activity, a relevant original response matters more than reproducing the poet's lines.

Sample personal response: When my father comes home from work, I welcome him and offer him a glass of water. I ask about his day and listen if he wants to talk. If he is tired, I give him time to rest before sharing news about my day.

Sample original lines:
We put our busy phones away,
And hear what each of us would say.
A little time, a listening ear,
Can bring the ones we love more near.

Indian Weavers: Appreciation

Question 3(B): Poem appreciation

Sample appreciation: Indian Weavers

Sarojini Naidu's poem Indian Weavers presents birth, marriage and death through three garments. At daybreak, the weavers make blue robes for a newborn child. At nightfall, they make a queen's purple and green marriage veil. In the cold moonlight, they weave a white funeral shroud.

The three stanzas use a question-and-answer pattern. Each stanza has two rhyming pairs, giving it an aabb pattern. Similes compare the garments with a kingfisher's wing, a peacock's feathers, a feather and a cloud. The colours and changing times of day help express the different stages and moods of life.

I like the poem's simple images. A familiar task such as weaving becomes a way to think about joy, growing up and death without a long explanation.

Maharashtra HSC English 2026 Writing Skills

The tasks tested different kinds of writing. An email needed a recipient, subject and clear request. A report needed an account of an event. An interview needed questions in the supplied order. A speech or appeal needed to address its audience directly. The required format was part of the task, not an optional decoration.

Message, Statement of Purpose, Email and Interview

The virtual message concerned Avinash and his son Rohit, with a birthday visit forming the situation. The statement of purpose was for a bachelor's degree in Performing Arts, specialising in Classical Vocal Music. A relevant SOP would explain the applicant's interest, preparation and reason for taking that course, rather than use a general college-admission paragraph.

The discussion topic concerned positive thinking and required three or four participants. The email asked for funds or sponsorship for educational resources, materials and audio-visual aids. The report concerned a lecture on self-defence and safety. Imaginary details used to complete these writing tasks should remain clearly identifiable as sample details.

The following responses are original samples. Names, events, personal experiences and other details added to complete a response are imaginary.

Virtual message: Sample response

Rohit, I have been invited to a birthday programme and need to leave early. You will return from college late this evening, so I cannot meet you before leaving. Please do not worry if I am not at home. I will speak to you when I return. — Dad

Statement of purpose: Sample response

I wish to join the Bachelor of Performing Arts course in Classical Vocal Music because I want to study music beyond the songs I already know. Regular practice has taught me to listen closely, accept correction and repeat a difficult phrase patiently.

I have taken beginner lessons and performed at school functions. These experiences have strengthened my interest, but they have also shown me how much I need to learn. I want to understand ragas, rhythm, voice training and the traditions behind different styles of singing.

A degree course would give my learning a clear structure and opportunities to practise with teachers and fellow students. I am ready to devote time to daily riyaz and classroom study. In future, I hope to perform and teach. My immediate aim is simpler: to build a sound foundation and become a more thoughtful, disciplined student of classical music.

Group discussion on positive thinking: Sample response

Asha: Positive thinking helps us begin again after a setback. If I do badly in a test, I can treat it as a chance to find out what went wrong instead of deciding that I can never improve.

Ravi: I agree, but simply expecting success is not enough. We also need to change our preparation. Otherwise, positive thinking becomes an excuse to ignore a problem.

Meera: That is why realistic goals matter. Completing one difficult chapter can give us more confidence than repeating that everything will be fine. Support from friends can help too.

Asha: Yes. We should also allow ourselves to feel disappointed. Being positive does not mean hiding every unpleasant feeling.

Ravi: So, our view is that hope works best with honest effort.

Meera: And with patience. Progress may be slow, but noticing small improvements can help us continue without pretending that the work is easy.

Email requesting educational resources: Sample response

To: The Company Director

Subject: Request for support for classroom learning resources

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing on behalf of our college student council to request support for learning resources. Our students would benefit from reference books, subject charts and audio-visual aids that teachers can use during lessons.

We propose to set up a shared resource corner so that these materials remain available to all classes. Books would support reading beyond the textbook, while a projector and speakers would help teachers explain topics through diagrams, demonstrations and recorded talks.

We would welcome either suitable materials or financial support towards their purchase. We can share our requirements and estimated costs on request. The college would keep a record of the resources received and how they are used.

Please let us know whether your organisation could support this effort. We would be happy to discuss the proposal with you.

Yours faithfully,

Student Council Representative

Report on self-defence and safety: Sample response

Students Attend Self-defence and Safety Talk

By a student reporter

A talk on self-defence and personal safety was held in the college hall on Monday. Students and teachers attended the programme, which focused on recognising unsafe situations and seeking help promptly.

The invited trainer explained the importance of staying alert, keeping emergency contacts accessible and informing a trusted person about a worrying incident. The session also discussed the need to respect personal boundaries and support someone who reports harassment.

During a short demonstration, students observed basic defensive movements under the trainer's supervision. The speaker reminded them that getting away from danger and calling for help should take priority over attempting a physical confrontation.

Students then asked questions about travel, crowded places and online contact with strangers. The programme ended with a vote of thanks. The student council proposed further supervised sessions so that interested students could learn from a qualified instructor.

For the Ideal Teacher interview, the eight topics were Dream, Mission/Vision, Objective, Early Preparation, Support, Recognition, Awards/Felicitations and Aim/Destination. The questions below follow that order.

1. What first made you want to become a teacher?
2. What change do you hope to bring through your teaching?
3. What should each student gain from your classroom?
4. How did you prepare for teaching in your early years?
5. Who supported you when the work became difficult?
6. What kind of recognition from students means the most to you?
7. Which award or felicitation do you remember most clearly, and why?
8. What would you still like to achieve as a teacher?

Speech, Compering and Expansion of an Idea

The speech topic was Making Vacation Meaningful. It allowed students to discuss activities such as reading, learning a skill, helping others and making time for rest. The expansion topic was Self discipline is self-caring, with points on determination, hard work, commitment, focus and self-learning. A useful response would connect those qualities to everyday choices instead of simply repeat the list.

Making Vacation Meaningful: Sample speech

Good morning, respected teachers and friends.

A meaningful vacation does not have to be a busy vacation. After months of classes and exams, we need rest. But we can also make room for something we keep postponing during the school year.

We might read a book, learn to cook a simple meal or practise a language. Helping with work at home can teach us skills that a textbook cannot. Spending time with grandparents or assisting a younger child with reading can make the break useful to someone else too.

The plan should be realistic. Choosing one activity and doing it regularly is better than making a long list that we soon abandon. Outdoor play, sleep and time with friends also belong in our holidays.

When classes begin again, we should return rested, with a few good memories and perhaps one new skill. That would be a vacation well spent. Thank you.

Self discipline is self-caring: Sample expansion

Self-discipline means making choices that support our health, learning and future. It is a form of self-care because it helps us do what we need, even when an easier distraction is available.

A student who sleeps on time, studies regularly and takes breaks is not being harsh with themselves. These habits protect energy and reduce the pressure of unfinished work. Determination helps us begin, while persistence and hard work help us continue when progress is slow.

Discipline also needs a clear goal. Without one, we may stay busy without understanding why. Commitment keeps that goal in view, and self-learning helps us recognise mistakes and change an unhelpful method.

This does not mean following an exhausting timetable or refusing every pleasure. A sensible routine includes rest and room for change. Caring for ourselves means balancing today's comfort with tomorrow's needs, then taking small, steady steps towards the life we want.

Question 4(C)(II): Literature-festival compering

Sample compering script (imaginary event): Read Literature, Enjoy Literature

Prayer / Welcome song
Good morning, everyone. Please join our choir for the welcome song.

Introduction of the event
Welcome to 'Read Literature, Enjoy Literature'. Today, we will share stories and poems, meet a writer and discover books beyond our reading.

Introduction of the guests
We welcome our guest writer, our Principal, teachers and students. Thank you for joining this celebration of reading.

Felicitations
I request our Principal to welcome the guest with a book and a token of thanks.

Activities on Literature fest
Our programme begins with poetry recitation, followed by a short story reading and a literary quiz. Our guest will then speak about writing and answer students' questions.

Conclusion
Thank you to our guest, teachers, performers and volunteers. Please visit the book display before leaving. I hope everyone takes home a reading idea. Let us keep our library busy throughout the year.

Documentary Review, Blog and Appeal

The documentary review concerned wildlife in India. It asked for factual information, story and characters, emotional impact, the setting and people, interviews, footage and visual elements. The example below is expressly imaginary; its film title and scenes are not presented as a real production.

Question 4(D)(I): Wildlife documentary review

Sample review of an imaginary documentary: A Day in an Indian Forest

This imaginary documentary follows a forest guard during a day in a forest in central India. It shows birds feeding, deer resting near water and people working to protect the forest. The guard is the main person in the story.

The film combines animal footage with a short interview in which the guard describes daily patrols and the need to keep the habitat safe. Close-up shots make small details easy to notice, while wider shots show the forest surroundings. Natural sounds suit the scenes better than loud background music.

I found the quiet moments more moving than the dramatic ones. The film made me think about the work that happens away from visitors' eyes. I would recommend it to students interested in wildlife, though a clearer map would help viewers understand the setting.

Question 4(D)(II): Proper study habits

Sample blog: Small Study Habits That Help

Good study habits make daily work easier to manage. A long evening with an open book is not always useful if we keep checking messages or leave difficult questions untouched.

I start by listing the work for the day and choosing two or three realistic goals. I keep my books ready, put my phone aside and take short breaks. This needs self-discipline, especially when I would rather postpone a task.

Planning also leaves time for revision. After a lesson, I try a few questions without looking at the answers. Mistakes show me what I need to ask my teacher.

These habits do not promise a particular score. They help me stay organised, notice gaps early and avoid leaving every chapter for the night before an exam.

Question 4(D)(III): Smartphone habits

Sample appeal: From Smart Phones to Smart Habits

A phone can help us learn and stay in touch, but endless scrolling can push aside study, rest and time with family. Let us make room for activities beyond the screen.

Keep phones away during meals and set aside some screen-free time each day. Pick up a book, play a game outdoors, draw, sing or talk to a friend in person. A hobby gives our attention somewhere new to go.

Take regular breaks from sitting, move your body and protect time for sleep. Notice when a short check of messages turns into a long distraction.

Our college student council invites everyone to try one useful change this week. Choose a habit you can continue, and encourage your friends to join you.

Maharashtra HSC English 2026 Novel Answers

Question 5 combined the history of the novel with answers on To Sir, with Love, Around the World in Eighty Days and The Sign of Four. The short answers in parts B, C and D were to be about 50 words each. The most useful details are the events and statements in the prescribed extracts.

History of the Novel

Question 5(A)(I): Match the columns

Suggested answer: (1)-(d), (2)-(a), (3)-(b), (4)-(c).

Question 5 A(II): Choose the correct alternatives

Suggested answers: (a) little; (b) Fantastic; (c) Picaresque; (d) Setting.

The textbook says that the new middle-class readers had little interest in romances and tragedies. Fantastic fiction appeared in pulp magazines for general entertainment. A picaresque novel follows a roguish protagonist's adventures. Setting gives the place, time and background of a story.

To Sir, with Love

Question 5 B(I): Character sketch of Mr Florian

Mr. Florian is a headmaster who takes an active interest in his school. He recognises the pupils' progress but expects better conduct, cleanliness and learning. His speech shows that he feels part of the school community. By supporting the pupil-led council, he also shows trust in their growing responsibility.

Question 5 B(II): Miss Joseph on cooperation

Miss Joseph says that their lessons share the theme of human brotherhood. People depend on one another despite differences in location, colour, race and belief. Her speech brings the subjects together around this idea: cooperation matters because people share needs and can learn from and help one another.

Around the World in Eighty Days

Question 5 C(I): Why Passepartout blames himself

Passepartout feels guilty because he did not warn Fogg about Fix's plans. He believes that, with a warning, Fogg would not have helped the detective reach Liverpool. Fix's arrest delayed Fogg, making it appear that he had lost the wager. Yet Fogg calmly says that he blames no one.

Question 5 C(II): Winning heart over money

Fogg believes he has lost his fortune, but he still worries about Aouda's future. Aouda offers to marry him, and he accepts with love. Their happiness does not depend on winning the wager. His journey brings him a loving companion, a gain that matters more than the prize money.

The Sign of Four

Question 5 D(I): Miss Morstan's unusual case

Miss Morstan does not mean that her case is ordinary. She tells Holmes that she has not yet described its strangest part. After her father's disappearance, an unknown sender sent her a valuable pearl each year. A new letter then promised her justice and asked her to attend a meeting.

Question 5 D(II): Holmes at work during the journey

Holmes carefully examines Miss Morstan's paper with a double lens and notices its material, plan and writing. He then sits quietly, thinking about what it means. During the journey, he also writes figures and notes by pocket-lantern. His silence shows concentration, not a lack of interest in the case.

How to Use the English 2026 Paper

Compare a comprehension answer with the passage and a novel answer with the prescribed extract. A fluent answer about another episode may still miss the question. For writing tasks, check whether the response addresses the situation, includes the requested points and follows its word limit.

An unofficial answer set cannot guarantee the marks a descriptive response will receive. This matters especially for personal responses, creative writing and activities whose wording is unclear. A suggested response is not an official ruling on how the Board awarded marks.

The English 2025 question paper and solutions provide a separate paper for practice. Its passages and writing prompts are different; do not reuse its answers for 2026.