Past board exam questions
CBSE 2026 board paper · 3 marks
Explain how W.B. Yeats uses symbolism in the poem to contrast physical beauty with true love.
(For Anne Gregory)
(Answer in about 40-50 words.)
Show answer
(Content 2 – at least two value points; Expression 1)
Yeats uses Anne’s “yellow hair” as a symbol of physical beauty or outward appearance. Through it he contrasts human love, which young men base on such outward appearance, with divine love – only God could love her “for yourself alone”, valuing her inner self rather than the colour of her hair.
CBSE 2026 board paper · 3 marks
What is ‘yellow hair’ a symbol of in “For Anne Gregory” ? Discuss. (For Anne Gregory)
(Answer in about 40-50 words.)
Show answer
(Content 2 – any two points with textual evidence; Expression 1)
‘Yellow hair’ symbolises physical beauty, youth and attraction – the popular idea of feminine beauty. It suggests that Anne Gregory was attractive and had many suitors, who loved her for her ‘yellow hair’. It also shows that such love is conditional, superficial and transitory, unlike divine love, since only God could love her ‘for herself alone’.
CBSE 2026 board paper · 3 marks
How does the tone of the poet in the poem ‘For Anne Gregory’ highlight the distinction between external beauty and inner worth ?
(Answer in about 40-50 words.)
Show answer
(Content 2 – at least two value points; Expression 1)
The poem is a light, conversational and gently ironic dialogue. The speaker teasingly tells Anne that young men, attracted by her ‘yellow hair’, will never love her for herself alone; when she says she could dye her hair, he replies, in a reflective, philosophical tone, quoting an old religious man, that only God could love her for herself alone. The tone thus questions superficial attraction to outward beauty and shows that true love should value inner worth.
CBSE 2026 board paper · 3 marks
Analyse the young woman’s mention of dyeing her hair in the poem ‘For Anne Gregory’. How does her statement support the fact that most people love only external beauty ?
(Answer in about 40-50 words.)
Show answer
(Content 2 – at least two value points, at least one from each aspect; Expression 1)
The young woman says she can dye her yellow hair brown, black or carrot so that young men may love her for herself alone and not for her hair. This shows she knows men are attracted by her external beauty and exposes the superficiality of human love. The poet’s reply – that only God could love her for herself alone and not her yellow hair – confirms that most people are captivated by outward appearance rather than inner worth.
CBSE 2026 board paper · 3 marks
“Only God, my dear, could love you for yourself alone.” How is God’s love different from the love of young lovers ?
(For Anne Gregory)
(Answer in about 40-50 words.)
Show answer
(Content 2 – at least two value points; Expression 1)
God loves a person for her inner beauty, for what she truly is, whereas young lovers care only for physical beauty, such as Anne’s yellow hair. God’s love is unconditional, while human love always comes with expectations and depends on outward appearance.
CBSE 2026 board paper · 3 marks
The “yellow hair” is a symbol in the poem. Briefly support the statement with reference to the poem “For Anne Gregory”.
(For Anne Gregory)
(Answer in about 40-50 words.)
Show answer
(Content 2 – at least two value points; Expression 1)
The “yellow hair” is a symbol of physical, outward beauty. It shows how people often judge others by their appearance. The young man tells Anne that her suitors will love her only for her beautiful yellow hair and not for her inner self; they are more interested in her looks than in knowing her as a person. Only God can love her for herself alone.
CBSE 2026 board paper · 3 marks
What lesson does “For Anne Gregory” present for youthful love ?
(Answer in about 40-50 words.)
Show answer
(Content 2 – any two points; Expression 1)
The poem shows that youthful love is often based on physical beauty: young men are attracted by Anne’s yellow hair rather than her inner qualities. But outward beauty is temporary and changeable. True love should value the inner self, not looks – and only God can love a person for who she truly is, not for her yellow hair.
CBSE 2026 board paper · 3 marks
The religious man’s perspective in ‘For Anne Gregory’ reinforces the concept of divine love. Illustrate.
(Answer in about 40-50 words.)
Show answer
(Content 2 – at least two value points; Expression 1)
The old religious man, quoting a text he had found, says that only God can love a person for herself alone and not for her yellow hair. His words show spiritual knowledge and a deep understanding of human nature: they contrast superficial human love, attracted by external beauty, with divine love that values inner qualities, and serve as a voice of wisdom revealing reality.
