Curriculum structure
CBSE English Core prescribes Hornbill and Snapshots for Class XI alongside reading, writing, grammar, listening and speaking assessment. This page covers the literary titles shown in the 2026–27 CBSE list; use the official curriculum for assessment details.
Verified syllabus units (15)
The Portrait of a Lady
Khushwant Singh’s affectionate portrait of his grandmother explores age, faith, companionship and quiet change. Notice how the narrator’s relationship evolves as he grows older.
A Photograph
Shirley Toulson reflects on an old photograph, childhood memory and the permanence of loss. The poem’s silences and shifts in time make grief understated.
We’re Not Afraid to Die… if We Can All Be Together
A family’s dangerous sea voyage tests courage, practical judgement and solidarity. Track how hope is sustained through teamwork and small decisions.
Discovering Tut: The Saga Continues
The account of Tutankhamun’s tomb connects archaeology, scientific investigation and public fascination. Distinguish evidence from speculation when discussing the past.
The Laburnum Top
Ted Hughes shows a still tree transformed by a goldfinch’s arrival and the movement of its young. Sound, motion and contrast shape the poem.
The Voice of the Rain
Walt Whitman personifies rain as a cycle that rises, returns and nourishes the earth. Follow the water-cycle image and the parallel with poetry.
Childhood
Markus Natten questions when childhood ends and whether growing up means losing innocence, trust or a distinct way of seeing.
The Adventure
Jayant Narlikar blends history and science fiction as Professor Gaitonde experiences an alternate outcome of the Battle of Panipat. Consider probability and historical contingency.
Silk Road
Nick Middleton recounts a demanding journey toward Mount Kailash, combining landscape, travel detail and cultural observation.
Father to Son
Elizabeth Jennings presents emotional distance between parent and child and the desire to rebuild communication despite differences.
The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse
William Saroyan’s Aram and Mourad face a moral choice when a horse appears in their care. The story balances childhood wonder, family honour and honesty.
The Address
Marga Minco uses a wartime visit to examine memory, loss and the uneasy relationship between possessions and the people they once belonged to.
Mother’s Day
J. B. Priestley’s play uses comic role reversal to expose a family’s lack of appreciation for Mrs Pearson and imagine a more assertive response.
Birth
A. J. Cronin’s doctor Andrew Manson perseveres through a difficult delivery and revives a newborn. The story presents responsibility under pressure.
The Tale of Melon City
Vikram Seth’s satirical verse tale uses absurd royal justice to question arbitrary authority and passive public acceptance.