English — Language and Literature (184) — CBSE Class 10 board question

Both Anne Frank and Valli exemplify how optimism and self-assurance help young girls rise above their limitations.

Valli lived in a small village with no playmates and limited freedom. Yet she meticulously planned her bus journey — saving sixty paise by resisting sweets and merry-go-rounds, gathering information discreetly, and timing her trip during her mother's nap. On the bus, she confidently refused free drinks and asserted herself against older passengers, declaring, "I'm not a child." Her cheerful curiosity and iron will turned a simple bus ride into a triumph.

Anne Frank, facing the trauma of hiding and persecution, channelled her feelings into her diary, treating it as a trusted friend named Kitty. Her self-awareness, humour, and emotional resilience helped her cope with extraordinary hardship.

Both girls demonstrate that inner confidence and a positive outlook empower women to overcome circumstance and claim their own space in the world.

Source: Madam Rides the Bus, Chapter 7; The Diary of Anne Frank, Chapter 4

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• This is a comparative/value-based 6-mark question. Examiners expect textual evidence from both chapters — don't discuss only one character.
• Show the obstacle each girl faced, then show her optimistic/self-assured response — that's the two-part structure per character.
• Use short quotes or specific details (e.g., "sixty paise," "Kitty") to prove you've read the texts; vague generalisations lose marks.
• End with a common conclusion linking the theme to both characters — examiners reward this synthesis.
• Keep Anne's section slightly shorter since fewer source passages were provided, but don't omit her entirely.