Around the World in Eighty Days notes 12 MHTCERT

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Communication Skills for Engineers and Technologists

Here are the summary, previous year board questions (PYQs), and the most expected questions, specifically for the Maharashtra Board Exam.

Master "Around the World in 80 Days" in 10 Minutes: HSC Class 12 English Novel Guide

Category: HSC English Notes | Subject: Section IV (Novel)

Around the World in Eighty Days"


Are you a Class 12 arts, science or commerce student struggling with English? Do you find the Novel Section (Q.5) difficult because you haven't read the books?

Don't worry! For Question 5 (C), you only need to master the novel "Around the World in Eighty Days" by Jules Verne. This section carries 4 marks, and with the right keywords, you can score full marks without reading the 200-page book.

Around the World in Eighty Days is a famous adventure novel written by Jules Verne, a French novelist renowned for his imaginative and scientifically informed fiction. The novel narrates an exciting journey undertaken by an English gentleman who attempts to travel around the world in just eighty days.

This novel combines adventure, suspense, humour, and discipline, making it one of the most popular novels prescribed for Class 12.

1. The Story in a Nutshell (Summary)

The Wager (The Bet)
The protagonist, Phileas Fogg, is a rich, eccentric, and mathematical English gentleman. He bets £20,000 with his friends at the Reform Club that he can travel around the world in exactly 80 days. He leaves immediately with his loyal French servant, Passepartout.

The Journey & Obstacles

  • The Chase: A police detective named Fix follows them everywhere, wrongly believing Fogg is a bank robber.

  • The Rescue: In India, Fogg saves a woman named Aouda from a fire, and she joins their journey.

  • The Troubles: They face storms, missed trains, and attacks, but Fogg remains calm and precise.

The Climax (Important for Exam)
When they reach Liverpool (England), Detective Fix arrests Fogg. Fogg is eventually released, but he arrives in London 5 minutes late (according to his watch). He thinks he has lost the bet and his fortune. He sits in his room, depressed. Aouda proposes marriage to him.

The Twist (How he won)
Passepartout rushes to the church to arrange the wedding and makes a shocking discovery: it is Saturday, not Sunday!

  • The Logic: Because they travelled eastward (towards the sun), they gained 4 minutes for every degree. In total, they gained 24 hours (one full day).

  • The End: Fogg rushes to the Reform Club and wins the bet with seconds to spare. He gains money, honour, and most importantly, love.

The novel highlights the value of time, determination, courage, and modern technology.

2. Previous Year Board Questions (PYQs)

These questions have appeared in the 2022, 2023, and 2024 board papers. Memorise these answers!

Q1. Appreciate Phileas Fogg as the protagonist. (Feb 2024)
Answer: Phileas Fogg is an eccentric, precise, and mathematical man. He is cool and calm, never showing anxiety even in difficult situations. He values honour more than money, as seen when he spends his fortune to save Aouda. He is a man of his word, proving that determination and logic can overcome any obstacle.  He believes strongly in logic and precision. His courage, determination, and confidence help him complete the seemingly impossible journey.

Q2. The most interesting part of the extract is its climax. Discuss. (Feb 2024)
Answer: The climax is thrilling because of the Time Zone Twist. Fogg accepts defeat gracefully, believing he arrived 5 minutes late. The tension rises when Passepartout discovers they are actually a day early because they travelled eastward. The rush to the Reform Club in the final seconds makes the ending dramatic and scientifically clever.

Q3. Elaborate: "Time is the only solution to problems." (March 2022)
Answer: In the novel, time is the main villain and the hero. Fogg fights against time throughout the journey. However, in the end, it is time (the gained day) that saves him. It teaches that patience and perseverance can turn a seemingly lost situation into a victory.

3. Exam-Oriented Expected Questions

Here are the most likely questions based on character, theme, and plot.

A. Character Sketches

Q4. Write a character sketch of Passepartout.
Answer: Passepartout is Fogg’s loyal French servant. He is the "heart" to Fogg's "brain". He is emotional, talkative, energetic, and comical. He blames himself for Fogg’s arrest but remains loyal. He is the one who discovers the time mistake, making him the real hero of the climax.  Despite his mistakes, Passepartout remains faithful and brave, playing a vital role in the journey.

Q5. Write a character sketch of Detective Fix.
Answer: Detective Fix is a dutiful but misguided police inspector. He suspects Fogg is a bank robber because of his sudden departure.  Though his intentions are legal, his actions delay justice.  He is persistent and acts as the main obstacle in the story. In the end, he apologises for the mistake.

Q6. Describe the character of Aouda.
Answer: Aouda is a kind, courageous, graceful and charming Indian woman of noble birth saved by Fogg. She falls in love with Fogg not for his money, but for his character. Her proposal of marriage at the end is crucial because it leads Passepartout to the church, revealing the time error.  Aouda represents compassion and emotional warmth in the novel.

B. Theme & Plot Questions

Q7. Explain the theme of "Time" in the novel.
Answer: Time is the central character. The bet is a race against time. The novel illustrates that time is relative—it can be "gained" or "lost" depending on direction (East vs West). The message is that no human can control time, but if used wisely, it brings fortune.

Q8. Explain the significance of the "Reform Club".
Answer: The story starts and ends at the Reform Club in London. This setting represents order, precision, and punctuality. It contrasts with the chaotic locations Fogg visits. Returning to the Club symbolises completing the full circle of the journey.

Q9. "Phileas Fogg gained nothing by his tour, unless it were happiness." Explain.
Answer: Financially, Fogg broke even (he spent as much as he won). However, the author says he won something more valuable: Aouda. The journey changed him from a lonely machine into a man capable of love. Thus, the true gain was happiness, not money.

Q10. Describe the relationship between Fogg and Passepartout.
Answer: The relationship is one of mutual loyalty and contrast. Phileas Fogg is the "Brain" (cool, logical, and precise), while Passepartout is the "Heart" (emotional, energetic, and loyal). Although Passepartout makes mistakes (like leaving the gas on or getting arrested), he remains devoted to his master. Fogg, in return, sacrifices his time and money to save Passepartout from danger, proving a deep bond of trust beneath the master-servant dynamic.

Q11. Mention two obstacles faced during the journey.
Answer:

  1. Detective Fix: He constantly follows Fogg, creates hurdles, and eventually arrests him at Liverpool, causing a critical delay.

  2. Unfinished Railway & Nature: In India, the railway line ends abruptly, forcing them to ride an elephant. They also face severe storms at sea and attacks by Native Americans in the USA.

Q12. How does the novel reflect the impact of modern technology?
Answer: The novel is a celebration of the Industrial Revolution. The entire bet is based on the premise that modern steamers (ships) and railways have made the world smaller and travel faster. The opening of the Suez Canal and the railway across India are highlighted as technological marvels that allow a man to circle the globe in just eighty days.

Q13. State two qualities of Aouda.
Answer:

  1. Grateful & Loyal: She is deeply thankful to Fogg for saving her from the 'Sati' ritual in India and stays by his side throughout the journey.

  2. Sincere & Loving: She values character over money. She proves this by proposing marriage to Fogg when he is penniless and ruined, rather than when he was rich.

Q14. Why is the novel considered adventurous?
Answer: The novel is a classic adventure because it features a high-stakes race against time across dangerous and exotic locations. The protagonists face constant threats—from storms and unfinished train tracks to Sioux attacks and police arrests. The suspense of whether Fogg will reach the Reform Club on time keeps the excitement alive until the very last second.

You can watch this novel in short here.

Around the World in 80 Days.

Other related posts:

Poem Appreciations.

The Sign of Four

The History of the Novel

To Sir With Love

Did you find this guide helpful? Share it with your friends preparing for the HSC Board Exam!

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#HSCBoard2025-26 

#EnglishGrammar 

#AroundTheWorldIn80Days 

#PhileasFogg

 #NovelSection 

#12thStd 

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Location: Maharashtra, India

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