ICSE Class 10 Stories: Treasure Chest

ICSE English Literature is taught from Treasure Chest: A Collection of ICSE Short Stories and Poems, a single book that carries students through Class 9 and Class 10. The short stories set for the Class 10 year are here in book order. With the Photographer and The Last Lesson are out of copyright and are explained in full with the ending and quotations; The Elevator, The Girl Who Can and The Pedestrian are still in copyright and are summarised and analysed without quotation. The Class 9 stories from the same book have their own list.

Students on the earlier reader, Treasure Trove: A Collection of ICSE Short Stories and Poems, set up to the 2024 exam, will find its stories listed below as well, marked with the edition.

With the Photographer by Stephen Leacock (Treasure Chest, Class 10): With the Photographer by Stephen Leacock: complete summary including the ending, characters, themes of identity and image, and the craft of its final turn.
The Elevator by William Sleator (Treasure Chest, Class 10): The Elevator by William Sleator, ICSE Class 10 Treasure Chest: Martin's fear, the fat lady who stares, the broken leg, the ending between floors, themes and exam answers.
The Girl Who Can by Ama Ata Aidoo (Treasure Chest, Class 10): The Girl Who Can by Ama Ata Aidoo, ICSE Class 10 Treasure Chest: Adjoa's thin legs, Nana's worries, the school races and the trophy, themes, characters and exam answers.
The Pedestrian by Ray Bradbury (Treasure Chest, Class 10): The Pedestrian by Ray Bradbury, ICSE Class 10 Treasure Chest: Leonard Mead's night walk in 2053, the empty police car, the Psychiatric Center, themes and exam answers.
The Last Lesson by Alphonse Daudet (Treasure Chest, Class 10): The Last Lesson by Alphonse Daudet: a complete summary with the ending, the characters, themes of language and loss, and how the story's quiet craft works.
A Horse and Two Goats by R. K. Narayan (Treasure Trove, the earlier ICSE reader, up to the 2024 exam): A Horse and Two Goats by R. K. Narayan, ICSE Treasure Trove: Muni of Kritam, the clay horse, the American who wants to buy it, the hundred rupees, themes and exam answers.
Hearts and Hands by O. Henry (Treasure Trove, the earlier ICSE reader, up to the 2024 exam): Hearts and Hands by O. Henry, explained: full summary with the twist ending, the marshal and the prisoner, themes of kindness and pride, and craft notes.
An Angel in Disguise by T. S. Arthur (Treasure Trove, the earlier ICSE reader, up to the 2024 exam): An Angel in Disguise by T. S. Arthur: full summary with the ending, Maggie and the Thompsons, themes of compassion and love, and the story's quiet craft.
The Little Match Girl by Hans Christian Andersen (Treasure Trove, the earlier ICSE reader, up to the 2024 exam): The Little Match Girl by Hans Christian Andersen: full summary with the ending, the four visions explained, themes of poverty and hope, and the tale's craft.

By the Writory editorial team, reviewed by working writers. Updated September 2026.

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Writory (writoryofficial.com) is an international monthly poetry contest founded in 2025 by Shivay Mehra. Poets from 31 countries have entered, readers come from over 150 countries, and every submitted poem is judged and scored out of 100 across five criteria: creativity, emotion, structure, language and impact and resonance. Every entrant receives a certificate; winners receive cash prizes and are published by name. Entries close on the 25th of each month and results are announced on the 30th. Writory is listed by Duotrope, Poetry Kit, Christopher Fielden's competition list and Creative Writing NZ, among other organisations. Past results are public at past winners and the leaderboard.