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NCERT Textbook: Poem: For Elkana | Class 11 English Woven Words - Humanities/Arts PDF Download

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124 Woven Words
For Elkana
Nissim Ezekiel
The warm April evening
tempts us to the breezes
sauntering across the lawn.
We drag our chairs down
the stone steps and plant them there.
Unevenly, to sit or rather sprawl
in silence till the words begin to come.
My wife, as is her way,
surveys the scene, comments
on a broken window-pane.
Suggests a thing or two
that every husband in the neighbourhood
knows exactly how to do
except of course the man she loves
who happened to be me.
Unwilling to dispute
the obvious fact
2024-25
Page 2


124 Woven Words
For Elkana
Nissim Ezekiel
The warm April evening
tempts us to the breezes
sauntering across the lawn.
We drag our chairs down
the stone steps and plant them there.
Unevenly, to sit or rather sprawl
in silence till the words begin to come.
My wife, as is her way,
surveys the scene, comments
on a broken window-pane.
Suggests a thing or two
that every husband in the neighbourhood
knows exactly how to do
except of course the man she loves
who happened to be me.
Unwilling to dispute
the obvious fact
2024-25
For Elkana 125
that she is always right,
I turn towards the more
attractive view that opens up
behind my eyes and shuts her out.
Her voice crawls up and down the lawn,
our son, who is seven,
hears it—and it reminds him of something.
He stands before us,
his small legs well apart,
crescent-moon-like chin uplifted
eyes hard and cold
to speak his truth
in masterly determination:
Mummy, I want my dinner, now.
Wife and husband in unusual rapport
state one unspoken thought:
Children Must be Disciplined.
She looks at me. I look away.
The son is waiting. In another second
he will repeat himself.
Wife wags a finger.
Firmly delivers verdict: Wait.
In five minutes I’ll serve you dinner.
No, says the little one,
not in five minutes, now.
I am hungry.
It occurs to me the boy is like his father.
I love him as I love myself.
Wait, darling, wait,
Mummy says, wait for five minutes
But, I am hungry now,
declaims the little bastard, in five minutes
I won’t be hungry any more.
This argument appeals to me.
Such a logician deserves his dinner straightaway.
2024-25
Page 3


124 Woven Words
For Elkana
Nissim Ezekiel
The warm April evening
tempts us to the breezes
sauntering across the lawn.
We drag our chairs down
the stone steps and plant them there.
Unevenly, to sit or rather sprawl
in silence till the words begin to come.
My wife, as is her way,
surveys the scene, comments
on a broken window-pane.
Suggests a thing or two
that every husband in the neighbourhood
knows exactly how to do
except of course the man she loves
who happened to be me.
Unwilling to dispute
the obvious fact
2024-25
For Elkana 125
that she is always right,
I turn towards the more
attractive view that opens up
behind my eyes and shuts her out.
Her voice crawls up and down the lawn,
our son, who is seven,
hears it—and it reminds him of something.
He stands before us,
his small legs well apart,
crescent-moon-like chin uplifted
eyes hard and cold
to speak his truth
in masterly determination:
Mummy, I want my dinner, now.
Wife and husband in unusual rapport
state one unspoken thought:
Children Must be Disciplined.
She looks at me. I look away.
The son is waiting. In another second
he will repeat himself.
Wife wags a finger.
Firmly delivers verdict: Wait.
In five minutes I’ll serve you dinner.
No, says the little one,
not in five minutes, now.
I am hungry.
It occurs to me the boy is like his father.
I love him as I love myself.
Wait, darling, wait,
Mummy says, wait for five minutes
But, I am hungry now,
declaims the little bastard, in five minutes
I won’t be hungry any more.
This argument appeals to me.
Such a logician deserves his dinner straightaway.
2024-25
126 Woven Words
My wife’s delightful laughter
holds the three of us together.
We rise and go into the house.
ABOUT THE POET 
Nissim Ezekiel (1924–2004) was born in Mumbai.
He is today perhaps the best known Indian poet
to have written in English. He had his education
at Wilson College, Bombay and later at Birbeck
College, London. A professor of American Literature at
Bombay University, Ezekiel has written several poems and
some plays. A proficient critic, Ezekiel lectured at a number
of universities in the U.S.A. and the U.K.
UNDERSTANDING THE POEM
1. Comment on the subtlety with which the poet captures the
general pattern of communication within a family.
2. Poetic effect is achieved in the poem through understatement
and asides. Discuss this with examples.
3. How is the idyllic juxtaposed with the pedestrian in the poem?
4. Explain the undertones in the statement:
‘Wife and husband in unusual rapport
State one unspoken thought’:
5. Comment on the capitalisation of all the words in the line:
‘Children Must be Disciplined’.
6. What makes the urgency of the child’s demand seem logical?
TRY THIS OUT
1. Paraphrase the poem and notice the change in effect. Comment
on the deft touch with which the poet transforms ordinary events
into evocative poetry.
SUGGESTED READING 
The Night of the Scorpion and Other Poems by Nissim Ezekiel.
2024-25
Page 4


124 Woven Words
For Elkana
Nissim Ezekiel
The warm April evening
tempts us to the breezes
sauntering across the lawn.
We drag our chairs down
the stone steps and plant them there.
Unevenly, to sit or rather sprawl
in silence till the words begin to come.
My wife, as is her way,
surveys the scene, comments
on a broken window-pane.
Suggests a thing or two
that every husband in the neighbourhood
knows exactly how to do
except of course the man she loves
who happened to be me.
Unwilling to dispute
the obvious fact
2024-25
For Elkana 125
that she is always right,
I turn towards the more
attractive view that opens up
behind my eyes and shuts her out.
Her voice crawls up and down the lawn,
our son, who is seven,
hears it—and it reminds him of something.
He stands before us,
his small legs well apart,
crescent-moon-like chin uplifted
eyes hard and cold
to speak his truth
in masterly determination:
Mummy, I want my dinner, now.
Wife and husband in unusual rapport
state one unspoken thought:
Children Must be Disciplined.
She looks at me. I look away.
The son is waiting. In another second
he will repeat himself.
Wife wags a finger.
Firmly delivers verdict: Wait.
In five minutes I’ll serve you dinner.
No, says the little one,
not in five minutes, now.
I am hungry.
It occurs to me the boy is like his father.
I love him as I love myself.
Wait, darling, wait,
Mummy says, wait for five minutes
But, I am hungry now,
declaims the little bastard, in five minutes
I won’t be hungry any more.
This argument appeals to me.
Such a logician deserves his dinner straightaway.
2024-25
126 Woven Words
My wife’s delightful laughter
holds the three of us together.
We rise and go into the house.
ABOUT THE POET 
Nissim Ezekiel (1924–2004) was born in Mumbai.
He is today perhaps the best known Indian poet
to have written in English. He had his education
at Wilson College, Bombay and later at Birbeck
College, London. A professor of American Literature at
Bombay University, Ezekiel has written several poems and
some plays. A proficient critic, Ezekiel lectured at a number
of universities in the U.S.A. and the U.K.
UNDERSTANDING THE POEM
1. Comment on the subtlety with which the poet captures the
general pattern of communication within a family.
2. Poetic effect is achieved in the poem through understatement
and asides. Discuss this with examples.
3. How is the idyllic juxtaposed with the pedestrian in the poem?
4. Explain the undertones in the statement:
‘Wife and husband in unusual rapport
State one unspoken thought’:
5. Comment on the capitalisation of all the words in the line:
‘Children Must be Disciplined’.
6. What makes the urgency of the child’s demand seem logical?
TRY THIS OUT
1. Paraphrase the poem and notice the change in effect. Comment
on the deft touch with which the poet transforms ordinary events
into evocative poetry.
SUGGESTED READING 
The Night of the Scorpion and Other Poems by Nissim Ezekiel.
2024-25
For Elkana 127
The Limerick
The limerick is a small five line poem, expressing a single
thought. It is usually funny with a punch or joke in the
last line. In fact, the limerick is to poetry what slapstick is
to comedy.
The rhyme scheme is ‘a a b b a’ : the first and second
lines rhyme with the fifth, while the third and fourth lines
rhyme with each other.
One reason why the limerick is popular is that almost
anyone can try his/her hand at it. May be you could too!
***
A novice was driving a car
When, down the road, his son said “Papa,
If you drive at this rate
We are bound to be late—
Drive faster!” He did, and they are.
***
2024-25
Page 5


124 Woven Words
For Elkana
Nissim Ezekiel
The warm April evening
tempts us to the breezes
sauntering across the lawn.
We drag our chairs down
the stone steps and plant them there.
Unevenly, to sit or rather sprawl
in silence till the words begin to come.
My wife, as is her way,
surveys the scene, comments
on a broken window-pane.
Suggests a thing or two
that every husband in the neighbourhood
knows exactly how to do
except of course the man she loves
who happened to be me.
Unwilling to dispute
the obvious fact
2024-25
For Elkana 125
that she is always right,
I turn towards the more
attractive view that opens up
behind my eyes and shuts her out.
Her voice crawls up and down the lawn,
our son, who is seven,
hears it—and it reminds him of something.
He stands before us,
his small legs well apart,
crescent-moon-like chin uplifted
eyes hard and cold
to speak his truth
in masterly determination:
Mummy, I want my dinner, now.
Wife and husband in unusual rapport
state one unspoken thought:
Children Must be Disciplined.
She looks at me. I look away.
The son is waiting. In another second
he will repeat himself.
Wife wags a finger.
Firmly delivers verdict: Wait.
In five minutes I’ll serve you dinner.
No, says the little one,
not in five minutes, now.
I am hungry.
It occurs to me the boy is like his father.
I love him as I love myself.
Wait, darling, wait,
Mummy says, wait for five minutes
But, I am hungry now,
declaims the little bastard, in five minutes
I won’t be hungry any more.
This argument appeals to me.
Such a logician deserves his dinner straightaway.
2024-25
126 Woven Words
My wife’s delightful laughter
holds the three of us together.
We rise and go into the house.
ABOUT THE POET 
Nissim Ezekiel (1924–2004) was born in Mumbai.
He is today perhaps the best known Indian poet
to have written in English. He had his education
at Wilson College, Bombay and later at Birbeck
College, London. A professor of American Literature at
Bombay University, Ezekiel has written several poems and
some plays. A proficient critic, Ezekiel lectured at a number
of universities in the U.S.A. and the U.K.
UNDERSTANDING THE POEM
1. Comment on the subtlety with which the poet captures the
general pattern of communication within a family.
2. Poetic effect is achieved in the poem through understatement
and asides. Discuss this with examples.
3. How is the idyllic juxtaposed with the pedestrian in the poem?
4. Explain the undertones in the statement:
‘Wife and husband in unusual rapport
State one unspoken thought’:
5. Comment on the capitalisation of all the words in the line:
‘Children Must be Disciplined’.
6. What makes the urgency of the child’s demand seem logical?
TRY THIS OUT
1. Paraphrase the poem and notice the change in effect. Comment
on the deft touch with which the poet transforms ordinary events
into evocative poetry.
SUGGESTED READING 
The Night of the Scorpion and Other Poems by Nissim Ezekiel.
2024-25
For Elkana 127
The Limerick
The limerick is a small five line poem, expressing a single
thought. It is usually funny with a punch or joke in the
last line. In fact, the limerick is to poetry what slapstick is
to comedy.
The rhyme scheme is ‘a a b b a’ : the first and second
lines rhyme with the fifth, while the third and fourth lines
rhyme with each other.
One reason why the limerick is popular is that almost
anyone can try his/her hand at it. May be you could too!
***
A novice was driving a car
When, down the road, his son said “Papa,
If you drive at this rate
We are bound to be late—
Drive faster!” He did, and they are.
***
2024-25
128 Woven Words
Earth’s plan had a hopeful beginning
but man spoiled its chances by sinning.
We hope that the story,
Will end in Earth’s glory
But at present the other side’s winning!
***
There was once a man from Peru
Who dreamed he was eating his shoe
He woke up with a fright
In the middle of the night
And found that it was perfectly true!
***
There was a teacher named Ms Brass
Who was blessed with an unruly class
They slept and snored
And completely ignored
Theorems like Pythagoras.
2024-25
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FAQs on NCERT Textbook: Poem: For Elkana - Class 11 English Woven Words - Humanities/Arts

1. What is the central theme of the poem "For Elkana"?
Ans. The central theme of the poem "For Elkana" revolves around the father-son relationship, the passage of time, and the inevitability of change.
2. Who is the poet of the poem "For Elkana"?
Ans. The poet of the poem "For Elkana" is Wole Soyinka, a renowned Nigerian playwright, poet, and essayist.
3. What is the significance of Elkana in the poem?
Ans. Elkana represents the passing of time and the changes that occur within a family. He symbolizes the cycle of life and the father's realization of his son growing up.
4. How does the poet use imagery in the poem "For Elkana"?
Ans. The poet uses vivid imagery to depict the relationship between the father and son, as well as the natural world around them. This imagery helps to convey the emotions and themes of the poem.
5. What is the tone of the poem "For Elkana"?
Ans. The tone of the poem "For Elkana" is reflective and nostalgic. The poet looks back on the past with a sense of longing and contemplation, capturing the bittersweet essence of memories and change.
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