NCERT Notes Class 11 English Woven Words Poem 8: For Elkana (The Limerick) (Free PDF)

The poem For Elkana (The Limerick) by Nissim Ezekiel is the eighth poem in the Poetry section of the NCERT Class 11 English Woven Words textbook. This light-hearted poem captures a domestic scene on a warm April evening, focusing on the interplay between a husband, wife, and their young son, Elkana. 

The other section of the Poem ‘The Limerick’ is seen as a concise five-line poem that expresses a single humorous thought, often with a punch or joke in the final line. It is described as the poetic equivalent of slapstick comedy, which follows an ‘a a b b a’ rhyme scheme and is accessible for anyone to try. 

This blog provides easy-to-understand NCERT Class 11 English notes with explanations, meanings, and analysis to help students understand the poem’s themes. You can also download the free PDF for quick revision.

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Download PDF of NCERT Notes Class 11 English Woven Words Poem 8: For Elkana (The Limerick)

Important Word Meanings in For Elkana by Nissim Ezekiel

In the poem For Elkana by Nissim Ezekiel, specific words and phrases are used to convey the playful and affectionate dynamics of a family interaction, set against a domestic backdrop. Understanding these terms clarifies the poem’s tone and message.

Word / Phrase	Meaning
Warm April evening	A pleasant spring evening, setting a relaxed and inviting scene
Tempts us to the breezes	The evening’s warmth invites the family to enjoy the outdoor air
Sauntering across the lawn	Moving leisurely, describing the gentle movement of the breezes
Plant them there	Positioning the chairs firmly on the lawn, suggesting a casual setup
Unevenly, to sit or rather, sprawl	Sitting in a relaxed, informal manner on uneven ground, emphasising ease
Till the words begin to come	Waiting in silence until the conversation starts, reflecting a moment of calm
Surveys the scene	Observing the surroundings carefully, typical of the wife’s attentive nature
Broken window-pane	A minor household issue, symbolising the wife’s focus on practical matters
Every husband in the neighbourhood	A humorous generalisation about husbands’ competence in household tasks
Except, of course, the man she loves	The speaker humorously admits his lack of practical skills, contrasting with others
Unwilling to dispute	Reluctance to argue, showing the husband’s acceptance of his wife’s view
More attractive view	The husband’s imaginative escape, shutting out his wife’s criticism
Her voice crawls up and down the lawn	The wife’s voice moves persistently, symbolising her ongoing commentary
Crescent-moon-like chin	The son’s uplifted chin, resembling a crescent moon, indicates confidence
Masterly determination	The son’s firm resolve, highlighting his assertive demeanour
Unusual rapport	A rare moment of agreement between husband and wife
State one unspoken thought	A shared, silent understanding, reflecting unity in parenting
Wags a finger	A gesture of authority, used by the wife to discipline the son
Declaims	Speaks loudly and dramatically, emphasising the son’s insistence
Little bastard	An affectionate, playful term for the son, reflecting the father’s fondness
Such a logician	The son’s logical argument, admired by the father for its clarity
Delightful laughter	The wife’s joyful laughter united the family in a moment of warmth

Line-by-Line Explanation of NCERT English Woven Words Poem 8: For Elkana

Here is the line-by-line analysis of each stanza of the poem ‘For Elkana’

Lines 1–5:

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.

The poem opens with a serene scene on a warm April evening, where the pleasant weather invites the family to enjoy the breezes on the lawn. The speaker and his wife casually drag chairs down stone steps and place them on the lawn, setting a relaxed, domestic atmosphere.

Lines 6–10:

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.

The couple sits informally, sprawling on uneven ground, in silence until conversation starts. The wife, true to her observant nature, surveys the surroundings and points out a broken windowpane, highlighting her focus on practical household matters.

Lines 11–15:

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.

The wife suggests repairs that other husbands in the neighbourhood can easily handle, humorously implying that the speaker, her husband, lacks these skills. The phrase “the man she loves” adds a playful, affectionate tone to the critique, emphasising their bond despite his shortcomings.

Lines 16–20:

Unwilling to dispute
the obvious fact
that she is always right,
I turn towards the more
attractive view that opens up

The speaker, unwilling to argue with his wife’s correct assessment, mentally retreats to a “more attractive view” within his imagination, humorously avoiding her criticism and highlighting a light-hearted marital dynamic.

Lines 21–25:

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,

The husband’s daydreaming “shuts out” his wife’s voice, which continues to “crawl” across the lawn. Their seven-year-old son, Elkana, hears her and is prompted to act, setting the stage for his assertive intervention.

Lines 26–30:

his small legs well apart,
crescent-moon-like chin uplifted
eyes hard and cold
to speak his truth
in masterly determination:

Elkana stands confidently, legs apart, with his chin raised like a crescent moon, his eyes resolute. His “masterly determination” reflects a child’s bold conviction as he prepares to voice his demand.

Lines 31–35:

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.

Elkana demands dinner immediately, prompting a rare moment of silent agreement between the parents that “Children Must be Disciplined.” The wife looks at the husband, who avoids her gaze, humorously sidestepping involvement in disciplining their son.

Lines 36–40:

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.

Elkana waits, poised to repeat his demand. The wife, asserting authority, wags her finger and tells him to wait five minutes for dinner, establishing parental control in response to his insistence.

Lines 41–45:

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.

Elkana firmly rejects the delay, insisting on immediate dinner due to hunger. The speaker sees his own stubbornness in his son, affectionately noting their similarity and expressing love for him as an extension of himself.

Lines 46–50:

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.

The wife gently but firmly repeats her instruction to wait. Elkana, called a “little bastard” in an affectionate tone, argues logically that his hunger is immediate and may not persist, showcasing his childlike reasoning.

Lines 51–55:

This argument appeals to me.
Such a logician deserves his dinner straightaway.
My wife’s delightful laughter
holds the three of us together.
We rise and go into the house.

The speaker admires Elkana’s logical argument, humorously suggesting he deserves dinner immediately. The wife’s “delightful laughter” unites the family in a moment of warmth, and they rise together to enter the house, resolving the playful conflict with affection.

Analysis of the NCERT English Woven Words Poem 8: For Elkana

The poem For Elkana by Nissim Ezekiel is a light-hearted, domestic narrative that captures a family moment on a warm April evening. Through humour, vivid imagery, and dialogue, Ezekiel explores themes of family dynamics, love, and the innocence of childhood, presenting a relatable and affectionate portrayal of marital and parental interactions.

Theme – Family Dynamics, Love, and Childhood Innocence

The central theme is the interplay of family relationships, marked by gentle humour, mutual understanding, and love. The poem depicts the husband’s playful acknowledgement of his wife’s practicality, the couple’s shared parenting instincts, and their son Elkana’s assertive innocence, highlighting the warmth and unity within the family.

Symbolism and Meaning

Here, we have mentioned the symbolism used in this poem, along with the meaning behind that.

• Warm April Evening: Symbolises a relaxed, inviting atmosphere conducive to family bonding.
• Broken Window-Pane: Represents minor domestic issues, reflecting the wife’s practical concerns and the husband’s humorous avoidance.
• Crescent-Moon-Like Chin: Symbolises Elkana’s youthful confidence and assertiveness, adding a poetic touch to his stance.
• Delightful Laughter: Represents the wife’s joy, uniting the family and resolving the moment’s tension.

Human Experience

The poem captures the universal experience of family life, with its blend of humour, minor conflicts, and deep affection. It resonates with readers familiar with domestic dynamics, where love underlies playful disagreements and children’s demands, reflecting the joy and challenges of parenting and marriage.

Tone and Mood

The tone and mood of the poem have been given as follows:

• Playful and Humorous: The speaker’s self-deprecating tone and Elkana’s bold demands create a light-hearted atmosphere.
• Affectionate: The husband’s love for his wife and son, and the wife’s laughter, convey warmth and closeness.
• Relaxed and Reflective: The mood evokes a serene evening, inviting readers to appreciate the simplicity and joy of family moments.

Also Read: NCERT Notes Class 11 English Woven Words Chapter 7: Glory at Twilight (Free PDF)

Summary of NCERT English Woven Words Poem 8: For Elkana

In For Elkana, Nissim Ezekiel portrays a warm April evening where a husband and wife sit on their lawn, enjoying the breezes. The wife comments on a broken windowpane, humorously noting the husband’s lack of practical skills compared to other husbands. Unwilling to argue, he retreats into his imagination. Their seven-year-old son, Elkana, demands dinner with “masterly determination,” prompting the parents’ silent agreement that “Children Must be Disciplined.” The wife instructs Elkana to wait, but he insists, arguing logically that his hunger is immediate. The husband, seeing himself in his son, admires his reasoning, and the wife’s laughter unites them as they head inside, capturing a moment of family warmth and humour.

Poetic Devices in NCERT English Woven Words Poem 8: For Elkana

Nissim Ezekiel employs several poetic devices to convey the poem’s message and enhance its emotional and rhythmic impact. Here are the poetic devices used in this poem.

Device	Example	Effect
Imagery	“The warm April evening / tempts us to the breezes”	Creates a vivid, serene setting, evoking a relaxed family moment
Personification	“Her voice crawls up and down the lawn”	Gives the wife’s voice movement, emphasising its persistence in a playful way
Metaphor	“Crescent-moon-like chin”	Compares Elkana’s uplifted chin to a crescent moon, highlighting his confident stance
Dialogue	“Mummy, I want my dinner now”	Adds realism and humour, capturing Elkana’s assertive innocence
Irony	“Except, of course, the man she loves / who happened to be me”	Humorously highlights the husband’s self-acknowledged incompetence
Alliteration	“Sauntering across the lawn”	Enhances rhythm, emphasising the leisurely movement of the breezes

Important Word Meanings in Poem The Limerick 

In the Limerick section of Poem 8, specific words and phrases are used to define the limerick form and convey humour in the sample poems. Understanding these terms clarifies the limerick’s structure and comedic effect.

Word / Phrase	Meaning
Limerick	A five-line poem expressing a single humorous thought, often with a punchline in the last line
Slapstick	A type of comedy involving exaggerated physical actions, likened to the limerick’s humour
Rhyme scheme	The pattern of rhymes in a poem, specifically ‘a a b b a for limericks
Punch	A surprising or humorous twist, typically in the last line of a limerick
Novice	A beginner, here referring to an inexperienced driver
Bound to be	Certain to happen, indicating inevitability
Sinning	Committing moral wrongs, used in the context of humanity’s flaws
Earth’s glory	A hopeful or triumphant outcome for the planet
The other side	Forces opposing a positive outcome, implying negativity or failure
Fright	Sudden fear or shock, describing the man’s reaction in the dream
Perfectly true	Exactly as it seemed, confirming the dream’s reality in a humorous twist
Unruly	Disorderly or difficult to control, describing the class’s behaviour
Snored	Slept noisily, indicating the students’ lack of attention
Theorems	Mathematical principles, such as those by Pythagoras,were  ignored by the class

Line-by-Line Explanation of NCERT English Woven Words Poem 8: The Limerick

Here is the line-by-line analysis of the four sample limericks provided in The Limerick section.

Limerick 1:
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.

• Line 1: Introduces a novice driver, setting up an inexperienced character for comedic effect.
• Line 2: The son, calling out to “Papa,” draws attention to the driver’s slow pace.
• Lines 3–4: The son complains about the slow driving, warning they’ll be late, using the rhyming pair “rate” and “late.”
• Line 5: The father speeds up as urged, but the punchline reveals they “are” late (or humorously implies a crash), delivering a twist.

Limerick 2:
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!

• Line 1: Describes Earth’s optimistic start, setting a serious tone.
• Line 2: Humanity’s “sinning” disrupts this hope, introducing moral failure.
• Lines 3–4: Expresses hope for a positive outcome (“Earth’s glory”), rhyming “story” and “glory.”
• Line 5: The punchline reveals that currently, negative forces (“the other side”) are prevailing, adding a satirical twist.

Limerick 3:
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!

• Line 1: Introduces a man from Peru, establishing a quirky character.
• Line 2: Describes his bizarre dream of eating his shoe, setting up absurdity.
• Lines 3–4: He wakes in fear at night, with “fright” and “night” forming the rhyme.
• Line 5: The punchline reveals the dream was true, delivering a humorous, surreal twist.

Limerick 4:
There was a teacher named Ms Brass 

Who was blessed with an unruly class 

They slept and snored 

And completely ignored 

Theorems like Pythagoras.

• Line 1: Introduces Ms Brass, a teacher with a challenging class.
• Line 2: Describes the class as “unruly,” setting up the conflict.
• Lines 3–4: The students sleep and snore, ignoring lessons, with “snored” and “ignored” rhyming.
• Line 5: The punchline highlights their neglect of “Theorems like Pythagoras,” humorously emphasising their disinterest.

Analysis of the NCERT English Woven Words Poem 8: The Limerick

The limerick section of Poem 8 introduces the limerick as a five-line poem with an ‘a a b b a’ rhyme scheme, delivering a single humorous thought with a punchline in the final line. The four sample limericks illustrate this form through diverse scenarios: a novice driver, humanity’s flaws, a bizarre dream, and an unruly classroom, each using humour to engage readers and reflect everyday or absurd situations.

Theme – Humour, Everyday Life, and Absurdity

The central theme is humour, achieved through witty observations of human behaviour, everyday mishaps, or absurd situations. The limericks explore minor failures (e.g., the novice driver), societal critiques (e.g., humanity’s “sinning”), surreal humour (e.g., eating a shoe), and relatable struggles (e.g., an unruly class), making the form accessible and entertaining.

Symbolism and Meaning

Here, we have mentioned the symbolism used in this poem, along with the meaning behind that.

• Novice Driver: Symbolises inexperience and the consequences of following impulsive advice.
• Sinning: Represents humanity’s moral or environmental failures, critiquing societal decline.
• Eating a Shoe: Symbolises the absurdity of dreams blending with reality, adding surreal humour.
• Unruly Class: Reflects challenges in education, symbolising resistance to learning.

Human Experience

The limericks capture universal human experiences, making mistakes due to inexperience, grappling with societal flaws, confronting bizarre realities, and facing challenges in teaching or learning. Their humour makes these experiences relatable, inviting readers to laugh at human quirks and struggles.

Tone and Mood

The tone and mood of the poem have been given as follows:

• Playful and Witty: The limericks use clever wordplay and punchlines to create a light-hearted tone.
• Satirical: The second limerick critiques humanity’s failures with a satirical edge.
• Humorous and Absurd: The third limerick’s surreal twist and the fourth’s exaggerated classroom scenario evoke amusement.
• Relatable: The mood is engaging, reflecting everyday scenarios with a comedic lens.

Summary of NCERT English Woven Words Poem 8: The Limerick

The limerick section of Poem 8 defines the limerick as a five-line poem with an ‘a a b b a’ rhyme scheme, delivering a single humorous thought with a punchline in the final line, likened to slapstick comedy. Four sample limericks illustrate this: a novice driver speeds up at his son’s urging, leading to a humorous mishap; humanity’s “sinning” dims Earth’s hopeful start, with negative forces currently prevailing; a man from Peru dreams of eating his shoe, only to find it true; and Ms Brass struggles with an unruly class ignoring theorems like Pythagoras. Each limerick uses humour to highlight human quirks, failures, or absurdities, making the form accessible and entertaining.

Poetic Devices in NCERT English Woven Words Poem 8: The Limerick

The limericks employ poetic devices to enhance their humour and rhythmic structure. Here are the devices used across the sample limericks.

Device	Example	Effect
Rhyme Scheme	“A novice was driving a car / … / Drive faster! He did, and they are”	The ‘a a b b a’ rhyme scheme creates a rhythmic, catchy flow, enhancing humour.
Punchline	“And found that it was perfectly true!”	Delivers a surprising or humorous twist in the final line, fulfilling the limerick’s comedic purpose.
Alliteration	“Slept and snored”	Enhances rhythm and emphasizes the students’ disengagement in a humorous way.
Exaggeration	“And found that it was perfectly true!”	Amplifies the absurdity of the situation for comedic effect.
Irony	“Drive faster!” He did, and they are.”	The outcome (implied lateness or crash) contrasts with the son’s advice, adding a humorous twist.
Satire	“But at present the other side’s winning!”	Critiques humanity’s failures with a sharp, humorous tone.

Download more NCERT Solutions of Class 11 English ‘Woven Words’ here!

Poem 1: The Peacock Solution

Poem 2: Let Me Not to the Marriage of True Minds Solution

Poem 3: Coming Solution

Poem 4: Telephone Conversation Solution

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