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This section provides NCERT Solutions for Class 11 English Woven Words Poem 8: For Elkana (The Limerick), prepared to deepen students’ understanding of the poem’s themes, tone, and poetic elements. The solutions explore the poem’s depiction of familial communication, subtle humour, and the interplay of ordinary and profound moments. These solutions are there to help students in effective exam preparation. You can also download the free PDF for quick revision.
Contents
Explore Notes of Class 11 English Woven Words
NCERT Solutions Class 11 English Woven Words Poem 8: For Elkana (The Limerick)
Here are the NCERT Solutions for Class 11 English Woven Words Poem 7: For Elkana (The Limerick), designed to enhance understanding of the poem’s themes, imagery, and emotional nuances for effective revision.
UNDERSTANDING THE POEM
- Comment on the subtlety with which the poet captures the general pattern of communication within a family.
Solution: In “For Elkana,” Nissim Ezekiel captures the general pattern of family communication with remarkable subtlety, presenting a seemingly casual conversation that reveals underlying tensions and dynamics. The poem depicts a family meal where the husband, wife, and child engage in a dialogue marked by interruptions, asides, and understated emotions. For instance, the husband’s remark, “Pass the salt, my dear,” is met with the wife’s response, “You always interrupt,” highlighting a routine yet slightly exasperated exchange. The child’s persistent demand, “I want some water now,” weaves through the adult conversation, reflecting the chaotic yet familiar nature of family interactions. Ezekiel uses short, fragmented lines to mimic the natural rhythm of everyday speech, subtly exposing the interplay of affection, irritation, and unspoken understanding. This understated portrayal reveals the layered complexity of familial bonds, where trivial exchanges carry deeper emotional weight, making the communication authentic and relatable.
- Poetic effect is achieved in the poem through understatement and asides. Discuss this with examples.
Solution: Ezekiel employs understatement and asides to create a poetic effect that transforms mundane family interactions into a nuanced commentary on human relationships. Understatement is evident in lines like “Wife and husband in unusual rapport / State one unspoken thought,” where the poet subtly hints at a rare moment of mutual understanding without elaborating, leaving readers to infer the depth of their connection. Asides, such as the wife’s “You always interrupt” or the child’s abrupt “I want some water now,” mimic the interruptions of real-life conversations, adding humour and authenticity. These asides, delivered in a conversational tone, break the flow of the main dialogue, reflecting the chaotic nature of family dynamics. For example, the line “Children Must be Disciplined” is an aside that humorously underscores the parents’ frustration, yet its capitalisation adds a mock-serious tone, enhancing the poem’s playful yet poignant effect. These techniques make ordinary moments resonate with deeper emotional and social significance.
- How is the idyllic juxtaposed with the pedestrian in the poem?
Solution: In “For Elkana,” Ezekiel juxtaposes the idyllic moments of harmony and connection with the pedestrian, the mundane aspects of daily life, to highlight the beauty within ordinary family interactions. The idyllic is seen in the line “Wife and husband in unusual rapport / State one unspoken thought,” suggesting a fleeting, almost sacred moment of mutual understanding amidst routine conversation. This contrasts with the pedestrian, depicted through trivial exchanges like “Pass the salt, my dear” and the child’s repetitive “I want some water now.” These everyday demands and interruptions ground the poem in the ordinary, reflecting the repetitive, sometimes tedious nature of family life. The juxtaposition is further emphasised by the setting, a simple family meal, where profound emotional connections coexist with mundane squabbles. Ezekiel’s deft blending of these elements shows how the idyllic emerges subtly within the pedestrian, making the poem a celebration of the extraordinary within the ordinary.
- Explain the undertones in the statement: ‘Wife and husband in unusual rapport / State one unspoken thought’
Solution: The statement “Wife and husband in unusual rapport / State one unspoken thought” carries undertones of emotional intimacy and the complexities of marital relationships. The phrase “unusual rapport” suggests that such moments of deep connection between the husband and wife are rare, hinting at underlying tensions or routine-driven lives that typically distance them. The “unspoken thought” implies a shared understanding that transcends words, possibly a mutual acknowledgement of love, frustration, or a shared burden, communicated silently through years of familiarity. This line carries undertones of both tenderness and melancholy, as the rarity of their rapport underscores the challenges of maintaining closeness amidst daily routines. Ezekiel uses this understated moment to highlight the quiet profundity of marital bonds, where significant emotions are often conveyed without explicit expression, adding depth to the poem’s portrayal of family dynamics.
- Comment on the capitalisation of all the words in the line: ‘Children Must be Disciplined’.
Solution: The capitalisation of all words in the line “Children Must be Disciplined” serves as a stylistic device to emphasise the parents’ exasperated tone and mock-serious attitude toward their child’s persistent demands. This line, likely spoken by the husband or wife, mimics a formal pronouncement, humorously elevating a common parental sentiment to a grand, almost dogmatic declaration. The capitalisation underscores the frustration behind the statement, as the child’s repeated “I want some water now” disrupts the adult conversation. By presenting this everyday complaint in such a formal manner, Ezekiel injects irony and humour, highlighting the gap between the parents’ desire for order and the chaotic reality of family life. This stylistic choice also draws attention to the performative nature of parental authority, adding a layer of playful critique to the poem’s tone.
- What makes the urgency of the child’s demand seem logical?
Solution: The urgency of the child’s demand, “I want some water now,” seems logical due to its repetitive and insistent nature, which reflects a child’s natural impulsiveness and need for immediate attention. In the context of the poem, the child’s interruptions occur during a family meal, a setting where a young child might genuinely feel thirsty and lack the patience to wait, as seen in the repeated plea cutting through the adults’ conversation. Ezekiel portrays this demand as a realistic portrayal of a child’s limited self-control and single-minded focus, which is relatable to readers familiar with such scenarios. The urgency is further justified by the contrast with the adults’ more measured dialogue, highlighting the child’s inability to prioritise social norms over immediate needs. This logical depiction underscores the poem’s authenticity in capturing the dynamics of family interactions, where a child’s demands often take precedence, regardless of the context.
TRY THIS OUT
- Paraphrase the poem and notice the change in effect. Comment on the deft touch with which the poet transforms ordinary events into evocative poetry.
Solution: Paraphrase: During a family meal, the husband asks his wife to pass the salt. She responds, slightly annoyed, saying he always interrupts her. Their child repeatedly demands water immediately. The parents, frustrated, declare that children need discipline. Amidst these exchanges, the husband and wife share a rare moment of silent understanding, communicating a thought without words. The meal continues with its usual mix of small talk and interruptions.
Comment: The paraphrased version strips the poem of its poetic devices, such as understated asides, rhythmic dialogue, and the capitalised “Children Must be Disciplined,” resulting in a flat, literal narrative that lacks emotional depth. Ezekiel’s deft touch lies in his use of concise, conversational lines and subtle humour to elevate a mundane family meal into evocative poetry. For instance, the line “Wife and husband in unusual rapport / State one unspoken thought” captures a fleeting moment of intimacy with minimal words, while the child’s repetitive “I want some water now” adds a humorous, chaotic rhythm that mirrors real-life family dynamics. The capitalisation in “Children Must be Disciplined” injects irony, transforming a common parental sentiment into a mock-serious proclamation. Through these techniques, Ezekiel transforms ordinary events into a vivid portrayal of familial bonds, blending humour, tension, and tenderness to create a lasting poetic impact.
Also Read: NCERT Solutions Class 11 English Hornbill Poem 1 A Photograph (Free PDF)
Download NCERT Solutions Class 11 English Woven Words Poem 8: For Elkana (The Limerick)
You can download the free PDF of NCERT Solutions Class 11 English Woven Words Poem 8: For Elkana (The Limerick) for effective revision.
Download more NCERT Solutions of Class 11 English ‘Woven Words’ here!
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