NCERT Class 11 English Woven Words: Chapter 19 — Woven words
This chapter presents John Keats's famous poem, "Ode to a Nightingale." The poem begins with the speaker expressing a deep ache and numbness, comparing it to the effects of hemlock or opiates. He clarifies that this feeling isn't due to envy of the nightingale's happiness but rather an overwhelming joy derived from witnessing it. The speaker longs for a taste of vintage wine to escape the human world's suffering, weariness, and despair. He wishes to fade away with the nightingale into the forest, forgetting the sorrows of life, where youth fades and beauty and love are fleeting. The chapter introduces key mythological and geographical references like Lethe, Dryad, Flora, Provencal, and Hippocrene, crucial for understanding the poem's rich imagery and themes of escapism, mortality, and the contrast between human suffering and nature's eternal beauty.
Quick info
| Board | CBSE / NCERT |
|---|---|
| Class | Class 11 |
| Subject | English |
| Book | Woven Words |
| Chapter | Chapter 19 — Woven words |
| Language | English |
| PDF type | NCERT Textbook |
| Session | CBSE 2026 |
| Reading time | 2 minutes |
| Word count | 315 |
Learning outcomes
- Analyze the themes of escapism, mortality, and the contrast between human suffering and nature's beauty in Keats's poem.
- Understand and interpret mythological and geographical allusions within the poem.
- Appreciate the use of imagery and sensory details in poetic expression.
- Develop critical reading skills for complex literary texts.
Vocabulary
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Hemlock | A poisonous plant, or a drink made from it, that causes death. |
| Opiate | A drug derived from opium, used to relieve pain. |
| Lethe | In Greek mythology, a river whose water caused forgetfulness. |
| Dryad | In mythology, a female spirit or nymph inhabiting a tree. |
| Vintage | Wine of high quality, especially from a specific year. |
| Beaker | A large cup or glass, typically with a handle, used for drinking. |
| Hippocrene | A fountain in Greek mythology associated with poetry; here, wine that inspires poetic ability. |
| Palsy | Paralysis, especially that which affects part of the body. |
| Spectre-thin | Extremely thin, like a ghost. |
| Lustrous | Shining, full of light. |
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Practice questions
- What causes the speaker's heart ache and numbness at the beginning of the poem? Answer: The speaker's heart aches and feels numb not from envy, but from being too happy in the nightingale's happiness.
- What does the speaker long for to escape the world? Answer: The speaker longs for a draught of vintage wine to forget the world and fade away with the nightingale.
- According to the poem, what are some of the sufferings of the human world? Answer: The poem mentions weariness, fever, fret, groaning, palsy, youth fading, and death.
- What is the significance of 'Lethe' in the context of the poem? Answer: Lethe represents forgetfulness, which the speaker desires to escape the sorrows of the world.
Practice MCQs
Q1. The speaker's initial state is described as a 'drowsy numbness' as if he had drunk:
Explanation: The speaker compares his numbness to drinking hemlock or emptying a dull opiate, indicating a state of stupor or pain relief.
Q2. Who is the 'light-winged Dryad of the trees'?
Explanation: A Dryad is a female spirit that lives in a tree, and the nightingale is metaphorically referred to as such.
Q3. The speaker wishes for a 'draught of vintage' to:
Explanation: He desires the wine to help him 'leave the world unseen' and 'fade far away, dissolve, and quite forget'.
Q4. Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a suffering in the human world?
Explanation: The poem lists weariness, fever, fret, and despairs as human sufferings, contrasting them with the nightingale's perceived joy.
Q5. The 'blushful Hippocrene' is a reference to:
Explanation: Hippocrene is a fountain associated with poetry and inspiration, here referring to wine that inspires poetic ability.
Frequently asked questions
Who wrote 'Ode to a Nightingale'?
'Ode to a Nightingale' was written by the renowned English Romantic poet John Keats.
What is the main theme of 'Ode to a Nightingale'?
The main themes include the contrast between the transient nature of human life and the perceived immortality of nature, the desire for escapism, and the power of imagination.
What does the nightingale symbolize in the poem?
The nightingale symbolizes nature, beauty, and a form of immortality, whose song is heard by generations and is unaffected by human suffering.
What is 'Lethe' and why is it mentioned?
Lethe is a river in Greek mythology whose waters cause forgetfulness. It is mentioned as something the speaker wishes to drink to escape his sorrows.
What does the speaker mean by 'too happy in thine happiness'?
The speaker means that he is overwhelmed by the sheer joy and beauty of the nightingale's song, so much so that it causes him a kind of painful ecstasy.
What is 'Hippocrene' in the poem?
Hippocrene is a fountain in Greek mythology associated with poetry. In the poem, it refers to the wine that inspires poetic ability and helps in escaping reality.
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NCERT Class 11 English — Woven Words — Chapter 19 — Woven words. Verified by NCERT Help Editorial Team. Reviewed on 29 Jul 2026. Last updated 10 Aug 2026.