NCERT Class 11 English Woven Words: Chapter 20 — Woven Words
This chapter from NCERT's Woven Words for Class 11 English, titled "Ajamil and the Tigers" by Arun Kolatkar, presents a humorous fable. The story begins with tigers complaining to their king about starvation due to Ajamil's new sheepdog. The tiger king, vowing revenge, leads an attack but is swiftly defeated by the agile sheepdog, who captures all 51 tigers and the king. The tiger king, humbled, attempts to deceive Ajamil, claiming they came as friends. However, Ajamil's honest sheepdog is disgusted by the lies. Despite the dog's disapproval, Ajamil, the shepherd, chooses to believe the tigers and invites them for dinner. The narrative explores themes of deception, honesty, and the consequences of misplaced trust, offering a light-hearted lesson for CBSE students.
Quick info
| Board | CBSE / NCERT |
|---|---|
| Class | Class 11 |
| Subject | English |
| Book | Woven Words |
| Chapter | Chapter 20 — Woven Words |
| Language | English |
| PDF type | NCERT Textbook |
| Session | CBSE 2026 |
| Reading time | 3 minutes |
| Word count | 405 |
Learning outcomes
- Analyze the narrative structure and character interactions in a fable.
- Identify themes of honesty, deception, and trust.
- Appreciate the use of humor and satire in literature.
- Understand the consequences of believing false claims.
Vocabulary
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| starving | suffering or dying from hunger. |
| banquet | a large meal for many people; a feast. |
| preparations | the action or process of making ready or being made ready for use or consideration. |
| outnumber | be more numerous than. |
| prisoners of war | a person, especially a soldier, who has been captured and is being held by the enemy. |
| misunderstanding | a failure to understand something correctly. |
| disgusted | feeling or showing revulsion or strong disapproval aroused by something unpleasant or offensive. |
| pretended | talked or behaved as if something were true when it was not. |
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Practice questions
- Why did the tiger people go to their king? Answer: They went to their king because they were starving and hadn't eaten for 15 days and 16 nights, blaming Ajamil's new sheepdog for preventing them from getting meat.
- What was the tiger king's initial plan to deal with the sheepdog? Answer: The tiger king planned to make preparations for a banquet and teach the sheepdog a lesson he would never forget, leading the attack himself.
- How did the sheepdog defeat the tigers? Answer: The sheepdog was incredibly fast and captured all 51 tigers and the tiger king as prisoners of war before they could attack the sheep.
- What excuse did the tiger king give Ajamil after being captured? Answer: The tiger king claimed there had been a misunderstanding and that they were coming as friends, not to harm the sheep.
- How did Ajamil react to the tiger king's explanation? Answer: Ajamil, despite his honest sheepdog's reaction, pretended to believe the tiger king's lies and invited them all to stay for dinner.
Practice MCQs
Q1. Who is the author of "Ajamil and the Tigers"?
Explanation: Arun Kolatkar is credited as the author of the poem "Ajamil and the Tigers".
Q2. For how long had the tigers not eaten?
Explanation: The tigers complained to their king that they had not had anything to eat for 15 days and 16 nights.
Q3. What was the tiger king's initial reaction to the tigers' plight?
Explanation: The tiger king exclaimed, 'That's shocking,' and immediately planned preparations for a banquet and to teach the sheepdog a lesson.
Q4. How many tigers were captured by the sheepdog?
Explanation: The sheepdog captured all 50 tigers along with the tiger king, making a total of 51 prisoners.
Q5. What did the tiger king claim their intention was after being captured?
Explanation: The tiger king told Ajamil that they were coming as friends and that means were more important than ends.
Q6. How did Ajamil's sheepdog feel about the tiger king's words?
Explanation: The sheepdog, who had never told a lie, was disgusted by the tiger king's false claims.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main theme of "Ajamil and the Tigers"?
The main themes are deception versus honesty, the consequences of lying, and the nature of trust, presented in a humorous fable.
Who is Ajamil in the story?
Ajamil is the shepherd who owns the sheep and the new sheepdog that the tigers are afraid of.
What does the tiger king mean by 'means are more important than ends'?
He is trying to justify their failed attack by claiming their intention (the means) was peaceful friendship, rather than the outcome (the end) of harming the sheep.
Why does Ajamil invite the tigers for dinner?
Ajamil, influenced by the tiger king's lies and perhaps a sense of hospitality or naivety, chooses to believe them and invites them for dinner.
What is the significance of the sheepdog's reaction?
The sheepdog's disgust highlights the blatant dishonesty of the tigers and serves as a moral counterpoint to Ajamil's decision.
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NCERT Class 11 English — Woven Words — Chapter 20 — Woven Words. Verified by NCERT Help Editorial Team. Reviewed on 29 Jul 2026. Last updated 10 Aug 2026.