Nicholas Nye Grade 7 · English Reader
Tec
Chapter 6 · A Poem

Nicholas Nye

A lonely summer, an old grey donkey, and a quiet, wordless friendship

🫏
Tec — The Education Consultancy | Grade 7 English Lesson & Worksheet

This gentle, reflective poem by Walter de la Mare recalls childhood summers spent sprawled on an orchard wall, in a field overgrown with thistle, darnel, and dock, with a flowering hawthorn bush growing in one corner. The speaker remembers lazing there half-asleep in the blazing midday heat, alone except for the birds twittering past overhead — and one steady companion in the neighbouring field: an old, grey donkey named Nicholas Nye.

The poem paints a vivid, affectionate picture of Nicholas Nye himself — thin, lame in one leg, and far older than the average donkey, having lived through more than twenty years since his birth. He is shown munching on prickly purple thistles, occasionally pausing to sigh and turn his head, as though quietly saying, "Poor Nicholas Nye!" Despite his tired, worn appearance, the donkey is described as having a surprising inner spirit — a "wonderful gumption" and a calm, clear light in his eyes — and he would sometimes smile in a way that felt full of quiet meaning.

The speaker reflects that although Nicholas Nye was bony, ownerless, and alone in the world, something about him — standing beneath the sky, seeming almost to smile from his corner by the hawthorn bush — created an unspoken bond stronger than any words exchanged between them. The poem closes at dusk, as the speaker recalls glow-worms shining among the apple branches, birds settling into their nests, and the walk home through moonlight and dew — while, without quite knowing why, the memory of "Old Nicholas Nye" lingers on, as still and enduring as a ghost standing silently like a post.

Though he never spoke a word, Nicholas Nye's quiet presence in the field left something behind — "something much better than words between me and Nicholas Nye."

Copy the Poem Here

Read "Nicholas Nye" from your textbook, then copy it neatly onto the lines below in your own handwriting.
About the Poet: Walter de la Mare (1873–1956) was brought up in an affluent family in Kent and educated at St Paul's School in London. He left school at sixteen to work in accountancy, but began writing during his working career, eventually receiving an annual pension that allowed him to devote himself fully to writing. He is well known for his poetry as well as prose fiction, non-fiction, and short stories written for children; his most famous poem is "The Listeners."

Vocabulary

darnel — a type of grass commonly found growing in fields in Europe
thistle — a prickly plant with purple flower heads
foaled — gave birth (to a foal)
score — a set or group of twenty
gumption — spirit; initiative or common sense
hale — strong and healthy
wherefore — (old-fashioned word) for what reason; why
brood — to think deeply and often unhappily about something

Worksheet — Nicholas Nye

Comprehension · Vocabulary · Poetic Appreciation — Grade 7

Name:
Class:
Date:
Score:
A. Questions (from your textbook)
1. How are the natural aspects of the field and its surrounding described by the poet?
The field is described as overgrown with thistle, darnel, and dock, with a flowering hawthorn ("may") bush in one corner, and the speaker recalls lazing on the orchard wall in the blazing midday heat while birds twittered past.
2. How does the donkey pass his day?
He munches on purple, spiked thistles, sometimes stops to sigh, drowses alone with his shadow in the meadow lazily swinging his tail, and brays weakly at daybreak.
3. What physical description does the poet give of the donkey?
Nicholas Nye is described as lean and grey, lame in one leg, very old (more than twenty years since he was foaled), bony, knobble-kneed, and worn — yet with a clear, calm light in his eyes.
B. Multiple Choice Questions
1.Where did the speaker used to sprawl during the blazing heat of the day?
Under a tree
On the orchard wall✓
Inside the barn
By the river
2.What was Nicholas Nye's main physical problem?
He was blind
He was lame in one leg✓
He could not eat
He was deaf
3.What did Nicholas Nye seem to say as he sighed and turned his head?
"I am hungry!"
"Poor Nicholas Nye!"✓
"Come and play!"
"Leave me alone!"
4.Despite his tired appearance, what quality did Nicholas Nye seem to have?
Great anger
A wonderful spirit ("gumption") and calm light in his eyes✓
Great physical strength
Fear of people
5.What does the speaker say passed between him and Nicholas Nye?
Loud arguments
Nothing at all
Something much better than words✓
A written letter
6.Who wrote the poem "Nicholas Nye"?
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Walter de la Mare✓
Eleanor Farjeon
Emily Dickinson
C. True or False
  • 1. The speaker often had many friends with him on the orchard wall.
    TrueFalse
  • 2. Nicholas Nye was described as young and lively.
    TrueFalse
  • 3. Nicholas Nye munched on purple, spiked thistles.
    TrueFalse
  • 4. The donkey brayed loudly and powerfully every morning.
    TrueFalse
  • 5. Despite his tired body, Nicholas Nye had a calm, clear light in his eyes.
    TrueFalse
  • 6. The poem ends with the speaker recalling Nicholas Nye fondly, without knowing exactly why.
    TrueFalse
D. Match the Words with Their Meanings
1. darnel → (c)
2. foaled → (a)
3. gumption → (e)
4. hale → (b)
5. brood → (d)
a. gave birth (to a foal)
b. strong and healthy
c. a type of grass commonly found in European fields
d. to think deeply and often unhappily about something
e. spirit; initiative or common sense
E. Theme
1. What is the central theme of "Nicholas Nye"?
The poem explores quiet companionship and connection with nature — showing that deep, meaningful bonds can form without words, even between a lonely child and an old, worn-out animal.
2. How does the poem suggest that Nicholas Nye, despite his old and tired appearance, still had something special about him?
Open-ended — accept answers noting that phrases like "wonderful gumption," "a clear calm light in his eye," and his gentle smile suggest an inner spirit and wisdom that went beyond his tired, bony outward appearance.
F. Figurative Language
1. The poem says Nicholas Nye would turn his head "as if he said, 'Poor Nicholas Nye!'" What figure of speech is this, and what effect does it create?
This is personification — giving the donkey the ability to seem to speak and pity himself makes him feel like a thoughtful, relatable companion rather than just an animal.
2. At the end of the poem, the speaker says he would "brood... like a ghost, and as still as a post." Identify the figure of speech and explain its meaning.
This is a simile (using "like" and "as") — comparing his stillness and lingering thoughtfulness to a ghost and a post suggests how deeply and silently the memory of Nicholas Nye stays with him, without any clear reason why.
3. Phrases such as "Bony and ownerless, widowed and worn, / Knobble-kneed, lonely and grey" repeat similar sounds and rhythms. What technique is this, and what mood does it create?
This is alliteration combined with a steady rhythm — the repeated sounds and description create a gentle, melancholic mood that emphasises the donkey's loneliness and age, while still sounding musical and tender rather than harsh.
G. Critical Thinking
1. Why do you think the speaker felt such a strong, quiet bond with Nicholas Nye, even though the donkey never spoke a single word?
Open-ended — accept answers suggesting that shared loneliness, quiet companionship, and simply being present with one another created a bond that did not require words — sometimes silence and presence can communicate more than speech.
2. Have you ever felt a strong connection with an animal, without needing words to explain it? Describe the experience.
Open-ended — accept any honest, reflective personal response connecting to the poem's theme of wordless companionship with animals. (Teacher's discretion.)
Tec — The Education Consultancy | Grade 7 English Lesson & Worksheet