NCERT Class 11 Hornbill (English Core) Book 2025-26

The NCERT Class 11 Hornbill Book (English Core) is the primary textbook prescribed by CBSE for Class 11 English. It is part of the English Core curriculum and focuses on improving reading, comprehension, vocabulary, and literary appreciation among students. This edition follows the revised CBSE syllabus and includes a rich combination of prose, poetry, and supplementary reading material. Hornbill is known for its engaging stories, powerful themes, and a balanced mix of modern and classic English literature. It plays a major role in helping students strengthen language skills, prepare for Class 12, and improve overall English proficiency.

Chapter No.	Download Chwapterwise Hornbill (English Core) PDF
Reading Skills
Chapter 1	The Portrait of a Lady — Khushwant Singh A Photograph — Shirley Toulson
Chapter 2	We're Not Afraid to Die... if We Can All Be Together — Gordon Cook & Alan East
Chapter 3	Discovering Tut: The Saga Continues — A. R. Williams The Laburnum Top — Ted Hughes The Voice of the Rain — Walt Whitman
Chapter 4	The Ailing Planet: The Green Movement's Role — Nani Palkhivala Childhood — Markus Natten
Chapter 5	The Adventure — Jayant Narlikar
Chapter 6	Silk Road — Nick Middleton Father to Son — Elizabeth Jennings
Writing Skills
Chapter 1	Note-making
Chapter 2	Summarising
Chapter 3	Sub-titling
Chapter 4	Essay-writing
Chapter 5	Letter-writing
Chapter 6	Creative Writing

Guide to NCERT Class 11 Hornbill Book (English Core)

The NCERT Class 11 Hornbill book is the primary textbook for English Core (Code 301) students. It is a carefully curated collection of literary pieces and instructional material designed to comprehensively develop a student’s command over the English language.

Hornbill includes: Prose chapters, Poetry selections, and dedicated sections for Reading Comprehension and Writing Tasks. The book is designed to enhance: Reading skills, Literary interpretation, Critical thinking, Creative writing, and Grammar usage. Each chapter is followed by questions, exercises, and activities for thorough practice.

 

Why Hornbill Is Important for Class 11 English Core

• Improves Reading & Comprehension: The diverse prose and poems help students deeply understand tone, theme, message, and narrative style.
• Enhances Writing Skills: Through targeted exercises, students master crucial writing formats such as: Letter writing, Note making, Summary writing, Analytical writing, and Report writing.
• Strengthens Vocabulary: Exposure to rich literary language naturally introduces new words, expressions, and advanced grammar usage.
• Builds Foundation for Class 12: The concepts and writing skills taught here serve as the necessary prerequisite and foundation for the Class 12 English Core syllabus.
• Helps in Competitive Exams: Strong English comprehension and writing skills built by this book are invaluable for various entrance exams like CUET, UPSC (essay preparation), SSC, Banking exams, and NDA.

NCERT Class 11 Hornbill Book PDF 2025–26 – Availability

The Hornbill textbook is available for free download on the official NCERT website. Students can download it as a Complete Book PDF or in manageable Chapter-wise PDFs for English Medium (Core).

Downloading from the official NCERT website ensures safety, accuracy, and the use of the latest rationalized edition of the textbook.

How to Download NCERT Class 11 Hornbill PDF – Full Step-by-Step Process

1. Open the Official NCERT Website

   Go to the official site: ncert.nic.in

2. Click on “Publications”

   Locate and click the “Publications” link, usually found in the top menu bar.

3. Select “PDF (I–XII)”

   Choose the section that contains all NCERT textbooks in PDF format.

4. Choose Your Class

   From the dropdown menu, Select “Class 11”.

5. Select “English”

   Under the subject list, choose “English (Core)”.

6. Select the Book

   Choose the book name: “Hornbill – English Core Class XI” and click the Go button.

7. Download Chapters or Full Book

   You will see download options for the Complete Book PDF or Individual Chapter PDFs (Prose + Poetry). Click any chapter to open it in the PDF viewer.

8. Download the File

   Once the PDF is open, click the download icon (usually a downward arrow) in the top-right corner of the viewer.

9. Save the PDF

   Choose a folder on your device and click Save.

Tips to Study Hornbill Effectively

• Read chapters slowly and deliberately to understand the deeper meaning, context, and author's tone.
• Solve all NCERT questions at the end of each chapter, as they are essential for exam preparation.
• Highlight difficult words and maintain a running list to improve vocabulary and usage.
• Write short summaries in your own words immediately after reading each chapter or poem.
• Practice note-making and summary writing regularly, as these are critical skills tested in the exam.
• Discuss themes and characters with classmates or teachers for better critical understanding.