Authors and poets have leapt to the defence of an award-winning Indigenous writer after she was allegedly abused online by year 12 students.

Ellen van Neerven also received messages asking her to explain her poem Mango from the book Comfort Food after students sitting the HSC English exam on Monday were asked to analyse the work.

HSC students sitting the English exam were asked to analyse the poem Mango by Ellen van Neerven.

The opening question in the exam asked students to "explain how the poet conveys the delight of discovery".