The Laburnum Top | Poem 2 | English | Class 11th | Summary | Questions and Answers |

 

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English | Class 11th | Hornbill | NCERT

The Laburnum Top | Poem 2 | Summary | Questions and Answers |

 

The Laburnum Top

The Laburnum top is silent, quite still

In the afternoon yellow September sunlight,

A few leaves yellowing, all its seeds fallen.

Till the goldfinch comes, with a twitching chirrup

A suddenness, a startlement, at a branch end.

Then sleek as a lizard, and alert, and abrupt,

She enters the thickness, and a machine starts up

Of chitterings, and a tremor of wings, and trillings —

The whole tree trembles and thrills.

It is the engine of her family.

She stokes it full, then flirts out to a branch-end

Showing her barred face identity mask

Then with eerie delicate whistle-chirrup whisperings

She launches away, towards the infinite

And the laburnum subsides to empty.

                                  (Ted Hughes)

 

Short Summary

            "The Laburnum Top" by Ted Hughes is a short, vivid poem that describes the transformation of a quiet tree when a goldfinch bird arrives. The poem begins with the laburnum tree standing still and silent in late autumn, with its yellow leaves and seeds. When the goldfinch arrives to feed its young, the tree becomes alive with movement and sound, representing the energy and life that the bird brings. After feeding its chicks, the bird flies away, and the tree returns to its quiet state. The poem beautifully captures the interaction between nature and life, showing how even the stillest of places can become vibrant with life in moments.

 

Think it out

Question 1. What do you notice about the beginning and the ending of the poem?

Answer: The poem begins and ends with a sense of stillness and quietness. At the start, the laburnum tree is described as lifeless, silent, and still, with its yellowing leaves and seeds. Similarly, by the end of the poem, after the goldfinch bird flies away, the tree returns to its original state of calm and silence. This cyclical structure emphasizes the temporary burst of life and energy brought by the bird.

 

Think it out

Question 1. What do you notice about the beginning and the ending of the poem?

Answer: The poem begins and ends with a sense of stillness and quietness. At the start, the laburnum tree is described as lifeless, silent, and still, with its yellowing leaves and seeds. Similarly, by the end of the poem, after the goldfinch bird flies away, the tree returns to its original state of calm and silence. This cyclical structure emphasizes the temporary burst of life and energy brought by the bird.

Question 2. To what is the bird’s movement compared? What is the basis for the comparison?

Answer: The bird's movement is compared to a "lizard" in the poem. The basis for this comparison is the quick, darting, and smooth movement of the bird, which resembles the swift and sudden movements of a lizard as it scurries through its surroundings. This comparison highlights the agility and liveliness of the bird as it flits around the tree.

Question 3. Why is the image of the engine evoked by the poet?

Answer: The poet evokes the image of an "engine" to describe how the goldfinch, with its arrival, brings energy and life to the previously quiet and still tree. Just as an engine power and animates a machine, the bird's arrival turns the silent tree into a hub of activity and sound as it feeds its young. The metaphor suggests that the bird is the source of vitality, driving the life of the tree.

Question 4. What do you like most about the poem?

Answer: What stands out most in the poem is its ability to transform a simple scene into a vivid and dynamic interaction between nature and life. The contrast between the initial stillness of the tree and the burst of activity brought by the bird highlights the subtle beauty of nature’s interconnections. The imagery is rich, and the poem captures a fleeting yet powerful moment of life.

Question 5. What does the phrase “her barred face identity mask” mean?

Answer: The phrase "her barred face identity mask" refers to the pattern or markings on the face of the goldfinch bird, which resemble bars or stripes. This distinctive facial pattern serves as the bird's "identity mask," meaning it is a unique characteristic that identifies her. The phrase highlights the bird’s individuality and the way her appearance contributes to her recognizable identity.

 

Note down

1. the sound words

Answer: Chirrup: The sound of the goldfinch’s calls or chirping.

Whistle: Another sound associated with the bird, indicating its communication or alertness.

Chitterings: A sound made by the bird or its young, indicating the lively activity in the nest.

2. the movement words

Answer: Twitching: Describing the rapid, nervous movements of the goldfinch.

Slits: Refers to the quick, darting movement of the bird through the branches.

Flirts: Suggests playful, quick motions of the bird.

Stoking: A movement metaphorically comparing the bird’s action to fuelling a fire or engine, representing the bird's active role in bringing life to the tree.

Sleek as a lizard: Comparing the bird’s smooth and quick movements to that of a lizard.

3. the dominant colour in the poem.

Answer: Yellow: The dominant colour in the poem, representing both the laburnum tree's yellow leaves and seeds and the goldfinch itself. The yellow symbolizes life, energy, and nature’s connection in the poem.

 

List the following

1. Words which describe ‘sleek’, ‘alert’ and ‘abrupt’.

Answer: Sleek:

Sleek as a lizard (compares the smooth, agile movement of the bird).

Alert:

Alert and abrupt (describes the quick, attentive behaviour of the goldfinch).

Abrupt:

Abrupt (directly used to describe the bird's sudden movements).

2. Words with the sound ‘ch’ as in ‘chart’ and ‘tr’ as in ‘trembles’ in the poem.

Answer:

3. Other sounds that occur frequently in the poem.

Answer: Whistle (sound made by the bird).

Chirrup (a repetitive bird call).

Chitterings (lively sounds from the bird’s nest).

These sounds and words contribute to the overall auditory imagery, making the poem feel vibrant and full of life.

 

Thinking about language

Look for some other poem on a bird or a tree in English or any other language.

Answer:

Here’s a well-known English poem that also features a bird:

 

“The Eagle” by Alfred Lord Tennyson

 

He clasps the crag with crooked hands; 

Close to the sun in lonely lands, 

Ringed with the azure world, he stands.

 

The wrinkled sea beneath him crawls; 

He watches from his mountain walls, 

And like a thunderbolt he falls.

 

This short yet powerful poem describes an eagle, perched high on a rocky cliff, surveying the world below. It highlights the bird’s strength, majesty, and sudden, forceful movement as it dives, emphasizing the awe-inspiring nature of the bird.