Class 11 English Hornbill Laburnum Top (Ted Hughes)

 

NCERT Solutions For Class 11 English

Hornbill

Laburnum Top (Ted Hughes)

 

CONTENTS

Ø Theme

Ø Summary

Ø Poetic Device

Ø Stanza based Q-Ans

Ø Question Answers

Ø Word Meaning

 

Theme/Central idea

The poem "The Laburnum Top" by Ted Hughes portrays a symbiotic relationship between a solitary, yet magnificent Laburnum Tree and an entertaining, beautiful goldfinch bird in search of shelter. The Laburnum Tree graciously allows the goldfinch and its offspring to nestle amidst its branches, and in return, the once silent tree is infused with vitality. The poet employs the Laburnum Tree and the goldfinches as symbols representing the ebb and flow of life.

The narrative unfolds as the goldfinch's presence triggers a transformation in the Laburnum tree, bringing it to life as the fledglings of the goldfinch animate the surroundings with their rustling and chirping. However, once the goldfinch departs, the tree returns to its quiet and still state. The Laburnum tree becomes a metaphor for the typical monotony and lifelessness inherent in our existence. The goldfinch, acting as an agent of change, disrupts this predictable pattern, infusing vitality into the otherwise dull scene.

Without the goldfinch, the Laburnum tree is reduced to just another ordinary tree. The poem subtly suggests that it is one's perspective and approach toward life that imbues it with meaning and makes it worthwhile. The goldfinch symbolizes the potential for joy and vibrancy, highlighting how individual attitudes can profoundly impact the overall quality of life.

Summary

The poet vividly recounts his observations of the Laburnum tree, commencing with the striking yellow hue of its leaves during the autumn season. Despite being in September, the treetop remains eerily still and silent. The autumnal shedding of leaves and the presence of fallen seeds contribute to the tree's desolate appearance. Notably, the poet employs the color 'yellow' to convey not only the leaf and sunlight hues but also symbolizes silence, death, and beauty, creating a nuanced portrayal of the scene.

 

The desolation of the tree takes a transformative turn when a goldfinch bird alights upon it, breaking the death-like stillness. The sudden chirrup sound emanating from the tree signifies a shift in atmosphere. Drawing a comparison to a lizard, the poet highlights the bird's agility and alertness as it moves towards the branch's thickness, prompting the nestlings to chirp and flap their wings. The tree, mirroring this lively activity, begins to shake and thrill. This stark contrast illustrates the dual nature of the tree – initially lifeless, then animated by the presence of the bird.

 

The poet discerns the profound role played by the goldfinch and the Laburnum tree in the family dynamic. The bird, described as the engine of her family, brings food for her chicks, fostering a nurturing relationship. The bird's appearance, with a dark striped face and a yellow body blending with the tree's leaves, is meticulously detailed. As the goldfinch departs, making a sweet chirping sound reminiscent of a whisper, the Laburnum tree reverts to its silent and death-like state. The poet eloquently captures the symbiotic relationship between the tree and the bird, emphasizing their vital roles in each other's lives.

 

Explanation:

 

Paragraph 1:

The poet paints a picture of a sunny autumn day, describing the Laburnum tree laden with yellow leaves and flowers in September. The yellowing leaves signify the arrival of autumn, and the tree stands silent and still.

 

Paragraph 2:

The arrival of a goldfinch brings a dynamic shift to the scene. The bird makes short, high-pitched sounds, revealing her nest in the Laburnum tree with her chicks. The sudden movement and chirruping of the chicks bring life to the once silent tree. The poet compares the bird's movement to that of a lizard and metaphorically refers to her as the engine of her family, jumpstarting the nest's activity.

 

Paragraph 3:

After feeding her chicks, the goldfinch rests on a branch, hidden behind the yellow foliage. Her departure, marked by a distinct sound, leaves the Laburnum tree silent once again, returning everything to its pre-goldfinch state.

Poetic/literary Device

Alliteration involves the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of consecutive words. Notable instances in the poem include:

 

September sunlight

Tree trembles

 

A simile is a comparison between two things using "like" or "as."

 

Sleek as a lizard

A metaphor is an indirect comparison between two things, often highlighting a quality. Examples from the poem include:

 

"She enters the thickness, and a machine starts up" – comparing the noise of bird movement to a machine's noise

"It is the engine of her family."

"Showing her barred face identity mask"

 

Personification involves attributing personal or human characteristics to something non-human.

 

The entire tree trembles and thrills.

 

Transferred epithet is a figure of speech where an adverb is shifted to another noun.

 

Her barred face becomes an identity mask

 

Stanza based Q-Ans

Extract-based questions 

Stanza 1

 

A. The Laburnum top is silent, quite still
In the afternoon yellow September sunlight,
A few leaves yellowing, all its seeds fallen.

 

Q1. During which part of the day does the poem begin?

Ans. The poem commences in the afternoon.

 

Q2. What is the state of the Laburnum top?

Ans. The Laburnum top is in a state of silence.

 

Q3. What is the significance of the term 'yellowing' in this context?

Ans. In this context, the term 'yellowing' signifies the process of turning yellow.

 

Q4. What season does the month of September imply?

Ans. The month of September implies the season of autumn.

 

 

Stanza 2

 

B. 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,

 

Q1. What is the impact created when the mother goldfinch bird perches on the branch end?

Ans. The sitting of the mother goldfinch bird on the branch end produces a sudden and startling effect.

 

Q2. Why does the mother goldfinch bird exhibit 'alertness' when entering the thickness?

Ans. The mother goldfinch bird is 'alert' while entering the thickness to prevent potential predators from discovering the presence of the baby goldfinch birds.

 

Q3. Which literary device is employed to depict the movement of the mother goldfinch bird?

Ans. The literary device utilized to describe the movement of the mother goldfinch bird is a "simile."

 

Q4. What is the meaning of the term 'twitching'?

Ans. The term 'twitching' denotes making slight, quick, and jerky movements with the body.

 

Stanza 3

 

C. She enters the thickness, and a machine starts up
Of chitterings, and a tremor of wings, and trillings —
The whole tree trembles and thrills.

 

Q1. How do the baby goldfinch birds respond when the mother goldfinch bird arrives?

Ans. Upon the arrival of the mother goldfinch bird, the baby goldfinch birds engage in chattering, body shaking, and produce high-pitched sounds.

 

Q2. What does the term 'thickness' refer to in this context?

Ans. In this context, 'thickness' refers to the inner part of the Laburnum top in general, and specifically, the branch on which the Goldfinch perches.

 

Q3. What is the meaning of the term 'thrills'?

Ans. The term 'thrills' signifies shaking violently or experiencing intense and sudden excitement.

 

Q4. Why are the baby goldfinch birds likened to a machine?

Ans. The baby goldfinch birds are compared to a machine because they exhibit a mechanism akin to a machine with a discernible start and stop, mirroring their patterns of activity.

 

Stanza 4

 

D. It is the engine of her family.
She stokes it full, then flirts out to a branch-end
Showing her barred face identity mask

 

Q1. What is being referred to as "the engine" in this context?

Ans. In this context, the mother goldfinch bird is referred to as "the engine."

 

Q2. To where does the mother goldfinch bird extend or move towards?

Ans. The mother goldfinch bird flirts out to the end of a branch.

 

Q3. In what way is the 'face' of the mother goldfinch bird described as 'barred'?

Ans. The 'face' of the mother goldfinch bird is considered 'barred' as it is predominantly yellow but features a black spot on it.

 

Q4. What serves to conceal the identity of the mother goldfinch bird?

Ans. The yellowing leaves and yellow flowers act as a 'mask,' concealing the 'identity' of the mother goldfinch bird.

 

Stanza 5

 

E. Then with eerie delicate whistle-chirrup whisperings
She launches away, towards the infinite
And the laburnum subsides to empty.

Q1. In which direction does the mother goldfinch bird launch away?

Ans. The mother goldfinch bird launches away towards the infinite.

 

Q2. What transformation occurs at the Laburnum top following the departure of the mother goldfinch bird?

Ans. Following the departure of the mother goldfinch bird, the Laburnum top reverts to silence once again.

 

Q3. What is the meaning of the term 'whistle-chirrup'?

Ans. The term 'whistle-chirrup' refers to the whistle-like sound produced by the mother goldfinch bird.

 

Q4. Why does the poet opt for the term 'eerie'?

Ans. The poet uses the term 'eerie' to convey the unsettling or mysterious nature of the sound made by the mother goldfinch bird, as he struggles to comprehend the underlying message.

 

Question Answers

Question 1:

 

What do you observe about the commencement and conclusion of the poem?

 

Answer:

 

The poem opens with profound stillness on the top of the Laburnum tree, and it concludes with the tree descending back into silence. In between, the tree experiences a lively interlude with the arrival of the goldfinch and the animated sounds of the young birds.

 

Question 2:

 

To what is the bird’s motion likened, and what forms the basis for this comparison?

 

Answer:

 

The bird's movements are likened to the swift motion of a lizard. This comparison is rooted in their shared characteristics of sleekness, smoothness, and a glossy appearance.

 

Question 3:

 

Why does the poet evoke the image of an engine?

 

Answer:

 

The poet likens the sudden activity of the young ones to the noise generated by a steam engine during its startup. The bird seems to fuel the metaphorical engine, igniting the excitement of her offspring, who chirp collectively.

 

Question 4:

 

What stands out to you the most about the poem?

 

Answer:

 

The poem's simplicity and commonplace action are notable. What I appreciate the most is the vivid description and imagery crafted by the poet, who skillfully paints a delightful scene using minimal words.

 

Question 5:

 

What does the phrase ‘her barred face identity mask’ signify?

 

Answer:

 

The phrase refers to the goldfinch's facial features marked by colored stripes. These stripes resemble a mask or covering, aiding in the identification and recognition of the birds.

 

Question 6:

 

Summarize in approximately 80 words the scene portrayed in the poem ‘Laburnum Top.’

 

Answer:

 

The Laburnum tree, secluded and tranquil, witnesses a burst of activity with the arrival of a goldfinch. The tree comes alive momentarily, resonating with the noise of the bird's young ones, akin to an engine. However, the excitement fades as the bird departs, restoring silence to the tree's top.

 

Question 7:

 

What imparts a distinctive character to the Laburnum tree top?

 

Answer:

 

The Laburnum tree top, initially solitary and quiet in the forest, undergoes a sudden transformation with the arrival of a goldfinch. The tree springs to life momentarily, resembling the activation of an engine. However, this lively episode is short-lived, and the tree returns to silence when the mother bird departs.

 

Question 8:

 

What occurs to the Laburnum tree in September?

 

Answer:

 

In September, an autumnal month, the Laburnum tree undergoes a seasonal change. Its leaves, like those of other trees, turn pale and fall to the ground, marking the shedding of leaves in preparation for new growth.

 

Question 9:

 

What causes the entire tree to tremble and thrill?

 

Answer:

 

The boisterous chirruping of the little birds, filled with excitement upon seeing and hearing their mother, induces a sense of tremor and thrill throughout the entire Laburnum tree.

 

Question 10:

 

Why does the poet describe the whispering of the bird as 'eerie'?

 

Answer:

 

The soft and subtle noises made by the goldfinch, though seemingly gentle, disrupt the prevailing silence abruptly. This unexpected and sudden disturbance creates an eerie or unsettling effect, as it is surprising and appears unnatural.

 

Question 11:

 

How does the poem commence and conclude?

 

Answer:

 

The poem begins with the line 'The Laburnum Top is silent, quite still.' and concludes with 'And the Laburnum subsides to empty.' The tree starts in complete stillness, experiences a lively interlude with the goldfinch, and returns to silence when the bird departs.

 

 

 

 

Word Meanings

 

1.         Abrupt – rapid

2.         Chirrup – a bird making repeated high-pitched sounds

3.         Chitterings – to make a chattering sound

4.         Eerie – weird and strange

5.         Goldfinch – a small singing birds with yellow feathers on its wings

6.         Laburnum – a short tree with hanging branches, yellow flowers, and poisonous seeds

7.         Startlement – feeling or showing sudden shock

8.         Subsides – diminishes

9.         Thrills – a sudden feeling of excitement

10.       Trembles – to shake

11.       Tremor of wings – involuntary vibration of the wings

12.       Twitching – sudden jerk movement

13.       Whistle-chirrup – gentle whisper like the chirping of the bird