NCERT Solutions For Class 11 English Hornbill: The Laburnum Top

Summary of the Poem

"The Laburnum Top" is a beautiful poem about the interaction between a Laburnum tree and a Goldfinch bird. The poem begins by describing the Laburnum tree as "silent, quite still" in the yellow September sunlight. Its leaves are yellowing, and its seeds have fallen. The tree is deathly quiet and empty.

This silence is broken by the sudden arrival of a Goldfinch. The bird moves quickly and cautiously, "sleek as a lizard," into the thickness of the branches. As soon as she enters, the tree comes alive with the sound of her young chicks. There is a "chittering, and a tremor of wings, and trillings." The whole tree trembles and seems to thrill with life.

The poet calls the bird the "engine of her family." She "stokes it full" (feeds her chicks), providing them with the fuel to live. After feeding them, she "flirts out" to a branch-end. Her face, which has dark stripes, is described as her "barred face identity mask."

Finally, she launches away with an "eerie delicate whistle-chirrup," flying up into the "infinite" sky. As soon as she leaves, the Laburnum tree once again "subsides to empty" and returns to its death-like silence.

NCERT Textbook Questions and Answers

Think it Out (Page 22)

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

Answer-
The beginning and the ending of the poem are almost identical. In the beginning, the poet describes the Laburnum top as "silent, quite still." In the end, after the goldfinch flies away, the poet says the tree "subsides to empty." Both lines describe the tree in a state of death-like silence and stillness, highlighting the fact that the life and vibrancy of the tree were only present when the bird was there.

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 that of a lizard.

The basis for the comparison is the sleek, abrupt, and alert nature of its movement. When the goldfinch arrives, it enters the "thickness" of the branches with a "startlement" that is "sleek as a lizard." This comparison perfectly captures the quick, silent, and watchful way the bird moves into its nest to avoid being noticed.

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

Answer-
The image of the engine is evoked because the goldfinch is the source of life and energy for her family, just as an engine is the source of power for a machine.

When the bird arrives, the silent tree suddenly fills with the noise and movement of the chicks ("chitterings," "tremor of wings," "trillings"). The bird "stokes" (feeds) her young, providing them with fuel. She is the "engine" that makes the "machine" (her family) come to life.

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

Answer-
(This is a personal response question. A sample answer is provided.)
What I like most about the poem is the powerful and sudden contrast between the tree's silence and the vibrant life brought by the goldfinch. The poet uses vivid imagery, describing the tree as "silent" and "still" one moment, and then "trembling and trilling" the next. This transformation beautifully captures the energy of life, and the image of the bird as the "engine" that stokes her family is very effective and memorable.

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

Answer-
This phrase refers to the distinctive striped (barred) pattern on the goldfinch's face.

The word "mask" suggests that this pattern is her unique, recognisable feature, almost like an "identity" card. At the same time, this "mask" also helps to camouflage her among the yellowing leaves and shadowed branches, concealing her from predators.

Important Keywords from the Poem

• Laburnum: A small tree with hanging branches of bright yellow flowers.
• Goldfinch: A small, colourful bird with yellow feathers.
• Twitching: A sudden, jerky movement.
• Chirrup: A high-pitched chirping sound.
• Startlement: A feeling of sudden shock or surprise.
• Sleek: Smooth and glossy; quick and graceful in movement.
• Chitterings: A series of high-pitched chattering sounds.
• Tremor: A slight shaking or trembling movement.
• Trillings: A high-pitched, singing or warbling sound.
• Engine: A machine that provides power; used metaphorically for the bird.
• Stokes: Adds fuel to a fire; used metaphorically for feeding.
• Flirts out: Moves suddenly or darts out.
• Eerie: Strange and rather frightening.
• Subsides: Becomes less intense; settles down.
• Infinite: Limitless or endless; refers to the sky.