NCERT Solution of Class 11 English Ch-2 The Laburnum Top
By Ted Hughes
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Summary of Class 11 English Ch-2 The Laburnum Top
The poem starts with a description of the Laburnum tree whose top was still and silent. Its leaves had turned yellow and seeds had fallen down. It was a daytime in the month of September when the tree was standing still and death-like.
The life-less tree becomes alive by the arrival of the Goldfinch bird. She came to feed her younger ones who are on the thickness of the branch. The tree is her shelter. She arrives at the end of the branch with a chirping sound. She further moves to the other side of the branch with rapid and precautionary movement like a lizard. As soon as she arrives, her younger ones start chirping like a machine and vibrating and flapping their wings. The death-like tree becomes alive and it trembles and shakes.
After feeding them, she flies to the other side of the branch. Her dark coloured face with the yellow body was barely visible as she vanished behind the yellow leaves. She flew away in the sky, leaving the tree death-like again.
Class 11 English Ch-2 The Laburnum Top
Questions-Answers of Class 11 English Ch-2 The Laburnum Top
Find out
Question 1:
What laburnum is called in your language.
Answer
In the Hindi language, the laburnum tree is called ‘Amaltaas’.
Question 2:
Which local bird is like the goldfinch.
Answer
‘Indian Lutino Ringneck’ is local bird like the goldfinch.
Class 11 English Ch-2 The Laburnum Top
Think it out
Question 1:
What do you notice about the beginning and the ending of the poem?
Answer
In the beginning of the poem the tree is calm & silent & in the ending it ends with motionless & empty level.
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 the swift movement of a lizard. The basis for the comparison is their sleekness, smooth and glossy look.
Question 3:
Why is the image of the engine evoked by the poet?
Answer
As the engine is the source to run the machine. The bird is compared to the engine as she is the feeder of her family. As a machine cannot work without an engine, her family can’t last without her.
Question 4:
What do you like most about the poem?
Answer
I liked the comparison of the state of the tree before and after the goldfinch bird arrives and it makes the death-like tree alive.
Question 5:
What does the phrase “her barred face identity mask” mean
Answer
The phrase means that the bird’s barred or covered face becomes her identity mask recognition.
Class 11 English Ch-2 The Laburnum Top
