The Laburnum Top Poem

HORNBILL
POEM-2 THE LABURNUM TOP
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 and in the end it ends
with motionless & empty level.
2. To what is the bird’s movement compared? What is the basis for the comparison?
Answer: The goldfinch’s movement is compared to that of a lizard. The basis of the
comparison is the sleek, abrupt and alert movements of a lizard. The same kind of
movements are observed when the goldfinch arrives on the laburnum tree.
3. Why is the image of the engine evoked by the poet?
Answer: The engine is the source of energy to run machine. It is compared to a bird
as it too is a source of energy for its family. As without engine a machine can’t work
in the same without a bird its family can’t survive.
4. What do you like most about the poem?
Answer: I like the simplicity and pictorial presentation in the poem. The comparison
between bird's movement with machine and Lizard is made in a nice way. Also
chirruping & trilling of goldfinch is appropriate.
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 for recognition.
Reference to Context
1.
A few leaves yellowing, all its seeds fallen
Till the goldfinch comes, with a twitching chirrup
A suddenness, a startlement, at a branch end.
a) What has happened to the tree?

It is the month of September. The autumn has set in. The leaves of the tree have
turned yellow and its seeds have also fallen.
b) How does the mood change on the arrival of the goldfinch?

The tree which was earlier silent has become active, noisy and full of life, as the
goldfinch has come to feed her young ones.
c) There is a comparison of the goldfinch with an animal. Which animal is that?

The goldfinch has been compared to a lizard, sleek and abrupt in its movements.
2.
Then with eerie delicate whistle-chirrup whisperings
She launches away, towards the infinite
And the laburnum subsides to empty.
a) Who has been described in the first line?

The goldfinch has been described in the first line.
b) What impression is created by the description?

The chirruping of the birds is delicate, soft and gentle like whispering. The reference
is to the sounds that the bird makes.
c) What effect does the last line create?

The last line shows the contrast between the liveliness (activeness) of the tree and
the silent tree. The tree becomes silent and empty when the bird flies away.
3.
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 trilling
The whole tree trembles and thrills.
a) Who is ‘she’ in the first line? Where does she enter?

‘She’ is the goldfinch and she enters the thickness of the trees.
b) What is the ‘machine’ referred to in line 2?

The ‘machine’ refers to the young ones of the goldfinch. They suddenly start
twittering and chirruping as their mother comes to the nest to feed them.
c) Explain the meaning of the last line.

The tree was silent earlier but as the mother goldfinch comes to her nest, there is a
lot of noise made by her young ones. The movement and the sounds produced are in
contrast to the silence. The tree comes to life now.
4.
The laburnum top is silent, quite still
In the afternoon yellow September sunlight,
A few leaves yellowing, all its seeds fallen.
a) Name the poem and the poet.

The name of the poem is ‘The Laburnum Top’ and the poet is Ted Hughes.
b) Describe the laburnum tree.

The tree is silent and still. It has leaves that are yellowing and seeds have fallen.
c) What is the mood in these lines?

The mood is of peace, calm, quiet ,and silence. There is absolute stillness and peace.
d) Pick out the words that create the mood.

The words that create the mood are ‘silent’, ‘still’, ‘yellowing leaves’ and ‘fallen
seeds’.
5.
It is the engine of her family
She strokes it full, then flirts out to a branch end
Showing her barred face identity mask
a) Why has the word ‘engine’ been used to describe her family?)v.v imp)
The word ‘engine’ has been used to describe her family. The engine of the machine
starts up and there is noise, movement and energy signifying the excitement at the
arrival of mother.
b) Who is ‘she’? How does she stoke the engine? (v.v imp)
‘She’ is the goldfinch who has her nest on the top of the laburnum tree. Just as the
stoker feeds coal to the engine, the bird feeds her young ones.
c) What does the bird look like? ( v.v imp)

The face which was earlier hidden in the thickness of the tree’s branches is now
revealed (disclosed) as she comes out at the end of the branch. She seems to be
wearing a striped mask.

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HORNBILL

POEM-2 THE LABURNUM TOP

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

4. What do you like most about the poem?

a) What has happened to the tree?

b) How does the mood change on the arrival of the goldfinch?

c) There is a comparison of the goldfinch with an animal. Which animal is that?

a) Who has been described in the first line?

b) What impression is created by the description?

c) What effect does the last line create?

a) Who is ‘she’ in the first line? Where does she enter?

b) What is the ‘machine’ referred to in line 2?

c) Explain the meaning of the last line.

a) Name the poem and the poet.

b) Describe the laburnum tree.

c) What is the mood in these lines?

d) Pick out the words that create the mood.

c) What does the bird look like? ( v.v imp)

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