GSEB Class 11 English Hornbill Chapter 2 The Laburnum Top Solutions

Find Out

Question 1. What is laburnum called in your language.
Answer: In Gujarati, it is called 'Garmalo'. This is the native term for the laburnum tree.
In simple words: In Gujarati, the laburnum is known as 'Garmalo'.

Exam Tip: For cultural or linguistic questions, providing the local name and a brief context is always good.

Question 2. Which local bird is like the goldfinch.
Answer: The 'Indian Lutino Ringneck' is a local bird that resembles the goldfinch in appearance.
In simple words: The 'Indian Lutino Ringneck' bird looks similar to the goldfinch in the local area.

Exam Tip: When asked to compare, name both items being compared and state the specific similarity.

Think it Out

Question 1. What do you notice about the beginning and the ending of the poem?
Answer: At the poem's start, the tree is calm and silent. By the end, it returns to a motionless and empty state. The journey of the poem sees the tree come alive and then settle back into stillness.
In simple words: The poem begins and ends with the tree being quiet and still.

Exam Tip: Pay close attention to descriptions of the setting at the start and end of a poem to identify recurring themes or changes.

Question 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 comparison is based on the sleek, sudden, and alert movements of a lizard. These same kinds of movements are observed when the goldfinch arrives on the laburnum tree, showing quick and watchful actions.
In simple words: The bird moves like a lizard, quick, smooth, and aware. The comparison is because of these swift, watchful actions.

Exam Tip: When analyzing comparisons, always identify both things being compared and the specific traits or actions that form the basis of the similarity.

Question 3. Why is the image of the engine evoked by the poet?
Answer: The engine is shown as the power source for a machine. It is compared to the bird because she, too, is a source of energy for her family. Just as a machine cannot work without an engine, a bird's family cannot survive without its mother, highlighting her essential role.
In simple words: The poet uses "engine" for the bird to show she powers her family, much like an engine powers a machine. Without her, her family cannot survive.

Exam Tip: Metaphors often connect something abstract to something concrete. Explain both the literal and figurative meanings for a full answer.

Question 4. What do you like most about the poem?
Answer: I really like the poem's straightforwardness and vivid imagery. The comparison between the bird's movement with a machine and a lizard is done in a very good way. Also, the chirping and trilling sounds of the goldfinch create a strong sense of audio imagery, making the poem lively.
In simple words: I like the poem's clear pictures and how it compares the bird to a machine and a lizard. The sounds of the bird also make it feel very real.

Exam Tip: When expressing personal preference for a poem, mention specific literary devices (like imagery, metaphor, or sound) that appeal to you.

Question 5. What does the phrase 'her barred face identity mask' mean?
Answer: The phrase means that the bird's striped or covered face becomes her identity mask, helping others recognize her. These distinct markings on her face serve as a unique identifier.
In simple words: The phrase means the bird's striped face acts like a mask, making her easy to identify.

Exam Tip: When explaining a poetic phrase, break down its components and relate them back to the context of the poem's subject.

Note Down

Question 1. the sound words in the poem
Answer: The sound words found in this poem are chirrup, chitterings, trillings, and whistle-chirrup. These words help to create the auditory experience of the bird's presence.
In simple words: The poem uses words like chirrup, chitterings, trillings, and whistle-chirrup to describe sounds.

Exam Tip: Identify onomatopoeic words or descriptive terms related to sound when asked about "sound words."

Question 2. the movement words in the poem :
Answer: The movement words in the poem include "enters," "flirts out," and "stokes launches away." These words effectively describe the bird's dynamic and agile motions.
In simple words: Words like "enters," "flirts out," and "stokes launches away" show how things move in the poem.

Exam Tip: Look for verbs and adverbs that suggest motion, speed, or direction when identifying movement words.

Question 3. the dominant colour in the poem :
Answer: The dominant color in the poem is Yellow. This hue is often associated with the laburnum tree's flowers and the atmosphere of September sunlight.
In simple words: The main color in the poem is Yellow.

Exam Tip: Identify repeated color descriptions or those that dominate the imagery when asked about dominant colors.

List the Following

Question 1. Words which describe 'sleek', 'alert' and 'abrupt' in the poem.
Answer: The words which describe 'sleek', 'alert' and 'abrupt' in the poem are: sleek – delicate, alert – flirt, abrupt – startlement. These terms highlight the bird's quick and careful nature.
In simple words: In the poem, 'sleek' means delicate, 'alert' means flirt, and 'abrupt' means startlement.

Exam Tip: When matching descriptions, look for synonyms or phrases that convey a similar meaning in the poem's context.

Question 2. Words with the sound 'ch' as in 'chart' and 'tr' as in trembles in the poem.
Answer: In the poem, the words containing the sound 'ch' are 'chirrup' and 'chitterlings'. The words with the sound 'tr' are 'tremor', 'trillings', and 'trembles'. These instances of alliteration add to the poem's auditory appeal.
In simple words: Words with 'ch' sounds are 'chirrup' and 'chitterlings'. Words with 'tr' sounds are 'tremor', 'trillings', and 'trembles'.

Exam Tip: Focus on the specific phonetic sounds asked for, not just the spelling, to correctly identify words.

Question 3. Other sounds that occur frequently in the poem.
Answer: The other sounds that appear often in the poem are listed below:
'-st' as in 'still', 'startlement' and 'stokes'
'-ill' as in 'still', 'till', 'trillings' and 'thrills'
'ing' as in 'yellowing', 'twitching', 'chitterings', 'trillings' and 'whisperings'.
In simple words: Other frequent sounds in the poem include '-st' (like in 'still'), '-ill' (like in 'thrills'), and '-ing' (like in 'yellowing').

Exam Tip: For sound patterns, identify repeated consonant or vowel sounds, not just onomatopoeia.

Thinking about Language

Look for some other poem on a bird or a tree in English or any other language.
Answer: Note: Students should search for such poems in English or their mother tongue and then enjoy reading them. This activity helps in exploring diverse poetic forms and themes.
In simple words: Students need to find and read other poems about birds or trees in any language they know.

Exam Tip: Actively engage with suggested activities by exploring different poems to broaden your understanding and appreciation of poetry.

Try this Out

Write four lines in verse form on any tree that you see around you.
Answer:
A tree is a tree,
It is naked and it has no consciousness.
When it is cut,
Does it feel any pain?
In simple words: Imagine a tree. It looks bare and feels nothing. But when it's cut, does it feel pain?

Exam Tip: When writing poetry, focus on sensory details and personification to bring your subject to life, even in a short verse.

GSEB Class 11 English The Laburnum Top Additional Important Questions and Answers

Answer the following questions in three to four sentences each:

Question 1. What is 'laburnum' as mentioned in the poem 'The Laburnum Top'?
Answer: In the poem, 'The Laburnum Top' by the poet Ted Hughes, 'laburnum' refers to the golden chain tree. This tree is commonly found and has beautiful golden flowers that hang in bunches, giving it a striking appearance. It is a key element of the poem's setting and imagery.
In simple words: In Ted Hughes' poem, 'laburnum' means a golden chain tree. It's a common tree with golden flowers that grow in bunches.

Exam Tip: For specific terms in a poem, always define them within the context of the poem itself.

Question 2. According to you what the 'laburnum' stands for in the poem?
Answer: The late-twentieth-century poet Ted Hughes uses very clear symbolism through the figure of the laburnum tree in the poem, 'The Laburnum Top'. Actually, the laburnum represents the difficulties of life for every living being. It stands for the sudden changes and challenges needed for survival throughout one's existence.
In simple words: The laburnum tree in the poem symbolizes the struggles and unexpected changes everyone faces to survive in life.

Exam Tip: When asked about symbolism, explain what the object represents and how that representation connects to the poem's themes.

Question 3. How does the poem 'The Laburnum Top' begin?
Answer: The poem 'The Laburnum Top' starts with a strong sense of stillness. The very top of the laburnum tree is calm and silent, bathed in the fading yellowish sunlight of a peaceful September afternoon. The tree stands with only a few dull yellow leaves and no seeds left, creating an atmosphere of quiet desolation.
In simple words: The poem begins with the laburnum tree quiet and still, under soft yellow sunlight in September, with few leaves and no seeds.

Exam Tip: Describe the opening scene with attention to details like time of day, season, and the specific state of the main subject (the tree).

Question 4. What does startle the silent branches of the laburnum tree? What does it symbolize?
Answer: The wild, small, and yellow canary bird, the goldfinch, startles the silent branches of the tree with its chirping. The sudden arrival of the goldfinch introduces lively actions into the tree's otherwise empty and lifeless state. The silent and sad laburnum tree represents the harsh conditions of life, but it often meets the joyful presence of another living being, which helps to uplift one's hidden wisdom.
In simple words: A chirping goldfinch suddenly makes the silent laburnum tree lively. The tree shows life's tough parts, but the bird's arrival brings joy and hidden wisdom.

Exam Tip: When discussing symbolism, link the literal event (bird startling tree) to the broader abstract meaning (life's hardships meeting joy/wisdom).

Question 5. 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 slow-moving but alert creature, like a lizard. There is a clear reason behind this comparison between the goldfinch and the lizard. The comparison is based on the sleek, abrupt, and watchful movement that the goldfinch shows as it lands on the laburnum tree.
In simple words: The bird's movements are like a lizard's—smooth, sudden, and alert. This comparison comes from the quick and cautious way the goldfinch moves on the tree.

Exam Tip: Ensure your explanation of a comparison explicitly states both the subject and the object of comparison, along with shared characteristics.

Question 6. Why is the image of the engine evoked by the poet?
Answer: At a simple level, the engine is the source of energy that makes a machine work. This idea of an engine has been brought into the poem through the figure of the goldfinch. It is compared to the bird because it too provides energy for its family. Just as a machine cannot work without an engine, the mother bird ensures her family's survival.
In simple words: The poet uses the engine image for the goldfinch because she provides energy for her family, like an engine powers a machine. Without her, her family cannot survive.

Exam Tip: When analyzing metaphors, explain how the literal object (engine) functions and then how the metaphorical subject (bird) performs a similar function.

Question 7. 'She strokes it full...' explain this phrase with reference to the poem.
Answer: In this phrase from Ted Hughes' poem 'The Laburnum Top', 'she' refers to the goldfinch, which acts as an engine for its whole family. 'Strokes' means adding fuel. In this particular context of the poem, the goldfinch feeds her family, providing the necessary nutrition that the machine or the bird's family needs to stay energetic and alive.
In simple words: In the poem, 'she' is the goldfinch, and 'strokes it full' means she feeds her family. She gives them the food they need to be strong, like fuel for an engine.

Exam Tip: Break down the phrase: identify the pronoun 'she', explain the action 'strokes', and link it to the theme of nourishment and family survival in the poem.

Question 8. What does the phrase 'her barred face identity mask' mean?
Answer: In the poem 'The Laburnum Top', the phrase 'her barred face identity mask' is used to represent the goldfinch itself. It means that the bird's striped or covered face becomes her unique identity mask, making it possible for others to recognize her specifically. This distinctive marking is crucial for her identification.
In simple words: The phrase means the goldfinch's striped or covered face is like a mask that helps others know who she is.

Exam Tip: Explain both the literal meaning of 'barred face' (markings) and its function as an 'identity mask' (recognition).

Question 9. What similarity do you perceive about the beginning and the ending of the poem?
Answer: A very clear similarity can be seen regarding the beginning and end of the poem. At the very start of the poem, the tree is calm and silent. In the ending, it again returns to a state of stillness and emptiness, suggesting a cycle of activity and quietness, or the transient nature of vibrancy.
In simple words: The poem starts with the tree being calm and quiet, and it ends the same way, becoming still and empty again.

Exam Tip: Emphasize the cyclical nature or the return to an initial state when discussing similarities between the beginning and ending of a text.

Figures of Speech

Question 1. 'In the afternoon yellow September sunlight'
(a) Repetition
(b) Metaphor
(c) Alliteration
(d) Antithesis
Answer: (c) Alliteration
In simple words: This phrase uses alliteration because the 's' sound is repeated in 'September' and 'sunlight'.

Exam Tip: Alliteration is the repetition of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words.

Question 2. 'Then sleek as a lizard, and alert, and abrupt'
(a) Personification
(b) Repetition
(c) Internal Rhyme
(d) Simile
Answer: (d) Simile
In simple words: This is a simile because it directly compares the bird's movement to a lizard using the word 'as'.

Exam Tip: Identify similes by the use of "like" or "as" for direct comparisons, distinguishing them from metaphors.

Question 3. 'Of chitterings, and a tremor of wings, and trillings'
(a) Metaphor
(b) Onomatopoeia
(c) Synecdoche
(d) Metonymy
Answer: (b) Onomatopoeia
In simple words: This is onomatopoeia because words like 'chitterings' and 'trillings' imitate the actual sounds they describe.

Exam Tip: Onomatopoeia involves words that sound like the noises they represent, such as "buzz," "hiss," or "chirp."

Question 4. 'The whole tree trembles and thrills'
(a) Alliteration
(b) Personification
(c) Litotes
(d) Both (a) and (b)
Answer: (d) Both (a) and (b)
In simple words: This phrase uses alliteration with 't' sounds in 'tree trembles and thrills'. It also uses personification because a tree is given human-like actions of trembling and thrilling.

Exam Tip: Multiple figures of speech can appear in a single line. Look for both sound patterns (alliteration) and human qualities (personification).

Question 5. 'It is the engine of her family'
(a) Metaphor
(b) Personification
(c) Metonymy
(d) Oxymoron
Answer: (a) Metaphor
In simple words: This is a metaphor because it directly compares the bird to an engine, implying she powers her family without using "like" or "as."

Exam Tip: Understand that a metaphor makes a direct, implied comparison between two unlike things to suggest a deeper meaning.

Question 6. 'Showing her barred face identity mask'
(a) Transferred Epithet
(b) Metaphor
(c) Litotes
(d) Both (a) and (b)
Answer: (d) Both (a) and (b)
In simple words: This phrase contains a transferred epithet because "identity" is transferred to the "mask." It's also a metaphor because the face is directly called an "identity mask."

Exam Tip: A transferred epithet applies an adjective to a noun different from the one it logically modifies, while a metaphor directly equates two distinct things.

Reading Comprehension (Textual)

Read the following verses (stanzas) and answer the questions given below them:

Question 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.
Questions:
1. What has happened to the tree?
2. How does the mood change on the arrival of the goldfinch?
Answer:
1. It is the month of September, and autumn has started. The leaves of the tree have turned yellow, and its seeds have also fallen, making it seem bare and dormant.
2. The tree, which was earlier silent, becomes active, noisy, and full of life as the goldfinch arrives to feed her young ones, bringing a sudden burst of energy.
In simple words:
1. The tree's leaves are turning yellow and its seeds have dropped because it is autumn.
2. The tree changes from quiet to lively and noisy when the goldfinch comes to feed its babies.

Exam Tip: For passage-based questions, always refer back to the text to ensure your answers are accurate and complete.

Question 2. Then with eerie delicate whistle-chirrup whisperings, She launches away, towards the infinite And the laburnum subsides to empty.
Questions:
1. Who has been described in the first line?
2. What impression is created by the description?
Answer:
1. The goldfinch has been described in the first line, with its distinct and soft vocalizations.
2. The chirruping of the birds is delicate, soft, and gentle, like whispering. This description refers to the subtle and soothing sounds that the bird produces, creating a peaceful impression.
In simple words:
1. The first line describes the goldfinch.
2. The description makes the bird's chirping seem soft and gentle, like whispers.

Exam Tip: Pay attention to descriptive adjectives and adverbs to understand the tone and impression the author intends to convey.

Question 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 trillings The whole tree trembles and thrills.
Questions:
1. Who is 'She' in the second line? Where does she enter?
2. What is the 'machine' referred to inline two?
Answer:
1. 'She' in the second line refers to the goldfinch, and she enters the dense part of the trees. This movement shows her agile nature as she moves into the foliage.
2. The 'machine' refers to the young ones of the goldfinch. They suddenly begin twittering and chirruping as their mother approaches the nest to give them food, creating a lively commotion.
In simple words:
1. 'She' is the goldfinch, entering the thick part of the trees.
2. The 'machine' means the young goldfinch babies who start making noise when their mother arrives to feed them.

Exam Tip: When a pronoun or metaphor is used, clearly identify what it refers to in the context of the passage.

Question 4. The Laburnum top is silent, quite still. In the afternoon yellow September sunlight, A few leaves yellowing, all its seeds fallen.
Questions:
1. Describe the laburnum tree.
2. What is the mood in these lines?
Answer:
1. The tree is silent and still. It has leaves that are turning yellow, and its seeds have dropped, indicating the season of autumn and a state of dormancy.
2. The mood is one of peace, calm, quietness, and silence. There is absolute stillness and peace, reflecting a tranquil and somewhat somber atmosphere.
In simple words:
1. The laburnum tree is still and quiet, with yellowing leaves and fallen seeds.
2. The mood is very peaceful, calm, and silent, showing complete stillness.

Exam Tip: When describing mood, use adjectives that capture the emotional atmosphere, supported by specific details from the text.

Question 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
Questions:
1. Why has the word 'engine' been used to describe her family?
2. Who is 'she'? How does she stroke the engine?
Answer:
1. The word 'engine' has been used to describe her family because the engine of a machine starts up with noise, movement, and energy. This signifies the excitement and activity upon the mother's arrival, showing her crucial role as a provider.
2. 'She' is the goldfinch, which has her nest at the top of the laburnum tree. Just as a stoker feeds coal to an engine, the bird feeds her young ones, providing them with nourishment and vitality.
In simple words:
1. 'Engine' is used for her family because it makes sounds and moves with energy when the mother arrives, showing how vital she is.
2. 'She' is the goldfinch. She feeds her young, just like a stoker gives fuel to an engine.

Exam Tip: For figurative language, always connect the figurative meaning back to the literal context and the character's role in the poem.

The Laburnum Top Summary in English

The Laburnum Top Introduction:

Edward James Hughes (17 August 1930 - 28 October 1998) was an English poet and children's writer. Critics frequently rank him as one of the best poets of his generation, and one of the twentieth century's greatest writers. He served as Poet Laureate from 1984 until his death. In 2008, The Times ranked Hughes fourth on their list of 'The 50 greatest British Writers' since 1945.

The Laburnum Top Summary:

'The Laburnum Top' is a very powerful poem in which the laburnum symbolizes the difficulties in life. The poem describes the laburnum tree whose seeds have not only fallen but also the leaves have turned yellow. It is an afternoon in September, and the treetop is silent until a goldfinch appears. As soon as the goldfinch appears, there is a sudden, strong tremor in the tree; there are noises of twitching wings and chirping in bird language.

The whole tree trembles. The bird's family engine has appeared, meaning the mother goldfinch has brought food for her babies. The goldfinch moves like a lizard, sleek and smooth. She is the engine of her family, which means she works to provide nutrition to the family, just like the engine is the main part of a machine. In the end, the goldfinch launches herself back into the sky in a mysterious way, and the laburnum is reduced to silence and emptiness again.