3.2 The Laburnum Top - Class 11- Hornbill

BhashaLab
Jul 4
4 min read

Updated: Jul 5

Author: Ted Hughes

Textbook: Hornbill

Genre: Poem / Nature Poetry

Summary

“The Laburnum Top” is a short yet vivid nature poem by Ted Hughes that portrays the transformation of a quiet tree into a lively scene due to the arrival of a small bird — the goldfinch. At the beginning of the poem, the Laburnum tree is silent and still under the warm yellow light of a September afternoon. Its leaves are yellowing, and the seeds have already fallen. Suddenly, a goldfinch appears with a quick, chirping sound, and the atmosphere changes instantly. Like a lizard, sleek and alert, she enters the dense foliage, and the tree comes alive with chittering, trembling, and trilling noises. The bird feeds her young, energizing the tree as though it were a machine running on her presence. After nourishing her chicks, she flits to a branch and flies away, leaving the tree silent and empty once again. The poem captures a beautiful moment in nature and emphasizes the dynamic bond between the bird and the tree.

Character Sketch

The Goldfinch (Bird)

The goldfinch is portrayed as a small, lively, and energetic bird. She is alert, sleek, and moves quickly like a lizard. Her presence turns the lifeless tree into a scene full of motion and sound. She is nurturing, as she comes to feed her young, and mysterious, as she arrives and departs with suddenness. The bird also has a unique identity with a “barred face,” symbolizing her individuality.

Themes

Theme	Description
Nature and Life	Shows the relationship between living beings and their natural environment.
Change and Contrast	Depicts the transformation of a quiet scene into an energetic one with the arrival of the bird.
Motherhood and Care	Highlights the goldfinch’s role in feeding and energizing her young.
Cycle of Life	The poem presents the natural rhythm of arrival, activity, and departure.
Stillness vs. Movement	Contrast between the silent tree and the sudden activity brought by the bird.

✨ Literary Devices / Poetic Devices

Device	Example / Explanation
Imagery	“afternoon yellow September sunlight” creates a clear visual scene.
Simile	“Sleek as a lizard” — compares the bird’s movement to that of a lizard.
Alliteration	“tree trembles and thrills” — repetition of 't' sound.
Personification	The tree is described as trembling, thrilling, and subsiding.
Onomatopoeia	“chirrup,” “chitterings,” and “trillings” imitate bird sounds.
Metaphor	“engine of her family” compares the bird’s activity to running a machine.

Title Justification

The title “The Laburnum Top” draws attention to the top part of the Laburnum tree, which is the main setting of the poem. Initially silent and lifeless, it becomes the centre of action and vitality with the arrival of the goldfinch. The “top” symbolizes the focal point where life blossoms briefly and meaningfully. Thus, the title is simple yet symbolic, capturing the core subject and emotional shift of the poem.

One-Mark Questions

What time of the year is described in the poem?
The poem is set in September, during early autumn. The tree has yellowing leaves, and its seeds have already fallen.
How does the bird’s arrival change the mood of the poem?
The mood changes from silence to energy. The tree trembles with life and sound.
What is meant by “engine of her family”?
The phrase means the goldfinch activates the nest by feeding her chicks. The tree becomes like a machine running with her energy.
What happens after the goldfinch flies away?
The tree becomes silent and still again. It returns to its empty, lifeless state.
What is the significance of “barred face identity mask”?
It refers to the distinctive markings on the goldfinch’s face. These markings help identify the bird.

Three-Mark Questions

Describe the transformation of the Laburnum tree in the poem.
At the beginning, the Laburnum tree is silent, still, and lifeless under yellow sunlight. When the goldfinch arrives, the tree suddenly becomes full of sound and motion. It trembles and vibrates with the bird’s activity. The goldfinch feeds her young, bringing the tree to life. When she leaves, the tree returns to its empty state, showing a complete cycle of action and stillness.
Why is the goldfinch compared to a lizard?
The goldfinch is compared to a lizard because of her quick, sleek, and alert movements. Like a lizard, she enters the tree suddenly and silently. This simile emphasizes her speed, energy, and mysterious nature. It also shows how she blends with the tree before bringing it to life.
What does the poem convey about the relationship between the bird and the tree?
The bird and the tree share a deep, almost mechanical bond. The tree is lifeless without the bird, but it becomes active and energetic with her presence. The goldfinch feeds her young, using the tree as a shelter and source of life. The poem reflects how life and energy are shared in nature. It symbolizes the nurturing role of a parent and the dependence of life forms on each other.

Value-Based Question

What does the poem teach us about observing and valuing small moments in nature?

The poem teaches us to notice the beauty in everyday natural events. A quiet tree becomes lively with a small bird’s visit, showing how life moves in delicate ways. It reminds us that even tiny creatures have important roles in nature. Observing such scenes can bring joy, awareness, and respect for all living beings. The poem inspires us to value silence, life, and the rhythms of nature.

End

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