The Laburnum Top is a poem by Ted Hughes in the NCERT Class 11 English textbook Hornbill. It describes how a quiet laburnum tree comes alive when a goldfinch arrives to feed her young ones. This study guide includes a summary, explanation, central idea, themes, poetic devices, textbook question answers and practice questions in simple English.
About the Poet: Ted Hughes
Edward James Hughes (1930–1998), popularly known as Ted Hughes, was a British poet and writer. He is known for his poems about animals, birds and the natural world. His poetry often presents nature as a living force, full of energy and movement. In The Laburnum Top, he describes the relationship between a mother bird, her young ones and the tree in which they live.
The Laburnum Top: Summary
The poem describes a laburnum tree on a September afternoon. At first, the tree is silent and still. Its leaves have turned yellow, and its seeds have fallen. There is no visible movement or sound. The quiet scene changes suddenly when a goldfinch arrives at the tree.
The goldfinch moves quickly and carefully towards the thick branches where her young ones are waiting. As soon as she enters the tree, the young birds begin to chirp and move their wings. Their sounds and movements make the whole tree seem alive. The poet compares this sudden activity to the starting of a machine. The mother bird is described as the engine of her family because she brings life and energy to her young ones.
The goldfinch feeds her young ones and then moves out to the end of a branch. Finally, she flies away into the open sky. With her departure, the noise and movement stop. The laburnum tree becomes silent and still again.
The Laburnum Top: Explanation
1. The tree before the goldfinch arrives
At the beginning, the laburnum tree is completely silent and still. It is a September afternoon. The yellowing leaves and fallen seeds suggest the changing season. The sunlight falls on the tree, but there is no sign of life or activity in its branches. The poet creates a picture of stillness and quietness.
2. The arrival of the goldfinch
The silence is broken by the arrival of a goldfinch. Her arrival is sudden. The poet compares her smooth and quick movement to that of a lizard. She enters the thick part of the tree, where her young ones are waiting in the nest.
The young birds begin to chirp, chatter and move their wings. Their activity spreads through the tree. The branches seem to tremble with life. The poet compares this activity to a machine starting up. The mother bird is called the engine of her family because her arrival and feeding bring energy to the nest.
3. The departure of the goldfinch
After feeding her young ones, the goldfinch comes out to the end of a branch. She then flies away into the open sky. The sounds and movements stop. The laburnum tree returns to its earlier state of silence and stillness. Thus, the poem begins and ends with silence, while the middle section is full of sound and activity.
Central Idea of the Poem
The poem presents the close relationship between living creatures and their natural surroundings. A quiet tree becomes full of life when a goldfinch arrives to feed her young ones. The poet shows how the mother bird brings energy and activity to her family. Through this scene, he presents nature as active and full of life. The contrast between silence and movement is the main feature of the poem.
Themes of The Laburnum Top
- Nature and life: The poem shows the activity of birds and their close connection with a tree.
- Motherhood and care: The goldfinch feeds and cares for her young ones.
- Interdependence: The tree provides shelter to the birds, while the birds bring sound and movement to the tree.
- Silence and activity: The quietness at the beginning and end contrasts with the activity caused by the goldfinch.
- The energy of life: The mother bird’s arrival fills the nest and the tree with life.
Poetic Devices in The Laburnum Top
Ted Hughes uses comparisons, sound effects and images to describe the tree and the goldfinch. The following table lists some of the main poetic devices used in the poem.
The goldfinch’s movement is compared to that of a lizard. This shows her quick and smooth movement.
The bird is called the engine of her family. She brings energy and activity to her young ones.
The tree is described as trembling and thrilling. These expressions give the tree human-like qualities.
Words such as “chirrup” and “chitterings” imitate the sounds made by the birds.
Repeated consonant sounds in nearby words, such as the repeated “t” sound in “tree trembles”.
The descriptions of the yellow tree, the goldfinch and the movement of the branches help readers picture the scene.
NCERT Textbook Questions and Answers
Note: These answers are written in simple English. Students should read the poem and refer to the exercise in their own textbook while preparing.
Think It Out
Q1. What do you notice about the beginning and the ending of the poem?
Q2. To what is the bird’s movement compared? What is the basis for the comparison?
Q3. Why is the image of the engine evoked by the poet?
Q4. What do you like most about the poem?
Q5. What does the phrase “her barred face identity mask” mean?
Find Out
Q1. What is laburnum called in your language?
Q2. Which local bird is like the goldfinch?
Thinking About Language
Q. Look for another poem on a bird or a tree in English or any other language.
Try This Out
Q. Write four lines in verse form on any tree that you see.
A green tree stands beside the way,
It gives us shade throughout the day.
The birds find shelter in its leaves,
And gentle winds move through its sleeves.
Important Short Answer Questions (40–50 Words)
Q1. Describe the laburnum tree at the beginning of the poem.
Q2. How does the arrival of the goldfinch change the atmosphere of the tree?
Q3. Why does the poet compare the goldfinch to a lizard?
Q4. Explain the meaning of the expression “It is the engine of her family”.
Q5. How does the poem show the relationship between the goldfinch and the laburnum tree?
Q6. What is the importance of silence in the poem?
Important Long Answer Questions (120–150 Words)
Q1. Describe how the laburnum tree changes from a silent place into a lively one and then returns to silence.
Q2. How does Ted Hughes use images and comparisons to present the relationship between the goldfinch and her young ones?
Q3. “The Laburnum Top” is a poem about the relationship between living creatures and nature. Explain.
Extract-Based Practice Questions
Read the relevant passages from the poem in your textbook and answer the following questions. These practice questions test understanding, interpretation and appreciation of the poem.
Q1. What does the goldfinch’s arrival suggest about the change in the tree?
- The tree is becoming dry.
- The tree is becoming full of activity.
- The tree is losing its leaves.
- The tree is being damaged.
Q2. The comparison of the goldfinch to a lizard mainly describes her:
- Colour and size.
- Voice and singing.
- Quick and alert movement.
- Nesting habits.
Q3. Why does the poet use the image of a machine or engine?
- To describe the noise and activity in the tree.
- To suggest that the tree is made of metal.
- To show that the bird is afraid of machines.
- To describe the weather.
Q4. What happens after the goldfinch flies away?
- The tree becomes noisy.
- The young birds leave the tree.
- The tree returns to silence.
- The tree begins to flower.
Word Meanings
| Word or Expression | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Laburnum | A tree with hanging clusters of yellow flowers |
| Top | The upper part of a tree |
| Chirrup | A short, high-pitched sound made by a bird |
| Twitching | Making small, quick movements |
| Startlement | A sudden feeling of surprise |
| Sleek | Smooth and shining |
| Alert | Quick to notice things; watchful |
| Abrupt | Sudden or unexpected |
| Chitterings | Short, repeated sounds made by birds or small animals |
| Trillings | Repeated musical sounds |
| Tremor | A slight shaking movement |
| Stokes | Adds fuel to a fire; here, suggests supplying energy |
| Flirts out | Moves out quickly or lightly |
| Launches away | Flies off suddenly |
| Subsides | Becomes quieter or less active |
| Barred | Marked with lines or stripes |
Quick Revision: The Laburnum Top
| Poet | Ted Hughes |
|---|---|
| Textbook | Hornbill – Class 11 English |
| Main bird | Goldfinch |
| Tree | Laburnum |
| Time | A September afternoon |
| Dominant colour | Yellow |
| Main comparison | Goldfinch’s movement to a lizard |
| Important metaphor | The bird as the engine of her family |
| Main contrast | Silence and activity |
| Central idea | The relationship between living creatures and nature |
CBSE Exam Preparation Tips
- Learn the sequence of events: the silent tree, the arrival of the goldfinch, the activity in the nest and the return of silence.
- Understand the comparison between the goldfinch and a lizard.
- Be able to explain why the bird is called the engine of her family.
- Revise the poetic devices with their examples and effects.
- Practise reading a poetry extract and answering questions about its meaning, imagery and sound.
- For CBSE Class 11 English Core, practise short answers in 40–50 words and long answers in 120–150 words, as prescribed in the relevant question pattern.
- Use details from the poem to support your answers. Avoid writing unrelated information.
Teacher’s Tip
Do not learn the answers only by heart. Read the poem carefully and understand how the goldfinch changes the atmosphere of the tree. If you understand the contrast between silence and activity, you will be able to answer most questions in your own words.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who is the poet of The Laburnum Top?
Ted Hughes is the poet of The Laburnum Top.
2. Which bird visits the laburnum tree?
A goldfinch visits the laburnum tree to reach and feed her young ones.
3. Why is the goldfinch called the engine of her family?
The goldfinch is called the engine of her family because her arrival brings energy and activity to the nest. She feeds and cares for her young ones.
4. What is the central idea of The Laburnum Top?
The poem shows the relationship between birds and trees. It describes how a goldfinch brings life and movement to a silent laburnum tree when she arrives to feed her young ones.
5. What is the dominant colour in the poem?
Yellow is the dominant colour. It is suggested by the yellowing leaves and the September sunlight.
6. What happens to the tree when the goldfinch leaves?
When the goldfinch leaves, the sound and movement stop. The laburnum tree becomes silent and still again.
7. What is the simile used in The Laburnum Top?
The poet compares the goldfinch’s movement to that of a lizard. This simile describes her smooth, quick and alert movement.
8. What is the word limit for Class 11 English literature answers?
For the CBSE Class 11 English Core literature question pattern, short-answer questions are generally answered in 40–50 words and long-answer questions in 120–150 words. Always follow the instructions printed on the question paper.
Study reminder: Read the poem in your NCERT textbook and use this guide for revision and practice.
Malik Mohd. Arshad is a Senior English Teacher at STS High School, Aligarh Muslim University, with 21+ years of experience in English Language Teaching (ELT). An M.A. in English and Linguistics, he combines traditional academic values with modern digital learning methods. He is also a certified alumnus of the Texas Intensive English Program (USA).