NCERT Solutions for Class 11 English Chapter 12: The Laburnum Top

In my language, which is Hindi, the laburnum is called Amaltaas. It is a tree characterized by medium height, drooping branches, bright yellow flowers, and poisonous seeds. 

The local, i.e., Indian bird resembling goldfinch, is a parakeet named 'Indian Lutino Ringneck'.

As the poem begins, I notice that the poet had described the laburnum tree on an afternoon of September bathed in yellow light. Only a few leaves of the tree had turned golden and all the seeds had fallen. The tree was portrayed as calm and silent. At the end of the poem, I notice that when the goldfinch left to the unknown after making its final whistle-chirping sounds the tree remained empty and still. 

The bird’s movement in the poem was compared to that of a lizard. Lizards when moving on the wall make watchful movements towards their prey and suddenly attach it. According to the poet, the bird’s movements were vigilant and unexpected as it arrived at the laburnum tree just like a lizard. 

The little goldfinch ensures that sustainment is provided to its family so the future generation remains alive. Thus the bird’s behavior of bringing food to its family has evoked the image of an engine in the poet’s mind which similarly provides energy to a machine to keep it running. 

 I like the simple yet beautiful description of the relationship between the tree and bird given in the poem. I like how the poet described a very mundane routine of a bird and how it was pouring life in the silent and still laburnum tree.

The phrase “her barred face identity mask” has referred to the appearance of the goldfinch bird. The bird’s body is yellow while its face has stripes. Though the bird can hide its body in the yellow flowers of the laburnum tree, its striped face can only identify its presence on the tree. 

Ted Hughes is the author of the poem "The Laburnum Top." The premise of the poem revolves around the Laburnum tree and the Goldfinch bird having a mutually beneficial relationship. The poem's central theme depicts the two's reciprocal friendship. The bird and her baby provide life to the tree, which is yellow, motionless, and dying. The yellow bird builds her nest in the tree and feeds her young. However, as soon as the bird takes off to fly over the sky, the tree falls quiet and lifeless once more.

The poem opens with a description of the massive tree yellow coloured leaves. Even in the month of September, the treetop is calm as well as motionless.

The tree had shed all of its leaves owing to the fall season, and the seeds have fallen to the ground. Most notably, the poet uses the word "yellow" to describe both the colour of the trees and the sunlight. Yellow is the colour of stillness, mortality, and elegance in this culture.

When a goldfinch bird sits on the tree, the poet notes that the tree's dying sight draws to a close. When the bird arrives, it produces a loud chirping noises sound. He compares the bird's agility, strength, and vigilance to that of a lizard.

The young birds begin singing and fluttering their feathers as their mother approaches the branch. As a result of this motion, the tree begins to shake.

Furthermore, the poet notices the colour of the bird.

The bird's body is yellow, so it mixes nicely with the massive tree's yellow leaves. 

Finally, the young bird makes a beautiful chirping sound as she reaches the branch's tip. The poet compares this sound to whisperings. 

As the birds float away in the infinite sky. As a result, after the bird has left the tree, the Laburnum tree becomes silent once more.

Laburnum tree, also known as the golden chain tree is a central character of the poem. Ted Hughes, in this poem, portrays a sweet and nurturing bond between a lonely tree and a Goldfinch bird.

Class 11 English poem The Laburnum Top, is a description of nature and its selflessness who enjoys companionship. This yellow leaf tree remains silent and dead like a Goldfinch bird perch on its branch.

Here the poet personifies the tree with the expression ‘of chitterlings, and tremor of wings and trillings, The whole tree trembles and thrills.’ Ted Hughes uses yellow to portray the tree leaves and sunlight, which further symbolises death, silence and beauty.

Laburnum trees become active with vibration of bird wings and chirping of chicks. NCERT solutions for Class 11 English Hornbill Poem The Laburnum Top available here are prepared in a way which explores this relationship.

 The Indian Rutino Ringneck is similar to the goldfish. 

 At the beginning of the poem, the poet talked about a silent laburnum tree that did not make any noise, it was like a lifeless tree. While the ending was similar as well, the poet talked about the goldfinch that flies away into the vast sky.