The Laburnum Top Important Short and Long Question Class 11 Poem-2 Book-Hornbill

Short Questions and Answers:

1. What is the poem The Laburnum Top about?

Answer:

The poem describes the transformation of a silent laburnum tree into a lively place when a goldfinch arrives and feeds her chicks.

2. What time of the year is depicted in the poem?

Answer:

The poem is set in autumn, as indicated by the yellowing leaves and fallen seeds.

3. How does the poet describe the laburnum tree in the beginning?

Answer:

The tree is described as silent, still, and lifeless in the afternoon September sunlight.

4. What effect does the arrival of the goldfinch have on the tree?

Answer:

The tree suddenly becomes lively with chirping, fluttering, and excitement when the goldfinch arrives.

5. Why does the poet compare the goldfinch to a lizard?

Answer:

The goldfinch is compared to a lizard because of its sleek, alert, and abrupt movements.

6. What does ‘engine of her family’ mean?

Answer:

It means that the goldfinch is the source of energy for her family, as she feeds and nurtures her chicks.

7. What happens when the goldfinch leaves the tree?

Answer:

The tree returns to its silent and still state, just as it was before her arrival.

8. What does the goldfinch symbolize in the poem?

Answer:

The goldfinch symbolizes motherhood, energy, care, and the cycle of life.

9. What is the meaning of ‘barred face identity mask’?

Answer:

It refers to the unique striped markings on the goldfinch’s face, which help identify it.

10. How does the poem show the cycle of life?

Answer:

The tree starts in stillness, becomes lively with the goldfinch’s arrival, and then returns to stillness, showing the natural cycle of life.

Long Questions and Answers:

1. Explain the transformation of the laburnum tree in the poem.

Answer:

In the beginning, the laburnum tree is silent, still, and lifeless in the yellow September sunlight. However, when the goldfinch arrives, it suddenly becomes full of life with chirping and fluttering. The poet compares this transformation to a machine starting up, symbolizing the energy and nourishment the mother bird brings to her chicks. After feeding them, she leaves, and the tree returns to its silent state, completing the cycle of stillness and activity.

2. Discuss the significance of the goldfinch in the poem.

Answer:

The goldfinch is a symbol of motherhood, energy, and renewal. She arrives abruptly, bringing life to the silent laburnum tree. The way she feeds her chicks and then leaves represents the nurturing and protective role of a mother. The poet also highlights the contrast between stillness and movement, showing how life is a continuous cycle of activity and rest.

3. How does the poet use imagery to depict the scene in The Laburnum Top?

Answer:

The poet uses vivid imagery to bring the scene to life. The stillness of the laburnum tree is described with words like “silent” and “quite still,” emphasizing its lifelessness. The arrival of the goldfinch is described as sudden and startling, creating an image of abrupt movement. The comparison to a lizard and the description of the tree trembling like a machine add to the visual and auditory effects, making the poem dynamic.

4. What is the central theme of the poem?

Answer:

The central theme of the poem is the contrast between stillness and activity, the cycle of life, and the bond between a mother and her offspring. The poem shows how life is not static but constantly changing. The goldfinch represents care, warmth, and energy, while the tree symbolizes patience and resilience.

5. Explain the poet’s comparison of the goldfinch and her chicks to a machine.

Answer:

The poet compares the goldfinch’s feeding process to a machine starting up. The chirping and fluttering of the chicks resemble the sounds of a machine in motion. The mother bird provides food like fuel, powering the engine of life. This comparison highlights the systematic and essential nature of nurturing and survival in the natural world.