NCERT Solutions For Class 11 English Core Chapter 9 The Laburnum Top

Laburnum is called in Hindi, 'Amaltass'.

We have a beautiful crape myrtle tree in our backyard. The crape myrtle is often called the 'lilac of the South'. When it flowers it looks stunning with its attractive foliage and strikingly beautiful lilac flowers. It is a spectacular addition in our yard that triggers the envy of our neighbours when it is in full bloom.

Some of the poems on birds and trees are the following: Ode to a Nightingale by John Keats, Trees by Joyce Kilmer, Birches by Robert Frost, To a Skylark by P. B. Shelley

The goldfinch's barred face is her identity marker. The distinctive markings on her face make it look as if she is wearing a mask. These marks help in identifying a goldfinch.

I like the presentation and the simplicity of the poem. The poetic devices used in the poem make it very interesting. The poet uses simile to compare the bird’s movements to that of a lizard. The most interesting poetic device used in the poem is the metaphor of a machine. He compares the bird to an engine that animates a machine because the bird animates the whole tree as soon as she arrives.

The poet likens the goldfinch to an engine. An engine is the most important part of a machine. It is the engine that powers the machine. In the same way the bird is the engine of its family. As soon as she enters the thicket, the whole tree trembles and thrills with life. The bird animates the tree with her chitterings, tremor of her wings, quick movements and trillings. As soon as she is gone, the tree becomes silent again as if the engine is switched off.

The poet compares the movements of the goldfinch to that of a lizard. The bird's movements are marked by suddenness, startlement, and sleekness. Like a lizard the bird is alert and makes abrupt movements.

In the beginning of the poem, the Laburnum tree is silent and still. At the end of the poem, the poet depicts the sudden silence that falls over the laburnum tree when the goldfinch flies away after feeding its young ones. Thus, the beginning and end of the poem describes the silence and stillness of the tree.

The Lutino Indian Ringneck is like the goldfinch in the poem. It has a yellow body. Both males and females have red eyes. The male will develop a pink and white ring around 18 months.

(i) The words which describe ‘sleek’, ‘alert’ and ‘abrupt’ are lizard, startlement, and suddenness.
(ii) The words with the sound ‘ch’ are goldfinch, branch, chitterings, chirrup. The words with the sound ‘tr’ are tremor, trillings, and trembles.
(iii) Other sounds that appear frequently are the 'sh' sound in ‘she’ and ‘showing’, the 'ing' sounds in ‘yellowing’, ‘twitching’, ‘wing’, ‘trillings’, etc. and the ‘ill' sound in ‘still’, ‘till’, ‘trillings’, etc.

(i) The sound words in the poem: Twitching, chirrup, chitterings, trillings, whisperings, chitterings whistle-chirrup, etc.
(ii) The movement words in the poem: Comes, enters, starts up, flirts out, launches away, tremble, subside, tremor, etc.
(iii) The dominant colour in the poem: Yellow