NCERT Solutions For Class 11 English Hornbill (Poem) Chapter 3 The Laburnum Top - 2025-26

1. What Laburnum is Called in Your Language? 

Ans. 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. 

2. Which Local Bird is Like the Goldfinch? 

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

Think it Out

1. What Do You Notice about the Beginning and the Ending of the Poem?

Ans. 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. 

2. To What is the Bird’s Movement Compared? What is the Basis for the Comparison?

Ans. 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. 

3. Why is the Image of the Engine Evoked by the Poet?

Ans. 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. 

4. What Do You Like Most about the Poem?

Ans. 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. 

5. What Does the Phrase “Her Barred Face Identity Mask” Mean?

Ans. 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. 

Class 11 English Hornbill Chapter-3 Poem The Laburnum Top - About the Poem

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.

Class 11 English Hornbill Chapter-3 Poem - The Laburnum Top - Summary of The Laburnum Top

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.

NCERT Solutions for Class 11 English Hornbill Chapter-3 Poem - The Laburnum Top - Extra Questions (Solved) For Practice 

Following are the questions and answers which must be taken up by the students in order to practice more.

1. What is being noticed from the beginning till the end of the poem? 

Ans. 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.

2. Name the local bird which is similar to the goldfinch.

Ans. Indian Rutino Ringneck is similar to the goldfish. 

Importance of Class 11 English Hornbill Chapter 3 Poem The Laburnum Top NCERT Solutions

One of the fascinating poems of Class 11 English Hornbill is Chapter 3 The Laburnum Top. This poem explains how the different elements of nature interact with each other in harmony and form a single construct. The trees, animals, and all the other entities of nature exchange energy and become a part of a significant one. This poem has a beautiful inner context that students need to study and learn.

Once the chapter is completely studied, students will focus on solving the exercise questions. To make this process easier, students can refer to the exercise solutions designed by the subject experts of Vedantu. These solutions are precise and follow the CBSE Class 11 English standards.

The answers to all the exercise questions can be learned directly and prepared for the exam. These answers will also depict the context of the poem in an easier tone for the students to understand to proceed with the preparation.

Advantages of Class 11 English Hornbill Chapter 3 Poem The Laburnum Top NCERT Solutions

• All the answers have been compiled in a simpler version so that you can comprehend them faster. They are compiled in one place to form a single file to access online. In fact, the file can be downloaded from this site too for future usage.

• Resolve doubts related to the exercise questions and focus on solving the fundamental questions on your own. Leave no queries and doubts unresolved when you have the NCERT solutions for this chapter in your hands.

• Focus on how the experts have compiled the solutions to neatly answer the exercise questions. Learn the techniques and follow the methods to neatly answer the questions and score more on the exams.

Tips to Study CBSE Class 11 English Hornbill

1. Students must understand the context of the chapters well. 

2. They must understand the summary, theme, and other vital characteristics of the chapters they learn. 

3. They must also take note of the meanings of different words. 

4. Phrases of the poetries must be understood well enough. 

5. One can also refer to the previous year’s question papers, sample papers, and NCERT Solutions in order to practice further. 

NCERT Solutions for Class 11 English Hornbill Chapter-3 Poem - The Laburnum Top can be downloaded from Vedantu for free. We have discussed the NCERT Solutions and also have given a few extra questions and answers which will help the students to understand and further practice Class 11 English Hornbill Chapter-3 Poem - The Laburnum Top intently. The students are also required to check the tips and suggestions which can be helpful to them to score better in English.

Download Class 11 English Hornbill Chapter 3 Poem The Laburnum Top NCERT Solutions PDF

Get the free PDF version of the exercise solutions for this chapter and focus on studying this chapter. Understand the context of this chapter and the explanation of all the lines. Prepare it well to learn how to answer such questions with precision. Make your preparation better and use your knowledge and skills to score more.

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