NCERT Solutions for Class 11 English Hornbill - Poem 2 - Laburnum Top

Find Out

Q1: What laburnum is called in your language.
Ans: In Hindi, laburnum is referred to as 'Amaltaas'.

Q2: Which local bird is like the goldfinch.
Ans:  The Indian Lutino Ringneck is a local bird that resembles the goldfinch.

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Think It Out

Q1. What do you notice about the beginning and the ending of the poem?
Ans: At the start of the poem, the tree is described as calm and silent. In contrast, the ending portrays it as motionless and empty.

Q2: To what is the bird’s movement compared? What is the basis for the comparison?
Ans: The goldfinch’s movement is compared to that of a lizard. The basis of the comparison is the sleek, abrupt and alert movements of a lizard. The same kinds of movements are observed when the goldfinch arrives on the laburnum tree.

Q3: Why is the image of the engine evoked by the poet?
Ans: The engine is the source of energy to run machine. It is compared to bird as she is too a source of energy for her family. As without engine a machine can’t work in the same without a bird her family can’t survive.

Q4: What do you like most about the poem?
Ans:  I appreciate the simplicity and vivid imagery of the poem. The way it compares the bird's movement to a machine and a lizard is beautifully crafted. Additionally, the chirruping and trilling of the goldfinch adds to its charm.

Q5: What does the phrase “her barred face identity mask” mean?
Ans: The phrase refers to the bird's barred face, which serves as her identity mask for recognition. This distinctive feature helps others identify her.

Note down

(i) the sound words
(ii) the movement words
(iii) the dominant colour in the poem.
Ans:
(i) Chirrup, chitterings, tremor of wings, trillings, whistle-chirrup, whispering
(ii) comes, enters, starts up, flirts out.
(iii) yellow

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List the following

Q1: words which describe sleek, alert and abrupt.
Ans: 1. Sleek: As a lizard
2. Alert: No direct synonyms, but the bird's attentive actions could infer alertness.
3. Abrupt: A suddenness, a startlement

Q2: words with the sound ch, as in chart, and tr, as in trembles in the poem.
Ans:  1. ‘ch’ sounds: Chirrup, chitterings
2. ‘tr’ sounds: Tremor, trembles

Q3: Other sounds that occur frequently in the poem.  
Ans: The other sounds that occur frequently in the poem are listed below. ‘-st’ as in still, startlement and stokes. '-ill' as in still, till, trillings and thrills. '-ing' as in ‘yellowing, twitching, chitterings, wings, trillings, showing and whisperings.