CLASS XI – ENGLISH (Hornbill)

POEM 2 – THE LABURNUM TOP – BY TED HUGHES GENRE- NATURE POETRY/LYRIC

 MESSAGE:

The poet, here in the poem, wants to tell the readers about the importance of living with each other. Every
person has different capabilities and qualities. We should live with each other and always try to lend a helping
hand so that the others also do the same in times of need.

 THEMES:

‘The Laburnum Top’ by Ted Hughes presents some important themes like autumnal change, motherhood,
the transience of natural beauty, and the resonance of life.

In the first section of the poem, the poet presents the theme of autumn and the natural change
associated with this season. The “leaves yellowing” and “seeds fallen” depict a sense of pessimism.

In the following section, the poet uses several important themes. The theme of motherhood is introduced
by the arrival of the mother-goldfinch. There is also a reference to mother-nature in this section.

Moreover, the resonance of life gets reflected by the sound, a symbol of life, made by the birds living
in the tree. However, after the departure of the goldfinch, the beauty of the previous section fades away,
depicting the transience of natural beauty.

 CENTRAL IDEA OF THE POEM:

‘The Laburnum Top’ by Ted Hughes is a beautiful poem about the progress of life. Change is always there,
but the beginning has always its own taste. Whereas Autumn creates a sensation of future hopelessness,
nature projects the spontaneity of a new starting. The little birds, the bards of nature, voice their life-force
eventuated by the presence of their mother. Even the laburnum tree starts to live again, shedding all its future
worries, and becomes a part of the eternal enjoyment that exists in nature, no matter how pessimistic the
weather is. In this poem, Ted Hughes observes this natural phenomenon occurring on the top of the laburnum
tree and presents his thoughts in the lines of the text

Ted Hughes has used the Laburnum tree and the goldfinches as a symbol of life and its fluctuations. In
this poem the poet describes how the visit of the goldfinch changes the tree. It transforms the tree and makes
it come alive as the chicks of the goldfinch start to rustle and chirp on seeing her. Once the goldfinch leaves
the tree, it becomes quiet and still again. The Laburnum tree symbolises the pattern of our life in general,
which is usually dull and inanimate. The goldfinch breaks the usual pattern and makes it lively. Without the
goldfinch, the tree is just like any other tree. In other words, it is the attitude of a person towards life that
makes life meaningful and worth living.

It is about a repaying relationship between the Laburnum tree and the Goldfinch bird. The tree is
yellow, silent and death-like. It becomes alive by the bird and her young ones. The yellow bird has her
shelter on the tree where she feeds her young ones. But, as soon as the bird flies into the sky, the tree
becomes silent and death-like again.

In this poem, the poet talks about the mutual relationship of a Laburnum Tree and goldfinch who built
its nest in the it. The main theme of the poem is “mutual benefit”. The tree which is still in its position
comes to life by the chirping and swift movement of bird and its chicks. On the other hand, the bird and her
young ones get space to live in.

 POETIC DEVICES:

1. Alliteration: “September sunlight”

2. Simile: “...sleek as a lizard”. (Explicit comparison between the goldfinch and a lizard).

3. Metaphor: “A machine...of chitterings”, “It is the engine of her family”.(The goldfinch's family is compared to
a machine/engine). “Her barred face identity mask”.(The shadow on the bird's face is compared to an identity
mask).

4. Personification: “the whole tree trembles and thrills”. (The tree is personified.)

5. Transferred epithet: “Her barred face identity mask”. (The flowers of the Laburnum plant are barred. But
here it is placed before the bird's face.)
 THE LABURNUM TOP

SILENT LABURNUM STILL,YELLOW,SILENT

AFTERNOON(YELLOW)
,SEPTEMBER,LEAVES
ALSO YELLOW,SEEDS
FALLEN

GOLDFINCH YOUNG ONE'S GOLDFINCH'S SILENT AND

AND NEST REACTION DEPARTURE EMPTY AGAIN

 CONCEPT CANVAS: