Question 2 - The Laburnum Top - Hornbill - Poems (Literature) - English Class 11

Read the given extract and answer the questions

Extract:

It is the engine of her family.

 She stokes it full, then flirts out to a branch-end 

Showing her barred face identity mask 

Then with eerie delicate whistle-chirrup whisperings 

She launches away, towards the infinite 

And the laburnum subsides to empty

(The Laburnum Top )

Question (i)

What does the poet mean by "the engine of her family"?

•  (a) The laburnum tree
•  (b) The goldfinch bird 
• (c) The bird's nest 
• (d) The bird's song

Answer:

 As written by the student:

The poet means (c) the bird's nest by "the engine of her family".

Step-by-step explanation of the answer:

•  To answer this question, we need to understand what the poet is referring to by "the engine of her family" and why he uses this metaphor. We can use clues from the poem and our own knowledge to do this.
•  In the poem, the poet describes how the goldfinch bird enters the laburnum tree and fills it with noise and movement. He says that the tree is "the engine of her family", meaning that it is the source of energy and life for her and her offspring. The poet implies that the bird has a nest inside the tree, where she feeds and cares for her young ones. The nest is like an engine that keeps the family running and thriving.
•  Therefore, the poet means (c) the bird's nest by "the engine of her family". This is a metaphor that shows the importance and value of the nest for the bird and her family.

Question (ii)

Identify and write down an example of alliteration in the second line of the extract.

Answer:

 As written by the student:

An example of alliteration in the second line of the extract is "flirts out to a branch-end".

Step-by-step explanation of the answer:

•  To answer this question, we need to identify and write down an example of alliteration in the second line of the extract. Alliteration is a literary device that involves the repetition of the same or similar sounds at the beginning of words that are close together. Alliteration can create an effect of rhythm, emphasis, or sound in a text.
•  In the second line of the extract, the poet uses alliteration to describe how the goldfinch bird moves out of the tree. He says that she "flirts out to a branch-end". The words "flirts" and "branch" both start with the same sound, /f/. This creates an alliteration that emphasizes the playful and graceful movement of the bird.
•  Therefore, an example of alliteration in the second line of the extract is "flirts out to a branch-end". This is a phrase that uses the repetition of the /f/ sound at the beginning of two words.

Question (iii)

Explain why the poet uses the word "mask" to describe the goldfinch's face.

Answer:

 As written by the student:

The poet uses the word "mask" to describe the goldfinch's face because it has distinctive markings that make it look like it is wearing a mask.

Step-by-step explanation of the answer:

•  To answer this question, we need to explain why the poet uses the word "mask" to describe the goldfinch's face. We can use clues from the poem and our own knowledge to do this.
•  In the poem, the poet says that the goldfinch bird shows her "barred face identity mask" when she moves out of the tree. This means that the bird has a pattern of black and white stripes on her face that make her look like she is wearing a mask. The poet uses the word "mask" to highlight this feature of the bird and to show how it makes her unique and recognizable.
•  Therefore, the poet uses the word "mask" to describe the goldfinch's face because it has distinctive markings that make it look like it is wearing a mask. This is a word that shows the appearance and identity of the bird.

Question (iv)

How does the use of punctuation in the last line of the extract create a contrast with the previous lines? Give reasons for your answer.

Answer:

As written by the student:

 The use of punctuation in the last line of the extract creates a contrast with the previous lines by ending the sentence with a period and creating a sense of finality and emptiness.

Step-by-step explanation of the answer:

•  To answer this question, we need to analyze how the use of punctuation in the last line of the extract creates a contrast with the previous lines. We can use clues from the poem and our own knowledge to do this.
•  In the poem, the poet uses different types of punctuation to create different effects and moods in the extract. In the first five lines, he uses commas and dashes to separate phrases and clauses that describe the movement and sound of the bird. This creates a sense of continuity and flow, as if the poet is following the bird's actions with his words. He also uses a hyphen to join two words that describe the bird's sound: "whistle-chirrup". This creates a sense of harmony and rhythm, as if the poet is imitating the bird's song with his language.
•  In contrast, in the last line of the extract, he uses a period to end the sentence that describes how the tree returns to its silent and still state. This creates a sense of finality and emptiness, as if nothing else happens after the bird leaves. The period also creates a contrast with the previous lines, where there was no punctuation at the end of each line. This shows how the poet marks a difference between the before and after scenes of the tree and how the bird's presence and absence affect it.
•  Therefore, the use of punctuation in the last line of the extract creates a contrast with the previous lines by ending the sentence with a period and creating a sense of finality and emptiness. This is an example of how punctuation can affect meaning and mood in a poem.

Question (v)

Write down a synonym for the word "infinite" that could be used in the fifth line of the extract without changing its meaning.

Answer:

 As written by the student:

 A synonym for the word "infinite" that could be used in the fifth line of the extract without changing its meaning is "endless".

Step-by-step explanation of the answer:

•  To answer this question, we need to write down a synonym for the word "infinite" that could be used in the fifth line of the extract without changing its meaning. A synonym is a word that has the same or similar meaning as another word. We can use clues from the poem and our own knowledge to do this.
•  In the poem, the poet uses the word "infinite" to describe where the goldfinch bird flies away after leaving the tree. He says that she "launches away, towards the infinite". This means that she flies towards a place or direction that has no limits or boundaries, such as the sky or the horizon. The poet uses this word to show how the bird has freedom and possibility in her life, unlike the tree that is confined and restricted.
•  A synonym for the word "infinite" that could be used in the fifth line of the extract without changing its meaning is "endless". This word also means having no limits or boundaries, and it can also describe a place or direction that goes on forever, such as the sky or the horizon. The word "endless" would also show how the bird has freedom and possibility in her life, unlike the tree that is confined and restricted.
•  Therefore, a synonym for the word "infinite" that could be used in the fifth line of the extract without changing its meaning is "endless". This is a word that has a similar meaning and effect as "infinite".

Question (vi)

How does the poet use imagery to create an effect in the extract? Explain with examples.

Answer:

 As written by the student:

The poet uses imagery to create an effect of vividness and contrast in the extract. He uses words and phrases that appeal to the senses of sight, sound, and touch to describe the bird and the tree.

Step-by-step explanation of the answer:

•  To answer this question, we need to identify and explain how the poet uses imagery in the extract. Imagery is a literary device that involves using words and phrases that create pictures or sensations in the reader's mind. Imagery can create an effect of realism, emotion, or interest in a text.
•  In this extract, the poet uses imagery to create an effect of vividness and contrast. He uses words and phrases that appeal to the senses of sight, sound, and touch to describe the bird and the tree. For example:
•   Sight: The poet uses words such as "barred", "identity mask", "launches", and "infinite" to create a visual image of the bird's appearance and movement. He also uses words such as "yellow", "seeds", "thickness", and "empty" to create a visual image of the tree's appearance and state.
•   Sound: The poet uses words such as "twitching chirrup", "machine", "chitterings", "tremor of wings", "trillings", and "whistle-chirrup whisperings" to create a sound image of the bird's noise and song. He also uses words such as "silent", "quiet", and "subsides" to create a sound image of the tree's silence and stillness.
•    Touch: The poet uses words such as "sleek", "alert", "abrupt", and "trembles" to create a touch image of the bird's smoothness and agility. He also uses words such as "still" and "sepulchral" to create a touch image of the tree's motionlessness and coldness.
• The poet uses imagery to create a contrast between the bird and the tree, as well as between the before and after scenes of the tree when the bird visits and leaves. The imagery shows how the bird brings life and energy to the tree, but also how the tree loses its vitality and beauty when the bird leaves.