Figure of Speech in The Laburnum Top Class 11 Hornbill In-Depth Analysis | Figures of Language

Here is The Laburnum Top, a detailed exploration and explanation of the figure of speech and its many facets.  In this post, we have explained various examples of figurative speech, providing a comprehensive understanding of The Laburnum Top in terms of all Poetic Device. We have also told the reason why a particular figure of speech occurs in a particular line. This is going to help the children of various classes Class XI. Dive in for figure of speech examples- 

Figure of Speech in The Laburnum Top Stanza 1

The Laburnum Top is silent, quite still
in the afternoon yellow September sunlight,
A few leaves yellowing, all its seeds fallen

1.Figure of Speech: Personification
Exact Line: “The Laburnum Top is silent, quite still”
Reason: The laburnum top is given human attributes of silence and stillness, suggesting it’s capable of choosing to be quiet and motionless.

2. Figure of Speech: Synecdoche (Part for the Whole)
Exact Line: “The Laburnum Top is silent, quite still”
Reason: The phrase “Laburnum Top” represents the whole tree. This focus on a part of the tree spotlights the area where the activity will unfold, emphasizing its importance.

3. Figure of Speech: Alliteration
Exact Line: “in the afternoon yellow September sunlight,”
Reason: The repetition of the ‘s’ sound in “September sunlight” adds a musical quality to the line, enhancing the peaceful imagery.

4. Figure of Speech: Imagery
Exact Line: “in the afternoon yellow September sunlight,”
Reason: This line paints a vivid picture of the sun’s yellow light in September, setting a specific and tranquil scene.

5. Figure of Speech: Symbolis
Exact Line: “A few leaves yellowing, all its seeds fallen”
Reason: The yellowing leaves and fallen seeds symbolize the end of a cycle, representing the autumn season and the passage of time.

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The Laburnum Top Poetic Device Stanza- 2

Till the goldfinch comes, with a twitching chirrup
A suddeness, a startlement,at a branch end
Then sleek as a lizard, and alert and abrupt,
She enters the thickness,and a machine starts up
Of chitterings, and of tremor of wings,and trillings –
The whole tree trembles and thrills
It is the engine of her family.
She stokes it full, then flirts out to a branch-end
Showing her barred face identity mask

1. Figure of Speech: Personification  
Exact Line: “a machine starts up”  
Reason: The tree is personified as a machine that comes to life with the arrival of the goldfinch.

2. Figure of Speech: Simile  
Exact Line: “Then sleek as a lizard”  
Reason: The goldfinch is compared to a lizard, suggesting its sleekness and quick movements.

3. Figure of Speech: Onomatopoeia  
Exact Line: “with a twitching chirrup” and “Of chitterings, and of tremor of wings, and trillings”  
Reason: Words like “chirrup,” “chitterings,” and “trillings” imitate the sounds of the goldfinch.

4. Figure of Speech: Metaphor  
Exact Line: “It is the engine of her family.”  
Reason: The goldfinch and its activities are metaphorically described as an engine.

5. Figure of Speech: Alliteration  
Exact Line: “suddeness, a startlement, at a branch end”  
Reason: The repetition of the ‘s’ sound in “suddeness” and “startlement” creates a hissing effect.

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6. Figure of Speech: Imagery  
Exact Line: “She enters the thickness, and a machine starts up”  
Reason: This line creates a vivid image of the goldfinch entering the dense part of the tree.

7. Figure of Speech: Metaphor  
Exact Line: “Showing her barred face identity mask”  
Reason: The goldfinch’s face is described as an “identity mask.”

8. Figure of Speech: Extended Metaphor  
Exact Line: “It is the engine of her family.”  
Reason: The goldfinch is metaphorically described as the engine of the tree, akin to a soul animating a body.

9. Figure of Speech: Personification and Symbolism 
Exact Line: “The whole tree trembles and thrills”  
Reason: The tree is personified as it “trembles and thrills,” symbolizing the rejuvenation of life.

10. Figure of Speech: Contrast (Duality of Silence and Sound)  
Reason: The stanza contrasts the silence of the first stanza with the lively sounds, highlighting the duality of life.

Figures of Speech Poem – The Laburnum Top Stanza- 3

Then with eerie delicate whistle-chirrup whisperings
She launches away, towards the infinite
And the laburnum subsides to empty

1. Figure of Speech: Oxymoron  
Exact Line: “eerie delicate whistle-chirrup”  
Reason: The phrase combines contrasting terms — “eerie” and “delicate,” creating a complex sensory image that reflects mixed emotions of joy and tension.

2. Figure of Speech: Onomatopoeia  
Exact Line: “whistle-chirrup whisperings”  
Reason: These words mimic the sounds made by the goldfinch, enhancing the auditory imagery.

3. Figure of Speech: Alliteration  
Exact Line: “whistle-chirrup whisperings”  
Reason: The repetition of the ‘w’ sound adds a rhythmic quality to the line.

4. Figure of Speech: Imagery  
Exact Line: “Then with eerie delicate whistle-chirrup whisperings”  
Reason: This line creates a vivid sensory image of the goldfinch’s sounds.

5. Figure of Speech: Metaphor  
Exact Line: “towards the infinite”  
Reason: The goldfinch’s flight is described as a journey “towards the infinite,” suggesting boundless freedom or endless possibilities.

6. Figure of Speech: Personification  
Exact Line: “And the laburnum subsides to empty”  
Reason: The laburnum tree is personified as it “subsides to empty,” as if consciously returning to a state of stillness.