Get notes, line-by-line explanation, summary, questions and answers, critical analysis, word meanings, extras, and pdf of the poem A Doctor’s Journal Entry for August 6, 1945, by Vikram Seth which is part of ICSE Class 9 English (Treasure Chest). However, the notes should only be treated for references and changes should be made according to the needs of the students.
Line-by-line explanation of the poem
The morning stretched calm, beautiful, and warm.
The poet describes a peaceful and serene morning, setting a tranquil scene.
Sprawling half-clad, I gazed out at the form
The poet was relaxing, partially dressed, looking out and observing his surroundings.
Of shimmering leaves and shadows. Suddenly
He was admiring the play of light on leaves and the shadows they cast when suddenly,
A strong flash, then another, startled me.
He was jolted by two bright flashes of light, indicating the explosion of the atomic bomb.
I saw the old stone lantern brightly lit.
An old stone lantern in his vicinity was illuminated by the intense light of the explosion.
Magnesium flares? While I debated it,
He wondered if they were magnesium flares, trying to make sense of the sudden brightness.
The roof, the walls and, as it seemed, the world
Suddenly, his surroundings, including his home and seemingly the entire world,
Collapsed in timber and debris, dust swirled
Crumbled and fell apart, with dust and debris filling the air.
Around me – in the garden now – and, weird,
He found himself in the garden amidst the chaos, and strangely,
My drawers and undershirt disappeared.
His clothing was blown away by the force of the explosion.
A splinter jutted from my mangled thigh.
He was injured, with a piece of wood or metal embedded in his thigh.
My right side bled, my cheek was torn, and I
He describes his injuries: bleeding and a torn cheek.
Dislodged, detachedly, a piece of glass,
He removed a shard of glass from his body, seemingly in shock and detached from the situation.
All the time wondering what had come to pass.
Throughout this, he was trying to understand what had just happened.
Where was my wife? Alarmed, I gave a shout,
Concerned for his wife, he called out for her.
‘Where are you, Yecko-san?’ My blood gushed out.
He called her by name, and as he did, he noticed more of his blood pouring out.
The artery in my neck? Scared for my life,
He feared that an artery in his neck had been severed, which could be fatal.
I called out, panic-stricken, to my wife.
In his panic and fear, he continued to call for his wife.
Pale, bloodstained, frightened, Yecko-san emerged,
His wife appeared, looking pale and covered in blood, clearly terrified.
Holding her elbow. ‘We’ll be fine,’ I urged –
She was holding her injured elbow, but he tried to reassure her.
‘Let’s get out quickly.’ Stumbling to the street
He urged that they leave immediately. As they tried to move, they stumbled.
We fell, tripped by something at our feet.
They tripped over an obstacle on the ground.
I gasped out, when I saw it was a head:
To his horror, he realized they had tripped over a person’s head.
‘Excuse me, please excuse me -‘ He was dead:
He apologized to the deceased, a reflexive gesture of respect.
A gate had crushed him. There we stood, afraid.
The man had been crushed by a fallen gate. They stood there, paralyzed by fear.
A house standing before us tilted, swayed,
A nearby house was unstable, swaying dangerously.
Toppled, and crashed. Fire sprang up in the dust,
The house collapsed, and fires ignited amidst the debris.
Spread by the wind. It dawned on us we must
The fires spread rapidly due to the wind. They realized the urgency of their situation.
Get to the hospital: we needed aid –
They needed to get to the hospital for medical assistance.
And I should help my staff too. (Though this made
He also thought of his responsibility to help his staff at the hospital.
Sense to me then, I wonder how I could)
Reflecting on it, he wonders how he could even think of helping others given his own injuries.
My legs gave way. I sat down on the ground.
His injuries and exhaustion caused him to collapse.
Thirst seized me, but no water could be found.
He was extremely thirsty, but there was no water available.
My breath was short, but bit by bit my strength
He struggled to breathe, but gradually,
Seemed to revive, and I got up at length.
He began to recover some strength and managed to stand up.
I was still naked, but I felt no shame.
Despite being without clothes, he felt no embarrassment, highlighting the gravity of the situation.
This thought disturbed me somewhat, till I came
He was troubled by his lack of self-consciousness until he encountered
Upon a soldier, standing silently,
A soldier, who stood silently amidst the chaos.
Who gave the towel round his neck to me
The soldier offered his towel to the poet, a gesture of kindness.
My legs, stiff with dried blood, rebelled. I said
His legs, covered in dried blood, were hard to move.
To Yecko-san she must go on ahead.
He told his wife to move ahead without him.
She did not wish to, but in our distress
She was reluctant, but given their dire situation,
What choice had we? A dreadful loneliness
They had no other option. He felt a deep sense of isolation.
Came over me when she had gone. My mind
Once she left, he felt an overwhelming loneliness.
Ran at high speed, my body crept behind.
His mind raced with thoughts, but his injured body moved slowly.
I saw the shadowy forms of people, some
He observed the silhouettes of survivors.
Were ghosts, some scarecrows, all were wordless dumb –
Some looked like ghosts or scarecrows, and all were silent, in shock.
Arms stretched straight out, shoulder to dangling hand;
Their arms were outstretched, possibly due to burns or injuries.
It took some time for me to understand
He took a while to realize
The friction on their burns caused so much pain
That the reason for their posture was to avoid the pain of their burns rubbing against each other.
They feared to chafe flesh against flesh again.
They didn’t want their injured skin to touch and cause more pain.
Those who could, shuffled in a blank parade
The survivors moved slowly, like a somber procession.
Towards the hospital. I saw, dismayed,
They were heading to the hospital. The poet observed with sadness,
A woman with a child stand in my path –
A woman and her child standing in his way.
Both naked. Had they come back from the bath?
Both were without clothes. He wondered if they had been bathing when the explosion occurred.
I turned my gaze, but was at a loss
He looked away, but was confused
That she should stand thus, till I came across
By the woman’s nakedness, until he saw
A naked man and now the thought arose
Another naked man, which made him realize
That some strange thing had stripped us of our clothes.
That the explosion had somehow removed their clothing.
The face of an old woman on the ground
He saw an elderly woman on the ground,
Was marred with suffering, but she made no sound.
Her face showed immense pain, but she was silent.
Silence was common to us all. I heard
This silence was shared by everyone around.
No cries of anguish, or a single word.
Despite the devastation, there were no screams or words, only a haunting silence.
Word meanings
Sprawling: Lying or sitting with limbs spread out carelessly or ungracefully.
Shimmering: Glittering or gleaming with a soft, wavering light.
Magnesium flares: Bright burning lights, often used as a source of illumination in photography or signaling in emergency situations. Magnesium burns with a very bright white light.
Debated: Considered or thought about.
Timber: Wood that’s used for building or carpentry.
Debris: Scattered fragments or remains of something destroyed.
Drawers: An old term for men’s underwear.
Jutted: Stuck out or protruded.
Mangled: Severely damaged or disfigured.
Dislodged: Removed or knocked out of position.
Detachedly: In a manner that’s disconnected or not emotionally involved.
Yecko-san: A respectful form of address in Japanese, where “-san” is an honorific suffix. “Yecko” is likely the name or nickname of the doctor’s wife.
Artery: A major blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart to the rest of the body.
Emerged: Came out or appeared.
Rebelled: Resisted or defied control.
Scarecrows: Figures made to resemble a human, used to scare birds away from crops. Here, it’s used metaphorically to describe the appearance of the injured people.
Dumb: Unable to speak, often due to shock or trauma.
Chafe: Rub or be rubbed to the point of wearing away; here, it refers to the pain of burned skin rubbing against another surface.
Dismayed: Struck with fear, dread, or consternation.
Marred: Damaged or spoiled.
Summary of the poem
The poem unfolds through the eyes of a doctor. At dawn, as he was rousing from sleep, he stretched and admired the garden’s foliage. Out of nowhere, two intense bursts of light illuminated the surroundings. In moments, his home crumbled, leaving rubble everywhere. To his astonishment, he found himself stripped of his undergarments and injured. Frantically, he called for his wife, who appeared clutching her injured elbow. He tried to comfort her, assuring her of their safety.
As they ventured outside, they tripped over a man’s head, a grim testament to the devastation around them. The horrors continued as they witnessed a house teetering before collapsing. Recognizing the urgency, they decided to head to a hospital. Despite his exhaustion and thirst, the doctor pressed on. Even though he was devoid of clothing, he felt no embarrassment. At one point, he urged his wife to move ahead without him, to which she hesitantly agreed.
As he trudged on, he noticed the haunting silhouettes of survivors. Some resembled phantoms, while others looked like lifeless effigies. Many had their arms hanging limply, a sign of their injuries. A stream of these wounded souls was making their way to the hospital. Among them was a mother and child, both unclothed. This sight made the doctor realize the bizarre nature of the catastrophe that had stripped them of their attire. Amidst the widespread suffering, an unsettling quiet prevailed, with no cries or words of despair breaking the silence.
Critical analysis of the poem
The poem is set against the backdrop of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, a catastrophic event that marked the end of World War II and showcased the devastating power of nuclear weapons. Vikram Seth’s narrative provides a firsthand account of the immediate aftermath, offering a deeply personal perspective amidst a historical tragedy.
The poem is written in a continuous narrative form, without any stanza breaks. This structure gives a relentless, uninterrupted flow to the narrative, mirroring the unceasing horror and chaos of the event. The lack of breaks also conveys a sense of urgency and immediacy.
Seth employs vivid and harrowing imagery to capture the magnitude of the devastation. Phrases like “the world collapsed in timber and debris” and descriptions of people appearing as “ghosts” or “scarecrows” evoke a post-apocalyptic landscape. The detailed recounting of personal injuries, the eerie silence, and the haunting visuals of naked, injured survivors create a visceral impact on the reader.
While the poem is a personal account of the doctor’s experience, it also encapsulates the collective trauma of the Hiroshima victims. The doctor’s concern for his wife, his shock at the sudden devastation, and his encounter with other survivors make the narrative both intimate and universally relatable. The poem underscores the shared human experience amidst disaster.
The calm and serene morning quickly turns into a scene of chaos and destruction, highlighting the unpredictability and fragility of life. Despite the overwhelming devastation, the doctor’s determination to find his wife, help others, and reach the hospital showcases human resilience and the instinct to survive. The poem serves as a poignant reminder of the devastating consequences of war and the profound impact of nuclear weapons on humanity.
The poem’s strength lies in its ability to evoke strong emotions. The juxtaposition of a peaceful morning with the sudden catastrophe, the personal losses amidst widespread destruction, and the eerie silence in the face of immense suffering all contribute to a profound emotional impact.
Themes of the poem
The Devastation of War: The poem vividly captures the immediate aftermath of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, underscoring the immense destruction and loss that warfare can bring upon humanity.
Human Vulnerability: The sudden shift from a serene morning to chaos and devastation highlights the unpredictability and fragility of human life. The poem emphasizes how, in an instant, everything familiar can be obliterated.
Resilience and Survival: Despite the overwhelming tragedy, the doctor’s determination to find his wife, help others, and reach the hospital showcases the innate human drive to survive and help others, even in the face of immense adversity.
Shared Human Experience: The poem underscores the collective trauma of the Hiroshima victims. While it narrates the personal experience of the doctor, it also encapsulates the broader suffering of the community, emphasizing the shared human experience in times of disaster.
The Eerie Silence of Shock: The haunting quiet that pervades the scene, with no cries or words of despair, speaks to the profound shock and disbelief experienced by the survivors. This silence becomes a powerful commentary on the indescribable nature of such trauma.
Moral Reflection on Warfare: The poem indirectly prompts readers to reflect on the ethics and consequences of using such devastating weapons. The detailed descriptions of suffering and loss serve as a stark reminder of the costs of war.
The Transience of Material Existence: The descriptions of buildings collapsing, clothes disappearing, and the general destruction of the physical environment emphasize the impermanent nature of material existence and the ephemeral nature of life itself.
About the author
Vikram Seth, born in 1952 in Calcutta (present-day Kolkata), is a renowned Indian poet and novelist. He began his education at the Don School, later attending various institutions before pursuing higher studies at Stanford University in the USA and Nanjing University in China.
Seth has penned numerous poetry collections, novels, and non-fiction pieces. He gained significant acclaim for his verse novel “The Golden Gate” (1986) and the monumental novel “A Suitable Boy” (1993). Over the years, he has been honored with several esteemed awards, including the Padma Shri, Sahitya Akademi Award, WH Smith Literary Award, and the Crossword Book Award. His collections, such as “Mappings” and “Beastly Tales from Here and There,” which feature poems rooted in Indian myths and legends, stand out as significant contributions to Indian literature in English.
Evergreen workbook answers/solutions
Multiple Choice Questions
(a) Analysis, Application and Evaluation :
1. In which mood was the speaker before the appearance of the ‘flashes’?
(a) curious
(b) excited
(c) calm and relaxed
(d) nervous
Answer: (c) calm and relaxed
2. Select the option that shows a correct relationship between statement (1) and statement (2).
1. Blood gushed out of the narrator’s neck.
2. He feared bleeding to death.
(a) 1 is a contradiction of 2.
(b) 1 is an explanation of 2.
(c) 1 is an example of 2.
(d) 1 is the cause for 2.
Answer: (d) 1 is the cause for 2.
3. Which of these statements is NOT true about the narrator?
(a) He was weak and timid.
(b) He was dazed.
(c) He was confused.
(d) He was trying to understand the situation.
Answer: (a) He was weak and timid.
4. ………… My mind
Ran at high speed, my body crept behind.
Which of the following lines contains the same literary device as the one in the lines given above ?
(a) All the world’s stage
(b) Death, be not proud
(c) Some sat / poised like mud grenades
(d) For who can bear to feel himself forgotten
Answer: (b) Death, be not proud
5. What seemed to be at odd in the midst of all pain, loss and destruction to the narrator?
(a) scenes of dead bodies
(b) shrieks and cries of the victims
(c) silence of the victims
(d) heaps of wood and dust
Answer: (c) silence of the victims
6. ‘Where are you, Yecko-san ?’
Which of the following words best describes the narrator’s state of mind?
(a) happy
(b) alarmed
(c) excited
(d) frustrated
Answer: (b) alarmed
7. Which of these statements is NOT true?
(a) The doctor lit up his stone lantern.
(b) The doctor’s clothes were inexplicably gone.
(c) The doctor’s wife came out, numb and scared.
(d) One of the doctor’s cheeks was torn by a piece of glass.
Answer: (a) The doctor lit up his stone lantern.
8. The idea of helping his staff reveals that the doctor was ………… by nature.
(a) generous
(b) conscientious and selfless
(c) silly
(d) weird
Answer: (b) conscientious and selfless
9. ‘I was still naked, but I felt no shame’.
The line shows that the doctor was ………… .
(a) shameless
(b) numb and dazed
(c) indifferent
(d) strong-willed
Answer: (b) numb and dazed
10. How did the doctor feel when his wife had gone?
(a) sad
(b) sorrowful
(c) terribly lonely
(d) cheerful
Answer: (c) terribly lonely
11. What kind of tone is adopted by the speaker ?
(a) sentimental
(b) detached
(c) ironic
(d) sarcastic
Answer: (b) detached
12. Why were the people walking with arms ‘stretch out’?
(a) They were in a deep shock.
(b) Because of the pain when their wounds rubbed against each other
(c) To avoid bleeding more
(d) They were in a trance.
Answer: (b) Because of the pain when their wounds rubbed against each other
(b) Recalling and Understanding :
13. Who is the speaker in the poem ?
(a) the poet
(b) a wounded person
(c) a doctor
(d) none of the above
Answer: (c) a doctor
14. What kind of morning was referred to by the doctor?
(a) hot and sultry
(b) rainy
(c) calm and warm
(d) chilly
Answer: (c) calm and warm
15. What was it that made the couple trip ?
(a) a stone
(b) a dead body
(c) a piece of wood
(d) the head of a dead man
Answer: (d) the head of a dead man
16. The doctor’s wife left him quite ………… .
(a) reluctantly
(b) indifferently
(c) ruthlessly
(d) willingly
Answer: (a) reluctantly
17. Who provided the towel to the doctor?
(a) a soldier
(b) an injured man
(c) a woman
(d) his wife
Answer: (a) a soldier
Comprehension Passages
II. Comprehension Passages
PASSAGE-1
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
Suddenly
A strong flash, then another, startled me.
I saw the old stone lantern brightly lit.
Magnesium flares ? While I debated it,
The roof, the walls and, as it seemed, the world
Collapsed in timber and debris, dust swirled
Around me – in the garden now – and, weird,
My drawers and undershirt disappeared.
(i) Who is the speaker? Where was he at the moment? What pleased him?
Answer: The speaker is a doctor. He was out in his garden at the moment. It pleased him that the morning was calm and pleasant; he was half-clad as he was enjoying a relaxed day, looking at the leaves shaking and shadows.
(ii) What happened suddenly? What does the question mark in Line 3 signify?
Answer: Suddenly, there was a strong flash of light, followed by another, which surprised and shocked the speaker. The question mark in the line “Magnesium flares ?” signifies the speaker’s debate or thought process as he wondered if what he saw were magnesium flares, trying to comprehend the sudden bright light.
(iii) What happened to the house and the speaker’s clothes?
Answer: Soon, the roof and the walls of the speaker’s house fell down in a heap of wood, and dust was rising up from the pile. The speaker was shocked to find himself naked; his drawers and the undershirt that he was wearing were gone.
(iv) Whom did he call later in panic? What were his fears?
Answer: Later, he called out to his wife, Yecko-san, in panic. His fears were that his artery was punctured and bleeding, and he feared he would die.
(v) Explain, ‘the world/collapsed in timber and debris’.
Answer: The phrase ‘the world/collapsed in timber and debris’ means that the speaker’s immediate surroundings, specifically the roof and walls of his house, fell down in a heap of wood and rubble. To him, in that moment of sudden and catastrophic destruction, it seemed as if his entire world was collapsing.
PASSAGE-2
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
A splinter jutted from my mangled thigh.
My right side bled, my cheek was torn, and I
Dislodged, detachedly, a piece of glass,
All the time wondering what had come to pass.
Where was my wife? Alarmed, I gave a shout,
‘Where are you, Yecko-san?’ My blood gushed out.
The artery in my neck? Scared for my life,
I called out, panic-stricken, to my wife.
(i) What had happened on that calm morning?
Answer: On that calm morning, a nuclear bomb had fallen, causing a nuclear explosion. There was a blinding flash of light, followed by another, and the roof and walls of the speaker’s house collapsed, with debris scattered all over.
(ii) What did the doctor notice about his injuries?
Answer: The doctor noticed that a splinter jutted from his mangled thigh, his right side bled, and his cheek was torn. He also dislodged, detachedly, a piece of glass from his torn cheek.
(iii) What made the doctor think he would die?
Answer: The doctor thought he would die because his blood gushed out, and he suspected an artery in his neck was punctured and bleeding, making him scared for his life.
(iv) What did the doctor decide? What happened as he and his wife came out of their house?
Answer: The doctor decided that he and his wife must go to a hospital as they were injured and needed aid; he also suggested to his wife that they get out of the house immediately. As he and his wife came out of their house and were on their way in the street, they tripped on something, which turned out to be the head of a dead man who had been crushed under a gate.
(v) What should have been a cause of shame to the speaker? Why did he not feel any shame?
Answer: Being naked should have been a cause of shame to the speaker. He did not feel any shame because the realization that he was naked strangely made him feel no shame; it was such a situation in which one could not bother about social niceties and traditions.
PASSAGE-3
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
Pale, bloodstained, frightened, Yecko-san emerged,
Holding her elbow. ‘We’ll be fine,’ I urged –
‘Let’s get out quickly.’ Stumbling to the street
We fell, tripped by something at our feet.
I gasped out, when I saw it was a head:
‘Excuse me, please excuse me –’ He was dead :
A gate had crushed him. There we stood, afraid.
(i) Where was the speaker? Why was he afraid for his life?
Answer: The speaker and his wife were stumbling to the street, having just come out of their collapsed house. He was afraid for his life because his blood was gushing out, and he found that his artery was punctured and bleeding, making him fear he would die.
(ii) Why did the speaker have to assure his wife that they would be fine?
Answer: The speaker had to assure his wife, Yecko-san, that they would be fine because she had emerged pale, bloodstained, frightened, and holding her elbow, indicating she was weak, injured, and in shock.
(iii) What startled them on the way?
Answer: On their way, stumbling to the street, they were startled when they fell, having tripped over something at their feet. The speaker gasped out when he saw it was a head of a man who was dead, crushed by a gate.
(iv) Why did the doctor feel no shame at his nakedness?
Answer: The doctor felt no shame at his nakedness because it was such a situation of extreme crisis and shock that one could not bother about social niceties and traditions. The realization that he was naked strangely made him feel no shame.
(v) What did the doctor notice about the wounded people heading towards the hospital?
Answer: The doctor noticed that the wounded people heading towards the hospital looked like ghosts or scarecrows as they walked. They were all dumb, and their arms were stretched out as they walked because the friction on their burns caused them much pain, so they could not bear to touch their wounds. He also saw a woman with a child, both naked, and observed an eerie silence, as no one was uttering a word or a cry of pain.
PASSAGE-4
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
My breath was short, but bit by bit my strength
Seemed to revive, and I got up at length.
I was still naked, but I felt no shame.
This thought disturbed me somewhat, till I came
Upon a soldier, standing silently,
Who gave the towel round his neck to me
My legs, stiff with dried blood, rebelled. I said
To Yecko-san she must go on ahead.
(i) Who was the speaker by profession? Who was with him? Where were they going and why?
Answer: The speaker was a doctor by profession. His wife, Yecko-san, was with him. They were going to the hospital because they were injured and needed aid, and the doctor also thought he should help his staff too.
(ii) How did he feel about his physical condition at the time?
Answer: At the time, the speaker’s breath was short. Although his strength seemed to revive bit by bit, his legs, stiff with dried blood, rebelled. His body was failing his still agile mind, his legs gave way earlier, and thirst seized him.
(iii) ‘I was still naked, but I felt no shame’. What does this statement reveal about the speaker’s state of mind?
Answer: The statement ‘I was still naked, but I felt no shame’ reveals that the speaker was in a state of shock and survival mode, where social niceties and traditions became irrelevant. The realization that he was naked strangely made him feel no shame, indicating he was numb and dazed by the catastrophic situation.
(iv) Why did he ask his wife to leave him and go ahead?
Answer: He asked his wife to leave him and go ahead because his legs, stiff with dried blood, rebelled, and he was physically struggling to move. In their distress and his desperation, as his body was failing, he urged her to proceed to the hospital without him.
(v) What did he observe about a woman with a child later in the extract?
Answer: Later in the poem, the doctor observed a woman with a child, and both of them were naked.
PASSAGE-5
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
My mind
Ran at high speed, my body crept behind.
I saw the shadowy forms of people, some
Were ghosts, some scarecrows, all were wordless dumb –
Arms stretched straight out, shoulder to dangling hand;
It took some time for me to understand
The friction on their burns caused so much pain.
(i) Why was the doctor’s wife reluctant to leave him? (Understanding and Analysis)
Answer: The doctor’s wife, Yecko-san, was reluctant to leave him because she did not wish to, likely out of concern for his injured state and the natural desire not to be separated during such a distressing and dangerous time. However, in their distress and his physical inability to keep up, she reluctantly obeyed when he asked her to go on ahead.
(ii) ‘My mind/Ran at high speed, my body crept behind’. What does this reveal about the speaker’s condition?
Answer: This reveals that the speaker’s body was failing his still agile mind. His mind was active, processing the horrific events and urging action, but his severely injured and weakened physical body could not keep pace with his thoughts, moving very slowly.
(iii) What did people look like? What had happened to them?
Answer: People looked like shadowy forms; some were like ghosts, and some were like scarecrows. They were all wordless and dumb, with their arms stretched straight out. They were victims of the nuclear explosion, suffering from severe burns that caused so much pain that they feared to chafe flesh against flesh, and some strange thing had stripped them of their clothes.
(iv) Why were some people moving with outstretched hands? Had they lost their senses?
Answer: Some people were moving with outstretched hands because the friction on their burns caused them so much pain that they could not bear to touch their wounds or let their arms chafe against their bodies. The document suggests they were in a state of deep shock, numb, and wordless, rather than having completely lost their senses, as they were still heading towards the hospital.
(v) What common thing among the victims of the holocaust was noticed by the doctor on his way to the hospital?
Answer: A common thing among the victims of the holocaust noticed by the doctor was the eerie silence; no one was uttering a word or a cry of anguish. Many were also naked, as some strange thing had stripped them of their clothes or burnt them down.
PASSAGE-6
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
A woman with a child stand in my path –
Both naked. Had they come back from the bath?
I turned my gaze, but was at a loss
That she should stand thus, till I came across
A naked man – and now the thought arose
That some strange thing had stripped us of our clothes.
The face of an old woman on the ground
Was marred with suffering, but she made no sound.
Silence was common to us all. I heard
No cries of anguish, or a single word.
(i) What had happened on that fateful day? What had happened to the speaker?
Answer: On that fateful day, August 6, 1945, a nuclear bomb fell on Nagasaki, Japan, causing a nuclear explosion and mass-scale destruction. The speaker, a doctor, found himself naked and lying on the ground after the explosion; he was badly wounded, with a splinter in his mangled thigh, his right side bleeding, his cheek torn, and his drawers and undershirt had disappeared.
(ii) Why did the speaker ask his wife to come out of the house immediately?
Answer: The speaker asked his wife to come out of the house immediately because the roof, the walls, and as it seemed, the world had collapsed in timber and debris. The house was destroyed, making it dangerous to remain inside, and they needed to seek safety and medical aid.
(iii) What did he observe on the way to the hospital?
Answer: On the way to the hospital, the doctor observed more scenes of horror and destruction, including a house that tilted, swayed, and crashed, with fire springing up from the dust. He saw shadowy forms of people, some looking like ghosts and some like scarecrows, walking with their arms stretched out, all wordless and dumb. He saw a woman with a child, both naked, and an old woman on the ground marred with suffering but making no sound. A common observation was the eerie silence, with no cries of anguish or a single word from the victims.
(iv) What was the doctor’s reaction on seeing a woman with a child, both naked? Was it appropriate in the context?
Answer: On seeing a woman with a child, both naked, an absurd and silly idea flashed across the speaker’s mind: he wondered if they had come back from the bath. He was at a loss until he saw another naked man and then realized that some strange thing had stripped them of their clothes. His initial thought, while inappropriate in a normal context, reflected his dazed, confused, and shocked state as he tried to make sense of an incomprehensible and horrific situation.
(v) Explain the last two lines of the extract.
Answer: The last two lines, “Silence was common to us all. I heard / No cries of anguish, or a single word,” explain that all the victims, including the doctor-speaker, were silent. Despite being badly wounded and in immense pain, no one was uttering a word or a cry of anguish. This eerie silence highlighted the profound shock and trauma experienced by the victims, a suffering perhaps too deep for expression.
Project Assignment
1. ‘A Doctor’s Journal Entry for August 6, 1945’ is an anti-war poem. Discuss with close reference to the poem.
Answer: ‘A Doctor’s Journal Entry for August 6, 1945’ is indeed a powerful anti-war poem, as it implicitly attacks those who wage wars and cause mass-scale damage and destruction. It achieves this by presenting horrifying images of human tragedy that resulted from the aftermath of the nuclear bomb explosion in Nagasaki, Japan, on August 6, 1945, thereby becoming an earnest plea against war.
The poem opens with a serene morning scene, “calm, beautiful, and warm,” which is violently shattered by “A strong flash, then another.” This sudden shift immediately conveys the destructive nature of war. The doctor, the speaker, witnesses his world literally collapsing: “The roof, the walls and, as it seemed, the world / Collapsed in timber and debris.” This imagery of widespread destruction is a direct consequence of a war act.
The poem then focuses on the human cost. The doctor himself is “badly wounded,” with a “splinter jutted from my mangled thigh,” his “right side bled,” and his “cheek was torn.” His desperate search for his wife, Yecko-san, who emerges “Pale, bloodstained, frightened,” further personalizes the tragedy. Their stumbling upon “a head” of a man “crushed” by a gate is a gruesome depiction of death caused by the chaos.
The poem vividly portrays the suffering of other victims. The doctor sees “shadowy forms of people, some / Were ghosts, some scarecrows, all were wordless dumb.” Their arms are “stretched straight out” because “The friction on their burns caused so much pain.” The sight of a “woman with a child… Both naked,” and an “old woman on the ground / Was marred with suffering, but she made no sound” highlights the indiscriminate cruelty of the bomb. The detail that “some strange thing had stripped us of our clothes” underscores the bizarre and dehumanizing effects of the weapon.
The “eerie silence” that “was common to us all,” where “No cries of anguish, or a single word” were heard, is profoundly disturbing. This silence, in the face of such immense suffering, speaks volumes about the shock and trauma inflicted by war, a pain perhaps too deep for tears or cries. The poem’s minute, detached observation of these horrors fills the reader with revulsion against the war-mongers who cause such mass-scale destruction and damage. By focusing on the devastating impact on ordinary lives and the environment, the poem serves as a stark reminder of the horrors of war and a plea for peace.
2. The doctor’s account of events on the day Hiroshima was nuked is poignant. How?
Answer: The doctor’s account of the events on August 6, 1945, in Nagasaki, is deeply poignant as it evokes a profound sense of sadness and regret through its vivid and often understated depiction of suffering and loss. The poignancy stems from several aspects of his narrative.
Firstly, the contrast between the initial peace and the subsequent horror is striking. The “morning stretched calm, beautiful, and warm,” a picture of normalcy, is abruptly destroyed by the “strong flash.” This sudden descent into chaos and destruction makes the loss of peace even more heartbreaking.
The doctor’s personal experience of injury and shock is conveyed with a “calm and detached attitude” that is itself dismaying and poignant. When he “Dislodged, detachedly, a piece of glass” from his torn cheek, “All the time wondering what had come to pass,” it highlights his dazed state and the surreal nature of the catastrophe. His fear for his life when “My blood gushed out” and he suspects an “artery in my neck” is a raw expression of human vulnerability.
His concern for his wife, Yecko-san, adds another layer of poignancy. His alarmed shout, “Where are you, Yecko-san?” and his panic-stricken calls reveal his deep affection and fear. When he later urges her to go on ahead because his “legs, stiff with dried blood, rebelled,” the “dreadful loneliness” that “Came over me when she had gone” is a touching portrayal of human connection amidst desolation.
The graphic descriptions of death and injury are inherently poignant. Tripping over “a head” of a man crushed by a gate is a horrifying image that underscores the brutality of the event. The “shadowy forms of people,” likened to “ghosts” and “scarecrows,” “wordless dumb,” with arms outstretched to avoid the pain of their burns, paint a picture of immense, silent suffering. The sight of the naked woman and child, and the old woman “marred with suffering, but she made no sound,” evokes deep sympathy.
The loss of dignity, exemplified by the sudden, inexplicable nakedness of the victims, including the doctor himself (“My drawers and undershirt disappeared,” “I was still naked, but I felt no shame”), is a poignant detail. It shows how the disaster stripped people not just of their belongings but also of basic human coverings, yet in the face of such extremity, shame itself became irrelevant.
Finally, the overwhelming “eerie silence” is perhaps the most poignant aspect. That “No cries of anguish, or a single word” were heard from people enduring such horrific injuries speaks to a level of shock and suffering that transcends ordinary expression. This silence, in a city ravaged by a nuclear bomb, is a haunting testament to the depth of the tragedy, making the doctor’s account a profoundly moving and sorrowful testimony. His professional instinct to help his staff, even in his own precarious condition (“Though this made / Sense to me then, I wonder how I could”), further highlights the tragic circumstances.
Morning Star workbook answers/solutions
Multiple Choice Questions II
1. The poem begins with morning being:
A. Beautiful and warm
B. Chilly and morose
C. Unpleasant and humid
D. Cold and dreary
Answer: A. Beautiful and warm
2. What did he wonder when he saw the old stone lantern light up?
A. Whether it was going to be very hot that day
B. Whether there was a short circuit
C. Whether it was hit by the magnesium flares seen during the War
D. None of the above
Answer: C. Whether it was hit by the magnesium flares seen during the War
3. What was weird around the narrator after the flashes?
A. His clothes had vanished
B. The buildings had collapsed
C. There were soldiers everywhere
D. People were walking like scarecrows
Answer: A. His clothes had vanished
4. Why did the poet’s drawers and undershirt disappear?
A. Someone stole them
B. The poet misplaced
C. The poet forgot about them
D. They got burnt
Answer: D. They got burnt
5. What scared the doctor when he felt blood gush out?
A. His wife was injured too
B. They were dying
C. The blood was from the jugular vein
D. He might have been shot
Answer: C. The blood was from the jugular vein
6. What did the narrator say consoling his wife?
A. Help would arrive soon
B. They’ll be fine
C. They had no other choice
D. The hospital was near
Answer: B. They’ll be fine
7. People were walking naked on the road because:
A. They were protesting
B. They were helpless
C. Their clothes got burnt
D. They were shocked
Answer: C. Their clothes got burnt
8. What did the poet wonder when he saw a woman and child, both naked?
A. Whether they got hurt badly
B. Whether they were very poor
C. Whether they rushed to save their lives and forgot to wear clothes
D. Whether they had come out straight after a bath
Answer: D. Whether they had come out straight after a bath
9. Why were people walking with ‘Arms stretched out’?
A. Because they were burnt
B. Because they were bleeding
C. Because of the pain when the burnt wounds rubbed against each other
D. Because the blood was gushing out of their wounds
Answer: C. Because of the pain when the burnt wounds rubbed against each other
10. Why were all the people speechless?
A. Because their wounds were aching
B. Because they all were shocked
C. Because they could not cry in spite of their pain
D. Because they were not allowed to speak
Answer: C. Because they could not cry in spite of their pain
11. The poem depicts:
A. Human resilience
B. Absolute helplessness
C. Aftermath of War
D. Personal anguish
Answer: C. Aftermath of War
12. Destruction by bombs signifies:
A. Humanity deprived of its human nature
B. Helplessness
C. Death and destruction
D. Loneliness of man
Answer: C. Death and destruction
13. Upon seeing the fire spring up from dust what ‘dawned on’ the doctor?
A. He should go to the hospital
B. He needed help
C. His staff needed help
D. All of the above
Answer: D. All of the above
14. What does the line ‘shuffled in a blank parade’ mean?
A. Walked involuntarily as if in a trance
B. Anguished involuntarily
C. Human figures built with sticks and placed in farmlands
D. Complaints of pain
Answer: A. Walked involuntarily as if in a trance
Context Questions and Answers
Extract 1
The morning stretched calm, beautiful, and warm.
Sprawling half-clad, I gazed out at the form
Of shimmering leaves and shadows. Suddenly
A strong flash, then another, startled me.
I saw the old stone lantern brightly lit…
Magnesium flares?
(i) How is the morning described in the extract? In what mood was the narrator?
Answer: The morning is described as calm, beautiful, and warm. The narrator was relaxed and leisurely, gazing at the tranquil scene around him.
(ii) What startled the narrator? What did he think of it?
Answer: The narrator was startled by two strong flashes of light. He initially thought they might be magnesium flares.
(iii) What was the impact of the explosion on the place and the people?
Answer: The explosion caused the collapse of the roof, walls, and seemingly the entire world, creating widespread destruction. The people, including the narrator, were injured, disoriented, and confused, struggling to comprehend what had happened.
(iv) How much did the narrator personally suffer in the explosion?
Answer: The narrator was seriously injured; he had a splinter embedded in his mangled thigh, his right side was bleeding, and his cheek was torn. He also had to dislodge a piece of glass from his body, all while feeling detached from the situation.
(v) Give the meaning of:
(a) “The morning stretched calm, beautiful, and warm”
Answer: The morning was peaceful, with a serene and pleasant atmosphere.
(b) “A strong flash, then another, startled me.”
Answer: The narrator was surprised and alarmed by sudden, bright flashes of light that disrupted the calm morning.
Extract 2
The artery in my neck? Scared for my life,
I called out, panic-stricken, to my wife.
Pale, bloodstained, frightened, Yecko-san emerged,
Holding her elbow.
(i) What made the blood gush out? Why was the narrator panic-stricken?
Answer: The narrator feared that his neck artery had been damaged, which caused him to panic and fear for his life.
(ii) What in the extract shows that Yecko-san was badly injured?
Answer: Yecko-san was described as pale, bloodstained, and frightened, indicating she was seriously hurt, and she was holding her injured elbow.
(iii) What did the narrator tell his wife, consoling her? What does it say about the narrator?
Answer: The narrator reassured his wife by saying, “We’ll be fine,” even though they were both badly injured. This shows that the narrator was trying to stay calm and comforting despite the severity of the situation.
(iv) Describe the object they found on the street. What was the reaction of the narrator after finding the object?
Answer: The object they found on the street was a severed head. The narrator, in shock and disbelief, uttered, “Excuse me, please excuse me,” showing his confusion and horror.
(v) By giving two examples, state how an atmosphere of fear was created by the explosion in the minds of the narrator and his wife.
Answer:
- The narrator’s fear that his neck artery was severed created a sense of immediate danger.
- Finding a severed head on the street intensified the horror and fear they were experiencing.
Extract 3
A gate had crushed him. There we stood, afraid.
A house standing before us tilted, swayed,
Toppled, and crashed. Fire sprang up in the dust,
Spread by the wind.
(i) Who was dead? What had killed him?
Answer: A man was dead, killed by a gate that had crushed him during the explosion.
(ii) Describe the strange things that happened as stated in the extract.
Answer: A house in front of them tilted, swayed, and then collapsed, which was followed by a fire that spread through the dust, carried by the wind.
(iii) Immediately after the extract, what two decisions does the narrator make?
Answer: The narrator decides that they need to get to the hospital for aid, and he also plans to help his staff at the hospital.
(iv) Why couldn’t the narrator aid his staff at the hospital?
Answer: The narrator’s legs gave way, and he was physically unable to continue, leaving him incapacitated.
(v) What physical inconveniences did the narrator suffer after the incidents referred to in the extract?
Answer: The narrator suffered from thirst, shortness of breath, and stiffness in his legs due to dried blood. He also felt physically weakened and drained.
Extract 4
Seemed to revive, and I got up at length.
I was still naked, but I felt no shame,
This thought disturbed me somewhat, till I came
Upon a soldier, standing silently,
Who gave the towel round his neck to me.
(i) Why was the breath of the speaker short?
Answer: The narrator’s breath was short because of the physical trauma and exhaustion caused by the explosion.
(ii) The narrator was conscious that he was naked. Who helped him? How did the offer help the narrator to have self-confidence?
Answer: A soldier standing silently gave him the towel around his neck. This small act of kindness gave the narrator some sense of dignity and self-confidence in a moment of vulnerability.
(iii) Why did he send Yecko-san alone to the hospital? How did he justify his decision to let his wife go alone to the hospital?
Answer: The narrator sent Yecko-san alone to the hospital because he was too weak to continue. He justified it as their only option under the circumstances, as they both needed medical attention.
(iv) What did the narrator feel when Yecko-san left for the hospital? Explain the symbolism.
Answer: The narrator felt a dreadful loneliness when Yecko-san left. This symbolizes the isolation and despair brought on by the aftermath of the explosion.
(v) Describe the appearance of the people whom the narrator saw.
Answer: The people appeared as shadowy forms, like ghosts or scarecrows, with their arms stretched out due to the pain from burns. They moved in silence, resembling a lifeless, blank parade.
Extract 5
I saw the shadowy forms of people, some
Were ghosts, some scarecrows, all were wordless, dumb-
Arms stretched straight out, shoulder to dangling hand;
It took some time for me to understand
The friction on their burns caused so much pain
They feared to chafe flesh against flesh again.
(i) What does the speaker mean by “shadowy forms of people”? Why were they looking so?
Answer: “Shadowy forms of people” refers to the survivors of the explosion, who looked ghostly and deformed, moving slowly and painfully due to their severe burns.
(ii) Explain briefly the horrifying effect of the bombing on the people, as described in the extract.
Answer: The bombing left people badly burned and disfigured. They moved with their arms outstretched to avoid further pain from their burns, and they were silent and in shock.
(iii) What caused the pain as the victims of the bombing moved? What is the suffering of the narrator as well as his wife in the poem?
Answer: The friction between burned flesh caused immense pain when they moved. Both the narrator and his wife suffered severe physical injuries and emotional distress as they tried to survive the aftermath.
(iv) Give the meaning of the following:
(a) “Feared to chafe flesh against flesh again”
Answer: The victims were afraid of rubbing their burned skin against their own bodies, which would cause further pain.
(b) “Shuffled in a blank parade”
Answer: The survivors moved slowly and mechanically, as if in a lifeless procession, their minds numbed by the horror they had endured.
(v) How does the poet create an atmosphere of fear, panic, and horror in the poem?
Answer: The poet uses vivid imagery of destruction, injury, and silence to evoke the terror of the bombing. The description of ghostly, disfigured people, the narrator’s injuries, and the lifeless movements of the survivors contribute to the atmosphere of fear and horror.
Extract 6
…Had they come back from the bath?
I turned my gaze, but I was at a loss
That she should stand thus, till I came across
A naked man and now the thought arose
That some strange thing had stripped us of our clothes.
The face of an old woman on the ground
Was marred with suffering, but she made no sound.
Silence was common to us all. I heard
No cries of anguish, or a single word.
(i) Who are “they” referred to in the extract? Why does the narrator doubt whether they had come back from the bath?
Answer: “They” refers to the naked survivors the narrator encounters. The narrator wonders if they had come back from the bath because of their nakedness, but he quickly realizes that the explosion had stripped them of their clothes.
(ii) The poem often refers to the nakedness of the body. Figuratively, besides the bomb explosion, who else is responsible for making them naked of clothes as well as human dignity? How?
Answer: Figuratively, the bomb and the war itself are responsible for stripping the survivors of their dignity, leaving them exposed and vulnerable, both physically and emotionally.
(iii) What is meant by: “Silence was common to us all?”
Answer: This means that all the survivors were in a state of shock and unable to speak or express their anguish. The traumatic event had rendered them speechless.
(iv) Describe the physical and psychological sufferings shown in the extract.
Answer: Physically, the people were naked, injured, and disfigured, like the old woman whose face was marred by suffering. Psychologically, they were in shock, unable to speak or express their pain.
(v) What has appealed to you in the poem? Give two examples to justify your opinion.
Answer:
- The vivid imagery: The poet’s use of powerful descriptions, such as the ghostly figures with outstretched arms, effectively conveys the horror of the situation.
- The emotional depth: The narrator’s detached yet poignant reflections on the destruction around him add a layer of emotional complexity to the poem.
Extras
Questions and Answers
Extract 1
The morning stretched calm, beautiful, and warm.
Sprawling half-clad, I gazed out at the form
Of shimmering leaves and shadows. Suddenly
A strong flash, then another, startled me.
(i) What is the setting described in the opening lines?
Answer: The poem opens with a calm and peaceful morning. The speaker is relaxed, lying half-clad and observing the beauty of the shimmering leaves and shadows.
(ii) What event interrupts the peaceful scene?
Answer: The speaker is startled by a strong flash, followed by another, which interrupts the tranquil atmosphere.
(iii) How does the speaker’s initial reaction reflect his unawareness of the gravity of the situation?
Answer: The speaker debates whether the flashes are magnesium flares, indicating that he does not immediately grasp the magnitude of the event.
(iv) What does the sudden interruption foreshadow?
Answer: The flashes foreshadow the devastating impact of the atomic bomb that would soon destroy the world around the speaker.
(v) How does the poet use contrast in this extract?
Answer: The poet contrasts the calm and serene morning with the sudden, shocking flashes, highlighting the disruption caused by the bomb.
Extract 5
Silence was common to us all. I heard
No cries of anguish, or a single word.
(i) How does silence function as a motif in this extract?
Answer: Silence in this extract functions as a motif representing the collective shock and trauma experienced by the survivors, who are too overwhelmed to express their pain.
(ii) What does the absence of cries suggest about the survivors’ condition?
Answer: The absence of cries suggests that the survivors are in such a state of shock and devastation that they cannot even voice their suffering.
(iii) How does the poet use silence to underscore the emotional numbness?
Answer: The poet uses silence to underscore the emotional numbness of the survivors, who are too deeply affected by the catastrophe to respond with typical human emotions like crying or screaming.
(iv) In what way does this silence contrast with the earlier chaotic scenes?
Answer: This silence contrasts sharply with the earlier scenes of destruction, fire, and death, highlighting a transition from physical chaos to a haunting emotional void.
(v) How does the poet’s portrayal of silence enhance the overall impact of the poem?
Answer: The portrayal of silence enhances the overall impact by emphasizing the overwhelming nature of the tragedy, leaving both the survivors and the readers to confront the void left in the aftermath of such destruction.
MCQs (Knowledge Based)
1. What descriptive phrase does the speaker use to characterise the morning before the explosion?
A. Chaotic and fearful
B. Calm, beautiful, and warm
C. Dark, gloomy, and cold
D. Quiet, eerie, and still
Answer: B. Calm, beautiful, and warm
35. What role does wind play immediately after the explosion according to the poem?
A. It extinguishes fires
B. It spreads fire in the dust
C. It brings relief with a cool breeze
D. It carries rescue helicopters
Answer: B. It spreads fire in the dust
MCQs (Competency Based)
1. (I) A strong flash, then another, startled the narrator.
(II) The narrator was enjoying a calm, beautiful, and warm morning.
(a) I is a direct consequence of II.
(b) II describes the situation immediately before I occurred.
(c) I and II are unrelated events.
(d) II is the reason I happened.
Answer: (b) II describes the situation immediately before I occurred.
25. (I) The narrator saw a woman with a child, both naked.
(II) The narrator realized that some strange thing had deprived them of all their clothes.
(a) I is a common sight.
(b) II is the narrator’s eventual understanding of the unusual observation in I.
(c) I and II are contradictory.
(d) II happened before I.
Answer: (b) II is the narrator’s eventual understanding of the unusual observation in I.
Get notes of other classes and subjects
Awesome answers!! Helped a lot.
good but i needed an alternate ending
LOVED IT! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!
yes it is a good website
Very helpful to all students of ICSE.
Helpful
Very helpful to all
Helped me at all ?
Itz good for all