A Doctor's Journal Entry for August 6, 1945 Workbook Answers

A Doctor's Journal Entry for August 6, 1945 workbook solution, A Doctor's Journal Entry for August 6, 1945 Workbook Answers Question Answers Treasure chest poem ICSE

Section B: Context Questions

1. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:

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?

Ans: In the extract, the morning is described as calm, beautiful, and warm. The mention of "shimmering leaves and shadows" adds to the sense of tranquillity and natural beauty. The narrator was in a relaxed and peaceful mood after waking from sleep.

(ii) What startled the narrator? What did he think of it?

Ans: The narrator is startled by the consecutive strong flashes of light coming from the old stone lantern. He's thinking of the magnesium flare that is seen during the wars.

(iii) What was the impact of the explosion on the place and the people?

Ans: The roof and the wall of the building collapsed. Timber and debris are scattered all around and there was dust rising up from the pile. The doctor found himself thrown into the garden and the drawers, and undershirts he had been wearing were burnt off.

(iv) How much did the narrator personally suffer in the explosion?

Ans: The narrator personally suffered significant injuries in the explosion. They experienced a mangled thigh with a protruding splinter, bleeding from the right side, a torn cheek, and dislodged a piece of glass. Additionally, the narrator's drawers and undershirt disappeared.

(v) Give the meaning of
(a) The morning stretched calm, beautiful, and warm
(b) A strong flash, then another, startled me.

Ans: (a)the morning was calm, beautiful and warm.
(b) two consecutive strong flashes one after another made the narrator surprise.

II. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:...My blood gushed out.

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?

Ans: Injuries due to the strong flash made the blood gush out from the artery of the neck.

(ii) What in the extract shows that Yecko-san was badly injured?

Ans: Yecko-san emerged before the Narrator as pale, holding her elbow, bloodstained can be seen on her and she was frightened. She was equally injured as her husband in the given situation of war and agony.

(iii) What did the narrator tell his wife consoling her? What does it say about the narrator?

Ans: The narrator tells his wife, Yecko-san, "We'll be fine." i.e narrator assured his wife that they will be fine very soon for now we have to get out quickly to protect ourselves. It shows that the narrator is trying to remain calm and composed despite the circumstances. The narrator is concerned about his wife and motivating her.

(iv) Describe the object they found on the street. What was the reaction of the narrator after finding the object?

Ans: They found a human head on the street. He gasped in shock. He then apologised but realised the person was dead. Then he felt afraid.

(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.

Ans: In the poem, there are many scenarios depicted that state how an atmosphere of fear was created by the explosion in the minds of the narrator and his wife. Everything around them had collapsed only timber and debris are left over. Both were bleeding and their conditions are horrifying. They nearly tripped on a human head. All these examples create an atmosphere of fear due to the explosion.

III. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:...He was dead:

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?

Ans: The human being on whose head the narrator and his wife tripped and nearly fell. A gate had fallen on him and crushed him.

(ii) Describe the strange things that happened as stated in the extract,

Ans: A house was standing and like a pack of cards swayed, tilted and collapsed. The swirling dust gave rise to a fire that was spread by the winds.

(iii) Immediately after the extract, what two decisions does the narrator make?

Ans: The narrator makes the decision to go to the hospital for help and also to aid the hospital staff. When he could not get up he asked his wife to go alone and seek help.

(iv) Why couldn't the narrator aid his staff at the hospital?

Ans: The narrator himself condition is horrifying he is bleeding profusely. His legs gave way and he was forced to sit on the ground.

(v) What physical inconveniences did the narrator suffer after the incidents referred to in the extract?

Ans: The narrator couldn't walk due to injuries in his thigh, forcing them to sit on the ground in exhaustion. They were thirsty but lacked water, and due to smoke and dust, they feel shortness of breath. Despite being naked, their focus was on survival, not shame.

IV. Read the extract given below and answer the questions thatMy 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.

(i) Why was the breath of the speaker short? "But bit by bit my strength/Seemed to the post-war history of Japan, what is the symbolism involved in this expression?

Ans: They were Badly injured and bleeding profusely walking in order to get help makes them tired therefore they feel shortness of breath. The Japanese withstood the calamity, and with their indomitable spirit and hard work rose up (bit by bit my strength/Seemed to revive) and gradually rebuilt their shattered
City and their world.

(ii) The narrator was conscious that he was naked. Who helped him? How did the offer help the narrator to have self-confidence?

Ans: A soldier helped him, he gave the towel he had on his neck to the narrator. This act symbolized the soldier's willingness to give what he had to help another, showcasing basic human goodness. The gesture provided the narrator with a sense of care and support, boosting his self-confidence amid the distressing situation.

(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?

Ans: Realizing his legs were stiff from dried blood and burnt, the narrator found himself unable to walk. In a justified decision, he sent his wife alone to seek help, as they had no other options at the time. His physical condition and the urgency of the situation led to this difficult choice, emphasizing the dire circumstances they faced.

(iv) What did the narrator feel when Yecko-san left for the hospital? Explain the symbolism?

Ans: The narrator feels lonely when Yecko-san left for the hospital. His mind was working but his body could not keep its speed. The powerful nations like the United States of America cause destruction and suffering to common people to display their power and isolate their enemies. Nobody comes to rescue the vanquished.

(v) Describe the appearance of the people whom the narrator saw. 

Ans: In the extract, the people the narrator saw appeared as silhouettes of humans, resembling ghosts or scarecrows. They walked like zombies with outstretched arms, and despite being naked, they exhibited no shame. The prevailing silence added to the eerie atmosphere, symbolizing the profound shock and trauma they experienced after the bombing.

V. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:

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.
Those who could, shuffled in a blank parade
Towards the hospital.

(i) What does the speaker mean by: shadowy forms of people? Why were they looking so?

Ans: They looked like silhouettes against the grey background - bombing caused destruction and buildings collapsed - dust was everywhere.

(ii) Explain briefly the horrifying effect of the bombing on the people, as described in the extract.

Ans: The bombing had a horrifying effect on the people, evident as they walked like zombies with outstretched arms, hands dangling, and shell-shocked expressions. The traumatized crowd moved in silence, collectively walking towards the hospital, portraying the overwhelming impact of the event on their physical and emotional well-being.

(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?

Ans: They were burned badly - any movement was painful especially when flesh touched flesh. Narrator could not walk, he was breathless and bleeding. His wife was pale due to loss of blood. Both were completely exhausted.

(iv) Give the meaning of the following:
(a) feared to chafe flesh against flesh again
(b) shuffled in a blank parade

Ans: (a) The flesh on their body was burnt badly to anything touching it would cause immerse pain - flesh touching flesh would magnify.
(b) Walked in a straight line without touching one another or making any in the same direction.(v) How does the poet create an atmosphere of fear, panic and horror in the poem?
Ans: Vikram Seth masterfully creates an atmosphere of fear, panic, and horror in the poem through various narrative techniques. The absence of elaborate rhyming and structured stanzas fosters a continuous and realistic narration. Vivid imagery, hyperbole, and personification intensify the impact of the bomb's devastation, depicting people walking like shadows and ghosts, enduring pain and helplessness. The gruesome details of the explosion evoke an overwhelming sense of fear and horror, immersing readers in the tragic aftermath. (for more details Refer to 'Narrative technique' under Style.)

VI. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:

...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?

Ans: People are referred to in the extract who are badly injured and walking towards the hospital to seek help. The narrator doubt whether they had come back from the bath as they were absolutely naked as if they had just had a bath.

(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?

Ans: Figuratively, besides the bomb explosion, the poet suggests that war itself and the leaders or nations involved in it are responsible for making the people naked of clothes and human dignity. War, as a violent and destructive act, not only physically strips away their clothes through bombings but also metaphorically strips away their humanity and dignity. The dehumanizing nature of war and its impact on innocent lives are implied as significant factors in this figurative nakedness of both clothes and human dignity.

(iii) What is meant by: "Silence was common to us all?"

Ans: The line "Silence was common to us all" means that amidst the horrifying aftermath of the bombing, everyone affected by it shared a sense of speechlessness and shock. The traumatic events left the people in a state of disbelief and emotional numbness, rendering them unable to express their anguish or pain verbally. The silence symbolizes a collective response to the overwhelming and devastating experience, where words seemed insufficient to convey the depth of their emotions and the magnitude of the tragedy.

(iv) Describe the physical and psychological sufferings shown in the extract.

Ans: The extract vividly portrays the physical and psychological sufferings caused by the bombing of Hiroshima. The narrator's mangled thigh, bleeding, and torn cheek depict severe injuries. The sudden flashes startle and devastate, while the people's ghostly forms and wordlessness reveal their trauma. The scenes of destruction induce mental agony, highlighting the devastating consequences of war and serving as an anti-war reminder.

(v) What has appealed to you in the poem? Give two examples to justify your opinion.

Ans: