A.
Page 17: The morning stretched…………. I saw it was a head.
Glossary
Journal-like
– The poem is written in the style of a diary entry: immediate, personal, not
polished like formal poetry. It reads like an eyewitness account.
Sprawling
– Lying with arms and legs spread loosely, without care; conveys relaxation
before the disaster.
Half-clad
– Only partly dressed, perhaps wearing underclothes. Suggests informality and
comfort before the sudden horror.
Shimmering
leaves and shadows – Images of peace and natural beauty: leaves glittering in
the sunlight, creating shifting shadows.
Flash
– A sudden blaze of light; shocking in brightness.
Magnesium
flares – Bright artificial lights that burn with a silver-white flame, often
used in war or photography. The doctor mistakes the nuclear explosion for
these.
Debated
it – Considered, puzzled over, trying to explain the flashes logically.
Blazing
white flame – The fireball of the atomic explosion, brighter than the sun, that
instantly destroys everything.
Roof,
the walls, the world fell down – Complete destruction; the poet exaggerates to
show that the bomb shattered not just buildings but life itself.
Debris
– Broken pieces of timber, stone, and household objects scattered everywhere
after the blast.
Dust
swirled – A whirlwind of ash and rubble, symbolizing confusion and suffocation.
Drawers
and undershirt disappeared – The atomic heat vaporized his clothes instantly.
Splinter
– A sharp fragment of broken material (probably wood) piercing his thigh.
Mangled
– Severely damaged or mutilated.
Detachedly
– Without emotion, in shock; as if the body and mind were separate.
Glass
– A shard (broken piece) from windows or bottles, embedded in his body.
Wondering
what had come to pass – Confusion, disbelief, inability to grasp the enormity
of what just happened.
Alarmed
– Frightened suddenly, worried for his wife.
Yecko-san
– A Japanese respectful way of addressing a woman (his wife’s name was Yecko).
Blood
gushed out – Blood flowed forcefully, suggesting a dangerous wound.
Artery
– A major blood vessel; damage here could cause death within minutes.
Panic-stricken
– Overcome by fear, not thinking clearly.
Pale,
bloodstained – Description of his wife’s appearance; shocked and wounded.
Stumbling
– Walking unsteadily, tripping while escaping.
Tripped
by something at our feet – Obstacles everywhere; here it turns out to be
something horrifying.
It
was a head – A severed human head on the street, representing the gruesome
destruction and dehumanization caused by the bomb.
Paraphrase
The
morning of August 6, 1945, began in complete peace. The doctor describes the
scene as calm, beautiful, and warm. He was lying lazily, only half-dressed,
gazing at the lovely play of light and shadow among the leaves. It was a moment
of serenity, like any normal day.
But
suddenly, his life was shattered. Out of nowhere came an intense flash of light
— in fact, two flashes — so strong and startling that he did not know what to
make of them. He wondered if they might be magnesium flares, the kind used in
photography or in war, because of their silver-white brightness. But before he
could settle on an explanation, an even more terrifying light burst forth — a
blinding white flame that consumed everything.
In
seconds, his roof and walls collapsed, crashing down as if the entire world
were falling apart. Dust rose in choking swirls, and fragments of timber and
broken objects rained down. He found himself in the garden, strangely unclothed
— the bomb’s scorching heat had burned away even his underwear.
As
he tried to make sense of the devastation, he noticed injuries on his body. A
wooden splinter had pierced his thigh; blood was flowing from his right side;
his cheek was torn open. Yet, in a state of shock, he behaved almost
mechanically: he even pulled out a piece of glass from his body with a kind of
detached curiosity, all the while asking himself what had happened to cause
this nightmare.
Suddenly
his thoughts turned to his wife, Yecko-san. Fear gripped him. He shouted out
her name, terrified that she might be dead. Blood continued to gush from his
wounds, and he feared that an artery in his neck might have been cut, which
could mean certain death. Overcome with panic, he called to her again.
At
last, Yecko-san emerged. She was pale, frightened, and covered in blood,
holding her hurt elbow. Though his own condition was critical, he tried to give
her courage, telling her they would be all right and that they must escape
quickly. Together, leaning on one another, they stumbled into the street. But
their escape was blocked by something lying on the ground. They tripped over it
— and to their horror, they realized it was not an object, but a severed human
head.
The doctor’s journal captures the shocking contrast between the peaceful morning and the unimaginable destruction that followed in mere seconds. It highlights the helplessness of ordinary people caught in the horror of the atomic bomb.
Part
A: Multiple Choice Questions (20)
1.
The poem A Doctor’s Journal Entry for August 6, 1945 is set in:
a)
Hiroshima
b)
Nagasaki
c)
Tokyo
d)
Kyoto
Answer:
a) Hiroshima
2.
The form of the poem is:
a)
A ballad
b)
A diary/journal entry
c)
A narrative play
d)
A sonnet
Answer:
b) A diary/journal entry
3.
The first impression of the morning is described as:
a)
Stormy and violent
b)
Calm, beautiful, and warm
c)
Misty and cold
d)
Silent and dull
Answer:
b) Calm, beautiful, and warm
4.
The “strong flash” the doctor sees is:
a)
Lightning
b)
Magnesium flares
c)
Atomic bomb explosion
d)
Shooting stars
Answer:
c) Atomic bomb explosion
5.
The stone lantern appeared:
a)
Broken
b)
Brightly lit
c)
Melting
d)
Blackened
Answer:
b) Brightly lit
6.
The doctor’s first injuries were:
a)
Burnt hair
b)
Mangled thigh, torn cheek, and bleeding side
c)
Blindness
d)
Broken arm
Answer:
b) Mangled thigh, torn cheek, and bleeding side
7.
What did the doctor detach from his body?
a)
A wooden splinter
b)
A piece of glass
c)
A metal rod
d)
A nail
Answer:
b) A piece of glass
8.
The doctor’s wife is called:
a)
Yoshi-san
b)
Yecko-san
c)
Keiko-san
d)
Natsu-san
Answer:
b) Yecko-san
9.
The doctor was afraid that the bomb had damaged:
a)
His lungs
b)
His artery in the neck
c)
His brain
d)
His spine
Answer:
b) His artery in the neck
10.
Yecko-san emerged:
a)
Unharmed
b)
Pale, bloodstained, frightened
c)
Laughing
d)
With broken glass in her hand
Answer:
b) Pale, bloodstained, frightened
11.
What part of her body was Yecko-san holding?
a)
Her knee
b)
Her head
c)
Her elbow
d)
Her chest
Answer:
c) Her elbow
12.
The couple stumbled when they reached the street because of:
a)
Rubble
b)
A dead man
c)
Severed head
d)
A wall collapse
Answer:
c) Severed head
13.
The poem was written by:
a)
Vikram Seth
b)
Rabindranath Tagore
c)
R.K. Narayan
d)
Nissim Ezekiel
Answer:
a) Vikram Seth
14.
The poem’s tone can best be described as:
a)
Humorous
b)
Detached yet horrifying
c)
Romantic
d)
Joyful
Answer:
b) Detached yet horrifying
15.
The poem depicts the bombing of Hiroshima on:
a)
9th August 1945
b)
6th August 1945
c)
5th August 1945
d)
7th August 1945
Answer:
b) 6th August 1945
16.
The imagery in the poem mostly appeals to:
a)
Taste
b)
Sound
c)
Sight
d)
Smell
Answer:
c) Sight
17.
The “calm and beautiful morning” is contrasted with:
a)
A bright rainbow
b)
A violent explosion
c)
A gentle breeze
d)
A morning prayer
Answer:
b) A violent explosion
18.
Which emotion dominates the doctor’s reaction?
a)
Anger
b)
Wondering confusion
c)
Hatred
d)
Pride
Answer:
b) Wondering confusion
19.
The poem captures the horrors of:
a)
World War I
b)
World War II
c)
The Cold War
d)
The Korean War
Answer:
b) World War II
20.
The main theme of the poem is:
a)
Nature’s beauty
b)
Nuclear destruction and human suffering
c)
Love and sacrifice
d)
Traditional Japanese culture
Answer: b) Nuclear destruction and human suffering
Part
B: One-Mark Questions (20)
1.
Who is the poet of A Doctor’s Journal Entry for August 6, 1945?
Vikram
Seth
2.
What city does the poem describe?
Hiroshima
3.
On what date was the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima?
6th
August 1945
4.
What was the weather like in the morning?
Calm,
beautiful, and warm
5.
What startled the doctor?
A
strong flash, then another
6.
What did the doctor mistake the flash for?
Magnesium
flares
7.
What happened to the roof and walls?
They
collapsed in dust and debris
8.
What happened to the doctor’s clothes?
His
drawers and undershirt disappeared
9.
What jutted from his thigh?
A
splinter
10.
What did the doctor detach from his cheek?
A
piece of glass
11.
What was the doctor worried about in his neck?
His
artery might have been damaged
12.
What is the name of the doctor’s wife?
Yecko-san
13.
How did Yecko-san look when she emerged?
Pale,
bloodstained, and frightened
14.
What part of her body was hurt?
Elbow
15.
What gushed out of the doctor’s body?
Blood
16.
What did the couple stumble over in the street?
A
head
17.
What is the structure of the poem?
Diary/journal-like
free verse
18.
Which war does it describe?
World
War II
19.
What kind of tone is used in the poem?
Detached,
observational, journal-like
20.
What is the central theme?
Horrors of the atomic bombing
Part
C: Two-Mark Questions (10)
1.
How does the poet create irony in the opening stanza?
The
morning is described as calm and beautiful, which sharply contrasts with the
sudden, violent destruction caused by the bomb.
2.
What did the doctor initially think the flash was? Why?
He
thought it was magnesium flares, as soldiers often used such lights in wartime.
3.
What was the doctor’s physical condition after the blast?
He
had a mangled thigh, torn cheek, bleeding side, and glass lodged in his flesh.
4.
Why was the doctor alarmed about his neck?
He
feared that the artery in his neck had been cut, which could cause death from
heavy bleeding.
5.
How is Yecko-san portrayed in the poem?
She
is pale, bloodstained, and frightened, yet emerges bravely, showing resilience
despite her injuries.
6.
Why does the poet use a detached tone?
To
reflect the shock, numbness, and disbelief of survivors who couldn’t process
the sudden horror.
7.
What kind of imagery is used in the poem?
Vivid
visual imagery—flashes, debris, mangled body, blood, severed head—creates
horror and realism.
8.
How does the poem highlight human suffering?
By
describing the doctor and his wife’s injuries, confusion, and panic amidst mass
destruction.
9.
What is the significance of the severed head?
It
symbolizes the sheer brutality and inhuman destruction caused by the atomic
bomb.
10.
Why is the poem titled “A Doctor’s Journal Entry”?
Because it reads like a factual, unemotional diary entry, yet reveals unimaginable human tragedy.
Part
D: Three-Mark Questions (5)
1.
Discuss how Vikram Seth balances beauty and horror in the poem.
The
calm, beautiful morning sharply contrasts with the sudden, horrifying
destruction. This juxtaposition intensifies the impact of the tragedy, showing
how life changed within seconds.
2.
Explain the significance of the doctor’s detached narration style.
His
tone reflects shock and numbness; survivors couldn’t fully grasp the horror.
The plain, factual narration makes the horror more chilling.
3.
How does the poem depict the effects of the atomic bomb on civilians?
Through
imagery of mangled bodies, collapsed houses, blood, injuries, and death, Seth
shows the helplessness of ordinary people caught in destruction.
4.
What role does Yecko-san play in the poem?
She
represents the silent suffering of civilians. Despite her injuries, she
supports her husband, symbolizing resilience amidst despair.
5.
How does the poem convey the theme of war’s futility?
By showing the sudden end to peace and beauty, turning life into chaos and death, it highlights how war only brings destruction without meaning.
Part
E: Reference to Context (5 Extracts with Questions)
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.”
Q1.
How does the poet set the mood in the beginning? (2m)
By
describing a peaceful morning before the sudden shock of destruction.
Q2.
What startled the doctor? (1m)
A
strong flash from the atomic bomb.
Q3.
Identify the figure of speech in “shimmering leaves and shadows.” (1m)
Imagery / Alliteration.
Extract
2:
“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.”
Q1.
What caused the collapse? (1m)
The
atomic bomb blast.
Q2.
What is the effect of the description “as it seemed, the world”? (2m)
It
shows the scale of destruction, as if the entire world collapsed.
Q3.
What happened to the doctor’s clothes? (1m)
They disappeared in the blast.
Extract
3:
“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.”
Q1.
What injuries did the doctor sustain? (2m)
Mangled
thigh, bleeding side, torn cheek, and glass lodged in his flesh.
Q2.
Explain “dislodged, detachedly.” (1m)
He
removed the glass without emotion, in shock.
Q3.
What does this reveal about his state of mind? (2m)
He was numb, unable to react emotionally to the horror.
Extract
4:
“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.”
Q1.
What was the doctor’s greatest fear? (1m)
That
his neck artery was cut.
Q2.
What does this extract reveal about his relationship with Yecko-san? (2m)
His
first thought was about her safety, showing love and concern.
Q3.
Identify the figure of speech in “My blood gushed out.” (1m)
Imagery (visual).
Extract
5:
“We
fell, tripped by something at our feet.
I
gasped out, when I saw it was a head.”
Q1.
What does the “head” symbolize in the poem? (2m)
The
inhuman horror and brutality of nuclear war.
Q2.
What emotion does the doctor express here? (1m)
Shock
and horror.
Q3.
How does the poet intensify the effect in this line? (2m)
By
using simple, factual language to describe something terrifying, making it more
chilling.
B. Page 18: Excuse me, ………..caused so much pain
Excuse me, please excuse me – The desperate words of a dying man crushed by the blast, apologizing even while dying.
Gate had crushed him – A heavy gate, blown down by the explosion, killed him.
Tilted, swayed, toppled, crashed – The sequence of how a house collapsed due to the force of the bomb.
Fire sprang up in the dust – Fires started immediately in the ruins.
Spread by the wind – Strong winds fanned and spread the fire.
Aid –Medical help or relief.
Staff – The people working with the doctor (assistants, nurses, helpers).
My legs gave way – His strength failed, and he collapsed to the ground.
Thirst seized me – He was overcome by unbearable thirst, a common symptom after radiation and shock.
My breath was short – He found it difficult to breathe.
Revive – Slowly recover some strength.
Naked – His clothes had been blown away in the blast.
Felt no shame – Shock and survival made him forget modesty.
Disturbed me somewhat – He was troubled by the thought of being unclothed.
Soldier standing silently – A soldier, also shocked, in silence.
Towel round his neck – Soldiers often carry towels; this soldier offered his to the doctor.
My legs, stiff with dried blood, rebelled – His bloodied legs were stiff and resisted movement.
Yecko-san – His wife.
Go on ahead – He asked her to move forward alone because he was too weak.
Dreadful loneliness – The painful feeling of isolation when his wife went on.
My mind ran at high speed, my body crept behind slowly – His thoughts were racing in panic, but his weak body could barely move.
Shadowy forms of people – Survivors, badly burned, appearing ghost-like in the smoke and ruins.
Ghosts, scarecrows – Survivors looked so skeletal, lifeless, and eerie that they seemed like spirits or scarecrows.
Wordless, dumb – They were silent, shocked, unable to speak.
Arms stretched straight out, shoulder to dangling hand – Their arms were held out stiffly because lowering them hurt their burns.
Friction on their burns – Any touch or rubbing against their wounds caused unbearable pain.
PARAPHRASE
The poet describes the aftermath of the Hiroshima bombing through the eyes of a doctor.
A man begged, “Excuse me, please excuse me,” but he was already dead — a gate had fallen on him and crushed his body. The survivors stood frozen in fear, horrified by the scene.
Before their eyes, a nearby house trembled, tilted, and finally collapsed with a crash. Dust rose into the air, and from it flames appeared, quickly spreading because of the strong wind. The realization came to them that they must get to a hospital to seek medical help, and the doctor also felt he must look after his staff. At the time this seemed logical, though later he wondered how he could even think rationally in such chaos.
His strength suddenly failed him. His legs gave way, and he sank to the ground. Terrible thirst gripped him, but no water was anywhere to be found. He struggled for breath, but slowly, little by little, he regained some strength and managed to get back on his feet.
His clothes had been stripped away by the blast, leaving him completely naked. Surprisingly, he felt no sense of shame — survival was more important. Yet this lack of shame troubled him for a moment. Then he met a soldier, who was standing silently in shock, and the soldier kindly gave him the towel that was hanging around his neck to cover himself.
His
legs, caked and stiff with dried blood, refused to move easily. He told his
wife, Yecko-san, to go on ahead, since he was too weak to keep up. She did not
want to leave him, but in their desperate condition, they had no choice. When
she went ahead, an overwhelming loneliness consumed him. His thoughts ran fast
with fear and confusion, while his injured body dragged slowly behind.
As he moved forward, he saw dim, ghostly figures of other survivors. At first, he thought they were spirits or scarecrows, for they were silent and strange-looking. They stretched out their arms stiffly, from shoulders down to dangling hands. Only later did he understand the reason: their burned flesh hurt so terribly that letting their arms touch their sides caused unbearable pain.
20
MCQs (with answers)
Q1.
Who is the speaker in the poem?
(a)
A soldier
(b)
A doctor
(c)
A farmer
(d)
A teacher
Ans:
(b) A doctor
Q2.
Who crushed a man mentioned in the extract?
(a)
A house
(b)
A car
(c)
A gate
(d)
A fire
Ans:
(c) A gate
Q3.
What sprang up in the dust after the house fell?
(a)
Smoke
(b)
Fire
(c)
Blood
(d)
Storm
Ans:
(b) Fire
Q4.
Why did the doctor want to go to the hospital?
(a)
To escape fire
(b)
To get water
(c)
To get help and aid staff
(d)
To hide
Ans:
(c) To get help and aid staff
Q5.
What seized the doctor after the blast?
(a)
Sleep
(b)
Anger
(c)
Thirst
(d)
Fear
Ans:
(c) Thirst
Q6.
What disturbed the doctor when he was naked?
(a)
Lack of clothes
(b)
He felt no shame
(c)
Pain in legs
(d)
Dust in air
Ans:
(b) He felt no shame
Q7.
Who helped the doctor by giving a towel?
(a)
Yecko-san
(b)
A nurse
(c)
A soldier
(d)
A passerby
Ans:
(c) A soldier
Q8.
The doctor’s legs were stiff with—
(a)
Water
(b)
Dried blood
(c)
Dust
(d)
Burns
Ans:
(b) Dried blood
Q9.
Whom did the doctor ask to go ahead?
(a)
Soldier
(b)
Nurse
(c)
Yecko-san
(d)
His staff
Ans:
(c) Yecko-san
Q10.
Why did Yecko-san go ahead?
(a)
She was afraid
(b)
Doctor was slow
(c)
To seek aid
(d)
Both (b) and (c)
Ans:
(d) Both (b) and (c)
Q11.
What did the doctor feel after Yecko-san left?
(a)
Joy
(b)
Hope
(c)
Dreadful loneliness
(d)
Anger
Ans:
(c) Dreadful loneliness
Q12.
“My mind ran at high speed, my body crept behind” means—
(a)
He was eager to escape but weak physically
(b)
He was dreaming
(c)
He was walking fast
(d)
None of these
Ans:
(a) He was eager to escape but weak physically
Q13.
How did the people appear to the doctor?
(a)
Healthy
(b)
Like shadows, ghosts, scarecrows
(c)
Strong soldiers
(d)
Children
Ans:
(b) Like shadows, ghosts, scarecrows
Q14.
Why were people walking with arms stretched?
(a)
To balance
(b)
To show surrender
(c)
Because burns caused pain on touching body
(d)
To protect faces
Ans:
(c) Because burns caused pain on touching body
Q15.
Who is Yecko-san?
(a)
The doctor’s wife
(b)
A nurse
(c)
A servant
(d)
His patient
Ans:
(a) The doctor’s wife
Q16.
What did the doctor long for most after collapse?
(a)
Food
(b)
Sleep
(c)
Water
(d)
Clothes
Ans:
(c) Water
Q17.
The soldier who gave the towel was—
(a)
Silent
(b)
Shouting
(c)
Crying
(d)
Running
Ans:
(a) Silent
Q18.
The poem describes events after—
(a)
Hiroshima bombing
(b)
Nagasaki bombing
(c)
World War I
(d)
Vietnam War
Ans:
(a) Hiroshima bombing
Q19.
“Some were ghosts, some scarecrows” suggests—
(a)
People were dressed as ghosts
(b)
Survivors looked half-dead and burnt
(c)
There were real ghosts
(d)
None
Ans:
(b) Survivors looked half-dead and burnt
Q20.
The extract reflects—
(a)
Love story
(b)
War heroism
(c)
Suffering after atomic blast
(d)
Medical achievements
Ans: (c) Suffering after atomic blast
20
One-Mark Questions & Answers
Q1.
What crushed the man?
Ans:
A gate.
Q2.
What spread fire in the dust?
Ans:
The wind.
Q3.
Why did the doctor want to go to the hospital?
Ans:
To get aid and help staff.
Q4.
What seized the doctor after injury?
Ans:
Thirst.
Q5.
Could water be found?
Ans:
No.
Q6.
What revived slowly in the doctor?
Ans:
His strength.
Q7.
Who gave the doctor a towel?
Ans:
A soldier.
Q8.
What disturbed the doctor when naked?
Ans:
He felt no shame.
Q9.
With what were his legs stiff?
Ans:
Dried blood.
Q10.
Whom did he ask to go ahead?
Ans:
Yecko-san.
Q11.
Did Yecko-san want to leave him?
Ans:
No.
Q12.
How did the doctor feel after Yecko-san left?
Ans:
Dreadfully lonely.
Q13.
What did the doctor’s mind and body do?
Ans:
Mind ran fast, body moved slowly.
Q14.
How did the survivors appear?
Ans:
Like shadows, ghosts, scarecrows.
Q15.
Why were people stretching arms?
Ans:
To avoid friction from burns.
Q16.
What had caused the doctor’s weakness?
Ans:
Injuries and blood loss.
Q17.
What disturbed him about his emotions?
Ans:
Not feeling shame despite nakedness.
Q18.
Who is Yecko-san in relation to the doctor?
Ans:
His wife.
Q19.
What was the soldier doing when he gave towel?
Ans:
Standing silently.
Q20.
Which historical event is described?
Ans: Hiroshima atomic bombing (6th August 1945).
10 Two-Mark Question Answers
Q1. Why did the doctor wonder at his thought of helping staff?
Ans:
The doctor found it strange that in such a broken state, with his legs failing,
breath short, and body covered in wounds, he could still think of helping
others. He realized later that his mind was clinging to duty even when his
strength was gone.
Q2.
What shows the doctor’s physical suffering?
Ans:
His body displayed unbearable weakness: legs gave way under him, his breath
came in gasps, thirst tormented him without relief, and his legs had stiffened
with dried blood. These details vividly reflect his condition of near collapse,
showing the cruel effects of shock, injury, and exhaustion.
Q3.
How did the soldier’s towel help the doctor?
Ans:
A kind soldier, noticing the doctor’s helpless nakedness, gave him a towel.
This small act restored the doctor’s dignity, shielding him from shame in the
public eye. Though still weak and bleeding, he felt momentarily human again,
not simply a shattered, wounded body exposed before other sufferers.
Q4.
Why did the doctor ask Yecko-san to go ahead?
Ans:
The doctor was too weak to walk quickly and feared he would slow her down. By
asking Yecko-san to go ahead, he gave her the chance to reach safety sooner and
possibly seek help for him. It reflected both his helplessness and his concern
for her.
Q5.
How does the line “mind ran at high speed, body crept behind” reveal his state?
Ans:
The line captures the contrast between the doctor’s mental and physical
condition. His thoughts raced with urgency about reaching the hospital, helping
others, and surviving, but his body dragged painfully behind. It illustrates
his sharp mental clarity trapped inside an exhausted, broken frame unable to
respond.
Q6.
How does the imagery of “ghosts” and “scarecrows” describe survivors?
Ans:
Survivors of the blast were thin, burnt, disfigured, and staggering. By
comparing them to “ghosts” and “scarecrows,” the poet conveys their skeletal,
half-dead appearance and the haunting impression they left. They seemed like
lifeless shadows rather than human beings, reflecting the terrible physical
destruction caused by the bomb.
Q7.
Why did people walk with arms stretched?
Ans:
People whose skin had been burned and blistered kept their arms stretched
outward, away from their bodies. If their arms touched the raw, injured flesh
of their sides, it would cause unbearable pain. Thus, they moved awkwardly,
shuffling forward in agony, resembling a strange, mournful procession of
sufferers.
Q8.
What did the doctor long for most after collapse?
Ans:
When he collapsed from weakness, the doctor yearned desperately for water. His
thirst consumed him, but in the devastated city, none was available. This
longing symbolized both his physical torment and the wider misery of survivors,
who, in a ruined landscape, could not find even the simplest relief.
Q9.
How was the doctor’s dignity temporarily restored?
Ans:
Naked, wounded, and ashamed in front of others, the doctor regained a sense of
dignity when a compassionate soldier gave him a towel to cover himself. Though
his condition remained pitiful, the gesture provided comfort, reminding him
that even in disaster, kindness could restore human pride.
Q10.
What was the emotional impact on the doctor after Yecko-san left?
Ans:
When Yecko-san, his assistant, went ahead to find help, the doctor was suddenly
overwhelmed by a deep sense of loneliness. Surrounded by ruins and ghostlike
figures, he felt abandoned and painfully vulnerable. Her departure left him
more aware of his helplessness in the desolate, tragic landscape around him.
5
Three-Mark Question Answers
Q1.
How does the extract highlight the destruction caused by the atomic bomb?
Ans:
The extract shows buildings collapsing, fire spreading, people crushed and
injured, bodies burnt, survivors resembling ghosts and scarecrows, and the
doctor himself weak, thirsty, and naked. It captures both physical and
emotional devastation.
Q2.
What does the soldier’s silent gesture symbolize?
Ans:
His act of giving the towel symbolizes silent compassion amidst chaos. Even in
catastrophe, humanity and dignity survived.
Q3.
Why was the doctor disturbed by his lack of shame at nakedness?
Ans:
He realized that extreme suffering and survival instinct had numbed his natural
emotions. This unnatural reaction troubled him deeply.
Q4.
How is contrast shown between the doctor’s mind and body?
Ans:
His mind was determined and fast with thoughts of survival and duty, but his
body was weak, slow, and injured, creating a painful contrast.
Q5.
What role does Yecko-san play in the extract?
Ans: She is the doctor’s support and companion, unwilling to leave him behind, but forced by circumstances to go ahead for help, leaving the doctor lonely and distressed.
RTC
Questions & Answers
Extract
1:
“A
gate had crushed him.
There
we stood, afraid,
A
house standing before us tilted, swayed,
Toppled, and crashed.”
Q1.
Who is the speaker here?
Ans:
The doctor, the narrator of the poem.
Q2.
What had crushed the man?
Ans:
A gate.
Q3.
What happened to the house mentioned here?
Ans:
It swayed, toppled, and crashed.
Q4.
Which historical event is being described?
Ans:
The destruction after the Hiroshima atomic bomb blast.
Q5.
How do these lines reflect the chaos? (3 marks – interpretative)
Ans: The sudden collapse of houses, death of people, and fire spreading show the widespread destruction and fear.
Extract
2:
“Thirst
seized me, but no water could be found.
My
breath was short, but bit by bit my strength
Seemed to revive, and I got up at length.”
Q1.
What physical suffering is described here?
Ans:
Thirst, breathlessness, and weakness.
Q2.
What revived in the doctor gradually?
Ans:
His strength.
Q3.
What figure of speech is used in “thirst seized me”?
Ans:
Personification (thirst is given human quality).
Q4.
Why was no water available?
Ans:
Because the city was destroyed and basic necessities were missing.
Q5.
What human quality is shown by the doctor’s revival of strength?
Ans: Courage and resilience in the face of disaster.
Extract
3:
“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.”
Q1.
Why was the doctor naked?
Ans:
His clothes were destroyed by the blast.
Q2.
What disturbed him about his nakedness?
Ans:
That he felt no shame.
Q3.
Who helped him, and how?
Ans:
A soldier gave him his towel.
Q4.
What does this soldier’s act symbolize?
Ans:
Humanity and silent compassion even in times of disaster.
Q5.
Give one antonym for “silent” from the passage.
Ans: “Afraid” / “crashed” (depending on interpretation).
Extract
4:
“My
legs, stiff with dried blood, rebelled. I said
To
Yecko-san she must go on ahead.
She
did not wish to but in our distress
What choice had we?”
Q1.
Who is Yecko-san?
Ans:
The doctor’s wife.
Q2.
Why were the doctor’s legs stiff?
Ans:
They were covered with dried blood due to injuries.
Q3.
Why did the doctor ask Yecko-san to go ahead?
Ans:
Because he was too weak and slow.
Q4.
What does this situation show about Yecko-san’s character?
Ans:
She was loyal and unwilling to leave her husband, but accepted reality in
distress.
Q5.
What poetic device is used in “legs… rebelled”?
Ans: Personification (legs are described as if they could rebel).
Extract
5:
“I
saw the shadowy forms of people, some
Were
ghosts, some scarecrows, all were wordless,
Arms stretched straight out, shoulder to dangling hand.”
Q1.
How did the survivors appear to the doctor?
Ans:
Like shadows, ghosts, and scarecrows.
Q2.
Why were they walking with arms stretched?
Ans:
Their burnt skin caused pain if arms touched the body.
Q3.
What mood is created by the imagery of “ghosts” and “scarecrows”?
Ans:
Horror, despair, and hopelessness.
Q4.
What does the phrase “all were wordless” suggest?
Ans:
Survivors were too shocked and traumatized to speak.
Q5.
Identify one simile or metaphor in this passage.
Ans: People compared to “ghosts” and “scarecrows.”
Page:
19 “They feared to chafe………. Or a single word.”
Glossary
Chafe
– rub harshly and cause irritation, soreness, or injury (like skin against
skin).
Flesh
against flesh – here it suggests bodies rubbing painfully because the skin was
burnt, peeled, or sensitive after the atomic blast.
Sliding
feet along instead of lifting – moving feet slowly and dragging them because
lifting them was painful or exhausting.
Shocked
– stunned, dazed, unable to react normally after trauma.
Shuffled
– walked slowly and heavily, dragging the feet, often in a weak, injured, or
absent-minded state.
Blank
parade – a grim, lifeless procession of survivors walking together
mechanically, without purpose or energy.
Dismayed
– deeply shocked, distressed, and saddened.
Naked
– stripped of clothes (and here, clothes destroyed by the bomb’s blast and
heat).
At
a loss – confused, not knowing how to react.
Stripped
– forcefully removed; here, clothes burnt off the body by the bomb’s heat.
Marred
– spoiled, disfigured, ruined.
Suffering
– undergoing severe physical or emotional pain.
Silence
was common to us all – all survivors were quiet, too shocked and weak even to
cry.
Anguish – intense pain and distress.
Paraphrase
The
survivors avoided letting their burned, raw skin touch one another, since even
the slightest contact of flesh against flesh caused terrible pain. To move,
they did not lift their feet as one normally walks, but dragged them along the
ground in order to avoid additional strain and agony.
Those
who were still able to walk shuffled forward slowly, like a dazed, lifeless
procession, heading towards the hospital in search of help. The poet,
overwhelmed with shock and dismay, saw a woman standing in his way with her
small child. Both of them were naked, and for a moment he wondered if they had
simply returned from a bath. Unable to comprehend fully, he turned his eyes
away, but then noticed a naked man as well. The realization struck him that the
heat and power of the bomb must have stripped the clothes from people’s bodies,
leaving them bare and vulnerable.
As he continued walking, he came across the face of an old woman lying on the ground. Her face was ruined with wounds and etched with silent suffering, yet she made no sound. Around him, there was an eerie silence: no one cried out in pain, no one even spoke a word. The devastation and shock were so total that even the most natural response — crying or groaning — was absent.
10
MCQs with Answers
Q1.
The people avoided “chafing flesh against flesh” because
(a)
they were modest
(b)
they were injured and in pain
(c)
they were angry with one another
(d)
they were playing a game
Answer:
(b) they were injured and in pain
Q2.
How did the survivors walk after the explosion?
(a)
Running fast
(b)
Sliding and shuffling their feet
(c)
Jumping quickly
(d)
Crawling on all fours
Answer:
(b) Sliding and shuffling their feet
Q3.
The “blank parade” refers to
(a)
a festival procession
(b)
a military march
(c)
a crowd of shocked, silent people
(d)
a funeral procession
Answer:
(c) a crowd of shocked, silent people
Q4.
What sight dismayed the speaker?
(a)
A burning house
(b)
A naked woman with a child
(c)
Soldiers marching
(d)
People crying loudly
Answer:
(b) A naked woman with a child
Q5.
The speaker initially thought the woman and child were naked because
(a)
they had returned from a bath
(b)
they were beggars
(c)
they were sleeping on the street
(d)
they were mad
Answer:
(a) they had returned from a bath
Q6.
What realization came upon the speaker later?
(a)
They had lost their homes
(b)
Some strange force had stripped their clothes
(c)
They had lost their memory
(d)
They had fainted in the heat
Answer:
(b) Some strange force had stripped their clothes
Q7.
The old woman on the ground had a face
(a)
shining with joy
(b)
marred with suffering
(c)
painted with colours
(d)
hidden under cloth
Answer:
(b) marred with suffering
Q8.
Despite the pain, what was absent among the people?
(a)
Hope
(b)
Anguish and cries
(c)
Fear
(d)
Smoke
Answer:
(b) Anguish and cries
Q9.
The silence after the disaster is described as
(a)
eerie but common to all
(b)
a natural calm
(c)
joyful silence
(d)
noisy confusion
Answer:
(a) eerie but common to all
Q10.
This extract mainly depicts
(a)
the beauty of Hiroshima
(b)
the horror and trauma of the bomb blast
(c)
the celebrations after the war
(d)
the rebuilding of the city
Answer: (b) the horror and trauma of the bomb blast
10
One-Mark Questions with Answers
Q1.
Who is the poet of this extract?
Ans:
Vikram Seth.
Q2.
From which poem is this extract taken?
Ans:
A Doctor’s Journal Entry for August 6, 1945.
Q3.
Why did people shuffle their feet instead of lifting them?
Ans:
Because of weakness, burns, and injuries.
Q4.
Who stood in the poet’s path?
Ans:
A naked woman with a child.
Q5.
What did the poet first think about the naked woman and child?
Ans:
That they had just come back from a bath.
Q6.
What realization did the poet have later?
Ans:
That some strange force had stripped everyone’s clothes.
Q7.
Whose face was marred with suffering?
Ans:
An old woman lying on the ground.
Q8.
Did the old woman cry out in pain?
Ans:
No, she made no sound.
Q9.
What was common to all survivors?
Ans:
Silence.
Q10.
What was absent despite great suffering?
Ans: Cries of anguish or words.
5
Two-Mark Questions with Answers
Q1.
Explain the phrase “blank parade.”
Ans:
It refers to the silent, stunned crowd of survivors moving like a procession,
blank with shock and trauma after the atomic explosion.
Q2.
Why did the poet mistake the nakedness of the woman and the child?
Ans:
He initially thought they were unclothed because they had come back from a
bath, but later realized it was due to the bomb’s effects stripping clothes.
Q3.
How is the old woman’s suffering described?
Ans:
Her face was marred with pain, yet she remained silent, symbolizing the
numbness and shock of the survivors.
Q4.
What atmosphere is created by the silence?
Ans:
An eerie, unnatural atmosphere of shared trauma and numbness, where even pain
could not find expression.
Q5.
How does this extract highlight the dehumanizing effect of the bomb?
Ans: Survivors lost clothes, voices, and human dignity—reduced to silent, suffering figures moving like shadows.
3
Three-Mark Questions with Answers
Q1.
Describe the behaviour and condition of the survivors as shown in the extract.
Ans: Survivors shuffled weakly, avoiding touching one another, moving in silence like a blank parade. Many were stripped of clothes, burned, injured, and in shock. Despite immense suffering, they uttered no cries, showing the depth of their trauma.
Q2.
What role does silence play in this extract?
Ans:
Silence symbolizes collective shock and numbness. It represents the
inexpressible horror of the bomb, where even unbearable pain could not find
voice, making the scene more haunting.
Q3.
How does the poet use imagery to depict the aftermath of the bomb?
Ans: The poet uses stark imagery: “shuffling feet,” “blank parade,” “naked woman and child,” “face marred with suffering,” and “silence” to vividly convey destruction, loss of dignity, and human agony.
3
RTC (Reference to Context) Questions with Answers
Extract
1:
“They
feared to chafe flesh against flesh again.
Those
who could, shuffled in a blank parade Instead of lifting them off towards the
hospital.”
Q1.
What does “chafe flesh against flesh” imply here?
Ans:
It implies the survivors’ fear of rubbing against each other’s burned and
wounded bodies.
Q2.
Why were they shuffling?
Ans: They were weak, injured, and traumatized, so they dragged their feet instead of lifting them.
Extract
2:
“I saw, dismayed, a woman with a child stand in my path—both naked. Had they come back from the bath?”
Q1.
Why was the poet dismayed?
Ans:
Because seeing a woman and child completely naked in public was shocking and
unnatural.
Q2.
What mistaken assumption did he make?
Ans: He thought they were naked because they had just bathed.
Extract
3:
“The
face of an old woman on the ground
Was
marred with suffering, but she made no sound. Silence was common to us all.”
Q1.
What does “marred with suffering” mean?
Ans:
It means her face was disfigured and marked by pain.
Q2.
What was common among all the survivors?
Ans: Silence and an inability to cry out despite pain.
Courtesy:
ChatGPT
Compiled
by Dr. Shankar D Mishra
WhatsApp
no. 8249297412/8270604524
