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NAZARETH HIGHER SECONDARY SCHOOL

CLASS – XI ENGLISH SIR RT-A
BIRTH - A.J. Cronin
Birth Introduction
“Birth” is an excerpt from “The Citadel” that revolves around Andrew Manson who just graduated from medical school.
It is an account of how the newly graduated medical practitioner helped in bringing Joe and Susan’s child into this
world despite going through a tough time with his girlfriend Christine

Birth Summary
The lesson begins with Andrew walking towards his home after having an unpleasant time with his girlfriend Christine.
Upon reaching home at around midnight, he finds Joe Morgan outside his house waiting for him. Joe and Susan had
been expecting a child. Upon reaching, Joe tells Andrew that he is too anxious to be going inside, so Andrew walks in
alone. He realizes that there is still some time left. Susan’s mother, who is wise but tense at the moment, offers him
some tea. While he is sipping his tea, he begins thinking about his girlfriend. He recalls how his friends too are having
a hard time in their relationships. On the other hand, he feels that marriage is meant to be something peaceful and
cheerful. Thus, he finds himself in a conflict. Susan’s mother tells him how worried Susan is for the child because the
situation is complicated. After performing the procedure, the child is born, but is lifeless. Confused between addressing
the child or the mom, who herself laid unconscious at the moment, he chooses to look after Susan first. He injected
her with a few medicines and when he realised that her heart was regaining its strength, he turned towards the child.
It was a boy in perfect shape. He suddenly remembered that
it was a case of restricted oxygen supply and thus, he
instructed the nurse to get hot and cold water.
The nurse, reluctant at first, got him what he needed and he
juggled the child in hot and cold water simultaneously. After
all his efforts, the child still lay lifeless. All others had already
lost hope, while he continued with the procedures. Finally, the
child heaved and got his breath. His body was no longer still,
leaving everyone surprised. The nurse muttered words of
prayer while holding the child. The grandmother was also
praying, while Susan still laid unconscious. Exhausted, Andrew
left while informing Joe that all is well. While he was walking
home at around five in the morning, his heart was full at
having accomplished something real in his life.

Reading With Insight

1. “I have done something; oh, God! I’ve done something real at last.” Why does Andrew say this? What does it mean?
Answer: The young doctor Andrew Manson had done a commendable work. His exclamation is justified. He had not
only helped the middle-aged lady in the safe delivery of a male child but also restored them to perfect health. Susan
Morgan’s strength was ebbing after the delivery. She was almost pulse less. Andrew gave her an injection and worked
severely to strengthen her heart.
The major achievement of Andrew was to resuscitate the stillborn child. First, he laid the child of a blanket and began
the special method of respiration. Then he tried the hot and cold water treatment dipping the baby alternately. He
laboured in vain for half an hour. He then made another last effort. He rubbed the child with a rough towel. He went
on pressing and releasing the baby’s little chest with both his hands. At last the baby responded. His chest heaved.
Andrew redoubled his efforts. The child was gasping now. A bubble of mucus came from his tiny nostril. The pale skin
turned pink. His limbs became hard. Then came the child’s cry.
Andrew called upon God as witness of his act which was no less than a miracle. It was not mere theoretical talk but a
practical achievement—something real and solid.

2. ‘There lies a great difference between textbook medicine and the world of a practising physician.’ Discuss.
Answer: Normally, the medicines prescribed in the textbooks are used by the practising physicians. However, in
extreme cases of emergency, the physician’s experience, resourcefulness and practical approach become far more
important than the theoretical knowledge. For example, a victim of bum-injury, snakebite or suffocation through
drowning needs immediate help. The nearest available doctor may not have all the facilities needed for the case. In
such a situation first-aid is a must to save the patient’s life before rushing him to the hospital for proper care. With
limited resources at his command, the practising physician exercises all his practical experience to control the damage
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NAZARETH HIGHER SECONDARY SCHOOL

CLASS – XI ENGLISH SIR RT-A
to the minimum and check the victim’s state from further deterioration. A stitch in time does save nine in such cases.
The practical help comes as a boon.

EXTRA NOTES
Short Answer Type Questions
1. Who was Joe.Morgan? Why had he been waiting for Dr Andrew Manson?
Answer: Joe Morgan was a driller in Blaenelly, a mining town. He was a big, strong and heavy middle-aged person. Joe
and his wife Susan, who had been married nearly twenty years, were expecting their first child. Joe was waiting for
the doctor to help Susan in the delivery of the child.

2. Where did Joe lead Andrew? Why did he not go in with the doctor?
Answer: Joe Morgan led Andrew to his house, 12, Blaina Terrace. His wife was about to deliver her first child after
being married for nearly twenty years. Joe was quite tensed. He refused to go inside the house. Even his voice showed
signs of strain.

3. “Don’t fret, mother, I’ll not run away”. Why do you think Andrew say so?
Answer: Mrs Morgan’s mother offered to make a cup of tea for the doctor. The experienced woman had realized that
there must be a period of waiting. She was afraid that the doctor would leave^ the case saying that he would return
later.

4. Why did Andrew decide to remain there until everything was over?
Answer: Andrew had reached Bryngower at about midnight. He was very worried and upset. He needed some rest
and sleep. He knew that he could not sleep even for an hour if he went home. Secondly, he knew that the case would
demand all his attention. He felt lethargic and decided to remain there until everything was over.

5. What had Andrew been thinking about? How would you like to describe the state of his thoughts?
Answer: Andrew had been thinking about the unsuccessful married lives of some persons he knew. Bramwell was
foolishly devoted to a woman who deceived him immorally. Edward Page was bound to quarrelsome Blodwen. Denny
was living unhappily apart from his wife. His thoughts were muddled (confused).

6. What was Andrew’s view of marriage? Why was he resentful and confused?
Answer: For Andrew marriage was a peaceful and beautiful state. He loved Christine. The conflict between his steady
mind and overflowing heart left him resentful and confused.

Long Answer Type Questions

1. Why was Andrew Manson called in? How did he react to the call of duty?
Answer: Andrew Manson had just begun his medical practice in the small Welsh mining town of Blaenelly. He was
called in to attend to Susan Morgan, who was expecting her first child after being married for nearly twenty years.
Her husband, Joe Morgan had been waiting for an hour outside the closed surgery. It was nearly midnight when
Andrew reached there. As Joe acquainted Andrew with his wife’s condition, Andrew forgot his own affairs. He
went inside his house for his bag and immediately left for the driller’s place.
Since his services were not immediately needed by the expecting mother, he decided to wait downstairs. He re-
examined her after an hour. It was at 3.30 am when the nurse summoned him. He struggled for an hour before
the child was born. Then he worked feverishly to revive the weak mother and the stillborn child. He had to use all
his knowledge and experience in discharging his duty. He did not pay attention to his own physical tiredness or
mental tension. Duty came first and he responded to it with single-minded devotion.

2. Give a brief account of the efforts made by Andrew to revive the stillborn baby.
Answer: A shiver of horror passed over Andrew as he gazed at the still form of the newborn baby. Though it was
a perfectly formed boy, its limp warm body was white. The whiteness meant suffocation caused by lack of oxygen.
Andrew remembered the treatment given to such a case in the Samaritan. Before the hot and cold water came
he had asked for, he laid the child upon a blanket and gave it artificial respiration. Then he dipped the child
alternately in hot and cold water. Now, the child was quite slippery. He rubbed it with a rough towel. Then he
pressed and released his chest till it heaved up. It was followed by other heaves. Andrew redoubled his efforts.
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NAZARETH HIGHER SECONDARY SCHOOL

CLASS – XI ENGLISH SIR RT-A
The child started gasping. A bubble of mucus came from one tiny nostril. The pale skin turned pink. The limbs
were no longer boneless. His head did not lie back spinelessly. The child gave a cry. It came alive.

3. Compare and contrast Andrew’s emotional, mental and physical state at the beginning of the story and at the
end.
Answer: At the beginning of the story Andrew is physically tired and emotionally upset. He has just returned from
a disappointing evening with Christine, the girl he loved. His thoughts are heavy and muddled. The episode he
had witnessed at Cardiff station still filled his mind with sadness. Though he thought of marriage as a blissful state,
he couldn’t help remembering the miserable failure of many marriages.
At the end of the story, Andrew is physically exhausted but emotionally cheerful and mentally alert. His mind is
filled with joy and self-satisfaction. He has performed an unusual feat, no less than a miracle. He calls upon God
as witness that he has done something real at last. This sense of achievement helps him to overcome physical
fatigue. His sense of duty towards his patients helps him to attend them whole-heartedly. He forgets his personal
feelings and thinks only of reviving the patients.

4. What impression do you form of Andrew Manson on the basis of the story ‘Birth’?
Answer: Andrew Manson is a young man who has recently qualified as a doctor and started his medical practice
as an assistant to Dr Edward Page in the small Welsh mining town of Blaenelly. He is in love with Christine and
thinks of marriage as an idyllic state. His heart is overflowing with love. His steady mind and reason help him see
the marriages of many persons as dismal failures.
Andrew is mature enough to keep his private and professional fives apart. Once confronted with his responsibility,
he discharges his obligations to the utmost capacity. He is duty conscious. He is not a theorist only. He believes in
practical approach. He is pragmatic and is not afraid to try unique methods.
Andrew has a tender heart. He is aware of the feelings of others. He knows how deeply Susan loved her coming
baby. He has polite manners and reassuring tone. On the whole, Andrew impresses us as a dedicated doctor.