Class 11 English Notes Chapter 7 (Birth) – Snapshots Suppl. Reader English Book

Alright class, let's focus today on a very moving and significant chapter from your Snapshots book – Chapter 7, 'Birth' by A. J. Cronin. This story is not just about a medical procedure; it explores profound themes of dedication, perseverance, and the sheer miracle of life, making it important for your understanding and potentially for your exams.

'Birth' by A. J. Cronin: Detailed Notes for Exam Preparation

1. Author:

• A. J. Cronin (Archibald Joseph Cronin) was a Scottish physician and novelist.
• His medical background heavily influences his writing, lending authenticity and realism to stories like 'Birth', which is an excerpt from his novel The Citadel.

2. Setting:

• The story is set in Blaenelly, a small Welsh mining town.
• The time is late at night, approaching midnight, adding to the tension and isolation.

3. Characters:

• Dr. Andrew Manson: A young, newly qualified doctor. He is idealistic but also prone to disillusionment. The story highlights his professional dedication, skill, and intuitive approach despite personal fatigue and emotional turmoil (stemming from a disappointing evening with his girlfriend, Christine).
• Joe Morgan: A large, burly driller, anxiously awaiting the birth of his first child after nearly twenty years of marriage. He places immense faith in Dr. Manson.
• Susan Morgan: Joe's wife, who is undergoing a difficult labour.
• Susan's Mother: An elderly, experienced woman, tall and grey-haired, initially skeptical of the young doctor but later relies on his judgment. She represents traditional wisdom and anxiety.
• The Midwife: Present during the birth, initially assists but becomes frightened and peripheral during the crisis with the baby.

4. Plot Summary:

• Arrival and Waiting: Dr. Andrew Manson arrives home late, tired and emotionally low after a disagreement with Christine. He finds Joe Morgan waiting anxiously for him. Joe leads him to his house where his wife, Susan, is in labour.
• The Long Wait: Andrew senses the delivery will take time. He waits downstairs, reflecting on his own life, the failures of married lives he has observed, and his disillusionment. Susan's mother offers him tea but expresses her concern about the delay and her distrust of anaesthetics.
• The Delivery: Around 3:30 AM, the child is born. It's a boy, but appears lifeless (stillborn).
• The Dilemma: Andrew is faced with a terrible choice: attend to the mother, who is in a desperate state (collapsing, pulse fading), or attempt to revive the seemingly dead baby.
• Saving the Mother: Prioritizing the immediate danger, Andrew quickly administers an injection and works to stabilize Susan Morgan. He entrusts her care to the midwife once she is out of danger.
• Reviving the Baby: Andrew turns his attention to the baby. He diagnoses the condition as 'asphyxia pallida' (suffocation or lack of oxygen, combined with paleness and weak muscle tone). Recalling a similar case he once witnessed, he instinctively begins resuscitation efforts.
• The Method: He uses a desperate, unconventional method involving basins of hot and cold water, plunging the baby into them alternately to shock the respiratory system. He then rubs the baby vigorously with a rough towel, crushing and releasing the little chest with his hands, trying to stimulate the lungs.
• Perseverance Against Hope: The midwife and Susan's mother watch, horrified and convinced the baby is dead. The midwife even places the baby under the bed. Andrew, however, refuses to give up, driven by a desperate, almost frantic determination.
• The Miracle: After nearly half an hour of relentless effort, just as Andrew is about to concede defeat, he feels a faint heartbeat and observes the baby's chest heave. A bubble of mucus comes from a tiny nostril. The child gasps, then cries. Life returns.
• Aftermath: Andrew, physically and emotionally drained but profoundly satisfied, hands the crying baby to the nurse. He leaves the house, realizing he has done something truly significant, "something real." The earlier disillusionment is forgotten in the face of this achievement.

5. Themes:

• Dedication and Duty: Andrew overcomes personal fatigue and emotional distress to perform his professional duty under challenging circumstances.
• Perseverance: The story highlights Andrew's refusal to give up on the baby, even when others had lost hope.
• Intuition vs. Textbook Knowledge: While Andrew uses his medical knowledge, his final success comes from a combination of remembered experience and determined intuition, going beyond standard procedures.
• The Miracle of Birth: The narrative emphasizes the fragility and preciousness of life, portraying birth as a profound and challenging event.
• Doctor's Dilemma: The critical choice Andrew faces between saving the mother or the child showcases the immense pressure and responsibility doctors bear.
• Hope and Despair: The story oscillates between moments of despair (the stillborn baby, the mother's collapse) and ultimate hope (the successful revival).

6. Key Points for Exams:

• Andrew's initial state: Tired, disappointed after meeting Christine.
• Joe Morgan's wait: Nearly 20 years for this child.
• Location: No. 12 Blaina Terrace, Blaenelly.
• Time of birth: Around 3:30 AM.
• Baby's condition: Lifeless, diagnosed as asphyxia pallida.
• Andrew's dilemma: Choosing between mother and child.
• Revival method: Hot/cold water immersion, rubbing with a towel, chest compressions.
• Duration of revival effort: Nearly half an hour.
• Andrew's feeling at the end: Profound satisfaction, having done "something real."
• Contrast: Andrew's personal problems seem insignificant compared to the life-and-death struggle he engages in.

7. Important Vocabulary:

• Idyllic: Charmingly simple or picturesque.
• Lethargy: Lack of energy or enthusiasm; sluggishness.
• Overwrought: In a state of nervous excitement or anxiety.
• Dilemma: A situation requiring a choice between equally undesirable alternatives.
• Stillborn: Born dead.
• Asphyxia Pallida: A serious condition in newborns involving lack of breathing, muscle tone, and poor circulation (paleness).
• Frantic: Wild or distraught with fear, anxiety, or other emotion.
• Resuscitation: The action of reviving someone from unconsciousness or apparent death.
• Ewer: A large jug or pitcher with a wide mouth.
• Consternation: Feelings of anxiety or dismay, typically at something unexpected.

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs):

1. Why was Dr. Andrew Manson feeling disappointed when Joe Morgan met him?
   a) He had failed a medical examination.
   b) He had a quarrel with his landlord.
   c) He had a disappointing evening with his girlfriend, Christine.
   d) He was overworked and underpaid.

2. How long had Joe and Susan Morgan been married before expecting their first child?
   a) Ten years
   b) Fifteen years
   c) Nearly twenty years
   d) Five years

3. What was the primary medical challenge Dr. Manson faced immediately after the baby was born?
   a) The mother suffered excessive bleeding.
   b) The baby was born prematurely.
   c) The baby appeared lifeless (stillborn).
   d) The midwife fainted from shock.

4. When faced with the crisis of the collapsed mother and the lifeless baby, what did Dr. Manson prioritize first?
   a) Reviving the baby using hot and cold water.
   b) Calling for another doctor's assistance.
   c) Stabilizing the mother, Susan Morgan.
   d) Arguing with Susan's mother about the situation.

5. What medical condition did Dr. Manson diagnose in the newborn baby?
   a) Jaundice
   b) Pneumonia
   c) Asphyxia pallida
   d) Congenital heart defect

6. Which method was central to Dr. Manson's efforts to resuscitate the baby?
   a) Administering oxygen through a mask.
   b) Using electrical shocks.
   c) Alternating immersion in hot and cold water.
   d) Giving the baby a sugar solution.

7. Who initially expressed doubt about Dr. Manson's abilities and the use of medicine?
   a) Joe Morgan
   b) The midwife
   c) Susan Morgan
   d) Susan's mother

8. Approximately how long did Dr. Manson work relentlessly to revive the baby?
   a) Ten minutes
   b) Nearly half an hour
   c) One hour
   d) Five minutes

9. What was the first sign that the baby was beginning to revive?
   a) The baby started crying loudly.
   b) A bubble of mucus came from its nostril.
   c) The baby's skin turned pink.
   d) The baby opened its eyes.

10. How did Dr. Andrew Manson feel as he left the Morgan house at dawn?
    a) Angry and frustrated by the difficult case.
    b) Deeply tired and wanting only to sleep.
    c) Indifferent, as it was just another case.
    d) Profoundly satisfied, feeling he had achieved something significant.

Answer Key for MCQs:

1. c
2. c
3. c
4. c
5. c
6. c
7. d
8. b
9. b
10. d

Study these notes carefully. Remember the sequence of events, the doctor's internal conflict, his specific actions, and the underlying themes. This chapter beautifully illustrates the pressures and rewards of the medical profession. Good luck with your preparation!