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‘Birth’ by A.J. Cronin is the fourth chapter in the NCERT Class 11 English Snapshots textbook. This story explores the challenges and emotional circumstances of a doctor’s life, which focuses on the critical moment of delivering a child under difficult circumstances. Through this story, it delves into themes of duty, perseverance and the miracle of life. In this blog, you will get the summary, character sketch, themes and the key events of the story that will help you to revise the chapter. You can also download the free PDF of these notes for effective revision.
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Explore Notes of Class 11 English Snapshot
NCERT Notes Class 11 English Snapshots Chapter 4: Birth
Here we have provided the NCERT notes for Class 11 English Snapshots Chapter 4: Birth, including author highlights, synopsis, character sketches, themes, and a detailed summary.
About the Author and Key Highlights
A.J. Cronin, a Scottish physician and novelist, is known for his realistic and emotionally engaging stories that often reflect his medical background. “Birth” is a short story that captures the intense experience of Dr. Andrew Manson, a young doctor in a mining town, as he faces a challenging childbirth case. The story highlights his dedication, quick thinking, and emotional turmoil as he strives to save both a mother and her newborn child. Set in the small town of Blaenelly, the narrative underscores the value of perseverance and the profound impact of a doctor’s work.
Synopsis of the Story
The story is set in the mining town of Blaenelly, where Dr. Andrew Manson is called late at night to attend to Susan Morgan, who is in labour. Joe Morgan, the anxious father-to-be, waits for Andrew outside their home. Despite his personal preoccupation with his troubled thoughts about love and marriage, Andrew focuses on the critical task at hand. In a poorly furnished room, he works alongside Susan’s mother and a midwife to deliver the baby. After a long and difficult labour, the child is born lifeless, and the mother, Susan, is in a critical condition. Faced with a dilemma, Andrew instinctively prioritises saving Susan, reviving her with an injection. He then turns to the stillborn child, using a desperate method of alternating hot and cold water baths to stimulate breathing. After persistent efforts, the child miraculously comes to life, bringing relief and joy to all. Exhausted but fulfilled, Andrew leaves the house, feeling he has accomplished something truly significant.
Main Characters in the Chapter
Understand the key characters who drive the narrative:
- Dr. Andrew Manson: A young, dedicated doctor in Blaenelly, emotionally conflicted about his personal life but committed to his professional duties. His quick thinking and perseverance saved both the mother and child during a critical delivery.
- Joe Morgan: The anxious, burly father-to-be, a driller who waits nervously outside during his wife’s labour, showing deep concern for his family.
- Susan Morgan: The expectant mother who undergoes a difficult labour. Her determination to ensure her baby’s safety reflects her strength and love for her child.
- Susan’s Mother: A wise, grey-haired woman of nearly seventy, deeply invested in her daughter’s well-being and longing for a grandchild. She remains a quiet but supportive presence during the delivery.
- The Midwife: A stout, elderly woman who assists Andrew during the delivery but initially doubts the possibility of reviving the stillborn child.
Themes in the Story
The story explores several significant themes, explained below in simple terms:
- Duty and Responsibility: Andrew’s commitment to his role as a doctor drives him to work tirelessly to save both the mother and child, despite personal and physical exhaustion.
- Perseverance: The story emphasises the importance of persistence, as Andrew refuses to give up on the lifeless child, ultimately succeeding through his determined efforts.
- The Miracle of Life: The successful revival of the child highlights the preciousness of life and the extraordinary efforts required to preserve it.
- Emotional Conflict: Andrew’s internal struggle with his thoughts about love and failed marriages contrasts with his professional focus, showcasing the human side of a doctor’s life.
- Hope and Relief: The story captures the transition from despair to hope, as the successful delivery brings joy to the family and fulfilment to Andrew.
Literary Devices in the Story
A.J. Cronin employs various literary devices to enhance the narrative:
- Imagery: Vivid descriptions, such as the “limp, warm body… white and soft as tallow” and the “draggled mess” of the room, create a sensory experience of the intense delivery scene.
- Foreshadowing: Andrew’s lack of premonition about the night’s significance hints at the unexpected challenges and triumph that follow.
- Symbolism: The lifeless child and its revival symbolise the thin line between life and death, and the power of human effort to bridge that gap.
- Contrast: The contrast between Andrew’s personal turmoil and his professional competence highlights his ability to compartmentalise his emotions for the sake of duty.
- Climax: The moment when the child begins to breathe marks the emotional peak of the story, shifting from despair to hope.
Check Out: NCERT Notes and Solutions Class 11 English
Class 11 English Chapter 4: Birth Summary
The story “Birth” by A.J. Cronin is a moving account of a doctor’s struggle to save a mother and her newborn during a difficult delivery. Below is a detailed summary of the key events in a clear and concise manner:
- The Late-Night Call: Around midnight, Dr. Andrew Manson arrives at Bryngower and is met by Joe Morgan, who anxiously awaits him to attend to his wife, Susan, in labour at 12 Blaina Terrace. Despite his preoccupation with personal issues, Andrew prepares for the case.
- Arrival at the Morgan Household: Andrew enters a modest bedroom where Susan’s mother and a midwife await. Susan’s mother offers tea, fearing Andrew might leave, but he assures her he will stay until the delivery is complete.
- Andrew’s Inner Turmoil: While waiting in the kitchen, Andrew reflects on his troubled thoughts about love and failed marriages, contrasting them with his idealised view of his relationship with Christine. Susan’s mother mentions Susan’s concern about chloroform harming the baby, to which Andrew reassures her.
- The Difficult Delivery: At 3:30 AM, Andrew begins the delivery. After a long, strenuous labour, the child is born lifeless at dawn, and Susan is in critical condition, nearly pulseless from the ether. Andrew faces a dilemma, but instinctively prioritises reviving Susan.
- Saving Susan Morgan: Andrew injects Susan with medicine and works frantically to restore her heartbeat. After stabilising her, he turns his attention to the stillborn child, which the midwife had placed under the bed.
- Reviving the Child: Recalling a past case, Andrew orders hot and cold water and begins a desperate method of alternating baths to stimulate the child’s breathing. Despite the midwife’s belief that the child is stillborn, Andrew persists for half an hour.
- The Miracle: Just as despair sets in, the child’s chest gives a convulsive heave, followed by deeper breaths and a cry, signalling life. The room, filled with littered blankets and instruments, reflects the chaotic effort. Susan’s mother prays silently, and the midwife sobs with relief.
- Andrew’s Departure: Exhausted, Andrew hands the child to the midwife, drinks water in the scullery, and informs Joe that both mother and child are safe. As he walks home at dawn, he feels a profound sense of accomplishment, thinking, “I’ve done something real at last.”
Moral of the Story – Birth
Below are the key moral lessons from the story:
- Dedication and perseverance can overcome seemingly impossible challenges.
- The value of life is profound, and every effort to preserve it is worthwhile.
- Professional duty often requires setting aside personal struggles to prioritise others’ needs.
- Hope and resilience can lead to miraculous outcomes, even in the face of despair.
Download more NCERT Solutions of Class 11 English ‘Snapshot’ here!
| Chapter 1: The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse |
| Chapter 2: The Address Solution |
| Chapter 3: Mother’s Day Solution |
| Chapter 4: Birth Solution |
| Chapter 5: The Tale of Melon City Solution |
Explore Notes of Other NCERT Class 11 Subjects
| History | Geography | Political Science | Sociology | Psychology |
FAQs
Andrew prioritises Susan because she is in a critical, near-pulseless state after the delivery, requiring immediate attention to save her life. His instinctive decision reflects his medical judgment to stabilise the mother first.
Susan’s mother provides emotional support and insight, expressing concern for her daughter and longing for the grandchild. Her quiet presence and prayers underscore the family’s hope and anxiety during the delivery.
Andrew uses a method of alternating hot and cold water baths to stimulate the child’s breathing, recalling a past case. His persistent efforts, despite initial failure, led to the child’s miraculous revival.
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