Birth (CBL)

A.J. Cronin

Short Answer Questions

Q1. Why did Dr. Andrew Manson feel disheartened before arriving at Joe Morgan’s house?

Answer: Dr. Andrew Manson was deeply disillusioned after witnessing the unhappiness and moral decay in human relationships, especially among his friends. His personal disappointment in love, combined with his professional fatigue, made him emotionally low when he reached Joe Morgan’s house for the delivery case.

Q2. How did Andrew apply his medical knowledge and presence of mind during the delivery process?

Answer: Andrew demonstrated exemplary presence of mind by first reviving the unconscious mother through oxygen and cold applications, then saving the stillborn child using the Schaefer’s method of artificial respiration. His training, observation, and persistence converted a hopeless situation into a miraculous recovery, reflecting quick medical judgment and practical application of theory.

Q3. Examine the contrast between Andrew’s personal state of mind and his professional conduct during the delivery.

Answer: While Andrew’s personal life was clouded by emotional turmoil and despair, his professional instincts took command when faced with the life-threatening situation. This contrast highlights his integrity and commitment as a doctor — his personal grief never interfered with his duty to save lives.

Q4. What can we infer about Andrew’s character from his reaction after the child’s revival?

Answer: Andrew’s reaction — one of exhaustion mingled with deep satisfaction — reflects his emotional sensitivity and professional devotion. The joy of bringing life back restored his faith in himself and his profession, symbolizing the moral triumph of human perseverance and compassion.

Q5. Interpret the title “Birth” beyond its literal meaning.

Answer: Literally, “Birth” refers to the physical birth of a child. Symbolically, it signifies rebirth — of hope, humanity, and faith in oneself. For Andrew, it marks the spiritual “birth” of a confident, compassionate doctor who rediscovers his purpose through the act of saving two lives.

Q6. Evaluate Andrew’s role as a representative of ethical medical practice in today’s context.

Answer: Andrew epitomizes the ethical medical ideal — dedication, empathy, and commitment to saving life over convenience. In an age where medicine risks becoming commercialized, his selfless act reminds healthcare professionals that emotional integrity and moral responsibility are the true essence of healing.

Q7. Comment on the narrative technique and language used by A.J. Cronin in “Birth.”

Answer: Cronin employs third-person limited narration, merging realism with emotional intensity. The language is clear, medical, yet deeply humane — combining technical precision with literary warmth. This fusion of scientific accuracy and poetic sensitivity makes the story both gripping and inspiring, characteristic of Cronin’s humanist style.

Q8. What message does the story “Birth” convey about perseverance and professional integrity?

Answer: The story underlines that success in any profession demands unflinching perseverance and moral courage. Despite repeated failures and exhaustion, Andrew’s determination to continue resuscitation leads to success — teaching readers that true achievement often comes through faith, patience, and tireless effort.

Long Answer Questions

Q1. Andrew Manson puts in extraordinary effort to save the child because he understands the importance of the baby to the Morgan family. Discuss how his dedication and perseverance relate to the challenges faced by young professionals today.

Answer: Andrew Manson’s hard work to save the baby shows his deep understanding of how much the child means to the Morgans. Despite his own tiredness and personal worries, he does not give up, showing strong dedication and care. He uses all his knowledge and keeps trying different methods until the baby finally breathes. This shows how important perseverance and commitment are, especially in difficult situations.

This story is similar to the challenges young professionals face today. Many of them deal with stress from work and personal life but still need to perform their duties well. Like Andrew, young people must stay focused, patient, and work hard even when faced with difficulties. His example teaches that success comes through dedication and hard work. It encourages young professionals to be committed and not lose hope during tough times.Q2. Analyze the role of narration and characterization in "Birth." How do these technical elements convey emotional impact and highlight human values? Illustrate with examples.

Q2. Suppose Morgan’s child has turned one year old, and on his birthday, the Morgan family invites Andrew Manson to the celebration. Mr. and Mrs. Morgan deliver a speech thanking Andrew for his tireless efforts. Write their speech.

Ladies and gentlemen, friends and family,

Today, as we celebrate the first birthday of our beloved child, we stand here filled with gratitude and joy. We want to specially thank Dr. Andrew Manson, whose extraordinary dedication and tireless efforts saved our baby’s life. That night, when all hope seemed lost, Andrew never gave up. His skill, patience, and unwavering care brought our child back to us, a miracle that touched our hearts forever. We are deeply thankful not only for his medical expertise but also for the kindness and compassion he showed our family during those difficult moments.

Dr. Manson’s selfless commitment reminds us all of the difference one person can make through perseverance and dedication. This celebration is not just for our child’s milestone, but also a tribute to Andrew’s relentless spirit. We feel blessed to have such a caring doctor as part of our lives.

Thank you, Andrew, for giving us the greatest gift of all—hope and a future filled with happiness.

Father to Son (CBL)

 

Elizabeth Jennings

Poetic Devices

Phrase	Figure of Speech	Meaning & Significance
The seed I spent or sown it where	Metaphor	Compares parenting efforts to planting a seed, highlighting the father's role in his son's growth and his feeling of loss.
We speak like strangers	Simile	Compares their lack of communication to strangers, underscoring emotional estrangement.
Shaping from sorrow a new love	Metaphor	Sorrow is raw material transformed into love, showing hope for reconciliation.
I have killed	Hyperbole	Expresses the father’s guilt over the broken relationship, exaggerating his feelings of failure.
Silence dominates our relationship	Symbolism	Symbolizes the communication gap and emotional distance between father and son.

Short Answer Questions

Q1.  What is the central conflict depicted in the poem "Father to Son" by Elizabeth Jennings?

Answer: The central conflict is the emotional estrangement between father and son, who share the same home yet remain strangers due to a lack of communication. The father yearns for connection, pained by the son's growing independence and silence, highlighting the generation gap and unspoken love that breeds isolation.

Q2.  Analyze how the father's pain is conveyed through the imagery in the poem.

Answer: The father's pain is conveyed through vivid imagery like "I have stood many times before him, even now" and the "dark and open" house, symbolizing emotional voids and futile attempts at closeness. This analysis reveals his internal turmoil, blending longing with resignation as he grapples with the son's detachment.

Q3.  Infer the son's possible reasons for his silence and growing apart from the father. What does this suggest about adolescence?

Answer: The son's silence infers a natural adolescent rebellion and quest for identity, pulling away from parental influence to forge his own path. This suggests adolescence as a phase of inevitable separation, where unspoken resentments and independence create barriers, leaving the father to ponder lost opportunities for guidance.

Q4.  Evaluate the effectiveness of the poem's free verse structure in expressing the theme of emotional distance.

Answer: The free verse structure is highly effective, with irregular lines and enjambments mirroring the fragmented, unresolved relationship, evoking a sense of drift and incompleteness. It evaluates as poignant, allowing raw emotions to flow without rigid form, amplifying the theme's authenticity and the father's hesitant, meandering reflections.

Q5.  Interpret the significance of repetition in the poem, such as "I do not understand this child" and "Yet have I killed." Provide an example.

Answer: Repetition interprets the father's obsessive bewilderment and self-doubt, emphasizing cyclical emotional torment. For example, "Yet have I killed" recurs to underscore guilt over unintended emotional harm, heightening the poem's introspective depth and interpreting parental regret as a haunting, inescapable echo in strained family bonds.

Q6.  How can the poem's exploration of communication breakdown be applied to resolving conflicts in contemporary family relationships, such as between parents and teenagers?

Answer: The poem applies by urging open dialogue to bridge gaps, as the father's silence perpetuates distance; in modern families, parents can initiate empathetic talks or counseling to address teen autonomy, fostering mutual understanding and preventing emotional isolation, much like the hoped-for reconciliation in the poem.

Long Answer Questions

Q1.  How does Elizabeth Jennings’ poem Father to Son honestly show the father’s difficulty in understanding his son? Do you agree with the issue raised in the poem? Support your view with suitable quotes.

Answer: Elizabeth Jennings’ Father to Son truthfully depicts a father’s emotional struggle as he fails to connect with his grown-up son. The father admits, “I do not understand this child / Though we have lived together now / In the same house for years.” This sincere confession shows the deep emotional gap in a relationship where living together does not always mean understanding each other.​

His sense of regret is clear when he wonders, “The seed I spent or sown it where / The land is his and none of mine?” showing how his son has grown into an independent individual with his own beliefs and choices. The poem ends on a hopeful yet painful note: “We each put out an empty hand, / Longing for something to forgive,” reflecting both love and helplessness.​

The issue of misunderstanding and distance between generations remains real even today, making the poem timeless and relatable.

Q2.  Imagine you are a relationship counselor meeting the father and son from Elizabeth Jennings’ poem Father to Son. Write a script of your meeting with them, showing how you would help them understand each other better.

Answer: Counseling Meeting Script

Counselor: Thank you both for meeting today. I know your relationship feels difficult right now. Father, can you share how you feel?

Father: I feel lost. Though we have lived in the same house for years, I don’t understand my son anymore. I tried to keep our bond from when he was young, but now we speak like strangers. I wonder if I have failed him.

Counselor: That’s very honest. Son, how do you feel about this distance?

Son: I feel misunderstood. My father holds onto who I was but doesn’t see who I’ve become. I want him to accept my choices, but it’s hard.

Counselor: Both of you love each other deeply, but you struggle to connect. This “generation gap” is common but can be bridged with patience and understanding. Father, try to accept your son’s changes. Son, try to keep communication open and gentle.

Counselor: Start small—share your feelings and listen without judgment. Forgiveness and fresh starts are possible if you both reach out with open hearts.

Father & Son: We surely follow your advice. Thank you very much. 

Silk Road (CBL)

 By Nick Middleton

Q1. Briefly explain what the 'kora' signifies in the context of the narrator's journey in “Silk Road”.

Answer: The 'kora' refers to the sacred circumambulation of Mount Kailash, a 52-km pilgrimage route in Tibetan Buddhism and Hinduism, believed to cleanse sins and bring spiritual merit. For the narrator, it represents a profound ritual of devotion and self-purification, undertaken despite physical hardships like altitude sickness, highlighting the journey's spiritual essence over mere adventure.

Q2. Analyze the role of Tsetan as a character in the narrative. How does his expertise contribute to the plot's progression?

Answer: Tsetan, the Tibetan driver, serves as a resourceful guide, embodying local wisdom and resilience. His quick fixes for punctured tires, navigating frozen streams by scattering dirt for traction, and managing high-altitude driving propel the plot forward, preventing delays and ensuring safe passage to Hor and Darchen. This contrasts the narrator's vulnerabilities, underscoring themes of cultural adaptation and survival.

Q3. Infer the narrator's emotional state upon first sighting Lake Manasarovar. What does this reveal about his expectations versus reality?

Answer: The narrator feels profound disappointment and disillusionment, expecting a pristine spiritual oasis but encountering a commercialized site with litter and tourists. This infers a sense of cultural loss and irony, revealing his romanticized preconceptions clashing with modernization's intrusion, which tempers his spiritual anticipation with a sobering critique of globalization's impact on sacred spaces.

Q4. Evaluate the effectiveness of the encounter with the Tibetan mastiffs in building tension in the story. Why is it a pivotal moment?

Answer: The encounter is highly effective, transforming serene landscapes into perilous zones as the dogs charge “like bullets,” evoking raw fear and adrenaline. It pivots the narrative from scenic travel to survival instinct, evaluating the wild's unpredictability and heightening stakes before the kora, thus amplifying themes of human fragility against nature's ferocity.

Q5. Interpret how the first-person narrative style enhances the reader's immersion in “Silk Road”. Provide an example.

Answer: The first-person style fosters intimacy by sharing the narrator's raw sensations and thoughts, making readers co-travelers. For instance, “My head began to throb horribly” during altitude ascent interprets personal vulnerability, enhancing immersion through subjective sensory details like pain and awe, bridging cultural gaps and evoking empathy for the journey's trials.

Q6. How can the theme of perseverance depicted in the narrator's high-altitude challenges be applied to overcoming obstacles in modern academic pursuits, such as preparing for board exams?

Answer: Perseverance, shown through enduring punctures, sickness, and terrain, applies to exam prep by encouraging resilience against fatigue or failures—e.g., persistent study sessions despite distractions. Like Tsetan's fixes, students can adapt strategies (tutoring, breaks), turning hurdles into growth, fostering mental endurance for long-term success in competitive scenarios.

Long Answer Questions (LAQs)

Q1. The narrator in Silk Road describes his contrasting experience of Hor and Darchen compared to earlier travelers, revealing how once pristine places can deteriorate over time due to human negligence.

As a concerned citizen and traveler, write a letter to the Editor of a national daily expressing your concern over the deterioration of tourist destinations by tourists themselves. Suggest some practical measures to preserve such places.

Answer:

October 22, 2025 

 

The Editor 

The Times of India 

New Delhi 

Subject: Concern over the Deterioration of Tourist Places 

Sir/Madam, 

Through the columns of your esteemed newspaper, I wish to express my deep concern about the rapid deterioration of many tourist destinations in our country due to the careless attitude of tourists. Reading about the narrator’s disappointing experiences in Hor and Darchen in Silk Road reminded me that such decline is no longer limited to distant lands — it is occurring in India as well. 

Once-beautiful sites like Shimla, Manali, and Goa are losing their natural charm. Littering, graffiti, plastic waste, and reckless driving have turned scenic locations into dumping grounds. Tourists often forget that they are visitors, not owners. Their actions harm ecosystems, endanger wildlife, and spoil the cultural heritage that draws travelers in the first place. 

To restore these destinations, practical steps must be taken. Strict fines should be imposed for littering and defacing monuments. Tourist departments must create awareness campaigns highlighting eco-friendly practices. Local authorities can provide more dustbins and recycling points, while guided tours can educate visitors about local customs and environmental sensitivity. Encouraging sustainable tourism through responsible homestays, limited entry to fragile areas, and proper waste management can make a significant difference. 

Tourism should spread understanding and appreciation, not pollution and destruction. Only when visitors learn to respect the places they visit can travel truly be enriching — both for people and for nature. 

Yours sincerely, 

A Concerned Citizen 

Q2. Evaluate the salient features of narratology and characterization in “Silk Road”, such as the use of vivid descriptive language and ironic humor. Discuss how these elements can be implemented in real-life travel writing to engage contemporary audiences effectively.

Answer: Nick Middleton’s Silk Road stands out for its vivid descriptive language, realistic narration, and subtle ironic humor that enrich the characterization of both the narrator and his companions. His portrayal of the Tibetan landscape blends sensory detail with emotional introspection, making readers visualize the barren beauty of high-altitude deserts and feel the fatigue of travel. Characters like Tsetan and Norbu are depicted with precise yet affectionate strokes—Tsetan’s calm practicality contrasts with Norbu’s amusing self-deprecation, adding layers of realism and warmth to the narrative.​

Middleton’s tone oscillates between reverence for nature and a light, ironic humor that humanizes his struggle, such as when he observes the irony of seeking spiritual peace in a place marred by discomfort. In modern travel writing, these techniques can captivate readers by blending authenticity with emotional engagement. Writers today can emulate Middleton’s vivid imagery, reflective tone, and understated humor to transform personal journeys into immersive experiences that resonate with contemporary audiences.