NCERT Solutions for Class 11 English (Snapshots) Chapter 4 – Birth: A.J. Cronin (NCERT 2026–27)

Complete solutions for Class 11 English Snapshots Chapter 4 – “Birth” by A.J. Cronin: an original summary, the theme and message, word meanings, and every textbook question answered in full, exam-ready prose. The questions are reproduced exactly as in the NCERT Snapshots textbook; the summary and all answers are written originally by ClearStudy.

Class: 11 Subject: English Book: Snapshots (Supplementary Reader) Type: Short story (Chapter 4) Author: A.J. Cronin Session: 2026–27
On this page

About the author

Archibald Joseph Cronin (1896–1981) was a Scottish novelist and physician. After studying medicine at the University of Glasgow, he practised for several years, including a spell as a doctor in the Welsh mining valleys – an experience that gave his fiction its vivid medical detail and social conscience. He turned to full-time writing after illness, and his novels, including The Citadel, Hatter’s Castle and The Keys of the Kingdom, won wide readership for their realism and humane sympathy. The story “Birth” is an excerpt from The Citadel. Cronin’s portrayal of an idealistic young doctor is widely credited with helping shape public support for a national health service in Britain.

Summary

Andrew Manson, a young doctor newly qualified and working as an assistant in the small Welsh mining town of Blaenelly, returns home near midnight, low-spirited after a disappointing evening with Christine, the girl he loves. Joe Morgan, a burly driller who has been waiting anxiously, tells him that his wife – expecting their first child after nearly twenty years of marriage – needs him urgently. Andrew, tired and listless, goes with Joe to Number 12 Blaina Terrace, with no idea that this night call will change his whole future in the town.

In the poorly furnished bedroom Mrs Morgan’s elderly mother and the midwife wait. The old woman, wise with experience, fears Andrew will leave; he reassures her and settles by the kitchen fire to wait. While he waits, his thoughts drift between the failed marriages he has seen and his own confused feelings for Christine – the conflict between his doubting mind and his overflowing heart.

After a long, hard labour the child is born – lifeless. Torn between saving the dangerously weak mother and reviving the stillborn baby, Andrew first stabilises Susan Morgan with an injection. He then desperately works on the boy, plunging him alternately into hot and cold water and finally pressing his tiny chest, using a method he once saw used for asphyxia pallida. After half an hour of seemingly hopeless effort, the chest heaves, the baby gasps, turns pink and cries. The nurse weeps with joy and the old grandmother prays. Spent but exalted, Andrew tells Joe that both mother and child are safe, and walks home in the dawn thinking, “I’ve done something real at last.”

Theme & message

“Birth” explores the dignity, dedication and quiet heroism of the medical profession. It shows how a doctor’s persistence, presence of mind and refusal to give up can mean the difference between life and death. The story also celebrates the difference between cold, theoretical knowledge and the committed practice of medicine – real worth lies in tireless, compassionate effort. Finally, it captures the deep human meaning of work: Andrew’s sense that he has at last “done something real” underlines that true satisfaction comes from selfless service that genuinely helps another life.

Word meanings

WordMeaning
burlylarge and strongly built
premonitiona feeling that something is about to happen
listlesslacking energy or enthusiasm
overwroughtin a state of nervous excitement or anxiety
lethargya state of sluggishness or lack of energy
shrewishbad-tempered and nagging (of a woman)
idyllicextremely happy, peaceful and perfect
broodinglyin a deeply, gloomily thoughtful way
chloroforma liquid used as an anaesthetic
anaesthetica drug that causes loss of sensation/consciousness
resuscitateto revive someone from unconsciousness or apparent death
flaccidsoft and limp; lacking firmness
ampule (ampoule)a small sealed glass container holding medicine
hypodermic syringean instrument used to inject medicine under the skin
tallowhard animal fat used to make soap and candles
asphyxia pallidasuffocation marked by paleness, weak pulse and loss of reflexes
consternationfeelings of anxiety or dismay
futileuseless; pointless
draggledmade wet and dirty
iridescentshowing shimmering, rainbow-like colours
scullerya small room for washing dishes and similar work
spentcompletely exhausted; worn out

Textbook exercise solutions

Questions reproduced verbatim from the NCERT Snapshots textbook (“Birth”); answers written originally by ClearStudy.

1. “I have done something; oh, God! I’ve done something real at last.” Why does Andrew say this? What does it mean?

ANSWERAndrew says this after he has, against all odds, brought a stillborn baby back to life and also saved the collapsing mother. The child had been born lifeless, white and limp; the midwife had already declared it stillborn and slipped it under the bed. Yet Andrew refused to give up. After nearly an hour of frantic effort – an injection for the mother, the alternating hot-and-cold baths, and finally pressing the baby’s chest – the infant suddenly gasped, turned pink and cried.The statement means that for the first time in his medical career Andrew feels he has accomplished something genuinely worthwhile and meaningful. Until now his work in Blaenelly had felt routine and unremarkable, and his personal life had left him low and confused. By saving two lives through sheer skill, persistence and compassion, he experiences a profound, almost spiritual sense of fulfilment. “Something real” suggests work that truly matters – service that makes a tangible difference – as opposed to mere routine duty. It marks a turning point that confirms his sense of purpose as a doctor.

2. There lies a great difference between textbook medicine and the world of a practising physician. Discuss.

ANSWERTextbook medicine offers neat theory, ideal conditions and clear procedures, but the world of a practising physician is unpredictable, pressured and deeply human. In the story this gap is shown vividly. Andrew faces a real emergency at night in a poor, dimly lit cottage with only an oil lamp, basic instruments and an anxious family – nothing like the controlled environment of a classroom or hospital.A practising doctor must make instant, life-or-death decisions. Andrew is suddenly torn between two duties – reviving the stillborn child and saving the dangerously weak mother – a dilemma no textbook can fully prepare him for. He resolves it not through cool reasoning alone but “blindly, instinctively”, acting first to save the mother and then fighting for the baby. He must also improvise, recalling a method he once saw used for asphyxia pallida and using hot and cold water with whatever is at hand.Above all, real practice demands qualities textbooks cannot teach – patience, courage, presence of mind, emotional endurance and the refusal to give up even when a case looks hopeless. Theory gives the doctor knowledge; only practice tests dedication, judgement and the human will to keep trying.

3. Do you know of any incident when someone has been brought back to life from the brink of death through medical help. Discuss medical procedures such as organ transplant and organ regeneration that are used to save human life.

ANSWERYes, modern medicine routinely brings people back from the brink of death. A common example is cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) combined with defibrillation: when a person’s heart stops, chest compressions and an electric shock can restart it, much as Andrew’s manual chest pressure revived the baby in the story. Patients in road accidents or with severe heart attacks are often saved in this way in hospitals and even by trained bystanders.Organ transplant is another life-saving advance. When an organ such as the kidney, liver, heart or lungs fails completely, a healthy organ from a living or deceased donor is surgically placed in the patient’s body. Kidney and liver transplants in particular have given thousands of patients a second chance at life, supported by anti-rejection medicines that help the body accept the new organ.Organ regeneration is a newer field that uses the body’s own healing power. Through stem-cell therapy and tissue engineering, scientists are learning to repair or regrow damaged tissue – for example, regenerating skin for burn victims, repairing heart muscle, or growing tissue in the laboratory. Such advances, together with blood transfusion, dialysis and intensive care, show how far medical science has progressed in snatching life from death – yet, as the story reminds us, the doctor’s dedication and quick thinking remain just as vital as the technology.

Extra questions

Short answer (30–40 words)

1. Who was Andrew Manson and where was he working?

ANSWERAndrew Manson was a young doctor, newly out of medical school, working as an assistant to Dr Edward Page in the small Welsh mining town of Blaenelly. The story “Birth” is an excerpt from Cronin’s novel The Citadel.

2. Why was Joe Morgan waiting for Andrew at midnight?

ANSWERJoe Morgan was waiting anxiously because his wife, expecting their first child after nearly twenty years of marriage, had gone into labour earlier than expected and urgently needed the doctor’s help.

3. What was Andrew’s state of mind as he went on the call?

ANSWERAndrew felt dull, listless and overwrought after a disappointing evening with Christine. His thoughts were heavy and muddled, torn between his doubting mind and his love for Christine, and he had no premonition that the night would prove unusual.

4. What dilemma did Andrew face when the child was born lifeless?

ANSWERHe was torn between his desire to try to revive the stillborn child and his duty towards the mother, Susan Morgan, who lay almost pulseless and in a desperate state. The dilemma was so urgent that he acted instinctively.

5. How did the old grandmother react after the baby was revived?

ANSWERThe old woman, who had stood silently against the wall throughout the ordeal longing for a grandchild, joined her hands together and moved her lips without sound – she was praying, overcome with relief and gratitude.

Long answer (100–120 words)

6. Describe how Andrew brought the stillborn child back to life. What does this reveal about him?

ANSWERAfter saving the collapsing mother with an injection, Andrew turned to the baby, which the midwife had hidden under the bed as stillborn. Recalling a case of asphyxia pallida he had once seen treated, he laid the child on a blanket and began a special method of respiration. Like a “crazy juggler”, he plunged the baby alternately into icy and steaming water, then rubbed it and pressed and released its tiny chest. Despite the midwife’s despair, he persisted for half an hour until, “as by a miracle”, the chest heaved, the baby gasped, turned pink and cried. This reveals Andrew’s skill, presence of mind, courage and, above all, his refusal to give up – the marks of a truly dedicated doctor.

7. How does the story “Birth” bring out the nobility of the medical profession?

ANSWER“Birth” portrays the doctor as a quiet hero. Though tired, low-spirited and personally troubled, Andrew answers a midnight call without complaint and stays through a long, exhausting labour. When the baby is born lifeless and the mother near death, he does not panic or surrender; he prioritises, improvises and labours unsparingly, never giving up even after the midwife declares the case hopeless. His reward is not money but the overwhelming joy of saving two lives, expressed in his cry that he has “done something real at last.” The story shows that the nobility of medicine lies in selfless dedication, compassion, presence of mind and the relentless will to preserve life against the odds.

MCQs & Assertion–Reason

1. The story “Birth” is an excerpt from which novel by A.J. Cronin?

(a) Hatter’s Castle   (b) The Citadel   (c) The Keys of the Kingdom   (d) The Stars Look Down

ANSWER(b) The Citadel.

2. In which town was Andrew Manson working?

(a) Cardiff   (b) Bryngower   (c) Blaenelly   (d) Glasgow

ANSWER(c) Blaenelly.

3. Who came to fetch Andrew at midnight?

(a) Dr Edward Page   (b) Denny   (c) Joe Morgan   (d) Bramwell

ANSWER(c) Joe Morgan.

4. The Morgans had been married for nearly:

(a) ten years   (b) fifteen years   (c) twenty years   (d) thirty years

ANSWER(c) twenty years.

5. Whose image kept occupying Andrew’s thoughts as he waited?

(a) Christine   (b) Blodwen   (c) Susan Morgan   (d) the midwife

ANSWER(a) Christine.

6. When the child was first born, it was:

(a) crying loudly   (b) lifeless and white   (c) healthy and pink   (d) sleeping

ANSWER(b) lifeless and white.

7. The whiteness of the baby’s skin indicated which condition?

(a) jaundice   (b) fever   (c) asphyxia pallida   (d) anaemia

ANSWER(c) asphyxia pallida.

8. To revive the baby, Andrew used:

(a) only an injection   (b) alternating hot and cold water and chest pressure   (c) chloroform   (d) only a blanket

ANSWER(b) alternating hot and cold water and chest pressure.

9. What did the old grandmother do after the baby came alive?

(a) fainted   (b) ran outside   (c) prayed silently   (d) scolded the nurse

ANSWER(c) prayed silently.

10. At the end of the story, Andrew feels that he has:

(a) wasted his night   (b) done something real at last   (c) failed his patient   (d) decided to quit medicine

ANSWER(b) done something real at last.
MCQ Answer Key: 1-(b), 2-(c), 3-(c), 4-(c), 5-(a), 6-(b), 7-(c), 8-(b), 9-(c), 10-(b).

Assertion–Reason – choose: (a) A and R true, R explains A; (b) A and R true, R does not explain A; (c) A true, R false; (d) A false, R true.

1. Assertion (A): Andrew first attended to the mother before reviving the child.

Reason (R): Susan Morgan lay collapsed and almost pulseless, in a desperate state.

ANSWER(a) Both true and R correctly explains A.

2. Assertion (A): Andrew gave up trying to revive the stillborn baby.

Reason (R): The midwife had declared the child stillborn.

ANSWER(d) A is false – Andrew did not give up but persisted until the baby revived; R is true, as the midwife did declare it stillborn.

3. Assertion (A): Andrew felt deeply fulfilled at the end of the story.

Reason (R): He had saved both the mother and the child through his persistent effort.

ANSWER(a) Both true and R correctly explains A.

4. Assertion (A): Andrew set out for the call full of energy and hope.

Reason (R): He had just spent a happy evening with Christine.

ANSWER(d) A is false – he felt dull and listless; R is also false – the evening with Christine had been disappointing. (As both statements are false, the intended key is that A is false.)

5. Assertion (A): The story highlights the dedication of the medical profession.

Reason (R): Andrew worked tirelessly and refused to give up even when the case seemed hopeless.

ANSWER(a) Both true and R correctly explains A.
A–R Answer Key: 1-(a), 2-(d), 3-(a), 4-(d), 5-(a).

Exam tips

  • Remember the source: “Birth” is an extract from Cronin’s novel The Citadel; the central character is the young doctor Andrew Manson.
  • For the line “I’ve done something real at last”, link it to professional fulfilment and the value of selfless, meaningful work.
  • In long answers, use specific details – the hot-and-cold baths, the injection for the mother, the asphyxia pallida diagnosis – to show close reading of the text.
  • Highlight the contrast between textbook theory and real practice; examiners value the point about quick decisions and improvisation.
  • Note the supporting characters – Joe Morgan, the grandmother, the midwife – and how their reactions heighten the drama and theme.

FAQs

Who is the author of ‘Birth’ and from which novel is it taken?

“Birth” is written by the Scottish novelist and physician A.J. Cronin and is an excerpt from his novel The Citadel.

Why does Andrew say he has ‘done something real at last’?

He says it after reviving a stillborn baby and saving the mother. It means he has finally achieved something genuinely worthwhile and meaningful as a doctor, giving him deep professional fulfilment.

How did Andrew revive the lifeless baby?

He used a special method of respiration – plunging the baby alternately into hot and cold water and pressing its chest – recalling a treatment he had once seen used for asphyxia pallida, until the child finally gasped and cried.

Questions are taken verbatim from the NCERT Snapshots textbook; the summary and answers are written originally by ClearStudy.

Scroll to Top