Mother's Day

Q. Who is Mrs Fitzgerald? What does she advise Mrs Pearson?

Answer: Mrs Fitzgerald is Mrs Pearson’s neighbour and friend. A fortune teller, who had learnt the art
from the East, she tells Mrs Pearson that her fortune could turn either way. With effort and counsel, the
situation would swing in her favour. She advised her to assert herself as the boss of the house.

Q. What was Mrs Pearson’s reaction to Mrs Fitzgerald’s advice?

Answer: Mrs Pearson said that it would not be easy to put her family members in place as she was very
fond of them. She knew that they were thoughtless and selfish but felt, perhaps, they did not mean to
be so.

Q.What was Mrs Fitzgerald’s opinion of Mrs Pearson’s attitude?

Answer: Mrs Fitzgerald said that Mrs Pearson’s family was undoubtedly spoilt. She felt that it was Mrs
Pearson’s attitude that did them no good, tending to their needs, taking their orders, and staying at
home every night while they went out enjoying themselves.

Q. What does Mrs Fitzgerald offer to do for her?

Answer: Mrs Fitzgerald sensed that Mrs Pearson was far too gentle, submissive and generous to tackle
her family. Mrs Fitzgerald offered to make them realize the error of their ways not as Mrs Fitzgerald but
as Mrs Pearson. She offered to change their bodies and change back again.”

Q. What is Doris’s first reaction on seeing her mother? Why?

Answer: Doris was taken aback to see her mother smoking and playing cards. When Doris asks her what
she was doing, she is startled to get her answer—‘whitewashing the ceiling.’ Moreover, her conduct was
not nervous and apologetic but cool and incisive.

Q. What does Mrs Pearson say to Doris that really bothered her?

Answer: Mrs Pearson asked where Doris would wear her yellow silk dress. She said that she planned to
go out with Charlie Spence. Mrs Pearson told her to find somebody better, and insulted Charlie Spence
by calling her buck-toothed and was half-witted.

Q. What does Mrs Pearson have to say to Cyril that shocks him?

Answer: When Cyril walk in and insists on her getting the tea and his clothes ready, he is stunned to hear
that she doesn’t ‘like mending’. She goes on to tell him that when he does not want to do something, he
does not do it. She planned to do the same. Cyril could not believe his ears.
Q. What do Doris and Cyril feel about Mrs Pearson’s changed behaviour?

Answer: Doris and Cyril discuss that there is something wrong with their mother as she is not behaving
in character. They discuss how Mrs Pearson behaved oddly with each of them. They try to fathom if she
had gone crazy or had a concussion.

Q. Why was George Pearson surprised when he came home? What was the answer that he got?

Answer: Mr George Pearson was surprised to see Doris crying and was shocked to see Mrs Pearson
sipping beer. He said that it did not look right. Mrs Pearson replied that it was ‘a nice change’ and it had
been quite some time since he was surprised at her.

Q. How was the experience for the two women after the change of bodies?

Answer: The real Mrs Pearson (now Mrs Fitzgerald) had not enjoyed the experience as she had seen her
family being treated roughly and rudely by Mrs Fitzgerald. On the other hand, Mrs Fitzgerald had
enjoyed the experience, as she had been able to teach Doris,Cyril and George Pearson a lesson to value
Mrs Pearson.

Q. What was Mrs Fitzgerald’s advice to Mrs Pearson after she had put back the family members in their
proper place?

Answer: Mrs Fitzgerald advised Mrs Pearson not to be soft and waste all the effort she had put in to
change the attitude of her family for the better. Mrs Pearson is unsure how she would explain her
behaviour. But Mrs Fitzgerald warns her not to yield.

Q. What was the change that came over the Pearson family in the end?

Answer: When Mrs Fitzgerald left, Mrs Pearson’s family was relieved to see her smile. Mrs Pearson
decides to stay home for a family game of rummy, and have the children prepare dinner. They readily
agree and gather around Mrs Pearson as the play ends.

Mother’s Day Extra Questions and Answers Long Answer Type

Q. Write in your words the conversation between Mrs Pearson and Mrs Fitzgerald in the beginning of
the play. What is the outcome of the meeting?

Answer: Mrs Fitzgerald predicts her friend Mrs Pearson’s fate and tells her that it was high time she
asserted herself as the head of the family. Mrs Pearson says that it was not easy because she loves her
family although they are very thoughtless and selfish. But Mrs Fitzgerald insists that they ought to learn
to appreciate her and treat her appropriately. She tells her not to run after them and oblige. Mrs
Pearson agrees with Mrs Fitzgerald, but wonders if anything would affect them.

She is afraid of creating unpleasantness in the family. As Mrs Pearson is about to rush off to prepare
dinner for her family, Mrs Fitzgerald comes up with an idea. She tells . Mrs Pearson that they could
exchange their bodies. She then holds her hand and asks her to keep quiet for a minute. They stare at
each other and Mrs Fitzgerald mumbles ‘Arshtatta dum—arshtatta lam—arshtatta lamdumbona…’ and
they assume each other’s personality.

Q. Describe Mrs Pearson’s conversation with Cyril when he walks in and his reaction.

Answer: Mrs Pearson’s son Cyril walks in and insists on Mrs Pearson getting the tea and his clothes
ready. He reminds her of the promise she made the same morning, to mend his clothes. He is surprised
to hear that she does not Tike mending’ and that she would not do anything that she did not want to do.
Cyril could not believe his ears. Cyril again asks for tea, telling her that he had been working for an eight-
hour day, to which Mrs Pearson says that she had done her eight hours and henceforth she would work
for only forty hours a week. On weekends, she would have her two days off.

She might make a bed or two and do a bit of cooking as a favour but that would be conditional to the
fact that they asked her very nicely and thanked her for everything and generally made a fuss of her.
Cyril and Doris are surprised and wait for their father to arrive.

Q. Mrs Fitzgerald’s effort does not go in vain, as the family changes for the better. Justify.

Answer: Mrs Pearson has a selfish and a thoughtless family, who is insensitive to the feelings of the
mother. But after the staged trick, and when Mrs Fitzgerald leaves, the three—George, Doris, and Cyril
look anxiously at Mrs Pearson, who smiles. They are much relieved, and smile back at her. Mrs Pearson
tells them that since they have decided to stay at home, they would have a nice family game of rummy
and then the children could get the supper ready while she talked with their father. All of them agree.
Mrs Pearson wishes Mrs Fitzgerald goodbye and the family surrounds Mrs Pearson, implying a happy
ending. It looks as if Mrs Fitzgerald’s effort is rewarded and they seem eager to appease the real Mrs
Pearson.

Birth
Question 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.

.Short Answer Type Questions

Q.bWho 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.

Q. 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.

Q. 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.

Q. 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.

Q. Why did a shiver of horror pass over Andrew?

Answer: Andrew had struggled for more than an hour to help Mrs Susan Morgan in the safe delivery of
her first child. At last, the child was born, but it was lifeless. As Andrew gazed at the still form of the
baby, a shiver of horror passed over him.

Q. What dilemma did Andrew face?

Answer: His heart prompted him to resuscitate the stillborn child. His mind dictated him to attend to the
mother who was laying in a hopeless state. Andrew faced the dilemma whom he should attend first.

Q. In what state did Andrew find the newborn child? What did he conclude?

Answer: Andrew found the baby amongst wet newspapers under the bed. Its limp warm body was white
and soft. Its head lolled on the thin neck. The limbs seemed boneless. The whiteness over the body
meant suffocation caused by the lack of oxygen.

Q. What efforts did Andrew make to revive the newborn baby?

Answer: First, he laid the child upon a blanket and gave it artificial respiration. Then he dipped the child
alternately in hot and cold water. After that he rubbed the slippery child with a rough towel. He pressed
and released his chest till it began to breathe and gave a city.

Q. How did Andrew react to the first glimpse of the success of his efforts to help the stillborn child come
alive?

Answer: As a result of Andrew’s persistent efforts, the small chest of the baby heaved up. This short
heave was followed by other heart beats. Andrew turned giddy. The sense of life, throbbing under his
feelings almost made him faint.

Q. Why did Andrew say, “Fill fetch my bag later, nurse.”?

Answer: Andrew had worked hard single-handedly and constantly to save the mother as well as the
stillborn child from the jaws of death. The constant efforts, tension, desperation caused by failure
combined to make him weak and dazed. His throat was dry.

Long Answer Type Questions

Q. 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.

Q. 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.