A doctor's journal Entry for August 6, 1945 / (By Vikram Seth/ ICSE CLASS -IX.)

 

 

A doctor's journal Entry for August 6, 1945

By Vikram Seth

“A Doctor’s Journal Entry for August 6, 1945” is a poignant poem by Vikram Seth that describes the horrifying aftermath of the atomic bomb explosion in Hiroshima, Japan, during the end of World War II on August 6, 1945.

The poem begins on a calm, beautiful, and warm morning. The narrator, a doctor, is half-clothed, stretching his arms and legs, and gazing at the shimmering leaves and shadows. Suddenly, two strong flashes of light startle him, and he wonders if they are magnesium flares seen during a war.

In the next moment, the roof and walls of his house collapse, and dust swirls around him. He finds himself in the garden amidst the debris. His drawers and undershirt have disappeared, presumably burnt in the flashes.

The doctor is wounded on his cheek and thigh, and he is bleeding on the right side. He dislodges a piece of glass from his body, all the while wondering what has happened.

The poem is a dramatic monologue, narrated from the doctor’s perspective. He speaks with his wife, giving her hope and assurance, and sometimes instructing her. The poem is written in free verse pattern, with no rhyme and no particular meter followed.

This anti-war poem horrifies readers as it depicts the devastating effect of war on common innocent people. It reflects the poet’s humanity as he sympathizes with the war victims and makes everyone think again over the disaster that war may cause. The poem is a stark reminder of the catastrophic consequences of war and the immense suffering it inflicts on innocent people.

 

Contextual word meanings of the poem

Sprawling half-clad: The poet was relaxing, partially dressed1.

Shimmering leaves and shadows: He was admiring the play of light on leaves and the shadows they cast.

Strong flash: He was jolted by two bright flashes of light, indicating the explosion of the atomic bomb.

Magnesium flares: He wondered if they were magnesium flares, trying to make sense of the sudden brightness.

Collapsed in timber and debris: His surroundings, including his home and seemingly the entire world, crumbled and fell apart, with dust and debris filling the air.

Drawers and undershirt disappeared: His clothing was blown away by the force of the explosion1.

Splinter jutted from my mangled thigh: He was injured, with a piece of wood or metal embedded in his thigh.

Right side bled, my cheek was torn: He describes his injuries: bleeding and a torn cheek.

Dislodged, detachedly, a piece of glass: He removed a shard of glass from his body, seemingly in shock and detached from the situation.

Alarmed, scared, panic-stricken: Words such as ‘alarmed’, ‘scared’ and ‘panic-stricken’ have been employed in the extract to describe the narrator’s fear.

Old stone lantern brightly lit: An old stone lantern in his vicinity was illuminated by the intense light of the explosion.

Debated it: He was trying to make sense of the sudden brightness.

Collapsed in timber and debris: His home and seemingly the entire world crumbled and fell apart, with dust and debris filling the air.

In the garden now: He found himself in the garden amidst the chaos.

Weird: He found it strange that his clothing was blown away by the force of the explosion.

Mangled thigh: He was injured, with a piece of wood or metal embedded in his thigh.

Detachedly: He removed a shard of glass from his body, seemingly in shock and detached from the situation.

What had come to pass: He was trying to understand what had just happened.

Alarmed, I gave a shout: Concerned for his wife, he called out for her.

My blood gushed out: He noticed more of his blood pouring out.

The artery in my neck? Scared for my life: He feared that an artery in his neck had been severed, which could be fatal.

Pale, bloodstained, frightened, Yecko-san emerged: His wife appeared, looking pale and covered in blood, clearly terrified.

substance of A doctor's journal Entry for August 6, 1945

The poem “A Doctor’s Journal Entry for August 6, 1945” by Vikram Seth is a vivid and poignant depiction of the aftermath of the atomic bomb explosion in Hiroshima, Japan, on August 6, 1945.

The poem begins on a calm, beautiful, and warm morning. The narrator, a doctor, is half-clothed, stretching his arms and legs, and gazing at the shimmering leaves and shadows. Suddenly, two strong flashes of light startle him, and he wonders if they are magnesium flares seen during a war.

In the next moment, the roof and walls of his house collapse, and dust swirls around him. He finds himself in the garden amidst the debris. His drawers and undershirt have disappeared, presumably burnt in the flashes.

The doctor is wounded on his cheek and thigh, and he is bleeding on the right side. He dislodges a piece of glass from his body, all the while wondering what has happened.

 

The poem is a dramatic monologue, narrated from the doctor’s perspective. He speaks with his wife, giving her hope and assurance, and sometimes instructing her. The poem is written in free verse pattern, with no rhyme and no particular meter followed.

This anti-war poem horrifies readers as it depicts the devastating effect of war on common innocent people1. It reflects the poet’s humanity as he sympathizes with the war victims and makes everyone think again over the disaster that war may cause. The poem is a stark reminder of the catastrophic consequences of war and the immense suffering it inflicts on innocent people.

 

summary of the poem

“A Doctor’s Journal Entry for August 6, 1945” by Vikram Seth begins on a calm and serene morning. The narrator, a doctor, is half-clothed, stretching his arms and legs, and gazing at the shimmering leaves and shadows. Suddenly, two strong flashes of light startle him, and he wonders if they are magnesium flares seen during a war.

The roof and walls of his house collapse, and dust swirls around him. He finds himself in the garden amidst the debris. His drawers and undershirt have disappeared, presumably burnt in the flashes.

The doctor is wounded on his cheek and thigh, and he is bleeding on the right side. He dislodges a piece of glass from his body, all the while wondering what has happened.

The poem is a dramatic monologue, narrated from the doctor’s perspective. He speaks with his wife, giving her hope and assurance, and sometimes instructing her. The poem is written in free verse pattern, with no rhyme and no particular meter followed.

This anti-war poem horrifies readers as it depicts the devastating effect of war on common innocent people1. It reflects the poet’s humanity as he sympathizes with the war victims and makes everyone think again over the disaster that war may cause1. The poem is a stark reminder of the catastrophic consequences of war and the immense suffering it inflicts on innocent people.

 

What is the significance of August 6, 1945?

August 6, 1945, is a significant date in history because it marks the first use of atomic weapons in war. On this day, during World War II, an American B-29 bomber dropped the world’s first deployed atomic bomb over the Japanese city of Hiroshima. The explosion immediately killed an estimated 80,000 people, and tens of thousands more would later die of radiation exposure. This event marked a turning point in warfare and had profound global implications. It led to Japan’s unconditional surrender in World War II and ushered in the nuclear age. The bombings remain the only use of nuclear weapons in an armed conflict. The devastating effects of the bombings are a stark reminder of the destructive power of nuclear weapons and have shaped international policies and public opinion on nuclear warfare ever since.

 

The title of the poem

The title of the poem is “A Doctor’s Journal Entry for August 6, 1945”. It is written by Vikram Seth. The date in the title refers to the day when the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima during World War II. The poem is a poignant depiction of the aftermath of that event, as experienced by a doctor. The title itself sets the historical context and perspective for the poem.

 

The poem as an antiwar poem

“A Doctor’s Journal Entry for August 6, 1945” by Vikram Seth is considered an anti-war poem because it vividly portrays the devastating aftermath of the atomic bomb explosion in Hiroshima, Japan, on August 6, 1945. The poem is a stark reminder of the catastrophic consequences of war and the immense suffering it inflicts on innocent people.

The poem horrifies readers as it depicts the devastating effect of war on common innocent people123. It reflects the poet’s humanity as he sympathizes with the war victims and makes everyone think again over the disaster that war may cause. The poem is a stark reminder of the catastrophic consequences of war and the immense suffering it inflicts on innocent people.

The poem is narrated from the perspective of a doctor who himself was a victim of the bomb explosion4. The entry is a record of the panic-stricken lives that the people in Hiroshima and Nagasaki were surviving4. The poet has described the hideous reality of the first nuclear explosion and its power to destroy the human race in totality.

The poem, therefore, serves as a powerful critique of war, particularly the use of nuclear weapons, and underscores the urgent need for peace. It is a poignant plea for humanity to remember the horrors of war and strive for peace.

 

what impression does the poem leave on the mind of the readers?

“A Doctor’s Journal Entry for August 6, 1945” by Vikram Seth leaves a deep and lasting impression on the readers. The vivid imagery and emotional depth of the poem horrify the readers as they contemplate the devastating effect of war on innocent people.

The poem reflects the poet’s humanity as he sympathizes with the war victims, making everyone think again over the disaster that war may cause. The desolate setting and the frightful condition of the survivors are bound to make readers pessimistic.

The poem invites readers to reflect on the devastating consequences of war and the enduring strength of the human spirit3. It serves as a stark reminder of the catastrophic consequences of war, particularly the use of nuclear weapons, and underscores the urgent need for peace.

Overall, the poem leaves readers with a sense of horror at the destruction caused by war, a deep sympathy for the victims, and a renewed understanding of the importance of peace.

 

Imagery in the poem

The poem “A Doctor’s Journal Entry for August 6, 1945” by Vikram Seth is rich in imagery, which paints a vivid picture of the aftermath of the atomic bomb explosion.

Morning stretched calm, beautiful, and warm: The poem begins with a peaceful and serene morning, setting a tranquil scene.

Shimmering leaves and shadows: The poet was admiring the play of light on leaves and the shadows they cast.

Strong flash, then another: The sudden bright flashes of light indicate the explosion of the atomic bomb.

Old stone lantern brightly lit: An old stone lantern in his vicinity was illuminated by the intense light of the explosion.

Collapsed in timber and debris, dust swirled: His surroundings, including his home and seemingly the entire world, crumbled and fell apart, with dust and debris filling the air.

In the garden now: He found himself in the garden amidst the chaos.

Drawers and undershirt disappeared: His clothing was blown away by the force of the explosion.

Splinter jutted from my mangled thigh: He was injured, with a piece of wood or metal embedded in his thigh.

Right side bled, my cheek was torn: He describes his injuries: bleeding and a torn cheek.

Pale, bloodstained, frightened, Yecko-san emerged: His wife appeared, looking pale and covered in blood, clearly terrified.

These images create a stark picture of the devastation caused by the atomic bomb. The use of vivid and evocative imagery in the poem helps to convey the horrifying reality of the atomic bomb’s aftermath.

 

Poet's attitude of the poem

Vikram Seth’s attitude in “A Doctor’s Journal Entry for August 6, 1945” is one of deep empathy and horror at the devastating effects of war. The poem reflects Seth’s humanity as he sympathizes with the war victims and makes everyone think again over the disaster that war may cause.

The poem is narrated from the perspective of a doctor who himself was a victim of the bomb explosion123. The entry is a record of the panic-stricken lives that the people in Hiroshima and Nagasaki were surviving. The poet has described the hideous reality of the first nuclear explosion and its power to destroy the human race in totality.

Seth’s attitude is also reflected in his depiction of the doctor’s feelings of helplessness and despair as he tries to treat the wounded and dying. The poem serves as a powerful and moving tribute to the victims of the atomic bombing, and it serves as a reminder of the destructive power of war and the importance of peace.

Overall, Seth’s attitude in the poem is anti-war, empathetic, and deeply human, reflecting his horror at the devastation caused by war and his deep sympathy for its victims.