The Doctor's Word Story Long Question Answer and Summary

The Doctor's Word by R.K. Narayan

Introduction to "The Doctor's Word" At present a doctor is treated as God, and his yes or no has a lot of meaning to the patient as well as his relatives. Since common people have no knowledge about disease and diagnosis,they fully surrender themselves to the knowledge of the doctors. They treat them as Gods and wait for their hopeful decision. There are some doctors who have accepted medicine not as a business but as a sacred profession. Through this service they get great satisfaction and consolation. They offer straightforward remarks on the patient's conditions. They without hiding, say whether there is hope on it is a hopeless case. They don't lie to the patient's relatives for the sake of money. The patients and relatives who have close relations with the doctor know for certainty that it is a real doctor and his words are God's. If he says, the patient will survive, the latter believes it. It affects his psychology and he shows signs of development. At times diseases are psychological. When the mind gets cured, the body automatically gets cured. Here is a story "The Doctor's Word" in which a patient who was at the verge of death has survived because the doctor gave word that he would survive. Let's read the story and enjoy it.

Summary of "The Doctor's word" story

Dr. Raman was a famous doctor in his locality. He never lied to the patients about their possibility of cure. He did not care what people would say getting his hopeless or hopeful remark. He told the naked truth only. However, if there was a slight possibility of cure, he would compel Yamaraj to give back life. One day Dr. Raman was busy in the hospital. There came Gopal's son and informed that his father was ill. Gopal was Dr. Raman's childhood friend. Hearing this he ran to Gopal's house. Gopal lay in bed as if in sleep. He examined him and looked cross. He gave an injection and said that he needed an operation. He would go back and would return with equipment, nurse and assistant. He advised Gopal's wife not to disturb Gopal in his sleep. He didn't say what Gopal's problem was. Dr. Raman returned after some time with a nurse, an assistant, drove out others from the room except Gopal's son and then began operation. Then he kept a vigil over him. The patient opened his eyes after some time. The assistant was overjoyed. But Dr. Raman looked worried. He said that it was a false flash. If the pulse went on till next morning, he would be out of danger, otherwise anything might happen at night.

Gopal opened eyes, smiled at Dr. Raman. The family looked delighted. The doctor said to Gopal's wife to give him glucose. When she asked him about his condition he said that nothing could be said till next morning. Hearing this his wife wept bitterly. Gopal asked- Doctor ! Why is she crying ? Am I going to die ? If so please arrange my will paper, otherwise after my death Subas and his gant would take all the property and my family would be ruined.

The doctor was in great problem. If he said that the will would be signed, it would mean that the patient would die. If he did not sign the will and the patient died, his family would be ruined. In a great dilemma, he, however, said that there was no need for 'will'. Then he returned to the hospital, sent the assistant with an injection to give it to the patient in case his pain increased.

The next morning, Dr. Raman went to Gopal's house and saw that Gopal had cured completely. He was astonished. It was a rare success and it was possible because of the doctor's word.

Analytical Outlines of the story The Doctor's Word

1. Dr. Raman was a renowned doctor.
2. He made the perfect diagnosis.
3. He demanded a high price.
4. Few patients come to his clinic at the eleventh hour.
5. He talked about the patient's condition straightly.
6. His callous remark often displeased the relatives of the patients.
7. He never told a lie about the patient's condition.
8. He fought with Yamaraj to bring back the patient's life.
9. One day Dr. Raman was busy in his hospital.
10. His friend Gopal's son came there.
11. He reported that Gopal was ill for several days.
12. Gopal was the childhood friend of Dr. Raman.
13. They were good friends till now.
14. The doctor immediately rushed to Gopal's house.
15. Gopal's condition was serious.
16. A local doctor was attending him.
17. Dr. Raman examined him.
18. He looked horrified.
19. Gopal had reached the final stage.
20. Only an operation could save his life.
21. There was a little hope of success.
22. He gave an injection.
23. He advised Gopal's family not to disturb Gopal.
24. He went back to the hospital.
25. He returned to Gopal's house with an assistant and a nurse.
26. The operation started.
27. Gopal opened his eyes after a few hours.
28. His pulse rate improved.
29. The assistant looked happy.
30. Dr. Raman said that it was a false sign. 31. If he crossed midnight, then he would survive.
32. Gopal's wife wept loudly hearing this.
33. Gopal heard the cry.
34. He suspected that he was dying.
35. He asked the doctor if he would die.
36. He said, if his death was certain he would sign the will of his property.
37. If he died without signing, Subbiah and his gang would grab his property.
38. The doctor looked puzzled.
39. If he signed the will, Gopal would think that his death was certain.
40. It would affect his psychology and he would die.
41. If he did not sign the will, and he died as it is predicted, his family would be pauper.
42. He could not decide what to do.
43. Finally he told Gopal that he did not need to sign the will.
44. He would survive long.
45. Gopal looked elated and said- Doctor ? You said this means I am assured.
46. The doctor advised him to sleep.
47. He returned to his hospital.alis
48. He gave a special injection to his assistant.
49. He sent him to Gopal's house with the injection.
50. He advised him to give the injection when the pain was unbearable.
51. The next day the doctor went to Gopal's house.
52. Gopal was sitting and smiled at him.
53. The doctor examined him.
54. He told Gopal's wife- now your husband would live up to 90 years.
55. On the way, the doctor told his assistant that Gopal's case was a miracle.

The Doctor's Word Story Long Question Answer and Summary

Long Question Answer of the story The Doctor's Word

Answer of the questions to be answered carrying 5 marks each

Question.1. Why did the patients visit Dr. Raman only when they were hopeless ?

Answer. The patients and their relatives know well that Dr. Raman was an expert doctor, yet they visit him at the eleventh hour because Dr. Raman demands twenty five rupees per patient as his visiting fees. The poor patients were not able to pay such a high amount. Secondly, Dr. Raman made straightforward remarks on the patient's condition without hiding anything which frightened patients and relatives.

Question.2. What impression of Dr. Raman do you get from the passage ?

Answer. The passage shows that Dr. Raman wasa gifted doctor. He was straightforward in declaring the condition of the patients. It was not his nature to hide the real stage of the patient. He does not care what others think or say about him. He could make a perfect diagnosis. If he noticed faint signs of his cure, he would fight with Yama to return the life of the patient.

Question.3. How does the writer describe the friendship between Dr. Raman and Gopal ?

Answer. Dr. Raman and Gopal were known to each other since Kindergarten days. In later life, being attached to family and profession, they could not meet each other frequently. Dr. Raman was over busy. Gopal came to meet him on Sundays. When the doctor became free they would come out, dine together, watch cinema and talk of each other's life and activities. It was a classic friendship standing over untouched by changing times, circumstances and activities.

Question.4. How did Dr. Raman come to know about Gopal's illness ?

Answer. Dr. Raman and Gopal were close friends. Gopal paid a visit to Dr. Raman in his clinic every Sunday. He had not visited him for three months. Being busy, Dr. Raman had not noticed it. When Gopal's son came and reported to him that his father was ill, mother sent for him, then he realised about Gopal's long absence and immediately moved to his house to attend to him.

Question.5. Why didn't Gopal's wife call for Dr. Raman earlier ?

Answer. Gopal's wife knew that Dr. Raman was very busy. He had no time for visiting patients' houses. So when Gopal fell ill, she did not want to disturb him in his busy schedule.But when the situation became worse, the local doctor failed, being undone, she called for Dr. Raman.

Question.6. What steps did the doctor take to save his friend from death ?

Answer. Gopal was a friend of Dr. Raman. So the doctor rushed to Gopal's house hearing about his sickness. Seeing his condition, tears came to his eyes. He prepared: injection and shot the drug. He watched his symptoms closely. When no change came over the patient he arranged an operation to save his life.

Question.7. What was Dr. Raman's reaction when his assist and said- "Sir, he will pull through" ?

Answer. The doctor performed an operation on Gopal. Towards eleven at night, Gopal stirred a bit. The assistant looked delighted and said- Sir, he will pull through. But the doctor said coldly- Don't trust it. It is only a will to keep up till eight in the morning, it will go on for the next forty years, but I doubt it.

Question.8. What was Dr. Raman's response when Gopal's wife asked about his condition?

Answer. Gopal, after a few hours of operation, opened his eyes, smiled at the doctor, and ate some food. The family members thought the danger was over. But the doctor looked grave. It puzzled Gopal's wife. She asked, Doctor ! What about him now ? How is he ? Two doctors said- don't get excited. I would rather not talk to you now.

Question.9. Why did Gopal ask Dr. Raman- "Am I going ?" What was he anxious about ?

Answer. Gopal's wife and Dr. Raman were talking. The latter said that Gopal's condition was critical. Hearing this Gopal's wife wept bitterly. Gopal heard her cry and imagined that he was going to die. To be confirmed he asked the doctor- Doctor! Am I going to die ? He was anxious about his death.

Question.10. Was Dr. Raman upset at this question ? Give your reasons.

Answer. Gopal asked Dr. Raman- "Doctor! Am I going to die ? Don't hide it from me." Gopal's question upset the doctor because Gopal was his best friend. He knew that he was never whitewashed. People attached great value to his words. How would he say to his best friend that he was going to die after a few minutes.

Question.11. Why did Dr. Raman decide to tell a lie ?

Answer. Gopal asked Dr. Raman- "Am I going to die ?" If so please give me a paper. I will make a will of my property in favour of my children. Dr. Raman thought, if he gave the will, that he declared that he would die. In this case his possibility of death would be quickened. If he did not give the will, Subbiah and his gang would occupy his property. He went against his nature and told a lie to keep Gopal happy so that he might be cured psychologically.

Question.12. How did he answer Gopal's question ?

Answer. Gopal asked- "Am I going to die ?" The doctor after much thought, to save the life of Gopal, said-Gopal, listen ! Don't worry about the will now. You are going to live, your heart is absolutely sound. His words actually saved Gopal's life, for he paid much value to the doctor's word.

Question.13. How did Gopal accept Dr. Raman's words ?

Answer. Gopal knew Dr. Raman since childhood. He knew that he would never whitewash the condition of the patient. When he said- Gopal ! you are going to live. Your heart is absolutely sound, Gopal looked delighted. A glow suffused on the patient's face and he said- Do you say so ? If it comes from your lips, it must be true. He fell asleep happily.

Question.14. Did Dr. Raman believe that his patient would recover that night ? Why do you think so ?

Answer. Dr. Raman did not believe that his patient would recover that night, because he told the assistant that his life might collapse at any moment. If he feels much pain, he will give a tube of poison to him for a peaceful death. Besides he had told Gopal's wife that nothing could be told about him till next morning.

Question.15. "Don't look so unhappy, lady." Why does Dr. Raman say so ?

Answer. The lady or Gopal's wife asked Dr. Raman about the condition of her husband. He said that nothing could be said for certain till next morning. So she was restless. The next morning, the patient's condition improved and then Dr. Raman told his wife- "Don't look so unhappy, lady. Your husband will live to be ninety.

Question.16. Does human life hang on a doctor's word ? Give a reasoned answer.

Answer. People treat doctors as Gods, and they value their words seriously. If they say the patient would recover, they look happy. If they give negative remarks, they weep. Gopal was Dr. Raman's friend. He knew that Dr. Raman never told a lie to the patients. When he said that he would survive, Gopal believed it and he got psychological strength. He survived.

Narayan and Malgudi

Narayan, if dubbed as a successful writer is due to his fruitful and imaginary invention. Malgudi Narayan without Malgudi seems half understood, least recognised. It is like Shakespeare's forest Aden in which most of his plays have been enacted. Narayan invented this imaginary town placed in all his stories and novels immortalised it by giving brilliant colour, naturality, glorious manifestation, life forging objects. All his characters are Malgúdians and uniquely engar has rightly said Malgudi although they may have their recognizable local trappings are essentially human and hence have their kinship with all humanity. With each new novel, we advance in time and Malgudi grows in importance and gains in definition.

Let's discuss Malgudi in different novels by R.K. Narayan. In Swami and Friend Malgudi is neither village nor city but a town. of modest size. Novel after novel Malgudi grows in importance and gains in definition. The major landmarks, however remain. The river Saryu flows by its side. Town Malgudi or just beyond it are Nallappa's mango grove and the Mempi forest reached by the grove street and the,forest road respectively. There is a Trunk road to Trichinopoly. One can board the train for Madras at the Malgudi station. It is the station where Raju in The. Guide was working. There are various streets and lanes- Kabir street, Kabir lane, Anderson lane, Saraya street, Kalam street, Smith street, Vinayaka Muduli street, Abu lane, Ellamman street, Keelacheri country. The name in the Tamil

Malgudi has a municipality, a town hall, a club and two schools the Albert Mission school and the Board High School. It looks at though Narayan in his recent novels. Can neither be content with familiar. Malgudi nor quite do without it. His experience of life, his clarifying triple vision of man in relation to himself his environment and his gods his widening and deepening sense of comedy, all give a new dimensions to his art as a novelist, But once he moves out of Malgudi, he is a little uncertain in his movement and the old sourness of touch, the sense of utter exactitude in observation and description, is seen to falter ever so slightly.

Narayan's Malgudi is a much smaller place, a mere town really, compared to the vague vastness of Hardy's Wessex moving from Wessex to Malgudi. We moved from a tropical jungle to a municipal park. Thus it would appear that there is an insufficient correspondence between the action in Narayan's recent novel and the restricted Malgudi background Narayan is no doubt a novelist of international repute. His former novels lack depth understanding, appeal, message and are childish unpleasant built upon silly sally, dilly dally plots which can please an average reader but a man of intellectual pursuits, a pedant a man of literary taste and temperament will be harassed none of his novels bear the status of Mayor of Casterbridge. But the Guide is somehow a mature novel which has brilliant plot construction message cost west philosophy, realistic expoundíng of human predicaments, psychological study into Raju's two phased life one as Rosie's lover and one as a Sadhu, endeavouring to bring rain.

Narayan's titles are apt, persuasive and suggestive for they bear the whole theme, even the central idea that the novel contains. From the title one can jump into conclusion as to what is presented inside. The theme is short,imaginary, hardly interesting. But befitting to the 20th century readers and social background. His characters are not remarkable because they are not ideals not exemplifying rather unwholesome and wicked devils Raju, Ramani, Krishna, Marayya, Swami, Mani Chandran are all wicked in someway or others.

The Doctor's Word Story Long Question Answer and Summary pdf

The Doctor's Word Story pdf

The Doctor's Word Story question answer

The Doctor's Word Story summary

The Doctor's Word Story by RK NARAYAN

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