1
Date Assigned / Reading Assignment / Date DueChapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5 p. 91-109
Chapter 5 p. 110-134
Chapter 5 p. 134-152
Hiroshima
Chapter One – A Noiseless Flash
Vocabulary
abstinence – the act of voluntarily doing without
convivial – sociable; jovial
diathermy – medical treatment in which heat is produced beneath the skin by highfrequency
electric current or radiation to warm or destroy tissue
estuarial – like an inlet
hedonistic – concerned with pleasure
incendiary –designed to cause fires, flammable
incessant – never ceasing
philanthropy –a desire to help mankind by giving gifts to charitable or humanitarian
institutions
prefecture – any of the regional districts of Japan administered by a governor
repugnant – distasteful, disagreeable
sampan – small boats used in China and Japan
volition – exercise of the will; a conscious or deliberate decision
xenophobic – fear or hatred of strangers
IDENTIFY the Question-Answer Relationships: RT, TS, AM, OMO
1. What is the setting for this book?
2. The six main characters are real people who survive the atomic bomb. Hershey
writes:
“A hundred thousand people were killed by the atomic bomb, and these six were
among the survivors. They still wonder why they lived when so many others died.
Each of them counts many small items of chance or volition – a step taken in time, a
decision to go indoors, catching one streetcar instead of the next – that spared him.”
(Pg. 2)
What does the above statement suggest to the reader about how the six survivors feel
about being alive when so many others are killed?
3. Who is Mr. B? Why are the citizens of Hiroshima “jittery”?
4. Briefly describe Mr. Kiyoshi Tanimoto. In your description, include his appearance,
his general personality traits, and his occupation.
5. The citizens of Hiroshima are preparing for an American attack on the city. How is
Mr. Tanimoto making preparations for this attack?
6. Why does Mr. Tanimoto become the chairman of the Neighborhood Association (the
tonarigumi)?
7. Where is Mr. Tanimoto when the atomic bomb strikes the city? What item of
“chance or volition” do you think saves his life?
8. Describe what Mr. Tanimoto sees, hears, and feels just as the bomb explodes.
9. Describe Mrs. Hatsuyo Nakamura, including her general personality traits and her
occupation.
10. Why does Mrs. Nakamura decide to ignore the new air-raid warning on the radio?
11. What precautions is the City of Hiroshima taking to prepare for a quick evacuation of
the city in case of bombing attacks and the resulting fires?
12. What is Mrs. Nakamura doing when the atomic bomb explodes? What item of
Hersey’s “chance or volition” saves her life?
13. What is Dr. Masakazu Fujii’s physical appearance, general personality traits, and
occupation. Explain how his life is spared when the bomb explodes.
14. Who is Father Wilhelm Kleinsorge? Where is he when the bomb explodes, and how
is he able to survive? What does he remember about the explosion?
15. Write a description of Dr. Terufumi Sasaki that includes his physical appearance,
general personality traits, and occupation. Describe his actions when the atomic
bomb explodes and what saves him.
16. Briefly describe Miss Toshiko Sasaki. Include in your description her physical
appearance, her family duties, and her occupation.
17. Where is Miss Toshiko Sasaki when the atomic bomb explodes? What item of
“chance or volition” do you think helps to save her life?
18. The last line in this chapter reads:
“There, in the tin factory, in the first moment of the atomic age, a human being was crushed by
books.” (Pg. 16)
For what reasons is this statement ironic?
Chapter Two – The Fire
Vocabulary
apathetic – feeling little or no emotion; not interested, listless
atavistic – to have some characteristic found in a remote ancestor but not in nearer ancestors
awry – with a twist to a side; not straight; askew
breviary – a book containing the Psalms, readings, and prayers of the Divine Office
catechist – a person who catechizes or instructs adults in the fundamentals of Christianity
conflagration – a big, destructive fire
convection – the transfer of heat through its absorption by a fluid at one point followed by
motion of the fluid and rejection of the heat at another point
extricated – to set free, release, or disentangle
miasma – an unwholesome or befogging atmosphere or influence
palpable – recognizable; perceptible by touch
pickaback – piggyback
porte-cochere – a kind of porch roof projecting over a driveway at an entrance
punt – a flat-bottomed boat with broad, square ends, usually pushed along by a long pole
razed – torn down completely; leveled to the ground; demolished
solicitous – showing care, attention, or concern
unkindled – not on fire
1. In this chapter, Hershey chronicles the actions of each of the six survivors immediately following the explosion. He relates how each person first reacts, how each survivor comes to understand the magnitude of the attack, and finally what each survivor does after realizing that the whole city has been destroyed.
What is Mr. Tanimoto’s first action after the explosion?
How does Mr. Tanimoto come to understand the magnitude of the attack?
What action does Mr. Tanimoto take once he realizes Hiroshima is on fire?
2. What is Mrs. Nakamura’s first action after the explosion?
How does she come to understand the magnitude of the attack?
What is the cause of some of the fires in Mrs. Nakamura’s neighborhood?
For what reason does she decide not to stay to help put out the fires? Where does she take her children?
3. What is Father Kleinsorge’s first action after the explosion?
What might Father Kleinsorge’s papier-mâché suitcase represent in this story?
How does Father Kleinsorge come to understand that the destruction from the American attack extends beyond the church buildings?
4. What puzzles Dr. Fujii about the explosion?
Who does Dr. Fujii help to rescue?
Why does Dr. Fujii return to the river after rescuing his nurses? What do you think of his decision to do this?
5. Why do so many injured citizens die in the explosion?
6. What is Dr. Sasaki’s first action after the explosion?
How does Dr. Sasaki come to understand the magnitude of the attack on Hiroshima?
Of the two hundred and forty-five thousand people living in Hiroshima at the time of the explosion, how many are killed or injured?
How does Dr. Sasaki react to the overwhelming number of causalities entering the hospital?
7. What is Miss Sasaki’s first thought after the explosion?
8. Mr. Tanimoto runs toward the city searching for his family. How does he feel about the wounded he passes?
9. Why is Miss Sasaki very fortunate to be rescued from the tin factory?
10. In what way do the wounded and suffering Japanese people in Asano Park surprise
Father Kleinsorge?
11. The tone of a novel is a term referring to the author’s attitude toward the subject matter. For example, tone can be described as formal, intimate, pompous, ironic, light, solemn, or objective. Read the following excerpt from this chapter. How would you describe the tone of this passage? Why do you think Hershey writes this novel in this way?
As Mr. Tanimoto’s men worked [to put out the fire in the park], the frightened people
in the park pressed closer and closer to the river, and finally the mob began to
force some of the unfortunates who were on the very bank into the water. Among
those driven into the river and drowned were Mrs. Matsumoto, of the Methodist
School, and her daughter. (Pg. 38)
12. Why does Mr. Tanimoto want to find a boat?
Chapter Three – Details Are Being Investigated
Vocabulary
charnel-house – a building or place where corpses or bones are deposited
immolate – to sacrifice; to offer or kill as a sacrifice
moribund – dying
putrescence – rotting and foul-smelling
staves – sticks, rods, or poles
stupefied – to bring into a state of stupor; stun; make dull or lethargic
succinct – clearly and briefly stated
succor – to give assistance to in time of need or distress; help; aid; relieve
suppurated – festering, discharging pus
1. Mr. Tanimoto helps men and women with grotesque, putrid wounds. He is sickened by their injuries, but he is able to help them. He is a strong man who seems to be in control of his emotions. Why then does Mr. Tanimoto experience a moment of rage while he is trying to help the wounded in Asano Park?
2. Why is Dr. Fujii not at Asano Park helping the wounded?
3. On the short-wave radio, the President of the United Stated identifies the bomb dropped on Hiroshima as a new atomic weapon. How do the Hiroshima survivors react to this announcement?
4. How do the children in the park react to all of the tragedy surrounding them?
5. In what way(s) has Father Kleinsorge changed in the twenty-four hours since the bomb explodes?
6. When does Father Kleinsorge first realize the magnitude of the devastation resulting from the atomic explosion?
7. Some critics believe this novel points out the inadequate care the wounded receive from the Japanese government and from the doctors. Describe the medical attention Miss Sasaki receives for her injured leg. In what ways do you think her care could have been improved?
8. The following excerpt describes Father Kleinsorge as feeling guilty? Why do you think he feels this way?
“On August 9th, Father Kleinsorge was still tired. The rector [at the Novitiate where
Father Kleinsorge is recovering] looked at his cuts and said they were not even worth
dressing, and if Father Kleinsorge kept them clean, they would heal in three or four
days. Father Kleinsorge felt uneasy; and he could not yet comprehend what he had
been through; as if he were guilty of something awful, he felt he had to go back to
the scene of the violence he had experienced. He got up out of bed and walked to
the city. He scratched for a while in the ruins of the mission house, but he found
nothing. He went to the sites of a couple of schools and asked after people he knew.
He looked for some of the city’s Japanese Catholics, but he found only fallen houses.
He walked back to the Novitiate stupefied and without any new understanding.”
(Pg. 57)
9. In the above excerpt, Father Kleinsorge is having trouble processing the full extent of the disaster. Find another incident in this chapter describing a survivor who seems to be unable to comprehend what he or she has been through and the consequences of the disaster on his or her life.
10. What evidence is there in this chapter that the Japanese government is not giving survivors of the bomb accurate information concerning the disaster?
11. Cite incidents from the story to support the following statement: An atomic bomb indiscriminately destroys the lives of anyone in its path.
12. What is the Japanese word for the atomic bomb?
13. Describe the Japanese customs and attitudes concerning the dead.
14. What evidence is there in this chapter that the Japanese people revere the Emperor?
Chapter Four – Panic Grass and Feverfew
Vocabulary
anemic – a reduction of the number of red blood corpuscles, resulting in generalized weakness
capricious – tending to change abruptly and without apparent reason
consecrate – to devote entirely; to dedicate
decrepit – broken down or worn out by old age
feverfew – a bushy plant of the composite family, with finely divided foliage and flowers with white florets and a yellow disk
macabre – grim and horrible
malaise – a vague feeling of physical discomfort, as early in an illness
moxibustion – the burning of the moxa (a soft downy material, burned on the skin as a cauterizing agent in traditional Chinese and Japanese medicine) treating various diseases or disorders
petechiae – a small hemorrhagic spot in the skin
plutonium – a radioactive, metallic chemical element used in nuclear weapons
talismanic –bringing good luck
verdancy – covered with green vegetation
1. Why does Father Kleinsorge consider his papier-mâché suitcase a talisman?
2. Briefly describe the symptoms of radiation sickness Father Kleinsorge, Mr. Tanimoto,
Mrs. Nakamura, and Miss Sasaki experience.
3. This nonfiction story was originally written as a magazine article for The New Yorker
Magazine and was published in that magazine in 1946. The objective mood of the story is typical of newspaper articles and magazine articles. However, the story is enhanced by Hersey’s writing style, including his use of metaphors, similes, and descriptive language. Analyze the following excerpt and point out the different uses of language Hersey includes to help the reader visualize the devastation resulting from the atomic explosion.
Father Kleinsorge is walking through the streets of Hiroshima after the blast.
“By now he was accustomed to the terrible scene through which he walked on his
way to the city; the large rice field near the Novitiate, streaked with brown; the houses
on the outskirts of the city, standing but decrepit, with broken windows and