CBSE Class 12 English HOTs The Enemy Set 02

Read and Find Out 

Question. Who was Dr. Sadao? Where was his house?
Answer: Dr. Sadao Hoki was a famous Japanese surgeon and scientist. He completed his study of medicine in America. He lived in a house which was built on the Japanese coast. The house was surrounded by pine trees.

Question. Will Dr. Sadao be arrested on the charge of harbouring an enemy?
Answer: Dr. Sadao knew that he would be arrested if he gave shelter to an American in their house, as Japan was at war with America. The wounded man was an escaped prisoner of war who had escaped with a bullet in his body. Harbouring an enemy would mean being a traitor. If somebody complained, Dr Sadao could be arrested for treason.

Question. Will Hana help the wounded man and wash him herself?
Answer: Yes, Hana would help the wounded man. As the man was in a very bad condition and needed to be washed before being operated on and her servant Yumi had refused to do so, Hana had to do it herself out of compassion for another human being.

Question. What will Dr. Sadao and his wife do with the man?
Answer: Dr. Sadao and his wife Hana brought the wounded man to their house and helped him greatly. Sadao operated on him and saved his life by removing the bullet in his body. Hana washed him and served him when none of their servants wanted to do so. Dr. Sadao finally even helped him escape to safety.

Read and Find Out

Question. Will Dr. Sadao be arrested on the charge of harbouring an enemy?
Answer: It was now unlikely that Dr. Sadao would be arrested on the charge of harbouring an enemy because the old General was being treated by him. If Sadao was arrested, there would be no one to operate upon the General in case of an emergency.

Question. What will Dr. Sadao do to get rid of the man?
Answer: Dr. Sadao first waited for the General to get the man assassinated. But when that didn’t happen for three days, he gave the man a boat with provisions and helped him escape to a nearby island. He instructed him to wait for a Korean fishing boat which would safely take him far from there.

Reading with Insight 

Question. There are moments in life when we have to make hard choices between our roles as private individuals and as citizens with a sense of national loyalty. Discuss with reference to the story you have just read.
Answer: There are times when we are faced with difficult choices in life. An individual is torn between his duty towards his motherland and the moral and ethical responsibility of helping a needy person when you can do so. This is the same dilemma that Sadao is confronted with. Patriotic citizens of Japan were expected to hand over an American prisoner of war at the time of the Second World War. But this is a short-sighted view of the situation. If we bring in the humanistic angle to this dismal reality, then it is a doctor’s duty to save a human life. As a doctor, Sadao could not differentiate between an enemy and an ally. Similarly, Hana, as a kind and compassionate human, cannot leave a wounded person to die. Both Sadao and Hana face a conflict but rise above it. They balance their obligations as private individuals with their responsibilities as citizens.

Question. Dr. Sadao was compelled by his duty as a doctor to help the enemy soldier. What made Hana, his wife, sympathetic to him in the face of open defiance from the domestic staff?
Answer: Hana, Dr Sadao’s wife, sympathises with her husband in helping the enemy soldier because she understands the ethical duty of a doctor to save lives regardless of nationality. Despite facing open defiance from the domestic staff and societal pressure, Hana supports her husband’s decision out of compassion and a shared belief in the sanctity of human life. Her empathy and understanding strengthen their bond and illustrate the importance of standing by loved ones in difficult circumstances.

Question. How would you explain the reluctance of the soldier to leave the shelter of the doctor’s home even when he knew he couldn’t stay there without risk to the doctor and himself?
Answer: Tom, the American prisoner of war, knew fully well that Dr. Sadao had saved his life, although, being Japanese citizens, they could have left him to fend for himself. He was aware of their empathy towards him. Moreover, he understood that their house was a safe haven for him because they had stayed in America and could communicate with him easily in English. Additionally, the soldier may be hesitant to venture out alone into an unfamiliar and potentially hostile environment, preferring the relative safety of the doctor’s care despite the dangers it poses to both of them. The soldier’s reluctance to leave the shelter of the doctor’s home despite knowing the risks reflects his vulnerability and fear of the unknown.

Question. What explains the attitude of the General in the matter of the enemy soldier? Was it human consideration, lack of national loyalty, dereliction of duty or simply self-absorption?
Answer: The General’s attitude toward the enemy soldier appears to be driven by a combination of factors. While he initially promises to have the soldier killed, he later forgets his promise due to his own health concerns and self-absorption. The General’s actions stem from a sense of pragmatism, prioritising his well-being over his duty to eliminate the enemy. His wavering commitment reflects the complexities of human nature, where self-interest and personal considerations often influence decision-making, even among those in positions of authority. This does not mean he lacks human consideration or national loyalty.

Question. While hatred against a member of the enemy race is justifiable, especially during wartime, what makes a human being rise above narrow prejudices?
Answer: While hatred against the enemy race may be justifiable in the context of war, individuals can transcend these prejudices by acknowledging the intrinsic worth and dignity of every human being. Rising above such narrow prejudices often requires empathy, compassion, and a recognition of shared humanity. These qualities along with the ability to see beyond surface differences enable individuals to empathise with others, fostering mutual respect and reconciliation even in times of conflict. In this case, Dr. Sadao does not think twice before stopping the bleeding in the American soldier. He packs the wound with moss available on the seashore. It is his moral obligation to save a human being’s life, although that human being is his enemy. His sense of humanity and empathy does not allow him to differentiate between any man. He takes care of the wounded American in the same manner as he would have treated any other wounded man. Further, he is also worried that the life that he had saved is in danger.

Question. Do you think the doctor’s final solution to the problem was the best possible one in the circumstances? Or Dr. Sadao emerges as a saviour of humanity. Substantiate your answer with evidence from the text. Or ‘The Enemy’ portrays the victory of humanity in a moment of crisis. Illustrate this fact through the actions taken by Dr. Sadao for the enemy soldier.
Answer: The doctor’s final solution to the problem, allowing the enemy soldier to escape to a nearby island, maybe considered the best option given the circumstances. When Dr. Sadao came across the prisoner of war, the first thing he did was to save his life. As a doctor, he fulfilled the moral and ethical obligation of saving a human life. Next, he proved himself loyal to his country by informing the General about the enemy soldier. When the General assured Sadao of sending private assassins to eliminate the American, Dr. Sadao felt restless and guilty of betraying the same person whose life he had saved. After spending three sleepless nights waiting for the assassins who never came, he finally worked out a plan to let Tom, the American prisoner of war, escape. By facilitating the soldier’s departure, the doctor ensures the safety of himself and the soldier while avoiding potential repercussions from authorities. While the decision may not be ideal, it reflects the doctor’s commitment to preserving life and minimising harm in a challenging situation. Further, this decision proves that even if two countries are at war, the religion of humanity does not change. Its basic principle is saving a human life, which Sadao does with success. In a way. Dr. Sadao echoes the author’s views against war and the hatred that it generates between man and man. Through Dr. Sadao, the author conveys the message of universal brotherhood, peace and amity. It is the best solution to the problem.

Question. Does the story remind you of ‘Birth’ by AJ Cronin that you read in Snapshots last year? What are the similarities?
Answer: ‘The Enemy’ shares similarities with ‘Birth’ by A.J. Cronin regarding the protagonists’ ethical dilemmas and moral complexities. Both stories explore themes of duty, compassion and the inherent value of human life. They depict characters grappling with conflicting loyalties and navigating the moral grey areas of wartime situations. While the specific contexts and plot details may differ, the underlying themes of morality and human compassion resonate across both narratives.

Question. Is there any film you have seen or novel you have read with a similar theme?
Answer: This story is based on a strong sense of duty, selflessness, humanitarian gestures and love for a fellow human being. A movie with a similar theme is, ‘My Name is Khan’, where the protagonist saves the lives of his friends from floods, guided by a strong sense of humanity and moral duty, without fearing for his own life.

Extract Based Questions

Sadao knew that his education was his father’s chief concern. For this reason he had been sent at twenty-two to America to learn all that could be learned of surgery and medicine. He had come back at thirty and before his father died he had seen Sadao become famous not only as a surgeon but as a scientist. Because he was perfecting a discovery which would render wounds entirely clean, he had not been sent abroad with the troops. Also, he knew, there was some slight danger that the old General might need an operation for a condition for which he was now being treated medically and for this possibility Sadao was being kept in Japan.

Question. Complete the sentence suitably. Sadao’s father’s role in his life is ........
Answer: that he was very concerned about his education

Question. Choose the correct option that best describes Sadao as a perfect son.
(a) Sadao went to America as desired by his father,
(b) Sadao returned to Japan before his father’s death,
(c) Sadao gained fame as a doctor as well as scientist while his father was alive,
(d) Sadao stayed with his father and did not go abroad with the troops,
Answer: (a) Sadao went to America as desired by his father,

Question. Why was Dr. Sadao not sent abroad?
Answer: Sadao was not sent abroad with the troops because he was working on a discovery.

Question. For how many years did Sadao study in America?
Answer: Sadao studied medicine for 8 years in America.

The man moaned with pain in his stupor but he did not awaken. “The best thing that we could do would be to put him back in the sea,” Sadao said, answering himself. Now that the bleeding was stopped for the moment he stood up and dusted the sand from his hands. “Yes, undoubtedly that would be best,” Hana said steadily. But she continued to stare down at the motionless man. “If we sheltered a white man in our house we should be arrested and if we turned him over as a prisoner, he would certainly die,” Sadao said. “The kindest thing would be to put him back into the sea,” Hana said. But neither of them moved. They were staring with curious repulsion upon the inert figure. 

Question. Complete the following suitably. Sadao and Hana cared about the soldier but ........
Answer: were worried about the consequences of being considerate,

Question. State one characteristics that describes Sadao and Hana in the passage.
Answer: Sadao: prudent Hana: suspicious

Question. Pick the idiom that best describes the situation in which Sadao and Hana were in.
(a) To be like a fish out of water
(b) Like water off a duck’s back
(c) To be dead in the water
(d) To be in hot water
Answer: (d) To be in hot water

Question. Why did Sadao suggest to put the man back into the sea?
Answer: Sadao suggested to put the man back into the sea because the man was a prisoner of war who would anyhow die.

“If I am able, are you?” Sadao asked. “No,” Hana said, “But if you can do it alone...” Sadao hesitated again. “The strange thing is,” he said, “that if the man were whole I could turn him over to the police without difficulty. I care nothing for him. He is my enemy. All Americans are my enemy. And he is only a common fellow. You see how foolish his face is. But since he is wounded.” 

Question. Complete the sentence appropriately. The dilemma faced by the couple was ........
Answer: whether to treat the wounded man or not

Question. What does Hana ask Dr. Sadao to do alone?
(a) Treat the wounded soldier
(b) Give him shelter in the outhouse
(c) Throw him back into the sea
(d) Hand him over to the authorities
Answer: (c) Throw him back into the sea

Question. Explain the expression. ‘If the man were whole’.
Answer: The expression ‘if the man were whole’ means ‘if he wasn’t injured’.

Question. Dr. Sadao says, ‘All Americans are my enemy.’ What character trait of Dr. Sadao does it reflect?
Answer: Dr. Sadao’s patriotism towards his nation, Japan is reflected in the given line.

“The master ought not to heal the wound of this white man,” he said bluntly to Hana. “The white man ought to die. First he was shot. Then the sea caught him and wounded him with her rocks. If the master heals what the gun did and what the sea did they will take revenge on us.”

Question. Complete the following suitably. The white man belongs to ........
Answer: USA

Question. Which of the best summarises the speakers attitude towards the white man?
(a) Pity
(b) Hatred
(c) Indifference
(d) Disdain
Answer: (c) Indifference

Question. Who is the speaker of the above lines?
Answer: The Gardener is the speaker of the given lines

Question. Why the speaker didn’t want the white man to live?
Answer: The speaker did not want the white man to live because to save him is against the law of nature.

“It will be better for her to empty her stomach,” he thought. He had forgotten that of course she had never seen an operation. But her distress and his inability to go to her at once made him impatient and irritable with this man who lay like dead under his knife.

Question. Complete the following suitably. The reason for the speaker’s irritation with the ‘man’ is ........
Answer: that Sadao had to help the man made him due to which he had to ignore his wife’s distress

Question. Who in the speaker of the above lines?
Answer: Dr. Sadao is the speaker of the given lines.

Question. Which of the following best summarises the reason for the operation?
(a) Gun wound
(b) Death of the nation’s leading deplomat
(c) Fear of war
(d) Underlying illness
Answer: (a) Gun wound

Question. Why Hana reacted in a different way while the operation was going on?
Answer: It was unusual for her to see operation in person. So she reacted in a different way.