THE ENEMY ADDITIONAL/PREVIOUS YEARS QUESTIONS CLASS XII ENGLISH CBSE

1.    Mention instances which show that Sadao’s father had strong feelings for his motherland.

Ans. Sadao's father would never accept a daughter –in law her unless she had been pure in her race.Moreover, everything in his room had been Japanese to please the old man, who would never in his own home sit on a chair or sleep in a foreign bed. These instances show that he had strong feelings for his motherland.

 

2.Why was Sadao not sent with Japanese troops that were in war with America?

Sadao was not sent with the Japanese troops even when the country was in war. Being a renowned surgeon, he was highly required by the old general who was under treatment. Also, Sadao was inventing a new medicine that was supposed to clean wounds entirely.

 

3. How did Sadao and Hana establish the identity of the man washed ashore?

Ans.  When Sadao and Hana examined American's  battered cap closely, they realized that he was a sailor from an American warship. The words ‘U.S Navy’ were written on the cap in almost faint lettering. They concluded that he was an escaped prisoner of war.

 

4. Why didn’t Dr Sadao put the wounded man back in the sea even though he was his enemy?

Ans: Dr Sadao could not put the wounded man back in the sea even though he was an enemy because he was a Doctor and the foremost duty of a doctor is to save life. He knew the man would die if not tended medically. This would be against medical ethics. So, he rescued him to give medical treatment.

 

5. Why did Sadao decide to treat the injured man?

According to Sadao if the man were whole he could turn him over to the police without difficulty as he was his enemy.  But since he was wounded his professional ethics could not allow him to let the man die. They were not able to bring themselves to drop him back into the sea because of their compassionate and humane nature

 

6. This man” he thought there is no reason under heaven why he should live.” What prompted Dr. Sadao to say this? What does he do   after this?

Ans.The enemy was source of worry and vexation for doctor as harbouring him could lead him to arrest. So his treatment was an ultimate test of his patience. So he was going through mental conflict.

When Sadao’s wife nauseated during operation, he was unable to attend her. So ,became impatient and said the statement in question.Unconsciously this thought made him ruthless and he proceeded swiftly. In his dream the man moaned but Sadao paid no heed except to mutter at him.

 

7.What happened on the seventh day, after the doctor and his wife saved the wounded man?

Ans. Two things happened on the day the letter was typed. The cook, the gardener and Yumi had packed up their belongings and left together. Though the servants cried, Hana put up a brave front. The second thing that happened was the arrival of a messenger to tell Sadao that he had been called to the palace as the general was in pain again.

 

8. Hana’s fears on the messenger’s arrival proved false. How?

Ans. Hana thought servants had informed police authorities about their harbouring the enemy  and messenger had come to arrest them. But the messenger came to inform Sadao that General was in pain again and needed his care.

 

9. Why did the general assure Dr. Sadao that he would not be arrested?

Sadao’s skill at operating on the prisoner with success, made the general believe more firmly that he was indispensable to him. He did not want to have him arrested because Sadao was the only person who he believe could save him if he had another of his attacks and required an operation.

 

10.Why do you think Sadao could not sleep properly after his meeting with the General?

Though Sadao got agreed  with General plan of getting him killed by the assassins, yet his conscience pricked him and heart reproached him for betraying his guest whom he had treated.So, he remained perturbed and sleepless on account of fear of assassins killing the enemy. Subconsciously he wished that man should survive.

 

11.How did Sadao help the prisoner to escape?

Sadao decided to help the American soldier to escape to safety. He told him to go to an island nearby and wait for a Korean fishing boat to pass by. He even gave him a boat, some food and bottled water. He kept two quilts for him and gave him clear instructions so that this plan would not fail.

 

12. Why did Sadao feel that the General was in the palm of his hand?

Sadao fulfilled his   duty as a patriot by informing general about the enemy and acceding to his plan. But General did not keep his promise of sending assassins. So because of General carelessness the enemy escaped.

 

13. What impression do you form of the prisoner?

-Extraordinary vitality as braves bullet ,rocks and waves

-Even in his unconscious state ,has indomitable will

-Thankfully acknowledge effort made by Sadaos in saving him

 

14.What are the two moral implications on which the whole story is built upon ?

. ‘The Enemy’ gives the message that humanism transcends all man made prejudices and barriers. Here Dr Sadao upholds the ethics of medical profession in treating an enemy. So doctor must treat patient without considering his identity. The story is a great lesson of peace, love, sympathy, fellow feeling and humanism.

 

15. ‘‘But Sadao searching the spot of black in the twilight sea that night, had his reward’’. What was the reward?

The “reward” was the escape of the enemy-Dr. Sadao searched the spot of black in the twilight sea that night- see if the man was still there-but there was no light. Obviously the man had gone- The escape of the prisoner was his reward.

 

Q16. In what condition did Dr Sadao find the American soldier at the seashore?

 Dr Sadao found the American soldier in a wounded condition at the seashore. He was very weak and pale, had a bullet stuck in his wound and his back was stained with blood. He was almost at the verge of death.

 

Q17 What role did the American professor play in bringing Hana and Sadao together?

The American professor was kind and he invited a number of foreign students at his home and Hana and Sadao were among them. This eventually led to bringing Hana and Sadao together.

 

Q18. How did Hana help Dr Sadao?

First Hana washed the wounded man's face and body with warm water till it was quite clean. She then assisted Dr Sadao during the operation. She brought in the towels and though she was not comfortable at the sight of the bleeding wound, she gave anaesthesia to the patient.

 

Q19. Why did the servants leave Dr Sadao’s house?

The servants left Dr Sadao’s house because they did not approve of the white man staying in the surgeon’s house. They thought that Sadao’s stay in America during his education had erased all his sentiments for his country. Also, they did not want to be in trouble with the authorities if Sadao was arrested as a traitor.

 

Q20. How can you say that Dr Sadao's father was a Japanese to the core?

Ans. Dr Sadao's father had high dreams about the future of Japan. There was no limit of their future as it depended on what they made it. He never played or joked with his only son. But he spent infinite pains upon him. For the sake of the best possible medical education, he sent his son to America. Sadao met Hana there, but waited to fall in love until he was sure that she was a Japanese. His father would never have received her unless she had been pure in her race. Their marriage was arranged in the old Japanese way only after Sadao's father had seen her when both of them had come home to Japan after finishing their education.

He was Japanese every inch. The floor of his room was deeply matted. He would never sit on chair or sleep in a foreign bed in his house. The quilt was covered with flowered silk and the lining was pure white silk. In short, everything here had been Japanese to please him.

 

21. How did Dr. Sadao Hoki get rid of the American Soldier?

Ans. Since Dr. Sadao was keeping an enemy at his house and he was becoming the cause of great stress, tension, trouble and fear for him. Even the General failed to send his assassins, so Dr. Sadao worked out a plan and apprised the soldier about his return and safety. It was pointed out by Dr. Sadao that he would put his boat with extra clothing, medicines and other essentials on the shore that night. He would row it to the little island which was not far off from the coast. The island is inhabited. He would have a Korean fishing boat. The American soldier agreed and pulled that boat down to shore. Dr. Sadao arranged everything to the prisoner. He gave him some instructions. In case he ran short of food he would  flash two signals when the sun sets. If he was alright and was on the island he would flash one. The man escaped in the night and Dr. Sadao got no flash of light in the twilight. So the soldier had safely boarded the Korean fishing boat. Thus, Dr. Sadao was able to get rid of the soldier.

 

22.Explain the reactions of the servants in Dr Sadao's house when he decided to give shelter to an enemy in the house.

The servants in Dr Sadao's house were openly defiant to the fact that he had decided to give shelter to an enemy in the house. They did not even enter the American soldier's room and did not want to stay in the same house where the enemy soldier was 'lodged. They doubted their master's very loyalty towards his own country. Though they were mindful of their courtesies but their eyes were cold. Yumi refused to clean the enemy soldier. The old gardener was sore that Dr Sadao had not let the young man bleed and die. He felt if his master healed what first the gun and the sea did, they would be avenged. The cook too was most contemptuous of the fact that their master was so proud of his skill to save life that he saved any person's life even though he was their enemy. Finally all the servants left Dr Sadao's house together.

 

23.Why did Sadao Hoki go to America? Narrate his experiences there.

Answer. Sadao Hoki went to America to study surgery and medicine as it was the wish of his father. His experience of living in America was not very good but he was grateful to have some good professors who taught him so well. Also, he was grateful to the professor at whose home he had met Hana and immediately liked her. But he did not like the smell of their food, their small room and the wife of his professor, who was vbry talkative, although she tried hard to be kind.

Initially, he had faced great difficulty in finding a place to live in America because he was a Japanese. He perceived that Americans were full of prejudice and for him it was a bitter experience to live with them.

 

24. Dr Sadao was a patriotic Japanese as well as a dedicated surgeon. How could he honour both the values?

Ans Dr Sadao was indeed a patriotic Japanese as well as a dedicated surgeon. An American run away prisoner in a badly wounded condition is washed ashore on Japanese doctor Sadao's doorstep. The doctor is initially a little hesitant to save the prisoner's life when he discovers the latter's real identity, but being a dedicated surgeon he decides to treat the enemy soldier. He is able to save the prisoner's life but being a patriotic Japanese, he informs a senior Japanese Army General about the prisoner's presence in his house and even agrees to have him killed by the General's assassins. He waits for the assassins to carry out their job but when they do not arrive, he gives the prisoner his boat and help, him  escape safely thus honouring both the values that he was a patriotic Japanese as well as a dedicated surgeon.