The Enemy by Pearl S. Buck prepared by Mr. Rupjyoti Goswami
1. How did the gardener react when Dr Sadao told him about the wounded American soldier?
Ans:-
The old gardener was dead against any effort on Dr Sadao's part to save
an American prisoner.It was anti-national under any circumstance to
harbour the wounded American soldier. As a patriotic Japanese, the
gardener thought that Dr Sadao should hand over the soldier to the
police or the army.
2. Why did the servants leave Dr Sadao's house? HS-2023
Ans:-
The servants expressed their resentment against Dr Sadao's decision to
heal the wounded American soldier. They put pressure on the doctor to
report the incident to the police. They supposed it to be an act of
treachery to harbour and treat the soldier, who was an enemy of their
country.But even after seven days of the American soldier's entry into
Dr Sadao's house, he abstained from handing him over to police.So,they
left his house in anger and disappointment.
3. Hana told Yumi to wash the American soldier. How did Yumi react?
Ans:-
Dr Sadao asked Yumi to wash the wounded American soldier. But Yumi
showed her recalcitrance, saying that she would not wash such a dirty
white man.She was so obstinate that Hanna cried at her severely to do
what her master commanded.
4. How did Hana behave on seeing the messenger in official uniform? Why did he come for?
(or) Why did the messenger come to meet Sadao?
Ans:-
Hana was overcome with fear when she saw a messenger in official
uniform at her doorstep.Her hands became suddenly weak and she found it
difficult to draw breath. She ran to Sadao gasping. Perhaps she assumed
that the man had come to arrest them. She was back to her normal self
when she got to know that he was sent by the General with a message that
Dr Sadao should attend to his ailment and pain.
5. "As a Japanese could you not combine these two foreign elements?'' What are these and what does he mean by this?
Ans:-
From Sadao's conversation with the General, we come to know of 'two
foreign elements'. These are 'German ruthlessness' and 'American
sentimentality'. The Germans are ruthless persons who consider an
operation successful if the patient dies. 'American sentimentality'
means saving the patient and then handing him over to the appropriate
authority. The General means to state that Dr Sadao should save him (the
General himself) and hand over the soldier to the army or the police.
6. How did the General regret that he had not carried out the plan of killing/getting rid of the wounded American soldier?
Ans:-
A week after carrying out a surgery on the General, Dr Sadao let him
know that the wounded American soldier had escaped. The General
remembered his promise of getting the soldier killed by assassins and
regretted having forgotten it. However he told Dr Sadao that it should
not be mistaken for a 'lack of patriotism' or 'dereliction of duty'.
7. Why was Dr Sadao being kept in Japan not sent abroad with the troops?
Ans:-
It was necessary for Dr Sadao to stay in Japan for consummation of a
discovery that render wounds entirely clean. Furthermore, the old
General was undergoing treatment under his supervision. There was every
possibility that he might need an operation. So, Dr Sadao was not sent
abroad with the troops.
8. ''Both of them saw something black come out of the mists''. What did they see and how did they react to it?
Ans:-
Sadao and his wife saw a man who had been flung up out of the ocean by a
breaker. He staggered a few steps with his arms above his head. Then
they saw him crawling on his knees and hands. Sadao thought him to be a
fisherman washed from his boat. He ran quickly down the steps followed
by Hana.
9. What predicament did Sadao face about the wounded American soldier?
Ans:-
Dr Sadao was in a dilemma over his duty towards the wounded American
soldier and his duty as a patriotic Japanese. As a doctor he should not
harbour any prejudice against any patient. As a citizen he should hand
over the soldier to the police or the army.
10. How does the writer indicate that Dr Sadao's father was a very traditional and conventional man?
Ans:-
Sadao's father was a true patriot who took immense pride in Japanese
culture and tradition. He never joked or played with him. The narrator
says that his father would not have accepted Hana as his daughter-in-law
if she had not been a Japanese. He was very conservative about racial
purity and identity of the Japanese.
12. What was the chief concern of Sadao's father about Dr Sadao?
Ans:-
The chief concern of Sadao's father was ensuring the best possible
education for his son .So,he was sent to America to study surgery and
medicine. He fulfilled his father's dream by becoming a famous surgeon
and scientist.
13. Who was Hana and where did Sadao meet her?
Ans:-
Hana was a beautiful Japanese girl. Dr Sadao met her in America at a
professor's house. Sadao subjugated his feelings for her until he was
sure she was Japanese. They got married as per Japanese custom.
14. 'If all the Japs were like you there wouldn't have been a war,' said Tom. Justify his statement.
Ans:-
Dr Sadao harboured a wounded American soldier, treated him and saved
him from dying. In spite of being the enemy's soldier, Dr Sadao left no
stone unturned to heal the wound of the soldier. He took risk and saved
the soldier for the sake of humanity and professional obligation. Tom,
the American soldier was overwhelmed with gratitude for Sadao and said
that there wouldn't have been a war between America and Japan if all the
Japanese people were like Dr Sadao.
15. How did Sadao ensure that the American soldier left his house but he remained safe and secure?
Ans:-
Dr Sadao was apprehensive that the wounded American soldier could be
arrested at any time. He decide to help him in escaping and gave his
private boat with food and other necessary amenities. He could row it to
a little island not far from the coast. Dr Sadao was also now free to
live in peace and security.
16. What made Dr Sadao sure that the wounded American soldier had escaped safely in darkness?
(or) How could Dr Sadao be sure that the wounded American soldier had escaped safely in darkness?
Ans:-
Dr Sadao made farsighted arrangements for the safe escape of the
wounded American soldier. He was instructed to row to a nearby island by
Sadao's private boat loaded with all necessary things. He was to signal
two flashes if he ran short of food. When no signal came, Dr Sadao was
convinced of his safe escape.
17. Write a character sketch of Dr Sadao as depicted in the lesson 'The Enemy'. Marks-7
(or) Describe how P.S.Buck's story 'The Enemy’, shows that basic human goodness overpowers all other factors.
Ans:-
As a son Sadao was very devoted and obedient to his parents. His father
had an indelible impression on his upbringing and education. At the age
of 22 he had been sent to America to study medicine and surgery. During
his stay there, he came across Hana, a beautiful girl. He married her
after having confirmed that she was a Japanese. This shows his love for
Japan and respect for his conservative father.
Dr Sadao was a
wonderful surgeon. He was perfecting a discovery capable of healing
wounds entirely.The old General was also aware of his worth as a surgeon
and kept him in Japan for attending to his ailment.
Dr Sadao was a
very compassionate person who stuck to his professional ethics while
treating a wounded American soldier. The soldier was an enemy of Japan
and it was quite difficult to decide whether to offer him treatment or
not. It would be anti-national to harbour him in his house. Leaving him
to meet his death would be a blatant violation of his duty as a
physician. But Dr Sadao held his nerves and treated the patient for the
sake of humanity. However he had to face criticism from the gardener and
his servants for this hazardous act. But he remained committed and
resolute in his risky decision though the servants left his house. He
heard the call of his profession only.
Dr Sadao's heart was
overflowed with human kindness. Though he gave the old General a chance
to take a decision regarding the soldier, yet he was not happy with the
idea of getting him killed by assassins. So, when the General forgot his
promise, Sadao took his own decision of helping him escape. He did all
these sacrifices putting himself and his wife at unimaginable risk.
18.
What was the General's plan to get rid of the American prisoner? Was it
executed? Which traits of the General's character are highlighted in
the lesson? marks-7
Ans:- When Dr Sadao apprised the General of
the presence of a wounded American soldier at his house, the General
suggested sending his private assassins to kill him. Sadao agreed to
this proposal. Meanwhile Dr Sadao carried out a surgery on the General
and met him after a week. He reminded him of the soldier, adding that he
had escaped. The General regretted having forgotten his promise and
desired that Sadao should not make it public.
Selfishness was a
trait of the General. He was worried over his own safety and life. He
did not bother about the lives of countless soldiers killed or wounded
in the battle and kept Sadao beside him instead of employing him in the
service of the soldiers. Sadao's presence in the camp of the wounded
Japanese soldiers would have made a big difference.
19. 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, "The Enemy". HS-2023
Ans:- 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. From the story, "The Enemy" we saw Sadao struggling with his decision whether to save the soldier or not. If he saves him, Sadao we will be jailed for betraying his country but as a doctor it is his duty to save every person **who he can and has the ability to save. He was in a crossroad. But later Sadao came to a conclusion and decided to operate him. Sadao also was not betraying his country as after operate the soldier he was going to hand him over to the country. Sadao operated on the man and was succesfuel in helping him. He saved the man from dying. Sadao kept the man in his house until he recovered and thought it was time to hand him over to the police. He had completeted both his role as a doctor and as a citizen with a sense of national loyalty.
Syllabus of HS Second year English (Prose)
Syllabus of HS Second year English (Poetry)
Syllabus of HS Second year English (Supplementary Reader : Vistas)
2. The Enemy
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