CBSE Class 12 English Vistas The Enemy Pearl S Buck Assignment

By - PEARL S. BUCK Gist of the Lesson:- Dr. Sadao, a Japanese surgeon finds a wounded American soldier on the beach near his house - He is unable to throw him back though he was his enemy as he was a doctor and his first duty was to save a life - Hana, his wife, though initially reluctant because it was dangerous for all including the children to keep the enemy in the house, joins her husband in operating and nursing the enemy soldier back to health, even though the servants desert the house - Hana assists Dr. Sadao in operating the soldier in spite of her physical discomfort and hesitation - Though it was war time and all hands were needed at the front, the General did not send Sadao with the troops as he is an expert surgeon and the General needed him - Sadao tells him about the enemy soldier but he does not take any action as he is self‐absorbed and forgets his promise that he would send his private assassins to kill the enemy and remove his body - Taking advantage of the general’s self‐absorption Sadao decides to save the soldiers life. After the soldier is out of danger Dr. Sadao helps him to escape from his house to safety.

NOTES OF THE LESSON :

1. Important for Sadao Hoki

1.1 His father's statements and priorities

1.2 His wife's background

1.3 American professor Harley

2. The shadow from the sea

2.1 Staggering, Crawling, Falling

2.2 A fisherman perhaps

2.3 A white man!

2.4 Shot and bleeding

3. What to do next- a dilemma

3.1 Put him back in the sea

3.2 An escaped American POW

3.3 Decision to carry him into the house

4. Taking care of POW

4.1 Refusal of the Yumi, the servant

4.2 Hana washes the man

4.3 Sadao operates

4.4 Hana thinks of his perils

5. Recovery period of POW

5.1 His fears, their problems

5.2 The servants rebel/condemnation

5.3 The man heals, Sadao confused

6. The seventh day

6.1 The servants left together

6.2 A messenger arrives

6.3 Sadao summoned

7. At the General's Palace

7.1 Sadao's confession

7.2 General's suggestion

8. Waiting for assassins

8.1 Restless nights for Sadao

8.2 Sadao's decision

9. The Prisoner escapes

9.1 Arrangements made by Sadao

9.2 The prisoner gone

9.3 The servants return

9.4 The General operated and saved

10. Sadao's final observation about the General

10.1 Lack of dutifulness

10.2 Sadao knows General's weakness upper hand

THE ENEMY

❑ Character Sketch of Sadao
– Dedicated surgeon and doctor, has fellow feeling and kindness for people in distress
– Conflict between duty as a doctor and duty as a Japanese
– prejudiced against the white man, afraid of being called a traitor
– Shelters the enemy and saves his life.
– Out of loyalty to his country, informs the General
– helps the white man escape
❑ Character Sketch of Hana
– Balanced woman, stands with her husband
– Responsible - washes prisoner, treats him respectfully
– Dignified and graceful about servants leaving the house
– helped Sadao in the operation
– administers anesthesia to the prisoner
❑ American Soldier – Tom
– Hardly 17, taken prisoner
– Escaped, but shot at the back
– suffered torture and hunger
– Wounded, bleeding was in great pain, lay unconscious
– Strong will-power
– Full of gratitude towards Dr. Sadao
❑ The General
– Selfish, thinks of only his treatment
– had faith in Sadao’s skill as a doctor
– Promises to send private assassins to get rid of the prisoner
– Careless – forgot to send assassins

❑ Reaction of Servants
– Don’t agree with the idea of helping an enemy
– Yumi refused to wash the white man
– Gardener felt Sadao should have let the soldier die
– Thought sea and gods would take revenge if Sadao saved the soldier
– felt Sadao was proud of his skill and used it irresponsibly
– left the house till the time the prisoner stayed there.
❑ How Sadao helped the soldier escape
– Put food and extra clothing in the boat.
– Directed him to row to an uninhabited island
– Asked him to wait for a Korean fishing boat
– Told him to catch fish but eat it raw
– Gave him his flash light
– Told him to flash the torch twice if food ran out and one flash if he was allright
– Gave him Japanese clothes and covered his hair with a black cloth.

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 read.
Answer: A conflict of interest arises in a situation when someone like a doctor has conflicting interests- Japanese doctor- dislikes Whites- as a Japanese patriot –his duty was to hand over the escaped prisoner to the police- Sadao risks his safety and saves an enemy- fears the consequences of harbouring an enemy- overcomes his hatred of the Americans- like a hero stands up for what he believes in and doesn’t calculate the repercussions-in spite of conflicts- is human and lives up to the oath of being a doctor.

Question. Dr. Sadao was compelled by his duty to help the enemy soldier. What made Hana, his wife, sympathetic to him in the face of open defiance from the domestic staff?
Answer: When Sadao and Hana saw the prisoner of war they were in a dilemma for a moment- but the doctor in him surfaced- even Hana knew that if he were left there he would die- in the bedroom- she covered him with a quilt- and also washed him when Yumi refused- she helped Sadao operate- was afraid lest the servants report about them hosting an enemy- when the soldier regained consciousness-served him and reassured him- perhaps both Hana and Sadao, because of their stay in America were not as parochial as the rest.

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: As the American recovered after the operation- he was weak and terrified- Hana reassured him- fed him and comforted him- Sadao tended to him as a doctor giving him the utmost care- soon the soldier began trusting them- he says, ‘If all the Japs were like you there wouldn’t have been a war’ – when the assassins were to be sent- Sadao spent sleepless nights- after telling the soldier of his plan of escape- reluctant to escape –Sadao also told him how to safeguard himself.

GIST OF THE LESSON:

• Dr. Sadao, a Japanese surgeon finds a wounded American soldier on the beach near his house.
• He is unable to throw him back though he was his enemy as he was a doctor and his first duty was to save a life.
• Hana, his wife, though initially reluctant because it was dangerous for all including the children to keep the enemy in the house, joins her husband in operating and nursing the
enemy soldier back to health, even though the servants desert the house.
• Hana assists Dr. Sadao in operating the soldier in spite of her physical discomfort and hesitation.
• Though it was war time and all hands were needed at the front, the General did not send Sadao with the troops as he is an expert surgeon and the General needed him.
• Sadao tells him about the enemy soldier but he does not take any action as he is selfabsorbed and forgets his promise that he would send his private assassins to kill the enemy
and remove his body.
• Taking advantage of the general's self-absorption Sadao decides to save the soldiers life.
After the soldier is out of danger Dr. Sadao helps him to escape from his house to safety.

SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS:

Question. Why did the General overlook the matter of the enemy soldier?
Answer: The General had an attack and according to Dr. Sadao he could not survive the second attack.
So if Dr. Sadao was arrested, no other doctor was capable of performing the operation. So for furthering his selfish needs he overlooked the matter and promises to send his assassins. But he was so self-absorbed, he forgot about it.

Question. Why was Dr. Sadao not sent with the troops?
Answer: The General thought that Dr. Sadao is indispensable to his life and can save anyone as he is very skilled. He also does not trust anyone except Dr. Sadao. So he was not sent with troops.

Question. How was the plan of the prisoner's escape executed in the story?
Answer: The prisoner was successful in his escape only because of the right guidance and help from Dr. Sadao. He provided him his boat, gave his food, made him wear Japanese cloths and also helped him in comfortable sail to a nearby island.

Question. Why did the servants leave Dr. Sadao's house?
Answer: They were not in favour of keeping the American prisoner hidden in the house. They also did not want Dr. Sadao to save his life as he was the enemy. Also, if the police come to know of it, all their lives would be in danger. So they left the house.

Question. Who was the white man whom Dr. Sadao and Hana found?
Answer: The white man was an American soldier as evident from his clothes. They guess that he was a prisoner of war from his cap that said 'Navy Seals'

Question. "But Sadao searching the spot of black in the twilight sea that night, had his reward". What was the reward?
Answer: The 'reward' was the escape of the enemy. Dr. Sadao searched the spot of black in the twilight sea that night to 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.

Question. What message does 'The Enemy' give?
Answer: This is a great lesson in humanism. Dr. Sadao by nursing his country's enemy proves true to his professional ethics.

LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS

Question. How did Dr. Sadao rise above narrow prejudices of race & country to human being in need?
Answer: 
Dr. Sadao- a renowned Japanese surgeon- believed in professional loyalty & human kindnesssaw an American wounded soldier in a terrible condition on beach in front of his house-took him his house with the help of his wife Hana-successfully removed the bullet-nursed him back to his life-thus rose above racialism.
As a patriot, reported the prisoner's presence at his house to the Army General. The general decided to have him killed-he grew vestless to see him & finally decided to help him to escape form his house-gave him boats & instructed him how he could safely escape.

Question. Do you think the doctor's final solution to the problem was the best possible one in the circumstances?
Answer:
It is the best possible option-general had promised him that he would get the soldier quietly killed through his private assassins-but he forgot to get rid of- Dr. Sadao could do nothing-he wanted to get rid of the wounded soldier-as the servants had left the house-and news could be spread-so he devised his own plan to get the soldier off to the nearby island-managed his boat for the soldier and instructed him. The white soldier took leave of him and followed his instruction and managed to escape safely. Thus all this proves that that was the only way out for Dr. Sadao to the problem.

Question. There are moments in life when we have to make hard choice between our role as private individuals and as citizens with a sense of national loyalty. Discuss with reference to the Enemy.
Answer: 
Dr. Sadao encounters with the dilemma-to live as private individual whose and moral ethical responsibility is to save the soldier. So as a doctor and as an individual his first job is to save the man-takes ethical responsibility, he risks his life, fame and social status- takes him to his house and makes efforts to save him.
But his other side-sense of patriotism and nationalism also involves a report to police, takes the general in confidence, and plans to get the enemy soldier killed but later on helps the soldier in escaping. Thus Dr. Sadao's personality is displayed as patriotic citizen.

Important Questions NCERT Class 12 English Vistas "The Enemy"

Question. Did Hana think the Japanese tortured their prisoners of war? Why?
Answer: Yes, Hana thought the Japanese tortured their prisoners of war. She thought so because she had heard about stories of suffering of prisoners of war. When she saw the tortured body of the American soldier, it confirmed her fears. She remembered General Takima beat his wife cruelly at home and wondered, if he could be so cruel to his wife, he would surely be more cruel to an enemy soldier.

Question. Why did the messenger come to Dr. Sadao ? What did Hana think about it?
Answer: The messenger came to Dr. Sadao to inform him that the old General was in pain again and needed his care. Hana had thought that the servants had betrayed them and the messenger had come to arrest Dr. Sadao for sheltering the American, an enemy soldier.

Question. Why was Dr. Sadao not sent abroad along with the troops?
Answer: Dr. Sadao was an eminent surgeon and a scientist. He was perfecting a discovery, which would render wounds entirely clean. Moreover, the old General was being treated medically for a condition for which he might need an operation. This is why Dr. Sadao was not sent abroad with the troops.

Question. How did the servants react when they realised that Dr. Sadao was going to save the life of an enemy?
Answer: When the servants realised that Dr. Sadao was going to save the life of an enemy, the servants were not happy. In fact, they disapproved their master saving the wounded American soldier’s life. They refused to serve the patient and quit their job. They were worried for their lives and their master’s and mistress’ too.

Question. Who did Dr. Sadao think the survivor from the sea was when he first saw him?
Answer: When the survivor from the sea first came into Dr. Sadao’s view, the doctor thought that he was a fisherman from nearby village who had been badly wounded.

Question. What was the General’s plan to get rid of the American prisoner? Was it executed? What traits of the General’s character are highlighted in the lesson ‘The Enemy’?
Answer: The General planned to get rid of the American prisoner by sending his private assassins to kill him and then remove his body from Sadao’s house. The plan was not executed since the General forgot his promise to send the assassins because of his own pain.
The old General seemed to be a cold, calculated ruthless man. He had an unusual sense of humour and seemed to generate fear in others’ hearts quite effortlessly. In his interaction with Dr. Sadao, he comes across as a man who puts his self-interest above everything else. The only reason he did not get Dr. Sadao arrested for treason was because he feared that no other surgeon would be as good as Dr. Sadao if ever the General is fatally wounded again. To save Dr. Sadao from his unusual predicament, the General suggested getting the American soldier killed by his private assassins and getting rid of his body off at the same time. When he admitted to have forgotten to send the assassins, the General asked Sadao not to speak about this carelessness. Nevertheless, the General is not completely devoid of human considerations. He understood that from a surgeon’s point of view, Dr. Sadao did the right thing by saving the wounded soldier’s life, later he even promises reward to Dr. Sadao for proving his loyalty and patriotism.

Question. Dr. Sadao was a patriotic Japanese as well as a dedicated surgeon. How could he honour both the values?
Answer: Dr. Sadao Hoki was not only a trained surgeon but also a fervent patriot who dedicated himself to the cause of serving his country in the wartime through scientific research. However, the dilemma that Dr. Sadao faced on the arrival of the wounded American soldier at his doorstep was a clash between his duties as a doctor and that of a patriotic citizen. Since Dr. Sadao was under the Hippocratic oath to serve the mankind as a whole and put his professional duties first, he decided to save the enemy at any cost. For this he faced difficulties at his home from his wife and servants. He even endangered his own life and that of his family. However, he was able to show his patriotism by informing the General about the wounded American soldier and how he saved him. He requested the General to do whatever was necessary in the matter and even agreed to the arrangement of getting the enemy soldier killed by professional assassins sent by the General. The fact that he informed the General about the American’s escape, even though it was he who helped the soldier, is also a proof that Dr. Sadao was a dedicated surgeon as well as a patriotic Japanese.

Question. How did Dr. Sadao help the American POW to escape? What humanitarian values do you find in his act?
Answer: After waiting for several days for the General’s private assassins to come and kill the American P.O.W., Dr. Sadao decided to help the latter escape. Dr. Sadao arranged for a boat, provided fresh water, food, quilts, flashlight, etc. and instructed him to go to the nearest deserted island. Dr. Sadao asked the soldier to wait there for a Korean fishing boat. He also told him to flash the torch light twice as signal in case he ran out of food. Dr. Sadao also provided the American soldier with Japanese attire and covered his blond hair with a black cloth as a part of his disguise. The young soldier shook Dr. Sadao’s hand and left without a word.
One can find universal value of sympathy, humanitarian consideration, love for fellow human beings and compassion in Dr. Sadao’s actions.

Extract Based Questions:

1. It was at this moment that both of them saw something black come out of the mist . It was a man.

Question. The word 'both' refers to
(a) the fisherman and the pol
(b) Dr sadao and Hana
(c) The gardener and cook
(d) The enemy and General Takima

Answer: B

Question. From where did the man come out from the mist?
(a) from the black
(b) From the ocean
(c) From the house.
(d) from the tree

Answer: B

Question. Who was watching the mist?
(a) the fisherman
(b) Doctor Sadao and Hana
(c) Tom
(d) Hana

Answer: B

Question. Who came out of the mist?
(a) General Takima
(b) The fisherman
(c) Hana
(d) A man.

Answer: D

2. His father had taken him often to the islands of those seas, and never had failed to say to the little brave boy at his side, "Those islands yonder, they are the stepping stones to the future of Japan‖.

Question. Dr.Sadao was..........
(a) a psychiatrist
(b) an engineer
(c) a professor
(d) a surgeon.

Answer: D

Question. Who is the speaker?
(a) Dr. Sadao‘s father
(b) Dr. Sadao
(c) Hana
(d) The white man

Answer: A

Question. Who is referred to as "him" in the above extract?
(a) Dr. Sadao Hoki
(b) Hana
(c) the gardener
(d) Dr Sadao's father.

Answer: A

Question. Who is referred as "the little brave boy " in the above extract ?what is his full name.
(a) Dr Sadao Hoki
(b) Hana
(c) the General
(d) Tom

Answer: A

3."A White man!" Hana whispered. Yes, it was a white man. The wet cap fell away and there was his wet yellow hair, long, as though for many weeks it had not been cut and upon his young and tortured face was a rough yellow beard.

Question. How did the white man's face appear?
(a) Young
(b) Tortured
(c) Fresh
(d) Both a and b

Answer: D

Question. Why didn't the white man know the presence of Dr. Sadao and Hana ?
(a) As he was sleeping
(b) As he was pretending to be unconscious
(c) As he was unconscious
(d) None of these.

Answer: C

Question. What did Dr Sadao and Hana mean by ' white man '?
(a) the man whose face appeared white due to sand
(b) an American prisoner of war
(c) a man wearing white shirt
(d) none of these

Answer: B

Question. Hana's remark " A white man!" on seeing the white man indicated what she was feeling. Pick the option that correctly States the feelings.
1. Horror
2. Shocked
3. Unfamiliar
4. Annoyed
(a) 1 and 2
(c) 2 and 4
(b) 2 and 3
(d)1 and 4.

Answer: A

4. "Don't faint", he said sharply .He did not put down his exploring instrument ."If I stop now, the man will surely die." she clapped her hands to her mouth and leaped up and ran out of the room. Outside in the garden he heard her retching but he went on with his work.

Question. Why did Dr. Sadao feel impatient and irritable with the prisoner?
(a) It was getting late at night
(b) He was tired and sleepy
(c) He would not get paid
(d) He could not tend to his wife

Answer: D

Question. Where was the white man ?
(a) in the garden
(b) on the beach
(c) in the room of Sadao‘s father
(d)with the general.

Answer: C

Question. "Don't faint",he said. Who said these words and to whom?
(a) Dr Sadao to Hana
(b) The cook to the Gardener
(c) Dr. Sadao to the patient
(d) The patient to Dr. Sadao

Answer: A

Question. Who would die? Who was retching?
1. Dr. Sadao's wife 2.The General 3 .The enemy Soldier 4.The old Gardener
(a) 1 and 2
(c) 2 and 1
(b) 3 and 1
(d) 3 and 4

Answer: B

5."My old master's son knows very well what he ought to do," he now said, pinching a bud from a bush as he spoke." When the man was so near death why did he not let him bleed?"

Question. How had the man come to be bleeding?
(a) He was scratched by the brambles
(b) He had tripped and fallen head first
(c) His body was torn by the rocks flanking the beach
(d) He had been shot.

Answer: C

Question. Dr .Sadao's helping the white soldier displays which qualities of his?
1. He was above the narrow prejudices .
2. He was a bit selfish when it came to his country's matter.
3. He considered his duty above all the other things.
4. He was cunning and egoist person.
(a) 1 and 2
(b) 2 and 3
(c) 1 and 3
(d) 3 and 4.

Answer: C

Question. "When the man was so near-death why did he not let him bleed ?" Who said these words?
(a) The cook
(b) Yumi
(c) The gardener
(d) The General.

Answer: C

Question. What is the feeling of the speaker?
(a) Sarcasm
(b) Sadness
(c) Indignation
(d) Appreciative.

Answer: C

6. Now Sadao remembered the wound and with his expert finger he began to search for it. Blood flowed freshly at his touch.

Question. What kind of wound the man had?
(a) it was a knife stab
(b) it was an injury
(c) it was a gun shot
(d)The rock had struck the wound

Answer: C

Question. What was the dilemma that Dr. Sadao faced?
(a) Whether he should marry Hana or not
(b) Whether he should leave Japan and settle in another country .
(c) Whether he should study further or start practice
(d) Whether he should save the life of the white soldier or let him die.

Answer: D

Question. Who was wounded?
(a) Sadao
(b) Hana
(c) The White Soldier
(d) Yumi

Answer: C

Question. Which word best suits 'trained' in the extract?
(a) touch
(b) tended
(c) expat
(d) expert

Answer: D

7. We must simply tell them that we intend to give him to the police- as indeed we must, Sadao

Question. Which word in the extract means ‗certainly‘?
(a) Simply
(b) Intend
(c) Indeed
(d) Give

Answer: C

Question. How many of them were employed at the house by the speaker of the extract.
(a) Three
(b) Four
(c) Six
(d) Two

Answer: A

Question. Who is the speaker of the above extract?
(a) Hana
(b) Dr. Sadao
(c) Yumi
(d) The General

Answer: A

Question. Who is referred as them in the above extract?
(a) The Police
(b) The Fishermen
(c) The Servants
(d) The Officials.

Answer: C

8. He stood gazing down on the motionless man. This man must have extraordinary vitality or he would have been dead by now. But then he was very young- perhaps not yet twenty five.

Question. In whose bedroom the man was lying?
(a) In the children‘s bedroom
(b) In the master bedroom
(c) The bedroom of the old man
(d) The bedroom of the General.

Answer: C

Question. Which word in the extract is the synonym of ―strength‖.
(a) Vitality
(b) Extraordinary
(c) Motionless
(d) Gazing

Answer: A 

Question. Who is referred as ‗he‘ in ‗he stood gazing‘?
(a) The police
(b) The gardener
(c) Dr. Sadao
(d) the General

Answer: C

Question. What was the age of the man?
(a) Twenty five
(b) thirty five
(c) forty five
(d) fifty five

Answer: A

9. When she saw him her thick lips folded themselves into stubbornness. ― I have never washed a white man,‖ she said, ―and I will not wash so dirty a one now‖.

Question. Was ―the White man‖ conscious when the above lines is spoken?
(a) Yes, he was conscious
(b) No, he was unconscious
(c) He was sleeping
(d) He was pretending sleeping

Answer: B

Question. Which phrase is the antonym of ―always‖.
(a) Thick
(b) Never
(c) Will
(d) Now

Answer: B

Question. Who is referred as ―she‖ in the above extract?
(a) Hana
(b) The Cook
(c) Yumi
(d) The Girl

Answer: C

Question. Who is the listener of the above extract?
(a) The Cook
(b) Hana
(c) The Girl
(d) Yumi

Answer: B

10. ―Well, well‖ the old man said in a tone of amazement, ―so I did! But you see, I suffered a good deal. The truth is, I thought of nothing but myself. In short, I forgot my promise to you.‖

Question. Who suffered a good deal in the above extract?
(a) The General
(b) Doctor Sadao
(c) The Assassins
(d) The Gardener

Answer: A

Question. Who failed to keep the promise?
(a) The Gardener
(b) Doctor Sadao
(c) The General
(d) The Assassins

Answer: C

Question. Who is referred to as ―you‖ in the above extract?
(a) The General
(b) Doctor Sadao
(c) The Assassins
(d) The Gardener

Answer: B

Question. Who is referred to ―The old man‖ in the above extract?
(a) The Gardener
(b) Doctor Sadao
(c) The General
(d) The Assassins

Answer: C

11. ―It is very unfortunate that this man should have washed up on your door step‖. He said irritably.

Question. Who is referred to as ―the man‖?
(a) The General
(b) Doctor Sadao
(c) The white American soldier
(d) The Gardener

Answer: C

Question. Which word in the extract is the synonym of ―Unlucky‖?
(a) Irritably
(b) Washed
(c) Unfortunate
(d) The man

Answer: C

Question. Who is the speaker of the above lines?
(a) The Gardener
(b) Doctor Sadao
(c) The General
(d) The Assassins

Answer: C

Question. Who is the listener of the above lines?
(a) The General
(b) Doctor Sadao
(c) The Assassins
(d) The Gardener

Answer: B

SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

Question. What do you learn about Sadao's father from the story?
Answer: Sadao's father was a visionary. He knew that islands near the sea coast were the stepping stones to the future of Japan. No one could limit their future as it depended on what they made it. His son's education was his chief concern. He sent his son to America at the age of twenty-two to learn surgery and medicine. He loved the Japanese race,
customs and manners.

Question. Who was Sadao's wife? Where had he met her? Why did he wait to fall in love with her?
Answer: American professor's house
Party for new students
Hana was Japanese

Question. 'Both of them saw something black coming out of the mists '. What did they see and how did they react to it?
Answer: A man crawling
Sadao thought man as fisherman
Sadao ran and Hana followed

Question. What dilemma did Sadao face about the young white man?
Answer: Putting him back into sea
Being American, man was enemy
Handed him over to police
Man was wounded

Question. How did the servants react when their master told them about the wounded white man?
Answer: Frightened and puzzled
Man ought to die
If healed, time would take revenge

Question. Why had Hana to wash the wounded man herself?
Answer: Yumi refused to wash
Fierce look of Yumi made Hana afraid
Hana had no option

Question. What did Hana inform Sadao about the servants? How did Sadao react to it?
Answer: Master sheltered a white man
- Americans were their enemies
- Trained not to let a man die
- Servants could not understand

Question. Why did Dr Sadao tell the General everything about the man he had operated upon?
Answer: wanted to get rid of the man for his wife and his loyalty towards his country.
- Since operated, could not kill POW
- General absorbed the information and decided to take matters in his hands.

Question. Why do you think, did the old General not want Dr Sadao to be arrested?
Answer: If General had an attack
He wanted Sadao to operate
No faith in other surgeons

Question. What plan did the old General suggest for getting rid of the man?
Answer: General suggested killing the man
Offered to send assassins
Trick of inward bleeding
Leave the outer partition open

Question. How was the plan of the prisoner's escape executed?
Answer: Dr Sadao provided essentials to man
Flashlight to signal
Dressed in Japanese style
Head covered

Question. What did the General tell Dr Sadao about his promise to kill the prisoner for him?
Answer: Sadao told prisoner escaped
General Confessed that he forgot his promise
Indicates General's Lack of Patriotism.

LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

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

Question. What was the dilemma that Sadao faced when he saw a wounded, young white man washed to his doorstep? What solution did his wife, Hana, offer to resolve his predicament?
Answer: young man needed treatment
Helping American they could be arrested
They could hand him over to police
As a doctor Sadao could not let him die
Hana suggested helping the man

Question. Hana was a loving, caring, devoted and obedient wife who was quite anxious about her husband's wellbeing, position and reputation? Discuss.
Answer: Hana understood her husband very well
Sentimental, pragmatic approach
Maintained her dignity
Devoted wife
Ideal life partner

Question. What impression do you form of Dr Sadao as a man and as a surgeon from your reading of the story 'The Enemy' ?
Answer: Brave and Obedient
Intelligent and hardworking
Surgeon and scientist
Sensitive and helpful
Real doctor

Question. Comment on the role of the General in the story 'The Enemy'.
Answer: Suffering from attack
Needed operation any time
Have faith on Sadao
Promised to help Sadao
Offered assasins
Forgot his promise

MCQs : 

Question. Who was Dr. Sadao?
(a) An Iranian Doctor
(b) An American doctor
(c) A Japanese doctor
(d) None

Answer: C

Question. Why did Dr become irritatable and impatient with his patients?
(a) because of his inability to leave the white man to help his distressed wife
(b) because of many patients
(c) because of General's pressure
(d) All these

Answer: A

Question. Why did Dr.'s wife feel distressed?
(a) seeing many patients
(b) Seeing General's reaction
(c) Seeing the orders
(d) Seeing Whiteman's blood

Answer: D

Question. Why did the surgeon speak sharply to his wife?
(a) to get things he needed
(b) to get her help
(c) to stop any disturbance that could lead to harm the wounded man.
(d) None

Answer: C

Question. What was Hana's reaction over her husband's words?
(a) She held her mouth with her hands and vomited outside the operation room
(b) she shouted
(c) she cried
(d) she stopped helping him

Answer: A

Question. Why did Sadao marry a Japanese girl only?
(a) because he liked Japanese
(b) he didn't like any other nationality
(c) Because of his father's fear
(d) because he didn't want to upset his father

Answer: D

Question. What kind of person was Sadao's father ?
(a) a serious
(b) a jollygood man
(c) very strict
(d) A true patriot and traditional person

Answer: D

Question. Why did the messenger come to the doctor?
(a) to meet him
(b) for checkup
(c) to inform about the General's pain
(d) All these

Answer: C

Question. Why did Dr. Give his flashlight to the enemy soldier?
(a) to help him
(b) to show him the way in the dark
(c) so that he could send him signal in case of any distress
(d) All these

Answer: C

Question. Why did Dr. help an enemy soldier?
(a) because he was an ethical and sincere doctor
(b) because he was his friend
(c) because he knew him
(d) none

Answer: A

Question. How many children Dr. Sadao has?
(a) 4
(b) 5
(c) 3
(d) 2

Answer: D

Question. Why did Hana wash the wounded man herself?
(a) Because of her servants
(b) because her servants ran away
(c) because her servants refused to help an American enemy soldier
(d) none

Answer: C

Question. What kind of person The General was?
(a) a kind hearted
(b) a wise man
(c) a selfish man
(d) none

Answer: C

Question. Why did Dr Sadao treat the soldier when he was from enemy's nationality?
(a) He was a doctor
(b) It was against his professional ethics
(c) as a doctor he could not let anyone die
(d) All

Answer: D

Question. Why did General spare the White American soldier?
(a) to spare his own life
(b) he himself was in pain
(c) needed Dr Sadao's help
(d) All these

Answer: D

Question. How did Hana help Dr. Sadao?
(a) By assisting him
(b) by giving him money
(c) by giving him tools
(d) by working as a nurse

Answer: D

Question. What was General's plan for American soldier?
(a) he wanted him to reach safely
(b) will inform his country
(c) will get him assassinated by some private assassins
(d) none

Answer: C

Question. Why did the servants leave Dr.'s House?
(a) Because he was wounded
(b) because he was dirty
(c) Because he was an American Soldier and they didn't like him
(d) All

Answer: C

Question. Where did Dr find American soldier?
(a) in the park
(b) in the battlefield
(c) outside his house
(d) none

Answer: C

Question. At what age he came back to Japan?
(a) 20
(b) 40
(c) 50
(d) 30

Answer: D

Question. How did Dr emerge successfully out of all the conflicts?
(a) by throwing the patients out of his house
(b) by sending his servants out of the house
(c) by succumbing before the general
(d) By saving soldier's life as a sincere doctorand helping him to escape

Answer: D

Question. What kind of person Dr Sadao was?
(a) an excellent doctor
(b) a compassionate human being
(c) Sincere and responsible citizen
(d) All these

Answer: D

Question. Why did the servants refuse to help ?
(a) out of fears
(b) because of suoerstitions
(c) because he was an American Soldier
(d) All these

Answer: D

Question. What does this chapter revolve around?
(a) war
(b) war between Israel and America
(c) war between Malasia and America
(d) war between Japan and America

Answer: D

Question. What idea do you form of Dr after reading the lesson?
(a) an excellent doctor
(b) a compassionate human being
(c) Sincere and responsible citizen
(d) All these

Answer: D

Question. Who is the author of the lesson The Enemy?
(a) Pearl S. Buck
(b) Dickens
(c) D.H.Lawrence
(d) None

Answer: A

Question. What does Dr. Sadao remember towards the end of the story?
(a) five American faces which had a lion’s share in his
(b) which had a lion’s share in his life
(c) his first landlady, who was full of prejudice, yet saved his life when he was suffering from influenza.
(d) All these

Answer: D

Question. Why did Dr. Sadao go to America?
(a) to meet the soldiers
(b) to meet his friends
(c) to travel
(d) to study surgery and medicine which was his father's wish

Answer: D

Question. What did Dr give to the soldier?
(a) his boat
(b) food to eat
(c) flashlight to use in distress
(d) All these

Answer: D

Question. Why did the General not pass orders to arrest Dr. Sadao for giving space to a whiteman?
(a) because he trusted him
(b) because he needed him
(c) General was not in good health and needed his services
(d) None

Answer: C

Question. How did Dr get rid of the American Soldier?
(a) by giving him instructions
(b) by giving him flaslight to use in times of distress
(c) by asking him to row to the island
(d) All these

Answer: D

Question. Why was Dr. Sadao not sent to the battlefield?
(a) because he had no interest
(b) he didn't love his country
(c) he was supposed to offer his services to the General who was in pain
(d) All these

Answer: C

Question. What does the narrator speak about in the beginning of the chapter?
(a) the war
(b) the General
(c) Dr. Sadao’s childhood and his father.
(d) the servants and Dr 's wife

Answer: C

Question. Where did Dr. meet Hana?
(a) in Japan
(b) in his neighbour
(c) in the battlefield
(d) at professor Harley's house in America

Answer: D

Question. Why did Dr feel alone at the beach?
(a) for not bringing his wife with him
(b) for not listening to General
(c) for saving an American soldier's life
(d) none

Answer: C

Question. Seeing the messenger, what was Hana's reaction?
(a) She got frightened
(b) she thought he has come to arrest her husband
(c) General's man
(d) All these

Answer: D

Question. At what age Dr. Sadao went to America?
(a) 22
(b) 32
(c) 12
(d) 42

Answer: A

Question. How did Dr. ensure that the American Soldier had left safely?
(a) by escorting him
(b) by seeing no signal of flashlight
(c) by giving him a call
(d) none

Answer: B

Question. What were the dominant traits of Dr.'s personality?
(a) expertise in his profession and compassion as a human
(b) obstinate
(c) doesn't like to obey anyone
(d) rude

Answer: A

Question. What conflicting ideas disturb Dr.'s mind after he brought American soldier?
(a) duty of a doctor and loyalty towards nation
(b) his wife's health and general's health
(c) patient's health and servants
(d) servants' behavior

Answer: A

Assertion & Reason Based Questions:

Question. Assertion: Yumi refused to wash the white man, as he man an Enemy.
Reason: Hana was sympathetic to him in the face of open defiance from the domestic staff.
(a) Both A & R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A & R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A
(c) A is true but R is false
(d) A is false but R is true
(e) Both A and R are false

Answer: A

Question. Assertion: I guess if all the Japs where like you there wouldn‘t have been a war.
Reason: Dr. Sadao performed the surgery on the White man and also planned his escape.
(a) Both A & R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A & R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A
(c) A is true but R is false
(d) A is false but R is true
(e) Both A and R are false

Answer: A

Question. Assertion: Dr. Sadao, as a human being rose above narrow prejudices
Reason: against enemy race is justifiable, especially during the war time.
(a) Both A & R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A & R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A
(c) A is true but R is false
(d) A is false but R is true
(e) Both A and R are false

Answer: A

Question. Assertion: Dr. Sadao was a true Patriot.
Reason: He informed the general about the presence of the white man in his house.
(a) Both A & R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A & R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A
(c) A is true but R is false
(d) A is false but R is true
(e) Both A and R are false

Answer: A

Question. Assertion: The General sent the assassins to the house of Dr. Sadao.
Reason: He himself was in pain and needed Dr. Sadao‘s help.
(a) Both A & R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A & R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A
(c) A is true but R is false
(d) A is false but R is true
(e) Both A and R are false

Answer: D

Statement Based Questions:

Question. Statement 1: Doctor Sadao is not a dedicated surgeon , kind and compassionate towards people in distress.
Statement 2: He faced conflict of duty as a doctor and a citizen of Japan.
(a) Statement 1 is true but statement 2 is false.
(b) Statement 1 is false but statement 2 is true
(c) Both statement 1 and statement 2 cannot be inferred.
(d) Both statement 1 and statement 2 can be inferred..

Answer: B

Question. Statement 1: Hana was a balanced woman.
Statement 2: She was graceful and dignified about the servants when they were leaving the house.
(a) Statement 1 is true but statement 2 is false.
(b) Statement 1 is false but statement 2 is true
(c) Both statement 1 and statement 2 cannot be inferred.
(d) Both statement 1 and statement 2 can be inferred..

Answer: D

Question. Statement 1: The General was selfish by nature , thinks of his treatment only.
Statement 2: He had no faith in Sadao as a doctor.
(a) Statement 1 is true but statement 2 is false.
(b) Statement 1 is false but statement 2 is true
(c) Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 cannot be inferred.
(d) Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 can be inferred..

Answer: A

Question. Statement 1: Those islands yonder, they are the ‗stepping – stones‘ to the future of Japan
Statement 2: Dr. Sadao Hoki‘s father had dreamt of a bright future for his son and he hadn‘t been disappointed.
(a) Statement 1 is true but statement 2 is false.
(b) Statement 1 is false but statement 2 is true
(c) Both statement 1 and statement 2 cannot be inferred.
(d) Both statement 1 and statement 2 can be inferred..

Answer: D

Question. Statement 1: Dr. Sadao had waited to fall in love with Hana until he was sure she believed in traditional Japanese values else his father would never have welcomed her.
Statement 2: Sadao and Hana‘s chance meeting had turned out to be a very fruitful relationship.
(a) Statement 1 is true but statement 2 is true.
(b) Statement 1 is false but statement 2 is true
(c) Both statement 1 and statement 2 cannot be inferred.
(d) Both statement 1 and statement 2 can be inferred..

Answer: A

Question. Statement 1: The gardener felt that Sadao should have let the soldier to die.
Statement 2: He thought that the sea and the gun would take revenge if he saves the soldier.
(a) Statement 1 is true but Statement 2 is false.
(b) Statement 1 is true but Statement 2 is true
(c) Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 cannot be inferred.
(d) Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 can be inferred..

Answer: B

Important Questions NCERT Class 12 English Vistas "The Enemy"

Question. What help did Dr. Sadao seek from Hana while operating on the wounded white man?
Answer: First, Dr. Sadao asked Hana to fetch towels. Then he told her that she would have to give the anaesthesia to the wounded soldier. Hana had never done this before. So, Dr. Sadao explained that it was easy. All she had to do was soak the cotton with anaesthesia and hold it near the patient’s nostrils. Since Yumi and the other servants had refused to help, Dr. Sadao tend to the American P.O.W, it was Hana who had to wash his wounds.

Question. Why did the General spare the American soldier?
Answer: The General spared the American soldier because that would keep Dr. Sadao safe as well. The old General was a selfish man. He thought of nothing but his own well-being. He needed Dr. Sadao for his own surgery and didn’t want to lose a skilled surgeon like Dr. Sadao at any cost. The General preferred American sentimentality rather than German ruthlessness.

Question. Why did the servants leave Dr. Sadao’s house?
Answer: When the servants realised that Dr. Sadao was going to save the life of an enemy, the servants were not happy. In fact, they disapproved their master saving the wounded American soldier’s life. They refused to serve the patient and quit their job. They were worried for their lives and their master’s and mistress’ too.

Question. How did the General plan to get rid of the American POW?
Answer: In order to get rid of the American P.O.W the General planned to send private assassins to quietly kill the prisoner in his sleep and then dispose off his body without trace.

Question. On the seventh day after the American soldier was found by Dr. Sadao two things happened. Why did Hana feel scared of the second?
Answer: On the seventh day, after the American Soldier was found by Dr. Sadao, two things happened. First, all the household servants quit their job and second, General’s messenger in official uniform came to meet Sadao.
Hana felt scared of the uniformed messenger because she thought he had come to arrest Dr. Sadao.

Question. Explain the reactions of the servants in Dr. Sadao’s house when he decided to give shelter to an enemy in the house.
Answer: When Dr. Sadao decided to give shelter to the enemy, the servants in Dr. Sadao’s house openly expressed their disapproval. The old gardener expressed his concern saying the bullet and the sea wanted the enemy dead. They might take revenge on their master for healing the white man. Although they remained skeptical of their master’s loyalty, they did not disclose the secret to the world. For them, the white man was an enemy who did not deserve their help. Yumi, the nanny of the children, refused to wash the American POW.

The wounds took time to heal; Dr. Sadao and Hana took great care of the American soldier. However, None of the servants tried to hide their displeasure and they voiced their opinion loudly for Sadao and Hana to hear. They felt that since both Hana and Dr. Sadao had lived in America for a while, they favoured the American P.O.W. over their own countrymen. The servants constantly pressurised the Hoki family to disclose the secret and get the American caught by the police. Finally, their displeasure at their master’s decision made them leave his household.

Question. Dr. Sadao faced a dilemma. Should he use his surgical skills to save the life of a wounded person or hand an escaped American P.O.W. over to the Japanese police? How did he resolve this clash of values?
Answer: Dr. Sadao Hoki was not only a trained surgeon but also a fervent patriot who dedicated himself to the cause of serving his country in the wartime through scientific research. However, the dilemma that Dr. Sadao faced on the arrival of the wounded American soldier at his doorstep was a clash between his duties as a doctor and that of a patriotic citizen. Since Dr. Sadao was under the Hippocratic oath to serve the mankind as a whole and put his professional duties first, he decided to save the enemy at any cost. For this he faced difficulties at his home from his wife and servants. He even endangered his own life and that of his family. However, he was able to show his patriotism by informing the General about the wounded American soldier and how he saved him. He requested the General to do whatever was necessary in the matter and even agreed to the arrangement of getting the enemy soldier killed by professional assassins sent by the General. The fact that he informed the General about the American’s escape, even though it was he who helped the soldier, is also a proof that Dr. Sadao was a dedicated surgeon as well as a patriotic Japanese.

Question. What was Sadao’s father’s dream for him? How did Sadao realise it?
Answer: Dr. Sadao’s father wanted him to go abroad for higher studies and become the world’s best surgeon. Dr. Sadao worked hard and became an eminent surgeon and scientist. He was perfecting a discovery, which would render wounds entirely clean.

Extract Based MCQs : 

1. It was at this moment that both of them saw something black come out of the mists. It was a man. He flung up of the ocean - flung. It seemed, to his feet by a breaker. He staggered a few steps, his body outlined against the mist, his arms above his head. Then the curled mists hid him again.

Question. How did the man reach the shore?
(a) Struggled to walk a few steps
(b) Walked comfortably
(c) Swam across
(d) None of the above

Answer: D

Question. Why was the man not visible clearly?
(a) The mist hid him
(b) The sea hid him
(c) The waves hit
(d) None of them

Answer: A

Question. Who are the two mentioned here?
(a) Dr.Sadao and his wife
(b) Dr. Sadao and his servant
(c) Dr. Sadao and another doctor
(d) Dr. Sadao and his daughter

Answer: A

Question. Who is the 'man' referred here?
(a) The white man
(b) Japanese soldier
(c) Japanese prisoner
(d) None of the above

Answer: A

2. Now Sadao remembered the wound, and with his expert fingers he began to search for it. Blood flowed freshly at his touch. On the right side of his lower back Sadao saw that a gun wound had been reopened.

Question. Whose wound is referred here?
(a) The man from the sea
(b) Dr .Sadao
(c) Dr. Sadao's wife
(d) The gardener

Answer: A

Question. Whose expert fingers is mentioned here?
(a) Dr.Sadao
(b) His wife
(c) The doctor of the hospital
(d) The master

Answer: A

Question. What had happened to the man?
(a) He was hit by a rod
(b) He was shot by a gun.
(c) He was hurt
(d) Due to an operation

Answer: B

Question. What happened when the Doctor was ready to give treatment?
(a) The blood oozed out
(b) The blood clotted
(c) The blood drained out
(d) None f them

Answer: C

3. "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. Who said not to heal the wound?
(a) The old gardener
(b) Yumi
(c) Servant
(d) Hana

Answer: B

Question. The 'sea caught' means:
(a) The sea has punished
(b) The sea has become friendly
(c) The sea has called him
(d) The sea had arrested

Answer: A

Question. The speaker believed that:
(a) The sea would take revenge on them if they healed
(b) The sea would catch him
(c) The sea will shoot him
(d) All of the above

Answer: A

Question. What had the sea done to the white man?
(a) It has punished the white man
(b) It has taken revenge on the white man
(c) It has shot the white man with a gun
(d) All of the above

Answer: B

4. "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 started with a curious repulsion upon the inert figure.

Question. Why will Dr. Sadao be punished for sheltering a white man?
(a) It was war time and he was from the enemy country
(b) He was a doctor
(c) He took the help of his wife.
(d) The servants left the job.

Answer: A

Question. Which country did Dr.Sadao belong to?
(a) Germany
(b) India
(c) Japan
(d) France

Answer: C

Question. Who is Hana?
(a) Gardener
(b) Dr. Sadao’s sister
(c) Servant
(d) Dr. Sadao's wife

Answer: D

Question. Why do you think they were repulsive?
(a) It is because he was an enemy soldier
(b) It is because he was bleeding
(c) It is because he was not willing to take treatment
(d) None of them

Answer: A