Short and Long Questions & Answers - The Enemy | English Class 12 PDF Download

Short Answer Type Questions

Q1: What is the main theme of the story ‘The Enemy’?
Ans: ’The Enemy’ centres around a moral dilemma of choosing between one’s obligation to one’s country and saving the life of a human being. We all understand the role patriotism plays in protecting one’s country. Still, we cannot underestimate the value of anyone’s life – especially when we know that they are critically affected, and we have all the means to save the person. It is a basic human instinct – a goodness that is inherent in all conscientious human beings.

Q2: Why do you think Dr Sadao helped the American soldier?
Ans: Dr Sadao hated the prisoner. He knew the white American soldier was his enemy. But his instinct as a doctor was to save people from dying. In Dr Sadao it did not end there. He could not kill another human willingly – especially when he knew that the prisoner meant no harm and was just another wounded human being.

Q3: What is the moral of the story ‘The Enemy’?
Ans: The story ‘The Enemy’ emphasises the need for humanity in us. We can only grow and flourish as a community when we do not disregard others’ pain and struggles.

Q4: Why did the General overlook the matter of the enemy soldier?
Ans: 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.

Q5: Why was Dr. Sadao not sent with the troops?
Ans: 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.

Q6:  How was the plan of the prisoner’s escape executed in the story?
Ans: 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.

Q7: Why did the servants leave Dr. Sadao’s house?
Ans: 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.

Q8: Who was the white man whom Dr. Sadao and Hana found?
Ans: 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’

Q9: ‘‘But Sadao searching the spot of black in the twilight sea that night, had his reward’’. What was the reward?
Ans: 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.

Q10: What message does “The Enemy” give?
Ans: This is a great lesson in humanism. Dr. Sadao by nursing his country’s enemy proves true to his professional ethics.

Long Answer Type Questions 

Q1: How did Dr. Sadao rise above narrow prejudices of race & country to human being in need?
Ans: Value Points
Dr. Sadao- a renowned Japanese surgeon- believed in professional loyalty & human kindness- saw  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.

Q2: Do you think the doctor’s final solution to the problem was the best possible one in the circumstances?
Ans: 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.

Q3: 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.
Ans: Value Points
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.