"The Enemy"
by Pearl S. Buck.
| Difficult Word | Easy Meaning |
|---|
| Ashore | Onto the land from the sea |
| Patriot | A person who loves and serves his country |
| Harbouring | Giving shelter |
| Stepping stones | A way to achieve something |
| Infinite | Very great; endless |
| Wreathing | Twisting around |
| Casual | By chance; not planned |
| Heedlessly | Without thinking |
| Veranda | Open space in front of a house |
| Staggered | Walked unsteadily |
| Motionless | Without moving |
| Tortured | Suffered great pain |
| Gun wound | Injury caused by a bullet |
| Moaned | Made a sound of pain |
| Stupor | Half-conscious state |
| Vitality | Strength and energy |
| Stubbornness | Refusing to change |
| Impulsively | Without thinking |
| Sterilised | Made free from germs |
| Intricate | Very detailed or difficult |
| Anaesthetic | Medicine that stops pain |
| Nostrils | Openings of the nose |
| Contemptuously | With disrespect |
| Condemned | Declared guilty |
| Gasping | Breathing with difficulty |
| Indispensable | Very necessary |
| Ruthlessness | Cruel behaviour |
| Fortifying | Protecting with defence |
| Submerged | Covered by water |
| Pawnshop | Shop where goods are kept for a loan |
| Twilight | Time just after sunset |
| Prejudice | Unfair opinion about someone |
| Haggard | Looking tired and weak |
| Mercy | Kindness to someone in trouble |
| Humanity | Kindness towards all people |
| Conscience | Feeling of right and wrong |
| Compassion | Deep sympathy and kindness |
The Enemy – Read and Find Answers (Easy English)
1. Who was Dr. Sadao?
Answer:
Dr. Sadao was a famous Japanese doctor and surgeon. He had studied medicine in America and became a skilled surgeon and scientist. He was respected by everyone for his knowledge and kindness.
2. Where was his house?
Answer:
Dr. Sadao's house was on the Japanese coast. It was built on rocks above a small beach. From his house, he could see the sea and the nearby islands.
3. Will Dr. Sadao be arrested on the charge of harbouring an enemy?
Answer:
No, Dr. Sadao was not arrested. The General needed him as his personal doctor, so he did not report him. Later, the General admitted that he had forgotten to send the assassins.
4. Will Hana help the wounded man and wash him herself?
Answer:
Yes, Hana helped the wounded American soldier. When the servants refused to wash him, she did it herself. She also helped Dr. Sadao during the operation and took care of the soldier until he became better.
5. What will Dr. Sadao and his wife do with the man?
Answer:
Dr. Sadao and Hana carried the wounded soldier into their house. Dr. Sadao operated on him and saved his life. They looked after him carefully, even though they knew he was their enemy.
6. What will Dr. Sadao do to get rid of the man?
Answer:
Dr. Sadao secretly helped the soldier escape. He kept a boat ready with food, water, clothes, and a flashlight. He told the soldier to row to a nearby island and wait for a Korean fishing boat.
7. Will Dr. Sadao be arrested on the charge of harbouring an enemy?
Answer:
No, Dr. Sadao was never arrested. The General forgot his promise to send the assassins because he was thinking only about his own illness. In the end, the American soldier escaped safely.
1. 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.
Answer:
Dr. Sadao faces a difficult choice. As a Japanese citizen, he should hand over the American soldier to the army because the soldier is an enemy. But as a doctor, he cannot let a wounded man die. He saves the soldier's life because his duty as a doctor comes first. The story shows that humanity is greater than hatred and war.
Character Sketch of Dr. Sadao
Dr. Sadao is a skilled and kind Japanese doctor. He is intelligent, honest, and dedicated to his profession. He believes that saving a human life is the first duty of a doctor. When he finds a wounded American soldier, he treats him even though America is Japan's enemy. He knows that helping the soldier is dangerous, but he does not leave him to die. He is calm, brave, and compassionate. At the end, he secretly helps the soldier escape safely. Dr. Sadao proves that humanity, kindness, and professional duty are more important than war and hatred.
Character Sketch of Hana
Hana is the wife of Dr. Sadao. She is a kind, caring, and loyal woman. At first, she is afraid to help the American soldier because he is an enemy. However, after seeing his condition, she supports her husband and helps take care of him. She cooks food, cleans the room, and nurses the injured man. Even when the servants leave the house, she does not give up. Hana is brave, patient, and compassionate. She always stands by her husband in difficult times. Her character teaches us the importance of kindness, courage, and humanity.
2. 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:
At first, Hana was afraid of helping the American soldier. But when she saw that he was badly wounded and helpless, she felt sorry for him. She helped Dr. Sadao in the operation and looked after the soldier. She believed that saving a human life was more important than hate during war.
3. 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:
The soldier was weak after the operation and had no safe place to go. Outside, he could be caught and killed. Dr. Sadao's house was the only place where he felt safe. He trusted Dr. Sadao and Hana because they had saved his life. So, he did not want to leave until he became strong.
4. 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 was mainly thinking about himself. He did not arrest Dr. Sadao because he needed him as his doctor. He even forgot to send the assassins to kill the soldier. His actions were not because of kindness or humanity. They showed that he cared more about his own health than his duty.
5. While hatred against a member of the enemy race is justifiable, especially during wartime, what makes a human being rise above narrow prejudices?
Answer:
Kindness, mercy, and humanity help people rise above hatred. Dr. Sadao saw the wounded soldier as a human being, not only as an enemy. His duty as a doctor and his kind heart made him save the soldier's life. The story teaches us that humanity is greater than war and hatred.6. Do you think the doctor's final solution to the problem was the best possible one in the circumstances?
Answer:
Yes, it was the best solution. Dr. Sadao saved the soldier's life and also protected his family. He secretly helped the soldier escape by boat with food, water, and clothes. In this way, he fulfilled his duty as a doctor and also kept his family safe.
7. Does the story remind you of 'Birth' by A. J. Cronin that you read in Snapshots last year? What are the similarities?
Answer:
Yes, both stories are about doctors who are fully devoted to their work. Dr. Andrew in Birth and Dr. Sadao in The Enemy save human lives with great care and courage. Both believe that a doctor's first duty is to save life, no matter how difficult the situation is.
8. Is there any film you have seen or novel you have read with a similar theme?
Answer:
Yes. The film Hacksaw Ridge has a similar theme. It shows a soldier who saves many lives during a war without carrying a weapon. Like Dr. Sadao, he believes that saving human life is more important than hatred and violence.
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