Question 3 - Chapter 4 - The Enemy - Vistas - Chapters (Literature) - English Class 12

Read the extract and answer the following questions.

Extract:

She came to him affectionately and put her arm through his as he stood, smiled and said nothing. He had met Hana in America, but he had waited to fall in love with her until he was sure she was Japanese. His father would never have received her unless she had been pure in her race. He wondered often whom he would have married if he had not met Hana, and by what luck he had found her in the most casual way, by chance literally, at an American professor’s house. The professor and his wife had been kind people anxious to do something for their few foreign students, and the students, though bored, had accepted this kindness

(The Enemy)

Question (i)

What was the name of Sadao's wife whom he met in America?

1. Hana
2. Hara
3. Hina
4. Hira

Answer:

Answer as written by the student:

(a) Hana

Step-by-step explanation: 🧐

• The name of Sadao's wife whom he met in America was Hana.
• This is stated in the first sentence of the extract, where it says "She came to him affectionately and put her arm through his as he stood, smiled and said nothing".
• The pronoun "she" refers to Hana, who is Sadao's wife and the mother of his children.
• Hana was also Japanese and had studied in America, where she met Sadao at an American professor's house.

Question (ii)

 Why did Sadao wait to fall in love with Hana until he was sure she was Japanese?

1. Because he wanted to respect his father's wishes and marry someone of his own race
2. Because he wanted to avoid any cultural or linguistic barriers and marry someone of his own background
3. Because he wanted to protect his reputation and status and marry someone of his own class
4. Because he wanted to follow his heart and feelings and marry someone of his own choice

Answer:

Answer as written by the student:

(a) Because he wanted to respect his father's wishes and marry someone of his own race

Step-by-step explanation: 🤓

• Sadao waited to fall in love with Hana until he was sure she was Japanese because he wanted to respect his father's wishes and marry someone of his own race.
• This is stated in the second sentence of the extract, where it says "He had met Hana in America, but he had waited to fall in love with her until he was sure she was Japanese".
• Sadao knew that his father would never have received her unless she had been pure in her race, as he was very strict and conservative about racial purity and pride.
• Sadao also knew that his father had arranged a marriage for him with a Japanese girl before he left for America, but he had refused to accept it.

Question (iii)

Fill in the blank with an appropriate word.

Sadao wondered often whom he would have married if he had not met Hana, and by what _______ he had found her in the most casual way.

Answer:

Answer as written by the student:

 luck

Step-by-step explanation: 🙃

• The word that fits in the blank is luck, which means success or failure apparently brought by chance rather than through one's own actions.
• Sadao wondered often whom he would have married if he had not met Hana, and by what luck he had found her in the most casual way.
• This is stated in the third sentence of the extract, where it shows Sadao's gratitude and curiosity about his fate and fortune.
• Sadao felt lucky that he had found Hana by chance literally, at an American professor's house, where they were both invited as foreign students.

Question (iv)

 Explain how the extract portrays the theme of cultural identity and conflict in the story.

Answer:

Answer as written by the student:

 The extract portrays the theme of cultural identity and conflict in the story by showing Sadao's struggle to balance his loyalty to his Japanese heritage and his attraction to American education and culture.

Step-by-step explanation: 😊

• The theme of cultural identity and conflict in the story is the main challenge that Sadao faces as a Japanese who has studied and lived in America for eight years.
• Sadao has to deal with the differences and tensions between his native culture and his adopted culture, especially during the war between Japan and America.
• The extract portrays this theme by showing Sadao's struggle to balance his loyalty to his Japanese heritage and his attraction to American education and culture.
• The extract shows that Sadao respects his father's wishes and marries a Japanese woman, but also loves and appreciates American knowledge and science.
• The extract also shows that Sadao is grateful for the kindness of the American professor and his wife, but also bored by their attempts to help their foreign students.