4.3 An Enemy of the People

4.3 An Enemy of the People by Henrik Ibsen

  An Enemy of the People is a realistic play by renowned playwright Henrik Ibsen. The play, like all other his plays originally written in Norwegian. The play An Enemy of the People explores the municipal politics of a Norwegian town and exposes the hypocrisy of the Progressives and the Democrats.

Introduction: An Enemy of the People

Henrik Ibsen 

Henrik Ibsen ( 20 March 1828- 23 May 1906)

              Henrik Ibsen was a Norwegian playwright, theatre director and poet. Ibsen is often referred to as 'the father of realism and one of the most influential playwrights of his time. In 1869, he began to write prose plays. In 1877, he began what became a series of five plays in which he examines the moral faults of modern society. In order of appearance, the plays were The Pillars of Society, A Doll's House, Ghosts, An Enemy of the People, and The Wild Duck. 

    Like all of Ibsen's plays, An Enemy of the People was originally written in Norwegian.

 

Characters in 'An Enemy of the People'

Write a character sketch of  Dr. Thomas Stockmann.  

         Dr. Stockman is the protagonist of the play ' An Enemy of the People'. He is the Medical Officer of the Municipal Baths and the brother of Mayor Peter Stockmann. He is an ideal person who loves his family. He respects social values and fights against social injustice. He raises his voice against social evils and selfish and corrupt people.

Other Characters in the Play 'An Enemy of the People'

•  Peter Stockmann - The Doctor's elder brother and Mayor of the Town and Chief                                          Constable, Chairman of the Baths' Committee.

•  Mrs. Stockmann: Wife of Dr. Thomas Stockmann

•  Petra : Daughter of Dr. Thomas Stockmann, a teacher.

• Ejlif and Morten- Dr. Thomas Stockmann's sons, aged 13 and 10, respectively.

• Hovstad-Editor of the "People's Messenger."

• Billing - Sub-editor of the "People's Messenger."

• Captain Horster- An old friend of Dr. Stockmann.

•  Aslaksen -A printer. 

Plot of the  'An Enemy of the People'

The protagonist of the play Dr. Stockmann, a medical officer of the municipal baths, finds out that the bath water is contaminated. He is proven right after clinical tests. Therefore he wants to publish an article and expose the corruption. However, Peter Stockmann, his brother and the mayor of the town and the Chairman of the Bath committee, warns him of terrible consequences for him and his family if he publishes the article. Hovstad, the editor of People's Messenger, and Aslaksen, the printer, are hand in glove with Peter and decide not to publish the article. So Dr. Stockmann decides to hold a town meeting which turns disastrous, in which town people shout," He is an enemy of the people." His home is pelted with stones, windows are smashed, he becomes the target of people's ire. His contract as the medical officer is terminated, his daughter Petra is removed from her job as a teacher, his landlord wants to evict him and his family from their home. But he stands firm in the face of difficulties and ignores Peter's advice to leave the town for a few months. His wife is afraid that people might drive him out of the town. But Dr. Stockmann replies that he intends to stay and make the people understand "that consideration of expediency turn morality and justice upside down." What is convenient is not always morally right. He ends by proclaiming, "'The strongest man in the world is he who stands alone."

 

Synopsis  of the Act-III of  'An Enemy of the People'

Dr. Stockmann has discovered that the new baths built in his town are infected with a deadly disease and instructs the town to repair or close the baths. The Mayor, who is Dr. Stockmann's brother, does not believe the report and refuses to close the baths because it will cause the financial ruin of the town. Dr. Stockmann tries to take his case to the people, but the mayor intercedes and explains to the people how much it will cost to repair the baths. He explains that the Doctor is always filled with wild, fanciful ideas. In a public meeting, he has his brother declared an enemy of the people. The doctor decides to leave the town, but at the last minute comes to the realization that he must stay and fight for the things he believes to be right.

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Brainstorming Activities will be added soon.

Ref:  English Yuvakbharati Std-XI

Tiger Hills by General Ved Prakash Malik

 Tiger Hills

                           General Ved Prakash Malik

                      

Activity Sheet-01

Q . 1. A] Read the extract and complete the activities given below:                 [12]  

        Tiger Hill towers majestically above all other mountaintops in its vicinity. Although located almost 10 kilometers north of the Srinagar-Kargil-Leh highway, the enemy position on this mountaintop dominated parts of this highway. After the recapture of Tololing and the adjacent features, evicting the enemy from this well-fortified position became a priority.

        As the sharp triangular top of Tiger Hill was clearly visible from the highway, and appeared almost impossible to capture, the media had projected the entire episode as a national challenge.

Brigadier M.P.S. Bajwa, commander, 192 Mountain Brigade, assigned the mission of capturing Tiger Hill to 18 grenadiers, now rested and recouped after their achievements at Tololing and Hump, and to 8 Sikh, which was already deployed at its base. Both these units were assisted by a crack team from the High Altitude Warfare School, with maximum possible artillery, engineering and other combat support.

        Throughout the last week of June 1999, 18 Grenadiers probed to establish the extent of the

the enemy’s defenses and to scout for suitable routes for the assault. A simultaneous multidirectional assault emerged as the best strategy. The commanding officer of the 41 Field Regiment drew up an elaborate artillery fire plan. Individual guns were ranged so as to cover each objective. Bofors guns were used in a direct firing role once again, with inspiring accuracy. On the day of the assault, nearly 120 field and medium guns, 122-mm multibarrelled Grad rocket launchers and mortars rained death and destruction on the enemy at Tiger Hill. The Air Force, too, targeted Tiger Hill on 2-3 July and hit the bull’s eye several times during its missions.

        For the first time in India’s military history, a TV channel covered the battle live: a sign of progress and transparency, not to mention the on-screen depiction of confidence. The Tiger Hill feature extends about 2200 meters from west to east and about 1000 meters north to south. The main extension is towards the west, on which there are two prominent protrusions. The first, approximately 500 meters west of Tiger Hill, had been named ‘India Gate’, and the second, ‘Helmet’ (located another 300 meters away). Approximately one company of 12 Northern Light Infantry (Pakistan) held the whole feature.

A1. Complete the lines by finding out the meaningful words/phrases/ statements from the above extract.   

 1. The first, approximately 500 meters west of Tiger Hill, is named India Gate.
2. The Air Force targeted  Tiger Hill on 2-3 July.
3. The commanding officer of 41 Field Regiment drew up an elaborate artillery fire plan 
4. The Tiger Hill feature extends about 2200 meters from west to east and about 1000 meters north to south.

A2. Describe ‘Tiger Hill’ in brief with the help of the reference given in the extract. 

Ans: Tiger Hill is a beautiful mountain top located almost 10 km north of the Kargil-Leh-Srinagar Highway. The Tiger Hill feature extends about 2200 meters from west to east and about 1000 meters north to south. The main extension is towards the west.

A3. Find out the new war strategy of the Indian Army mentioned in the extract.

Ans: A simultaneous multidirectional assault, elaborate artillery fire plan by the commanding officer of 41 Field Regiment and the attack by The Air Force were the best strategies applied by the Indian Army to capture Tiger Hill.

A4. Would you like to join the Indian Army? Give reasons.

Ans: Yes. I would like to join the Indian Army because I am passionate about armed forces. I want to serve my Nation. This job will give me an opportunity to face the adventurous tasks in my life. That's why I want to join the Indian Army.

(Also you can write your own opinions  )

A5) Language study :                                 

 i). Tiger Hill towers majestically above all other mountaintops in its vicinity.               

 (Choose the correct alternative to indicate the tense of a given sentence.)                                      

a.   Simple Present Tense.                                                                                                                 

b.  Simple Past Tense.                                                                                                                        
c. Present Perfect Tense.                                                                                           
d.Past Perfect  Tense.                                                                                                                 

ii) . Both these units were assisted by a crack team from the High Altitude Warfare School.      

(Choose the correct alternative to get the Active Voice of the given sentence.)  

 a.    Both these units  assisted  a crack team from the High Altitude Warfare School 

 b.   A crack team from the High Altitude Warfare School were assisted both these units.        

                
c.   A crack team from the High Altitude Warfare School was assisted both these units.          

         
d.  A crack team from the High Altitude Warfare School assisted both these units.
 

A6) Vocabulary:                                        (2)    

Find out any four words related to 

war from the extract.

ANS: i) assault   ii) artillery fire    iii)  firing   iv) rocket launchers  v) enemy position  etc.