Footprints Without Feet –Summary and Important Board Questions.(CBSE ENGLISH CLASS 10)
Summary
"Footprints Without Feet" by H.G. Wells is a thrilling story about Griffin, a brilliant but lawless scientist. Griffin discovers a way to make the human body invisible. While this is a scientific miracle, Griffin uses it for all the wrong reasons.
After burning down his landlord's house in revenge, Griffin swallows his concoction, removes his clothes, and becomes invisible. He wanders through London in mid-winter, cold and homeless. He steals clothes and food from a big store and later robs a theatrical company to give himself a "face" using bandages, dark glasses, and a fake nose.
To escape the city, he travels to the village of Iping and stays at Mrs. Hall’s inn. However, his strange appearance and violent temper make people suspicious. When his money runs out, he robs a clergyman. The story reaches a climax when a local constable, Mr. Jaffers, tries to arrest a "headless" man. Griffin strips off his clothes, becoming completely invisible again, and escapes by knocking everyone unconscious.
The Lesson: Science without humanity and ethics turns a "scientist" into a "criminal."
A. Short Answer Questions
Q1. How did Griffin become invisible?
ANS: Griffin was a brilliant scientist who conducted several experiments. He finally swallowed certain rare drugs, which made his body as transparent as a sheet of glass, though it remained solid.
Q2. Why was Griffin "homeless" in London?
ANS: His landlord disliked him and tried to evict him. In revenge, Griffin set fire to the house. To escape without being seen, he had to remove his clothes, leaving him homeless and naked in the cold.
Q3. What did Griffin do in the London store?
ANS: He entered a big store to stay warm. He broke open boxes and fitted himself with warm clothes, shoes, and an overcoat. He also ate cold meat and drank coffee from the store's kitchen.
Q4. Why did Griffin go to Iping?
ANS: London was too crowded, and being invisible in the winter was difficult. He wanted to get away from the "hustle and bustle" and find a quiet place where he wouldn't be disturbed.
Q5. Who was Mrs. Hall and why was she surprised?
ANS: Mrs. Hall was the wife of the innkeeper at Iping. She was surprised because a guest had arrived in the dead of winter, and his face was completely covered in bandages.
Q6. Describe the "curious episode" at the clergyman's house.
ANS: The clergyman and his wife heard the chink of money being taken from the desk, but when they entered the room, it was completely empty. The money was gone, but no one was visible.
Q7. What happened to the furniture in Griffin's room?
ANS: When Mrs. Hall tried to investigate his room, the furniture became "alive." A chair flew through the air and pushed her out of the room. She thought the house was haunted by spirits.
Q8. Why did Griffin lose his temper with Mrs. Hall?
ANS: Mrs. Hall questioned him about how he emerged from an empty room and where he got his money. Griffin, being naturally irritable, became furious and decided to show her who he "really was."
Q9. Who was Mr. Jaffers and why was he struggling?
ANS: Mr. Jaffers was the village constable. He was struggling because he had to arrest a man who was becoming more invisible by the second as he threw off his clothes.
Q10. Why is Griffin described as a "lawless person"?
ANS: Despite his brilliance, he used his discovery to steal, commit arson, and attack innocent people. He had no respect for the law or social morals.
B. Long Answer Questions (Value-Based)
Q1. "Science is a double-edged sword." Discuss with reference to Griffin.
ANS: Griffin’s discovery of invisibility was a monumental achievement. However, instead of using it for the welfare of society, he used it for personal revenge and theft. This shows that if science is not guided by a moral compass, it can become a tool for destruction. Griffin's brilliance was wasted because he lacked the character to use it wisely.
Q2. Describe Griffin’s stay at Iping. Why was it a failure?
ANS: Griffin went to Iping for solitude, but his bandages and eccentric behavior made him the talk of the town. His inability to control his temper and his lack of money forced him to steal, which ended his peaceful stay. It was a failure because an invisible man cannot live in a social community without following its rules.
Q3. Compare and contrast Griffin with Richard Ebright (from The Making of a Scientist).
ANS: Both were brilliant minds. However, Ebright was driven by curiosity and a desire to contribute to the world's knowledge. Griffin was driven by ego and revenge. Ebright’s work led to the "blueprint of life," while Griffin’s work led to his own isolation and criminal status. One is a hero, the other a villain.
Q4. How does the story "Footprints Without Feet" blend science fiction with social commentary?
ANS: The science fiction element is the "invisibility drug." The social commentary lies in how people react to the unknown and how a man's character remains the same even if his body disappears. Griffin’s invisibility only highlighted his internal darkness.
Q5. What are the major themes of the story?
ANS: The major themes include the misuse of science, isolation, and the consequences of lawlessness. The story warns us that power without responsibility leads to a person's ultimate downfall.
C. Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
Q1. Who is the author of "Footprints Without Feet"?
A) Robert Frost B) H.G. Wells C) Guy de Maupassant D) James Herriot
ANS: B) H.G. Wells
Q2. Where did the two boys first see the muddy footprints?
A) Iping B) London C) Oxford D) Cambridge
ANS: B) London
Q3. Griffin was a/an:
A) Actor B) Scientist C) Clergyman D) Shopkeeper
ANS: B) Scientist
Q4. What did Griffin do to his landlord's house?
A) Repaired it B) Painted it C) Set it on fire D) Sold it
ANS: C) Set it on fire
Q5. Why was it a "bad time" to wander in London?
A) It was raining B) It was mid-winter C) It was summer D) It was crowded
ANS: B) It was mid-winter
Q6. To give himself a 'face', Griffin went to:
A) A hospital B) A theatrical company C) A makeup artist D) A mask shop
ANS: B) A theatrical company
Q7. What was the name of the village Griffin escaped to?
A) Iping B) Shotover C) Reading D) Benares
ANS: A) Iping
Q8. Mrs. Hall felt the guest was an "eccentric ______":
A) Genius B) Scientist C) Criminal D) Relative
ANS: B) Scientist
Q9. What did Griffin take from the clergyman's desk?
A) Books B) Money C) Jewels D) Secret files
ANS: B) Money
Q10. Who did Griffin knock unconscious at the end?
A) Mrs. Hall B) Mr. Jaffers C) The Clergyman D) His landlord
ANS: B) Mr. Jaffers
As Teacher my Comment:
"Think of Griffin as a 'disembodied presence.' In your answers, emphasize the Physical limitations of invisibility (the cold, the need to be naked, the mud on his feet). This makes your analysis much deeper than just saying he was 'hidden'.
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