SBIOA SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL

CLASS: X ENGLISH NOTES

S.R FOOTPRINTS WITHOUT FEET
Short Answer Type Questions
1. Why was Mrs. Hall angry with Griffin, the strange scientist?
Answer: Griffin had attacked Mr. and Mrs. Hall and even threw her mother’s
chair at her. Moreover, Griffin had not paid the rent for a long time. This made
Mrs. Hall angry.
2. How did Griffin try to get rid of Mrs. Hall’s accusations?
Answer: Griffin got furious with Mrs. Hall’s accusation of stealing money and
of not paying her rent. He threw off his bandages, spectacles and became
invisible. He hit everyone and escaped from there.
3. Why did Griffin set the landlord’s house on fire?
Answer: Griffin was not liked by his landlord. He decided to take revenge on
him, so one day he set his house on fire. Moreover, he did not want anyone to
know about his secret discovery
4. How did Griffin escape from the London store?
Answer: When two attendants of the store discovered Griffin, they chased him.
Hence, in order to protect himself, he threw away his clothes and became
invisible and escaped from the London store.
5. How did Griffin become invisible?
Answer: Griffin swallowed a concoction of certain rare drugs that made his
body transparent like glass, and also, solid as glass.
6. Why were the landlord and his wife surprised to see the scientist’s door
open?
Answer: They were surprised because typically the door to the scientist’s room
was shut and locked, and he would be very angry if anyone entered it.
7. Why did Griffin go inside a big London store?
Answer: Griffin went inside a big London store to gain some warmth, find a
place for the night, and also to put on some clothes.
8. Why did Griffin not get a suitable house to live in?
Answer: Griffin was a lawless person, who was largely disliked by all. When
his landlord tried to evict him, he set fire to the house and escaped due to his
invisibility. Thereafter, it became difficult for him to find a proper place to live
in.
9. How did Griffin try to become visible?
Answer: Griffin went into a shop in Drury Lane, the heart of the theatre world,
with the aim of finding something to wear, and becoming visible. He emerged
from the shop wearing bandages round his forehead, dark glasses, a false nose,
bushy sideburns and a large hat.
10. Why were the two boys surprised when they saw the imprints of a pair
of bare feet?
Answer: The two boys could see muddy footprints on the steps of a house in
central London, descending towards the street. It was surprising to see the
footprints without seeing anybody making them.
11. How did he save himself from the chasing staff of the store?
Answer: When Griffin saw that the salesmen of the store were coming near
him, he took off all his clothes and became invisible. He did not have any other
choice to save himself.
12. What was so strange about the furniture of Mrs. Hall?
Or
Why was Mrs. Hall hysterical and fell down the stairs?
Answer: When Mrs. Hall went to see the invisible man in his room, she found
the bedroom chair became alive, springing into the air, it charged straight into
her. Then the chair pushed both husband and wife out of the room. She felt that
spirits have entered into her furniture and she became hysterical.
13. What did he do inside the shop?
Answer: Inside the London store, Griffin wore woollen clothes. He wore shoes,
an overcoat and a hat. He ate cold meat and drank coffee. He enjoyed sweets
and wine also. Then he slept on a pile of quilts.
14. What happened when Griffin didn’t wake up in time?
Answer: Griffin entered a big London store. There he slept on a pile of quilts.
The next morning, he did not wake up in time. The shop assistants opened the
door. They found Griffin sleeping.
15. How did he escape from the London store?
Answer: Griffin got up and tried to escape. The assistants ran after him. But
Griffin took off his clothes one by one. He became invisible and escaped.
16. What did Griffin do in the shop of a theatrical company?
Answer: Griffin entered the shop of a theatrical company. He wore
bandages round his forehead. Then he wore dark glasses, a false nose and a big
hat. He put side whiskers also. Then he attacked the shopkeeper. He robbed him
of his money and came out.
17. Why were the landlord and his wife surprised to see the scientist’s door
wide open?
Answer: The scientist always kept his room locked. He got angry if anybody
tried to enter his room. So, the landlord and his wife were surprised when they
found his door wide open. It was an unusual thing.
18. What did the scientist do when he became furious? Why were the
people in the bar horrified?
Answer: The scientist became angry. He took off his bandages, false nose and
side whiskers. But he was still wearing his clothes. The people in the bar were
horrified when they saw a headless man.
Long Answer Type Questions
1. How would you assess Griffin as a scientist and a human being? What
qualities or values would you suggest will make him a better person?
Answer: Griffin was an eccentric scientist who had discovered a rare drug
which could make him invisible. Griffin became invisible not for. The welfare
of the society but to satisfy his own ego and carry out satanic deeds. He was a
brilliant scientist but not a law-abiding person. He was a criminal scientist who
had no respect for humanity. He stole money from the clergyman’s house, set
the landlord’s house on fire and even killed his father for his own benefit. He
was also not a good human being. He was rude to everyone. When everyone
asked about his secret, he hit them and escaped becoming invisible. I would like
to suggest him to imbibe empathy, kindness, helpfulness, honesty, generosity,
social responsibility, etc. These values will make him a better person. He should
have used his discovery for the benefit of society and his country.
2. Mrs. Hall found the scientist rather eccentric. How can he be helped to
lead a normal life? Highlight the values that can help him become a better
person.
Answer: Griffin was an eccentric scientist who had come to Ping in a desire for
solitude. He did not wish to be disturbed and moreover, he had come to the
town at that time of winter when no one comes. Mrs. Hall found him eccentric
also because of his looks. He was overdressed with all parts of his body
covered. He was wearing dark glasses, big bushy side-whiskers and a large hat
all the time, even at night. He could be helped to lead a normal life by guiding
him patiently. He should be counseled to work for the welfare of society. The
values of empathy, social responsibility, kindness, helpfulness, honesty to his
profession, generosity can help Griffin to become a better person.
3. Griffin was his own enemy. What typical traits of his character led to his
downfall? Mention some of the values he should have possessed.
Answer: Griffin was truly his own enemy. He was short-tempered, violent and
lawless. Being a person prone to anger, and a scientist, proved to be a dangerous
combination. He would attack without provocation, as he did the Drury Lane
shopkeeper. Despite being invisible, he was careless enough to be ‘discovered’
stealing at the clergyman’s house. Thus, all these character flaws, i.e.,
inexplicable anger, aggression, hostility, restlessness, vexation and uncontrolled
behavior led to his downfall.
4. Griffin’s unlawful activities devalue his scientific discovery. What are
some of the qualities that he should develop?
Answer: Griffin was a scientist who had actually made a major discovery, that
of invisibility. However, his illegal activities greatly undermined his discovery.
People were afraid of him and did not recognize his achievement due to his
anger and violent nature. Griffin ought to have been more tolerant and patient.
Instead of terrorizing people with his discovery, he should have exercised
discretion, and gradually revealed himself to the world. Patience would have
been an asset for him, as would have common sense!
5. How did Griffin steal money from the clergyman’s house? How did he
escape arrest?
Or
Narrate the adventure of Griffin in the village Iping.
Answer: Griffin came to live at village Aping. One day, he ran short of money.
He had to pay rent to the innkeeper. He made himself invisible. He entered the
clergyman’s house. He took money from the desk. When he was taking away
the money, the clergyman and his wife heard the sound. They came downstairs
to look into the matter. They opened the door and looked into the room. But
nobody was there. Griffin came back to his room and paid the dues to the
landlady. But the neighbours suspected Griffin. Mrs. Hall called a policeman.
He tried to arrest Griffin. But Griffin made himself invisible and escaped arrest.
6. What was the curious episode that took place in the clergyman’s study?
Answer: One day, early in the morning some sounds came from the study. The
clergyman and his wife were awakened. They came downstairs. They heard the
chink of money from the study. It was clear that someone was taking away
money from the clergyman’s desk. The clergyman took a poker in his hand. He
carefully opened the door. He expected to find a thief in the room. So he
shouted and asked the man to give in. But he found the room empty. They were
surprised. He and his wife looked under the desk. They looked behind the
curtains. They even checked the chimney. But they did not find anybody.
However, the desk had been opened. They found that money was missing from
the desk. This was really a curious episode.
7. Why did Griffin enter the big London store? What did he do there? How
he was finally obliged to leave it?
Or
Describe Griffin’s adventures in a London store?
Answer: Griffin set fire to his landlord’s house. Then he took a drug and
became invisible. But he had to remove his clothes. It was the middle of winter.
The air was very cold. He reached a London store. Before the closing time, he
entered the store. After some time, the store was closed. Now he was free. He
broke open boxes and wrappers. He took out some clothes and wore them. He
was feeling hungry. So he went into the kitchen. He ate cold meat and drank
coffee. Then he lay on a pile of quilts. The next morning, he did not get up in
time. The shop assistants reached. They found Griffin sleeping on quilts. He
woke up and tried to run away. The servants ran after him. Griffin again took off
his clothes one by one. He became invisible once again. Thus, he was able to
save himself.
8. Why was the arrival of the stranger in a village in an unusual event?
Give two reasons.
Answer: Griffin was a scientist. He reached the village inn in winter. He was a
stranger in that village. It was not a proper time to visit the village. People did
not come here in winter. So the event was unusual. Secondly, Griffin looked
very strange. He was wearing dark glasses, a false nose and a big hat. His
forehead was covered with bandages. He did not talk to anyone in the village.
He said that he wanted to live alone. He asked Mrs. Hall not to disturb him. The
people of the village were attracted towards his strange appearance and habits.
Thus, his coming to the village was an unusual event.
9. Describe the policeman’s fight with the invisible man.
Or
Describe the scene when Mr. Jaffers tries to arrest “a man without ahead”?
Answer: One day. Griffin stole money from the clergyman’s house. The people
of the village suspected Griffin. They thought that he had stolen the money.
Mrs. Hall called a policeman. When the policeman reached there, he was
surprised. Griffin had removed his spectacles, false nose and side-whiskers.
Now, he looked headless. The policeman was surprised as he had to arrest a
headless man. He tried to catch Griffin. But Griffin started taking off his clothes
one by one. He was becoming more and more invisible. In the end, he became
totally invisible. The constable tried to fight with him. Some villagers also tried
to help the policeman. But they received blows from nowhere. Then Griffin hit
the policeman. He fell unconscious. Then Griffin became free and walked out.
10. How did Griffin steal money from the clergyman’s house? How did he
escape arrest?
Or
Narrate the adventure of Griffin in the village Iping.
Answer: Griffin came to live at village Aping. One day, he ran short of money.
He had to pay rent to the innkeeper. He made himself invisible. He entered the
clergyman’s house. He took money from the desk. When he was taking away
the money, the clergyman and his wife heard the sound. They came downstairs
to look into the matter. They opened the door and looked into the room. But
nobody was there. Griffin came back to his room and paid the dues to the
landlady. But the neighbors suspected Griffin. Mrs. Hall called a policeman. He
tried to arrest Griffin. But Griffin made himself invisible and escaped arrest.
11. Give a character-sketch of Griffin. Why did his discovery of invisibility
make the brilliant scientist a lawless person who brought sufferings to
himself and the people around him?
Or
Was Griffin a true scientist in spite of his great discovery? Didn’t he misuse
his discovery for his petty gains and thefts rather than for the welfare of
humanity?
Or
Griffin’s great discovery did not make him a popular and respectable
person. Explain with examples from the text. Was he a disaster for himself
and for society?
Answer: No doubt, Griffin was a brilliant and competent scientist. He
discovered that the human body could become invisible and transparent as a
sheet of glass. It was the result of his long and constant experimentation.
However, he misused his discovery only for his personal gains, committing theft
and burglaries and beating and robbing innocent persons. He could have earned
fame and respect had he utilised his great discovery for the welfare of humanity.
But activities made him a lawless person and an anarchist.
Griffin proved how the misuse of science and its great discoveries can be
misused. An eccentric scientist can degenerate himself into a lawless anarchist.
He can become devilish and a disaster for himself and society. Lawlessness and
anarchist behaviour make him a homeless wanderer, without clothes and money.
He has to remain without clothes even in the chilly weather of mid-winter to
remain invisible. He has to make illegal entries and burglaries in a clergyman’s
house, a big store in London and a shop in Drury Lane. This brings him to
disrepute and dishonour instead of fame and respect.