class 10 English - Very Important & Question Anwers

Short Answer Type Questions (2-3 Marks)

Word limit: 30-40 words

Q1. How did Griffin become invisible?

Ans: Griffin was a brilliant scientist who conducted many experiments to prove that the human body could become transparent. Finally, he swallowed certain rare drugs, and his body became as transparent as a sheet of glass, though it remained as solid as glass.

Q2. Why was Griffin wandering the streets of London?

Ans: Griffin was a “lawless person.” His landlord disliked him and tried to eject him. In revenge, Griffin set fire to the house. To escape without being seen, he had to remove all his clothes, leaving him homeless, naked, and wandering the streets in the mid-winter.

Q3. Why was the arrival of the stranger at the Iping inn an unusual event?

Ans: It was unusual for two reasons: first, nobody visited Iping in the winter. Second, the stranger (Griffin) had an eccentric appearance with bandages wrapped around his forehead, dark glasses, and a fake nose. He also made it clear that he did not want to be disturbed.

Q4. What curious episode occurred in the clergyman’s study?

Ans: The clergyman and his wife were awakened by the chink of money. Although they could hear the desk being opened and money being taken, the room appeared to be empty. They found nobody under the desk or behind the curtains, yet the money was gone.

Q5. Why did Mrs. Hall think her house was haunted by spirits?

Ans: Mrs. Hall saw a chair fly into the air and push her out of the room. Since she couldn’t see anyone, she believed that her furniture was possessed by spirits. This happened because Griffin was losing his temper and using his invisibility to scare her.

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Long Answer Type Questions (5 Marks)

Word limit: 100-120 words

Q1. “Griffin was a brilliant scientist but a lawless person.” Explain with examples.

Ans: Griffin was undoubtedly a genius because he discovered the secret of invisibility—a feat no one else had achieved. However, he lacked a moral compass. Instead of using his discovery for the benefit of humanity, he used it for criminal activities. He burned down his landlord’s house, robbed a big London store for clothes and food, and stole money from a theatrical company. He even attacked an innocent shopkeeper from behind. His stay at Iping was marked by theft and violence toward Mrs. Hall and the village constable, Mr. Jaffers. His actions prove that science without humanity is a dangerous tool that leads to chaos.

Q2. Describe the scene of the encounter between Griffin and the constable, Mr. Jaffers.

Ans: The encounter was both comic and terrifying. Mr. Jaffers arrived with a warrant to arrest a “man without a head” (Griffin had removed his bandages). Jaffers was a duty-bound officer and tried to arrest him, but it was difficult to catch someone he couldn’t see. Griffin began removing his clothes one by one. As he became more invisible, it became harder for Jaffers to hold him. Soon, Jaffers was struggling with someone he couldn’t see at all. He received blows from the air and was eventually knocked unconscious. This scene highlights the helplessness of the law against an invisible criminal.

Q3. How did Griffin escape from the big London store? Why was he forced to leave?

Ans: Griffin entered a big London store to escape the biting cold. He enjoyed the luxury of clothes, shoes, and a meal of cold meat and coffee. He fell asleep on a pile of quilts. However, he didn’t wake up until the assistants arrived the next morning. When they saw him, they began to chase him. To escape, Griffin had to quickly take off his newly found clothes. He found himself “once more invisible, but naked in the chill January air.” This shows the recurring irony of his life: his invisibility was his greatest strength, but it forced him to remain naked and cold to stay hidden.

Q4. What kind of a woman was Mrs. Hall? Discuss her relationship with the stranger.

Ans: Mrs. Hall, the landlord’s wife at Iping, was a social and business-minded woman. She tried to be friendly with Griffin, but he rudely rebuffed her, saying he wanted “solitude.” Despite his temper and strange looks, she tolerated him because he had paid her in advance. However, she was suspicious of his “eccentric” habits. When she found his room empty and saw the furniture moving, she became terrified and believed in the supernatural. Her character represents the common people who are easily intimidated by things they cannot explain.

Q5. Discuss the theme of the story “Footprints Without Feet.”

Ans: The central theme is the misuse of scientific discovery. H.G. Wells suggests that science is a double-edged sword. If it falls into the hands of a person like Griffin—who is selfish, impulsive, and lawless—it becomes a curse. The story also explores the theme of isolation. Griffin’s invisibility makes him a “lone wolf,” separated from society. He cannot eat, sleep, or live like a normal human being. Ultimately, the story warns that power (invisibility) leads to the “dehumanization” of the individual if it is not guided by a sense of responsibility toward society.