Q1. What do you think Griffin’s life was like before he became invisible? Describe his background, reasons, and the events that made him start his experiments.
Ans: Before Griffin discovered the secret of becoming invisible, he was known as a curious, intelligent, and hardworking scientist. He had a deep passion for learning and spent a great deal of time exploring new scientific ideas. Griffin likely had a strong academic background and showed exceptional interest in research and experimentation. He was not afraid of failure and used his setbacks as motivation to push himself further.
His desire to achieve something extraordinary and prove his theories right made him very focused and determined. Over time, Griffin became fascinated by the mysterious concept of invisibility. He wanted to challenge the known limits of science and create something no one had ever imagined possible. With tireless effort, long hours in the laboratory, and experiments using rare and powerful chemicals, Griffin finally succeeded in making himself invisible. His journey was driven by a strong ambition to leave a mark on the world through his unique scientific discovery.
Q2. Describe Griffin’s feelings and thoughts when he first discovered he could become invisible. How might he have felt about the uses and dangers of his discovery?
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What do you understand about the attitude of Griffin when he first became invisible?
Ans: When Griffin first discovered that he could become invisible, he must have felt a mixture of excitement and fear. As a brilliant and ambitious scientist, he had worked tirelessly on his experiments, and finally seeing them succeed would have filled him with a sense of great achievement and pride. The idea of being invisible was fascinating and full of possibilities. Griffin probably imagined all the advantages it could bring — he could move unseen, avoid danger, spy without being noticed, and have power over others.
However, along with excitement, Griffin also likely felt uneasy and uncertain. Invisibility was not just a scientific marvel but also a dangerous state to live in. He could not be seen, but that also meant he could not live like an ordinary person. He had to remain hidden, which would bring loneliness and fear of being discovered. People might consider him a threat or try to harm him out of fear. He also faced practical difficulties, like suffering from cold weather since he could not wear clothes without revealing himself. This would have made daily life extremely uncomfortable and risky.
Thus, Griffin’s attitude was a mix of pride in his scientific success and growing awareness of the dangers and isolation his invisibility would bring. He began to drift away from humanity, choosing to misuse his powers rather than use them for good.
Q3. What was the explanation of ‘mystery’ and how it affected the two boys in London?
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Why were the two boys in London surprised and fascinated?
Ans: The two boys were amazed when they saw fresh muddy footprints of bare feet on the steps of a house in London—yet there was no one in sight. Curious and confused, they wondered what a barefooted person was doing there and, more mysteriously, where he had gone. As they watched, more footprints appeared one after another, as if being made by an invisible person. Intrigued, the boys followed the trail as it moved down the street, but eventually, the footprints faded and disappeared.
What seemed like a strange and unexplainable mystery to the boys was, in fact, the result of a scientific experiment. Unknowingly, they had been following Griffin, a brilliant scientist who had discovered how to make the human body invisible by swallowing a special set of drugs that rendered him completely transparent.
Q4. What did Griffin do inside the big London store, and explain its consequences?
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How did Griffin survive the cold January air in London and explain the aftermath?
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What mistake did Griffin make while he was in a big London store? What should have he done?
Ans: To protect himself from the bitter January cold, Griffin broke into a large London store after it had closed for the night. Inside, he found exactly what he needed—warm clothing and plenty of food. He put on suitable clothes to shield himself from the freezing temperature and treated himself to a hearty meal, including cold meat, coffee, sweets, and wine. Feeling comfortable and full, he explored the store further and came across a pile of quilts in the bedding section. Believing he was safe for the night, he lay down and soon fell into a deep sleep.
However, this comfort led to a costly mistake. Griffin overslept and did not wake up before the store opened the next morning. As the staff began to arrive for work, he suddenly woke up in a panic. Realising he would be discovered, Griffin had no time to gather his things. In desperation, he tore off his clothes—the only items making him visible—and fled the store in his invisible form. Once again, he found himself completely naked and vulnerable in the icy January air, forced to start all over again in search of shelter and clothing.
Q5. Why did Griffin enter the big London store? What did he do there? How was he finally obliged to leave it?
Ans: Griffin entered a big store in London to seek shelter after setting fire to his landlord’s house and becoming invisible. Inside the store, he helped himself to food, put on warm clothes, and rested for the night. It was a chance for him to relax and stay safe from the cold.
The next morning, as the store opened, the staff discovered him sleeping there. Realizing that he had been caught, Griffin quickly panicked. To avoid being captured, he removed the clothes he was wearing and turned invisible once again. Using the confusion to his benefit, he escaped from the store, leaving the employees shocked and puzzled, as they could not understand how someone could vanish into thin air. This incident showed both the power and limitations of his invisibility—he could escape, but only by giving up comfort and living like a fugitive.
Q6. Why did Griffin leave London and came to live in the village of Iping? How was he received there?
Ans: Griffin left the busy city of London in search of peace and privacy, which he hoped to find in the quiet village of Iping. He arrived at the Coach and Horses Inn, where Mrs. Hall, the landlady, welcomed him. Although he behaved strangely and preferred to stay alone, she tolerated his odd manners because he claimed to have been injured in an accident and paid his rent in advance. She assumed he was an eccentric scientist working on some secret experiments.
However, as time passed, unusual incidents began to occur. A burglary took place at the local clergyman’s house, and strange activities were noticed at the inn, such as furniture moving on its own. These events alarmed the villagers, who began to suspect that something unnatural was going on. Many believed that witchcraft was involved or that the house was haunted, which led to growing suspicion and fear about the mysterious stranger staying in their village.
Q8. How did the arrival of Griffin at the Iping inn was taken by the people and the landlady, Mrs. Hall?
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Why did Mrs. Hall find the scientist eccentric?
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Why was Griffin considered an eccentric character by the people at the inn?
Ans: Griffin’s arrival at the inn in Iping during the winter was highly unusual and quickly became the talk of the village. It was uncommon for anyone to visit at that time of year, and his strange appearance—covered in bandages, wearing dark glasses, a hat, and gloves—only added to the mystery. Mrs. Hall, the innkeeper’s wife, was curious but tried to remain polite and friendly. However, Griffin was cold and rude, insisting on complete privacy and refusing to engage in any conversation.
Despite his eccentric behavior and odd looks, Mrs. Hall chose to tolerate him because he had paid in advance. His secretive nature and the unusual circumstances of his arrival fueled gossip among the villagers, and both Mrs. Hall and the locals found him increasingly suspicious. Yet, as long as he caused no trouble and continued to pay, Mrs. Hall decided to ignore his peculiarities—for the time being.