Previous Year Questions: Footprints without Feet | English Class 10 PDF Download

Ans: Griffin’s character evolves from a brilliant scientist to a desperate, isolated figure. His invisibility, initially a triumph, becomes a burden, leading to lawlessness and alienation. Struggling with societal rejection and practical challenges, he descends into paranoia and crime, highlighting his tragic inability to harness his genius responsibly.

Ans: Griffin’s scientific brilliance is evident in his discovery of invisibility, a groundbreaking achievement. Yet, his lawless nature defines his character. He uses his invisibility for unethical acts, such as stealing from his father, leading to his father’s death, and committing burglaries to survive. His violent tendencies surface when he attacks the landlord and terrorizes Iping’s residents. Griffin’s disregard for societal norms and lack of remorse highlight his lawlessness. His invisibility, instead of advancing science, becomes a tool for crime, driven by his inability to manage its challenges. This contrast between his genius and moral failings portrays him as a tragic, lawless figure.

Ans: In the chapter, Mrs. Hall, suspecting Griffin of stealing money during the burglary at the clergyman’s house, confronts him. Griffin, already frustrated by his circumstances, reacts impulsively. The story, describes how he angrily removes his bandages, revealing his invisibility to Mrs. Hall and others, causing panic. This reaction highlights his volatile nature and inability to handle confrontation calmly, further alienating him from society and escalating his conflict with the villagers.

Ans: In  "Footprints Without Feet," Griffin's character arc follows from one of scientific curiosity to moral decline. Initially, Griffin is presented as an intelligent but reckless scientist motivated by his desire to discover the possibility of invisibility. His transformation starts when he learns the secret ingredient for invisibility. He breaks away from moral boundaries and societal norms as he turns invisible. This is made clear when he sets fire to the house of his landlord in order to take revenge on him and runs away.

Moreover, Griffin robs a store to survive in the cold weather and becomes invisible again. This is an example of him not following the law. His actions are motivated by a lack of respect for other people. He responds angrily and adamantly when Mrs. Hall confronts him.

Griffin's identity serves to highlight the negative effects of unethical behavior and the impact of unchecked ambition.

Ans: (c)
The landlord disliked Griffin and therefore attempted to eject him from the premises.

Ans: invisible
Griffin removed his clothes to become invisible and evade detection after setting fire to the house.

Ans: (d)
The word "fire" in this context refers to setting something ablaze, as Griffin did to the house.

Ans: (c)
Griffin’s invisibility was compromised when he stepped in mud, leaving visible footprints.

Ans: (b)
There is no mention of Griffin promising to behave himself; instead, he committed more misdeeds after becoming invisible.

Ans: (c)
Mrs. Hall was hysterical and panicked, thinking the room was haunted, which caused her to almost fall.

Ans: Griffin
Mrs. Hall suspected that Griffin, the stranger, was responsible for bringing spirits or witchcraft into the room.

Ans: the furniture
Mrs. Hall believed that the spirits had taken control of the furniture in the room, causing it to move mysteriously.

Ans: (b)
Mrs. Hall felt awestruck and agitated by the inexplicable events she thought were caused by spirits in her room.

Ans: (a)
In this context, "spirits" refers to ghosts, as Mrs. Hall believed supernatural forces were at play in the room.

Ans: (a)
The boys were fascinated and intrigued by the sight of footprints appearing without any visible person, which piqued their curiosity.

Ans: Griffin's arrival at the inn was met with curiosity, especially from the landlord’s wife. A stranger’s presence is always an unusual event and Mrs. Hall was all the more eager to be friendly with their new guest.

Ans: The footprints were of a scientist named Griffin who became invisible after swallowing certain rare drugs, and was first noticed by the two boys as Griffin happened to step in some mud, and left footprints on the staircase of a house where they could just see his footprints and started following it. They followed it until the footprints became fainter and could not be seen.

Ans: (d)
The clergyman was amazed because, despite searching thoroughly, he found no one in the room, including behind the curtains, even though the money was missing.

Ans: (a)
The clergyman was moving stealthily, as he was attempting to catch the intruder quietly, without alerting them.

Ans: (c)
Statement (i) is true because the clergyman and his wife checked various places in the room, while statement (ii) is false, as the thief had taken the housekeeping money.

Ans: (c)
The phrase "extraordinary affair" refers to the unusual nature of the situation, as the money was stolen, yet no one was found in the room.

Ans: (d)
The clergyman was surprised, as the money was missing without any visible person in the room, making the incident baffling.

Ans: (d)
Griffin became a wanderer after setting fire to his landlord’s house, which forced him to flee and live without shelter.

Ans: Two examples of Griffin misusing his scientific discovery in the story are as follows:

• Griffin set fire to his landlord's house and fled. This act showcased his disregard for the law and his abuse of his newfound power of invisibility. He used his ability to commit a crime without being seen, revealing his unethical nature.
• He also stole food and clothes from a London store without paying for them. The next day, when the store opened, he escaped by removing his clothes and becoming invisible again. This instance demonstrated his willingness to exploit his invisibility for personal gain, disregarding the consequences of his actions.

Overall, these examples highlight Griffin's misuse of his scientific discovery and his lack of moral conscience.

Ans: Griffin found himself invisible but naked in the chill January air for the second time when he had to escape from the London store. Griffin was sleeping when the store officials arrived. In order to avoid getting caught by them, he escaped by becoming invisible by removing all his clothes.