Footprints without Feet Extra Questions and Answers Class 10 English
Footprints without Feet Class 10 Extra Questions & Answers are available here. Class 10 English Footprints without Feet extra questions and answers are prepared by our expert teachers. All these questions are divided into two or three sections. They are short type questions answers, long type question answers and extract based questions. Learning these questions will help you to score excellent marks in the board exams.
Footprints without Feet Extra Questions and Answers
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 woolen 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.
19. What happens to the constable?
Answer: The policeman tried to catch Griffin. But he looked a headless man. Griffin hit the constable. Then Griffin took off his clothes and became totally invisible. The constable was hit by unseen blows. Griffin knocked him unconscious.
20. Why did Griffin set the house of the landlord on fire?
Answer: Griffin was a lawless man. His landlord disliked him. He tried to eject him from his house. Griffin became angry. He wanted to take revenge upon him. So he set fire to his house.
21. What reason did Griffin give Mrs. Hall for coming to Iping?
Answer: Griffin told Mrs. The hall that he had come to Iping for having rest. He said that he did not want to be disturbed in his work. He told her that his face had been affected in an accident.
22. What did Griffin do in the house of the clergyman?
Answer: Griffin ran short of money. He decide to steal it from the clergyman’s house. He entered the house invisibly and stole money from his desk.
23. How did Griffin become a homeless wanderer without clothes?
Answer: Griffin was a lawless scientist. He wanted to take revenge on his landlord. He set his house on fire. Then he took some rare drugs. He became invisible. He took off his clothes and came out. Thus he became a homeless wanderer without clothes.
24. Why was the time bad for Griffin, the scientist, to become invisible?
Answer: Griffin removed his clothes and became invisible. It was the month of January. The air was very cold. He started shivering with cold. Thus the time was bad for Griffin to become invisible.
25. How did Griffin save himself from the cold of January?
Answer: Griffin was shivering with cold. He entered a big store. After some time, the store was closed. Griffin Wore warm clothes. Then he slept on a pile of quilts. Thus he saved himself from the cold.
26. Why was there an empty space above the shoulders even when Griffin was fully clothed?
Answer: Griffin’s body had become totally invisible. He became fully clothed. But the space over his shoulders remained uncovered. Therefore, there was an empty space above his shoulders.
27. What discovery did Griffin make?
Answer: Griffin was a brilliant scientist. He made some experiments to show that the human body could be made transparent. At last, he discovered a rare drug. He took this drug and his body became as transparent as a sheet of glass.
28. Why were the two boys in London surprised and fascinated?
Answer: The two boys in London saw the muddy footprints. The footprints were fresh. But they could not see any man. The footprints moved on. Soon these prints disappeared. So, the two boys were surprised and fascinated.
29. The scientist (Griffin) slipped into a big London store because:
(a) he wanted to rob the shop.
(b) he wanted to buy clothes.
(c) the cold was unbearable.
(d) he was very hungry.
Or
Why did Griffin slip into a big London store?
Answer: Griffin slipped into a big London store because the cold was unbearable.
30. Why were the two boys surprised and fascinated?
Answer: The two boys were highly surprised. They saw fresh muddy imprints of a pair of bare feet. They wondered what a barefooted man doing on the steps of a house in the middle of London. They saw only the footsteps but didn’t see the man whose marks they were. As they gazed, a fresh foot mark appeared from nowhere. The boys followed them fascinated. The marks became fainter and disappeared altogether.
31. What was the explanation of the mystery of the footmarks? Who was responsible for them?
Answer: The explanation of the mystery of the footmarks was really simple enough. Those footmarks were of a scientist. He was Griffin. Griffin carried out many experiments. He succeeded in proving that the human body could become invisible. Those were the footmarks of the invisible scientist Griffin.
32. How did Griffin succeed in becoming invisible? What was the result of his experiments?
Answer: Griffin was a brilliant scientist. He had carried out an experiment after experiment. He wanted to prove that the human body could become invisible. His experiments succeeded. He swallowed certain rare drugs. His body became as transparent as a sheet of glass. Its status didn’t undergo any change. It remained solid as glass.
33. How and why did a brilliant scientist like Griffin degenerate into a lawless and homeless wanderer?
Answer: There can’t be any doubt that Griffin was a brilliant scientist. After all, the man who discovered invisibility of the human body couldn’t be an ordinary person. But he misused the discovery. He utilised it for his petty interests. He indulged in petty thefts, burglaries and beatings of innocent persons. He made illegal and unlawful entries in stores and shops only to feed and dress without paying anything. All these illegal activities made him a lawless person and an anarchist.
34. How did Griffin become a homeless wanderer without clothes and money?
Or
Who set his landlord’s house on fire and why?
Answer: Invisibility made Griffin a lawless person. He was living in a rented house in London. His landlord disliked him. He tried to eject Griffin. The scientist was determined to take revenge. In revenge, Griffin set fire to the house. Now he became a homeless wanderer without money. To become invisible, he had to remove his clothes completely.
35. What made Griffin enter a big store in London?
Or
What did the clothless and homeless wanderer Griffin decided to get warmth in mid-winter?
Answer: Griffin was a homeless wanderer without money. He had to be without clothes to remain invisible. It was a bad time of the year for such a person in London. It was mid-winter. The air was bitterly cold. He couldn’t do without clothes. So, he decided to slip into a big London store for warmth.
36. What did Griffin do in a big store in London?
Answer: First of all, a cloth less wanderer in mid-winter needed some warmth. As the doors of a big London store were shut, Griffin first looked for clothes. He broke open boxes and fitted himself out with warm clothes. He became fully dressed in shoes, an overcoat and a hat. Then he fed himself on cold meat, coffee, sweets and wine taken from the grocery store. Finally, he lay down to sleep on a pile of quilts.
37. What mistake did Griffin make while he was in a big London store? What should have he done?
Or
Why did Griffin find himself invisible and naked in chill January again after running from the big London store?
Answer: No doubt, Griffin got what he was searching for in the big London store. He dressed fully and fed himself on cold meat, wine etc. He lay down comfortably and slept on a pile of quilts. Had he woken up early before the coming of the employees in the morning, all might have been well. Fully dressed, he was easily seen now. He panicked and began to run. He was able to escape only by throwing all his clothes away. So, once more, Griffin found himself invisible but naked in the chilly January air.
38. Why did Griffin hurry to Drury Lane, the center of the theatre world?
Answer: The invisible but naked Griffin decided to try the stock of a theatrical company in London. He hoped of not only finding clothes for himself but also something that would hide the empty space above his shoulder. He hurried to Drury Lane, the center of the theatre world. He made his way, invisible, upstairs. He came out a little later. He was wearing bandages around his forehead, dark glasses, a false nose, big bushy side-whiskers, and a large hat.
39. Why did Griffin decided to leave London and come to the village of Iping?
Answer: Griffin wanted to get away from crowded London. He wanted to live alone in isolation away from the searching eyes of the people. So he took a train to the village of Iping. He wanted to lead a peaceful and undisturbed life in the village. He booked two rooms at the local inn.
40. How did the arrival of Griffin at the Iping inn was taken by the people and the landlady Mrs. Hall?
Answer: Griffin arrived at an inn in the village of Iping in winter. It was quite an unusual event in that season. Moreover, the stranger was of an unusual appearance. It set all tongues wagging in the village. Mrs. Hall, the landlord’s wife, tried to be friendly with him but was snubbed. She was prepared to excuse Griffin’s strange habits and irritable temper because the eccentric scientist had paid her in advance.
41. Why did the landlady Mrs. Hall try to be friendly and prepared to excuse Griffin’s irritable habits?
Answer: It was winter. It was quite unusual to visit Iping in winter. So, Mrs. Hall, the landlady felt obliged to get a guest in such a season. So, she tried to be friendly with him. Griffin snubbed her and asked her not to disturb him for nothing. Mrs. Hall was prepared to excuse the strange guest because he had paid her in advance. She thought him an eccentric scientist. She tolerated the strange habits and irritable manner of the eccentric scientist.
42. Why did Griffin have to burgle a clergyman’s house in Iping?
Answer: All the stolen money didn’t last long. He had no more ready cash. He pretended to Mrs. Hall that he was expecting a cheque to arrive at any moment. He needed money immediately. The burglary committed by Griffin in a clergyman’s house very early in the morning was a desperate attempt to steal some cash.
43. Describe the burglary committed very early in the morning at a clergyman’s house in ping.
Answer: A clergyman and his wife were awakened by the noises in the study. When they came downstairs, they heard the chink of money being taken from the clergyman’s desk. He flung open the door and cried, “Surrender!” They were surprised to realise that the room was empty. The desk was open and money missing. They looked under the desk, behind the curtains and even up the chimney. They found nobody anywhere. The poor couple couldn’t realise that the invisible man, Griffin, decamped unseen with the money.
44. What did Mr. and Mrs. Hall do when they found Griffin’s room wide open? Why were they surprised?
Answer: The landlord and his wife woke up early. They were surprised to see the scientist’s door wide open. Usually, it was shut and locked. He was furious if anyone entered his room. They peeked around but found nobody. The bedclothes were cold. It meant that the scientist must have woken up long ago. The bandages and clothes that the stranger always wore were lying about in the room.
45. Describe the strange behavior of Mrs. Hall’s furniture. How did the chair start moving and push Mr. and Mrs. Hall out of the room?
Answer: All of a sudden, Mrs. Hall heard a sniff close to her ear. A moment the hat on the bed-post of Griffin’s room leapt up. It dashed itself into her face. Then, the bedroom chair started moving. Mrs. Hall and her husband turned away in terror. The chair pushed them both out of the room. The door was locked after them. All these strange activities were done by the invisible man.
46. Why did Mrs. Hall think that the room was haunted by ghosts? What did the neighbours think about the strange incident, the movement of furniture in the stranger’s room?
Answer: Mrs. Hall was highly surprised and terrified to see the furniture in her guest’s room moving and dancing. She saw how out chair the prior, should an uh der the dd ohoerr whuss bsahnudt and locked. She thought that the room was haunted by spirits and ghosts. The stranger had somehow caused those spirits to enter into her furniture. The neighbors thought that the trouble was caused by witchcraft.
47. What and why did Griffin show himself to Mrs. Hall and why were the people in the bar horrified?
Answer: Mrs. Hall wanted to know how the stranger came out of an empty room and how he entered a locked room. And what he had been doing to her chair upstairs. This made Griffin furious and he cried, “Very well—I’ll show you.” Suddenly he threw off bandages, whiskers, spectacles and even nose. Mrs. Hall was shocked and the people in the bar were horrified and found themselves staring at a headless man!
48. Why did no one know where to lay hands on Griffin during the encounter of the invisible man with the constable, Mr. Jaffers?
Answer: Mr. Jaffers was informed and he arrived to arrest Griffin. He was quite surprised to find that he had to arrest a man without a head. The policeman ran to get hold of a man who was throwing off one garment after another. At last, Griffin became invisible when he threw off his shirt finally in the air. The constable was struggling to arrest him. Those who came to Jaffer’s help were hit by blows that came from nowhere. Jaffers was knocked down unconscious. Griffin had shaken himself free and no one knew where to lay hands on him.
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 neighbors 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 behavior 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.
12. Why were the two boys surprised and fascinated when they saw fresh muddy imprints of a pair of bare feet? What was the explanation of this mystery and who was causing it and why?
Or
Why did Griffin have to remain without clothes and naked even in the chilly weather of mid-winter?
Answer: The two boys were highly surprised and fascinated. They saw fresh muddy imprints of a pair of feet. They wondered how those footmarks came there. They were surprised not to see the man who caused those footprints. They only followed them till they grew fainter and finally disappeared.
The explanation of the mystery was simple. Those were the footmarks of a brilliant but eccentric scientist Griffin. Griffin had carried out an experiment after experiment to prove that the human body could become transparent and invisible like a sheet of glass. He discovered certain rare drugs. He swallowed them and his body became invisible and transparent like glass. But this invisibility was possible only when he didn’t wear any clothes. If dressed up, he could lose his invisibility. He could be seen by others if he was not naked. So his invisibility became a curse for Griffin. He had to be without clothes in the chilly weather of mid-winter. This made him a homeless wanderer without clothes and without money. He had become a lawless man committing thefts and burglaries to clothe and feed himself.
13. How did Griffin become a homeless wanderer, without clothes and without money? What did he do in revenge and what was the result?
Or
Why did Griffin set fire to his landlord’s house? What difficulties did he face after that?
Answer: No doubt, Griffin was a brilliant scientist. He had a great discovery to his credit. He discovered how to make human body transparent and invisible. It was the result of his long researches and experimentations. However, success went to his head. He misused the power of being invisible to settle personal scores with the people. The revenge he took with his landlord speaks of his degenerated mentality. He became a lawless person and an anarchist.
Griffin’s landlord didn’t like him. He wanted to eject him. Griffin was furious and decided to take revenge. In revenge, he set the house of the landlord on fire. After setting the house on fire, he had to escape without being arrested. To get away without being seen, he had to remove his clothes. So, he took off his clothes, became invisible and ran away. But Griffin had to bear the consequences of his misdirected revenge. He became a homeless wanderer, without clothes and without money in the chilly weather of mid-winter. He had to make an illegal entry and resort to a burglary in a store in London to warm himself with clothes and to feed himself. His regeneration was complete.
14. Why did Griffin have to resort to a burglary at the house of a clergyman in the village of Iping?
Answer: Griffin had booked two rooms at the local inn in the village of Iping. The landlady Mrs. Hall tolerated the strange habits and irritable temper of her strange guest because he had paid her in advance. But the stolen money didn’t last long. Griffin had no more ready cash. He pretended to Mrs. Hall that he was expecting a cheque to arrive at any moment. Griffin had to find ready cash. So, the result was the burglary at a clergyman’s house.
Very early in the morning, the clergyman and his wife were awakened by the noises in the study. When they came downstairs, they heard the chink of money being taken from the clergyman’s desk. Without making any noise, the clergyman flung open the door shouting, “Surrender!” But he was amazed to find the room empty. He and his wife looked under the desk and behind the curtains. They even looked up the chimney. There was no sign of anybody. Yet, the desk had been opened and the money was missing. The clergyman could only utter, “Extraordinary affair!” The invisible man had already decamped with the cash.
15. Why did Griffin leave London and came to live in the village of Iping? How was he received there?
Answer: Griffin was eager to get away from crowded London. There he could be an easy target of so many searching eyes. Therefore, he took a train to the village lonte’ So, the landlady Mrs. Hall was more than happy to receive him. She tried to be friendly with him. However, Griffin snubbed her. He told clearly that his reason for coming to Iping was “a desire for solitude”. He didn’t want to be disturbed. He also told that an accident had affected his face.
Mrs. Hall was convinced that her strange guest was an eccentric scientist. She excused his strange habits and irritable behavior because he had paid her in advance. The opinion of the people towards Griffin changed after the burglary in the clergyman’s house and the strange behavior of Mrs. Hall’s furniture. Mrs. Hall thought that the room was haunted by spirits and her guest Griffin had caused those spirits to enter into her furniture. The neighbors thought that the trouble was caused by witchcraft. The news of the burglary at the clergyman’s house-made them suspect that it was caused by the stranger. Griffin had no money earlier but when he produced ready cash suddenly, their suspicion rested on him.
16.When and how did the landlady Mrs. Hall and her husband see their furniture moving and behaving strangely in the stranger’s room? What was the result?
Answer: The landlord and his wife were up very early. They were surprised to see the scientist’s room widely open. Usually, it was shut and locked. They decided to investigate. They peeped round the door but found nobody. In the room, the bedclothes were cold. That proved that Griffin had woken up quite early. They found the clothes and bandages that he always wore lying about the room. All of a sudden, Mrs. Hall heard a sniff very close to her ear. A moment later the hat leaped up from the bedpost. It dashed itself into Mrs. Hall’s face. Then the bedroom chair started moving. She and her husband turned away in terror. The `extraordinary chair’ pushed both of them out of the room. Then the door was shut and locked after them. Mrs. Hall almost fell down the stairs. She was very nervous and confused. She was convinced that the room was haunted by spirits. The stranger, Griffin had caused those spirits to enter into her furniture. Her mother used to sit in the chair which rose up against her. The feeling among the neighbours was that the trouble was caused by witchcraft.
17. Describe Griffin’s encounter with the village constable Jaffers. Why did nobody lay his hands on Griffin?
Answer: The village constable Jaffers had been informed about the wrongdoings of the stranger staying at the inn. And he appeared on the scene. He was completely surprised to find that he had to arrest a man without a head. But Jaffers was a determined person. He couldn’t be easily prevented from doing his duty. There followed a wonderful scene. The policeman tried to get hold of Griffin. As he came near, Griffin started throwing off his clothes one after another. As Griffin threw off his clothes more invisible he became. Finally, a shirt flew into the air and Griffin became absolutely invisible. The constable was trying to catch hold of a person whom he couldn’t see at all. Some people tried to help Jaffers. They were beaten back by the invisible man. In the end, Jaffers made the last attempt to hold on to the unseen scientist, Griffin. Jaffers was knocked down unconscious. The people were nervous and excited. They were crying, “Hold him!” Griffin had shaken himself free. No one knew where to lay hands on Griffin.
18. How did invisibility help Griffin in escaping on different occasions in the story? When did invisibility become a curse for Griffin?
Answer: Griffin, once a brilliant scientist, had worked hard to discover that the human body could become transparent and invisible. He didn’t utilise this great discovery for the welfare of the society but only for his petty crimes, thefts and burglaries. He became a lawless man hitting, beating and robbing innocent people. But invisibility helped him in escaping when there was a danger of his being caught and arrested.
The first time when his invisibility helped Griffin was when he lay asleep fully dressed on a pile of quilts. In a big London store, when the employees saw him, he panicked. When he was being chased, he threw away all his clothes and saved himself after being invisible. The second time Griffin’s invisibility helped him was when he burgled a clergyman’s house. He decamped with all the money that was in the clergyman’s desk. The invisible Griffin created a scene when he hit Mrs. Hall with a hat into her face and pushed both of them out by using a chair. This led Mrs. Hall to think that her house was haunted by spirits. In revenge, Griffin had set the house of his landlord in London on fire. He had to throw off all his clothes to become invisible and save himself Finally when the village constable Jaffers came to arrest him, he made him unconscious and hit all those who came to his help. Nobody knew how to face an invisible man.
But invisibility was also a curse for him. He had to be without clothes to become invisible. And to be without clothes in the chilly weather was very challenging and dangerous. Invisibility made him a lawless and homeless wanderer, without clothes and without money.
19. Describe Griffin’s adventures or misadventures in the village of Iping. Why did he come there?
Answer: Griffin left crowded London to live peacefully in the village of Iping. He wanted to be away from the searching eyes of the people of crowded London. He had booked two rooms at a local inn. Mrs. Hall, the landlady was snubbed when she tried to be friendly with him. He had no ready money now. So in order to get the much needed ready money, he burgled into the house of the clergyman in Iping. The clergyman and his wife heard the chink of money being taken from their desk. They were helpless as the invisible man, Griffin was doing all this. They only found the desk open and all their money missing. Griffin’s adventures didn’t end here. He threatened Mrs. Hall and her husband by hitting them with his hat and the bedroom chair. He forced them out of the room. Poor Mrs. Hall thought that the house was haunted by spirits. Her strange guest had caused those spirits to enter into her furniture.
When Mrs. Hall tried to question him how he entered a locked room, Griffin became furious. He threw away his bandages, whiskers, spectacles and false nose. She and the people in the bar found themselves staring at a headless man!
The most remarkable adventure of Griffin in Iping was his encounter with the village constable Jailers. When Jailers came to arrest him, he threw away all his clothes and became invisible. The constable found himself struggling with someone he could not see at all. The invisible man Griffin hit all those with his mighty blows who came to help Jailers. In the end, Jailers was knocked down unconscious. Griffin had shaken himself free and no one knew where to lay hands on the invisible Griffin.
20. Give a character-sketch of Mrs. Hall.
Answer: (a) Mrs. Hall Welcomes the Guest: The arrival of a strange guest in winter at the local inn in Iping was quite an unusual event. So Mrs. Hall, the landlady, was very pleased to receive her strange guest.
(b) Tries to Make him Comfortable: Like a good landlady, Mrs. Hall tries to make her strange guest quite comfortable. She even tries to be friendly with him. However, she is snubbed as Griffin doesn’t want to be disturbed by anyone. He wants to live in solitude and peace.
(c) Prepared to Excuse Griffin’s Strange Habits and Irritable Behavior: Mrs. Hall was convinced that her guest was an eccentric scientist. She was prepared to excuse his strange habits and irritable temper. The reason was quite simple. Griffin had paid her in advance. Such a guest in the lean season was a blessing for the landlady.
(d) Believes in Spirits: When Mrs. Hall noticed the strange behavior of her furniture in her guest’s room she was shocked and surprised. She saw the hat flying up and hitting her face. She saw the bedroom chair-throwing her and her husband out of the room. She was convinced that the room was haunted by spirits. The stranger had caused those spirits to enter into her furniture.
(e) Dares to Question Griffin: Mrs. Hall dared to question even the eccentric scientist, Griffin. She asked what he had been doing to her chair. She also asked how he entered a locked room. She made him furious. Suddenly, he threw off bandages, whiskers, spectacles and the false nose. She and the people in the bar were shocked to find themselves staring at a headless man.
Self-Assessment Test
Short Answer Questions
1. Why was Mrs Hall hysterical and fell down the stairs?
2. Why did Griffin slip into a big London Store?
3. Who was Griffin? Why did he become a homeless wanderer?
4. What does Griffin do at London Store?
5. What makes you think that Griffin was a lawless person?
Long Answer Questions
1. Narrate the adventure of Griffin in the village Iping.
2. Describe the scene when Mr Jaffers tries to arrest “a man without a head”.
3. Why did Griffin enter the big London Store? What did he do there? How was he finally obliged to have it?