Footprints without Feet
By H.G. Wells
Thinking about the Text
1. How would you assess Griffin as a scientist?
Answer: As a scientist, Griffin was brilliant. He carried out experiment after experiment to prove that the human body could become invisible.
2. The two boys in London were surprised and fascinated. Why?
Answer: Because they saw muddy footprints appearing one after another, without any physical human body.
3. What did Griffin do inside the shop?
Answer: Griffin fitted himself with warm clothes, shoes, an overcoat and a wide brimmed had besides feeding.
4. How did Griffin escape from the London store?
Answer: Griffin was able to escape only by quickly taking off his newly found clothes as he become invisible again.
5. Griffin entered the shop of a theatrical company. What did he do there?
Answer: In theatrical company, he wore himself with bandages round his forehead, dark glasses, false nose, big bushy side wiskers, and a large hat
6. Why was the arrival of the stranger in a village inn an unusual event? Give two reasons.
6. Why was the arrival of the stranger in a village inn an unusual event? Give two reasons.
Answer: The arrival of the stranger in a village inn was an unusual event because:
- He went there in winter when no one would come there.
- He had an uncommon appearance.
Answer: He looked quite srange as he had dressed up himself with; bandages round his forehead, dark glasses, false nose, big bushy side whiskers and a large hat.
8. The landlord's wife was convinced that Griffin was 'an eccentric scientist'. What made her think of Griffin in these terms?
Answer: Griffin had an uncommon appearance and had came at an inn in winter. In spite of Mrs Hall’s attempts to be friendly, he would respond in a cold manner. For all these reasons she regarded him as an eccentric scientist.
9. What was the 'curious episode' that took place in the clergyman's study?
Answer: The clergyman and his wife were awakened by noises in the study very early in the morning. Creeping downstairs, they heard the chink of money being taken from the desk. He and his wife looked under the desk and behind the curtains, and even up the chimney. There wasn't a sign of anybody. Yet the desk had been opened and the housekeeping money was missing.
10. The landlord and his wife were surprised to see the scientist's door wide open. Why were they surprised? What three extraordinary things happened in the room?
Answer: The landlord and his wife were surprised to see the scientist's door wide open. Usually it was shut and locked. The three extraordinary things that happened in the room were:
- All of a sudden Mrs Hall heard a sniff close to her ear.
- The hat on the bedpost leapt up and dashed into Mrs Hall's face.
- The bedroom chair became alive, springing into the air and charged at Mrs Hall's legs.
Answer: Mrs Hall was convinced that the room was haunted by spirits, and should rise up against her.
12. The Scientist was furious. What did he do in anger? Why were the people in the bar horrified?
Answer: Mrs. Hall questioned Griffin and enquired about the incident that had happened in his room. He became furious. He shouted at her and told her that he would show her his real identity. Saying this, he threw off his bandages. whiskers, spectacles and false nose, due to which his head disappeared. All the people present in the bar were greatly horrified to see a headless man in front of them.
13. What happened to the constable?
Answer: The constable was called to capture Griffin. The scientist was putting off his clothes one by one and ultimately became totally invisible. The brave constable still tried to get hold of the invisible scientist, but he was hit by him and he fell unconscious.
14. The scientist was a man of “irritable temper”. Give an example to prove this.
Answer: The scientist was a man of irritable temper. It has been clearly shown by many incidents. One such incident is when Mrs. Hall interrogates him about the abnormal behaviour of her furniture; he loses his temper and discloses his identity. Moreover, he dislikes friendly atmosphere and prefers loneliness which depicts that he was a man of irritable temper.
Answer: Mrs. Hall questioned Griffin and enquired about the incident that had happened in his room. He became furious. He shouted at her and told her that he would show her his real identity. Saying this, he threw off his bandages. whiskers, spectacles and false nose, due to which his head disappeared. All the people present in the bar were greatly horrified to see a headless man in front of them.
13. What happened to the constable?
Answer: The constable was called to capture Griffin. The scientist was putting off his clothes one by one and ultimately became totally invisible. The brave constable still tried to get hold of the invisible scientist, but he was hit by him and he fell unconscious.
14. The scientist was a man of “irritable temper”. Give an example to prove this.
Answer: The scientist was a man of irritable temper. It has been clearly shown by many incidents. One such incident is when Mrs. Hall interrogates him about the abnormal behaviour of her furniture; he loses his temper and discloses his identity. Moreover, he dislikes friendly atmosphere and prefers loneliness which depicts that he was a man of irritable temper.
Discuss:
Do you think Griffin misused his discovery? How?
Answer: Griffin was a brilliant scientist for he discovered the formula of becoming invisible, but he was a lawless person as well. He misused his discovery in many ways.
Firstly, he slipped into the London store and gave himself the pleasure of clothing and feeding illegally.
Secondly, he went to the shop bearing the stock of a theatrical company and disguised himself with its stock. He also attacked the shopkeeper mercilessly and robbed him of his money. He stole money from clergyman’s house and finally, he had an encounter with the constable, and finally he escaped invisibly to further clarify his lawless nature.
Answer: Griffin was a brilliant scientist for he discovered the formula of becoming invisible, but he was a lawless person as well. He misused his discovery in many ways.
Firstly, he slipped into the London store and gave himself the pleasure of clothing and feeding illegally.
Secondly, he went to the shop bearing the stock of a theatrical company and disguised himself with its stock. He also attacked the shopkeeper mercilessly and robbed him of his money. He stole money from clergyman’s house and finally, he had an encounter with the constable, and finally he escaped invisibly to further clarify his lawless nature.
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