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Footprints without Feet

    CBSE Board

  • Teacher Name : Rakesh
  • Total Questions : 20
  • Time Allowed : 60
  • Total Marks : 20

  • Q 1 :Q1- Who is the author of the story "Footprints without feet"?



  


Footprints without Feet


Description

If you are preparing for your CBSE Class 10 English question answers, this guide on Footprints Without Feet will help you understand the story in-depth. This chapter from the Class 10 NCERT English supplementary book narrates the thrilling tale of an invisible scientist, Griffin, who misuses his discovery.

Summary

Griffin, a brilliant scientist, discovers a formula for invisibility but misuses it for crime. He burns his landlords house and steals food and clothes to survive. After escaping from a London store, he breaks into a theatrical shop for a disguise and moves to Iping. When confronted by villagers, he removes his bandages and vanishes, causing panic. The police try to arrest him, but he escapes again using his invisibility.

Theme

The main theme of the story is the misuse of scientific discoveries and their consequences. Griffin’s actions show how power without responsibility can lead to destruction. Another theme is isolation—Griffin becomes lonely because of his arrogance and wrongdoings. The story also teaches that science should be used for the benefit of society, not personal gain. It highlights the dangers of greed, selfishness, and unethical behaviour.

Important Q/A

Q1. Who was Griffin? Why did he become invisible?
Answer: Griffin was a very smart scientist, but he was also selfish. He found a way to make himself invisible by drinking a special medicine. Instead of using his power for good, he became a bad person. He set his landlord’s house on fire and ran away using his invisibility. His greed and pride made him misuse his power, which led to his downfall.
Q2. How did the boys in London first realize something strange was happening?
Answer: The boys saw fresh muddy footprints on the ground, but they couldn’t see who was making them. As they kept looking, the footprints slowly disappeared. This scared them because they understood that an invisible person was walking there. They got frightened and ran away.
Q3. Why did Griffin attack the shopkeeper?
Answer: Griffin attacked the shopkeeper because he wanted to steal clothes, money, and a disguise. Since he was invisible, he needed clothes to look like a normal person. When the shopkeeper saw something strange, Griffin got scared, hit him, and ran away.
Q4. How did Griffin escape from the London store?
Answer: Griffin hid inside a London store at night to steal food and clothes. But in the morning, the workers found him. To escape, he quickly removed his clothes to become invisible again. He ran outside naked, feeling very cold. This showed that being invisible was not always helpful.
Q5. Why did Mrs. Hall find Griffin strange?
Answer: Mrs. Hall, the innkeeper, thought Griffin was strange because he always stayed inside, covered his face, and acted rudely. He paid her in advance but never talked much to people. His secretive behavior made the villagers suspicious, and they started thinking he was hiding something.
Q6. How did Griffin misuse his power of invisibility?
Griffin, a brilliant scientist, discovered a way to become invisible but used it for wrongdoing. He set his landlord’s house on fire, stole food, clothes, and money, and attacked a shopkeeper. Instead of using his intelligence for good, his greed and pride turned him into a criminal.
Q7. Describe the episode at the clergyman’s house.
One morning, the clergyman and his wife heard noises in their study but found no one inside—only their stolen money missing. It was Griffin, using invisibility to steal. This made the villagers more suspicious and led to chaos when they tried to catch him.