Class 10 : English – Lesson 24. Footprints without Feet
EXPLANATION & SUMMARY
💠 Explanation
🌟 Introduction to the Lesson
“Footprints Without Feet” is a science fiction short story by H.G. Wells, included in the Class 10 NCERT book Footprints Without Feet. It narrates the adventures of Griffin, a brilliant scientist who invents a way to make himself invisible but misuses his discovery, leading to chaos and his eventual downfall.
📚 About the Author
H.G. Wells (1866–1946) was a renowned English writer, often called the “father of science fiction.” His famous works include The Time Machine, The Invisible Man, and The War of the Worlds. His writings combined imagination with social commentary.
💡 Setting / Context
The story is set in early 20th-century England. It unfolds in London, where Griffin first demonstrates his invisibility, and then in the small village of Iping, where his actions disturb the peace.
🎭 Key Sections / Episodes
Griffin’s Discovery: Griffin, a brilliant but lawless scientist, discovers a formula to become invisible. Instead of using it for good, he uses it for selfish purposes.
Mischief in London: He terrifies people by walking unseen and leaves behind only his muddy footprints, creating fear and wonder.
Escape to Iping: He reaches the village of Iping, where he rents rooms at an inn to continue his experiments, but his strange behavior creates suspicion.
The Theft and Exposure: Griffin’s dishonest acts—stealing money, food, and clothes—expose him as a criminal, and villagers grow determined to catch him.
Griffin’s Downfall: His invisibility, though powerful, cannot protect him from society’s anger and justice.
🖋️ Tone, Style, and Devices
The tone is suspenseful, imaginative, and moralistic. Wells uses irony (Griffin’s brilliance causes his ruin), symbolism (invisibility as misuse of science), and narrative tension to hold the reader’s attention.
🕊️ Themes and Takeaways
Misuse of Science: Knowledge without morality can be destructive.
Isolation: Griffin’s invisibility isolates him from society.
Appearance vs. Reality: The unseen is not always safe or powerful.
Crime and Punishment: Wrongdoing inevitably leads to downfall.
💠 Summary
“Footprints Without Feet” by H.G. Wells tells the story of Griffin, a gifted scientist who discovers how to make himself invisible. Instead of using his invention responsibly, he becomes selfish and reckless. In London, he frightens people with his unseen presence, leaving only muddy footprints behind. Later, in the village of Iping, he continues his mischief, stealing money and creating fear. His actions arouse suspicion, and the villagers unite against him. Ultimately, his misuse of science leads to his ruin. The story conveys that unchecked ambition and immorality can destroy even the most brilliant individuals.
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
PASSAGE
PASSAGE
“It was two boys who were surprised and fascinated when they saw fresh muddy footprints appearing out of nowhere in the street of London. They followed them, astonished, until the footprints disappeared. What they could not know was that those footprints were of a brilliant scientist named Griffin, who had just discovered a way to become invisible.”
💠 (Short Answer – 30 words)
What surprised the two boys in the streets of London?
Answer: The two boys were surprised to see muddy footprints suddenly appear on the road with no person visible, which seemed strange and magical to them.
💠 (Multiple Choice)
Whose footprints were seen on the London street?
A. A magician’s
B. A policeman’s
C. Griffin’s
D. A traveller’s
Answer: C. Griffin’s
💠 (Fill in the blank)
The boys were both surprised and __ when they saw the footprints.
Answer: fascinated
💠 (Fill in the blank)
Griffin had discovered a way to make himself __.
Answer: invisible
💠 (Assertion and Reason)
Assertion (A): The boys could easily understand how the footprints were formed.
Reason (R): They knew Griffin was invisible.
A. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
B. Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
C. A is false, but R is true.
D. Both A and R are false.
Answer: D. Both A and R are false.
💠 (Short Answer – 30 words)
What does this passage reveal about Griffin’s discovery?
Answer: The passage shows Griffin’s scientific brilliance in discovering invisibility, but it also hints at the fear, confusion, and curiosity his power created among ordinary people.
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
OTHER QUESTIONS: –
🔴 Q1. Who is the author of Footprints Without Feet?
🔵 Answer: H.G. Wells.
🔴 Q2. Who was Griffin?
🔵 Answer: Griffin was a brilliant but lawless scientist who discovered a way to make himself invisible.
🔴 Q3. Where did Griffin first demonstrate his invisibility?
🔵 Answer: On the streets of London, where only his muddy footprints could be seen.
🔴 Q4. Where did Griffin go after escaping London?
🔵 Answer: He went to the village of Iping.
🔴 Q5. Why were the two boys in London astonished?
🔵 Answer: Because they saw fresh muddy footprints on the road without seeing any person making them.
🔴 Q6. How did Griffin misuse his scientific discovery?
🔵 Answer: Instead of using invisibility for good, he used it to steal money, clothes, and food.
🔴 Q7. Why did Griffin need to steal clothes in London?
🔵 Answer: Being invisible made him vulnerable to cold, so he had to steal clothes to protect himself.
🔴 Q8. How did Griffin behave at the inn in Iping?
🔵 Answer: He behaved strangely and secretly, continuing his experiments, which aroused the villagers’ suspicion.
🔴 Q9. What does Griffin’s character reveal about the dangers of unchecked ambition?
🔵 Answer: His selfish misuse of science shows that ambition without morality can lead to destruction and isolation.
🔴 Q10. Why is the story titled Footprints Without Feet?
🔵 Answer: Because Griffin’s invisibility left only footprints without a visible person, symbolising the mysterious and dangerous consequences of misusing science.
🔴 Q11. How did the villagers of Iping react to Griffin?
🔵 Answer: They were shocked and suspicious of his strange behaviour, and when his misdeeds were revealed, they tried to capture him.
🔴 Q12. Describe Griffin’s misuse of invisibility in London and Iping.
🔵 Answer: In London, Griffin terrified people by walking unseen and stole clothes and money. At Iping, he continued stealing, creating fear and suspicion, which eventually led to his downfall.
🔴 Q13. What message does H.G. Wells convey through Footprints Without Feet?
🔵 Answer: The story warns that science without ethical responsibility can become dangerous. It highlights themes of isolation, crime and punishment, and the destructive nature of selfish ambition.
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————