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Footprints without Feet: Questions and Answers

'Footprints without Feet' is a fascinating sci-fi chapter from the CBSE Class 10 English Supplementary Reader. Written by H.G. Wells, the story revolves around a brilliant but deeply flawed scientist named Griffin who discovers the secret to making the human body completely invisible.

Question (Click to Flip)

How did the invisible man first become visible?

Answer

He first became visible after he slipped into a big London store for warmth. He broke open boxes, dressed himself in a fully visible overcoat, a wide-brimmed hat, and shoes, which gave his invisible body a visible physical outline.

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Key Facts

Author: H.G. Wells (From his famous novel 'The Invisible Man').

Main Character: Griffin (A brilliant but evil scientist).

The Discovery: A rare drug that turns the human body completely transparent.

Key Locations: The streets of London, a big London store, Drury Lane, and the village of Iping.

Moral Theme: Intelligence without morality leads to absolute disaster.

Chapter Summary

Griffin was a brilliant scientist who swallowed a rare drug that made his body as transparent as a sheet of glass. However, instead of using his incredible discovery for the good of humanity, he used it to commit crimes. He burned down his landlord's house in revenge, stole warm clothes and food from a big London store to survive the freezing winter, and robbed a theatrical company. He eventually escaped to the quiet village of Iping, where he robbed a clergyman's desk and terrorized the village landlord, Mrs. Hall. In the end, he knocked out the village constable, Jaffers, and escaped completely unseen.

Character Sketch: Griffin

While Griffin was undoubtedly an intellectual genius, he was not a true scientist at heart; he was a lawless person. He was short-tempered, deeply selfish, and highly destructive. He possessed absolutely no moral compass. He never hesitated to harm innocent people or steal money to satisfy his own needs. His character proves that brilliant science, when placed in the hands of an evil mind, becomes a massive threat to society.

Questions and Answers

How did the invisible man first become visible?+

He first became visible after he slipped into a big London store for warmth. He broke open boxes, dressed himself in a fully visible overcoat, a wide-brimmed hat, and shoes, which gave his invisible body a visible physical outline.

Why was Griffin wandering the streets of London?+

He was wandering the freezing streets because he had set fire to his landlord's house in revenge. To escape without being seen, he had to take off all his clothes, becoming a homeless, invisible wanderer without money.

Why did Mrs. Hall find the scientist eccentric?+

Mrs. Hall found him eccentric because he arrived in the freezing winter, kept his face completely bandaged at all times, refused to talk to anyone, and aggressively demanded total isolation.

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