FOOTPRINTS WITHOUT FEET

FOOTPRINTS WITHOUT FEET
by
H.G. Wells

Q.1. How did Griffin become invisible?

Ans. Griffin was a scientist. He discovered a rare drug. This could make an unclothed person invisible. He swallowed this drug and took off his clothes. And he became invisible.

Q. 2 How did the invisible man first become visible? 
                                  or

 What did Griffin do in the shop of a theatrical company? 

Ans. The invisible man entered the shop of a theatrical company. There he found dark glasses, a false nose and a large hat. He also found things to hide his empty face. He wore these things and became fully visible. Then he hit the shopkeeper and ran with the money.

Q. 3. Why was Griffin wandering the streets?

Ans. Griffin had set fire to his landlord's house. He had to remove his clothes so that he could not be seen by people as well as the police. Thus he became homeless and started wandering the streets.

Q. 4. Why does Mrs. Hall find the scientist eccentric?
                                           or
The landlord's wife was convinced that Griffin was an eccentric scientist. What made her think of Griffin in these terms? 

Ans. The scientist has come to Iping in winter. Nobody comes there at that time of the year. Moreover his appearance and habits are very strange. He always wears bandages on his forehead and never talks to anyone. All these things makes Mrs. Hall think him to be an eccentric scientist.

Q. 5. What curious episode occurs in the study?

Ans. One day, early in the morning, the clergyman and his wife hear noises in their study. They goes downstairs. They hear the chink of money. They open the door. But they find nobody there. However the money is missing. Thus it is a very curious thing.

Q. 6. What other extraordinary things happen at the inn? 
                                   or

Three extraordinary things happened in the room where the scientist was staying. What were those? 

Ans. When Mrs. Hall enters the room, she can see no one there. Yet she hears a sniff close to her car. Then strangely a hat leaps up and dashes into her face. After that a chair rises up in the air. It pushes both Mrs. Hall and her husband out of the room.

Q. 7. 'Griffin was rather a lawless person.' Comment.

Ans. Griffin was a lawless person in many ways. First, he set the house of his landlord on fire. Then he stole things from shops. He also hit the shopkeeper and stole his money. He stole the clergyman's money. He hit the constable also. All these things showed that he was completely a lawless person.

Q. 8. How would you assess Griffin as a scientist?

Ans. No doubt, as a scientist, Griffin was successful. But he was not a true scientist. A true scientist does not misuse his knowledge. A true scientist always uses his knowledge for the benefit of the humanity. But Griffin misused his discovery at every step. 

OTHER SHORT-ANSWER QUESTIONS

Q. 1. Why were the two boys in London surprised and fascinated?

Ans. The two boys saw muddy imprints of a bare-footed man. But they could see no man there. The footprints moved on. But soon the footprints became fainter and then disappeared completely. All this surprised and fascinated the boys.

Q. 2. Why did the scientist slip into a big London store?

Ans. After setting fire to his landlord’s house, Griffin took a drug and became invisible. But he had to remove his clothes. It was mid-winter. The air was bitterly cold. And Griffin was without clothes. He couldn't bear to wander in the open. So in order to save himself from the cold, he slipped into a store.

Q. 3. What did Griffin do inside the big London store?

Ans. It was very cold and Griffin was without clothes. In order to save himself from the cold, he slipped into a store. He broke open some boxes and found warm clothes to wear. He ate meat and drank coffee. He had sweets and wine also. Then he lay down on a pile of quilts to sleep.

Q. 4. How did Griffin enjoy himself at the big London store?

Ans. It was very cold and Griffin was without clothes. He broke open some boxes and found warm clothes for himself. He went into the kitchen. There he ate meat and drank coffee. He had sweets and wine also. Then he lay down to sleep on a pile of quilts. Thus Griffin enjoyed himself in the store.

Q.5 What happened when Griffin didn't wake up in time?

Ans. Griffin entered a big London store. After enjoying some eatables he lay down on a pile of quilts. But the nest morning, he did not get up in time. The assistants saw Griffin lying on the pile of quilts. Two of them came towards Griffin. Just then, Griffin woke up. He at once got up and ran out of the store.

Q. 6, How did Griffin escape from the London store?

Ans. Griffin ran out of the store. Men in the shop chased him. Just then Griffin started taking off his clothes. He became invisible. Now he could not be caught. Thus he was able to escape.

Q.7. Why were the landlord and his wife surprised to see the scientist's door wide open?

Ans. The scientist always kept his door closed. He kept it locked. He got angry if anyone entered his room. But one morning, the landlord and his wife found the door wide open. It was a very unusual thing. So they were surprised.

Q. 8  Mrs. Hall almost fell down the stairs in hysterics. Pick out one example of humour from what follows the incident of the chair.

Ans. Mrs. Hall was in Griffin's room. A chair leapt up and dashed into her face. Mrs. Hall thought her mother's spirit had entered the chair. But we know it was Griffin who was doing all that.

Q. 9. What did the scientist do when he was furious? Why were the people in the bar horrified?

Ans. The scientist threw off his bandages. He removed his whiskers, glasses and the false nose. Now he looked a headless person. When the people in the bar saw him, they were horrified.

Q. 10. What happened to the constable?

Ans. The constable tried to catch the scientist. The scientist took off his clothes one by one. He became invisible. He began to hit the constable. But the constable could not see the blows. He fell down unconscious.

Q. 11. What reasons does Griffin give to Mrs. Hall for coming to Iping?

Ans. Griffin says that he has come there to work in solitude. He does not want to be disturbed in his work. Besides, an accident has disfigured his face. And he has to keep it covered.

LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTION

Q. Write a summary of the story ‘ Footprints Without Feet’.

Ans. ‘Footprints Without Feet’ by H.G. Wells is a story about a scientist named Griffin who discovered a rare drug. This could make a human body invisible. His landlord did not like him. He decided to take revenge on him. One day he set his landlord's house on fire. Then he drank his rare drug and removed off his clothes. Now, he could see everyone but none could see mm. He was safe from being caught. But he was without clothes and it was very cold. He passed the night in a London store. He stole goods and money from the store. Then he went to a village called Iping. He stayed at an inn. He stole the landlord's money. A policeman named Jaffers was called to arrest him. A strange fight took place. Griffin took off his bandages, his glasses and his hat. Now, he looked headless. People were horrified. Griffin hit the policeman. He got free and ran away.