Chapter 5: Footprints without Feet

Important questions — the ones the board asked most (12)

1. Q1Long answer6 marksAsked: 2025

   Answer ANY ONE of the following two questions, in about 100-120 words : I. Griffin was a lawless person even though he was a brilliant scientist. Discuss. (Footprints without Feet) II. “The Book that saved the Earth” communicates the idea that misinterpretation of cultural disparities among different groups can lead to misunderstandings and disputes. From the play, discuss methods to prevent such confusion and conflicts, ensuring the preservation of peace and harmony. (The Book that saved the Earth)

   

   Medha Ma’am

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   Model answer · Griffin's lawless character

   1. 1.(I) Griffin was a brilliant scientist. After many experiments, he discovered how to make the human body invisible by swallowing certain rare drugs. OR (II) In the play, the Martians knew nothing about Earth's culture. Think-Tank took books to be sandwiches and read the Mother Goose rhymes as a threat, and the Martians almost invaded the Earth.1.5 marks
   2. 2.(I) Yet he was a lawless person. When his landlord tried to throw him out, he set fire to the house in revenge. In a big London store he stole warm clothes and ate food without paying. OR (II) Such confusion can be prevented if we try to understand another culture in its own context and check the facts before drawing conclusions.1.5 marks
   3. 3.(I) He hit a shopkeeper from behind and robbed him of his money. At Iping he stole money from the clergyman's desk and attacked Constable Jaffers. He misused his discovery for selfish ends. OR (II) We must give up arrogance like Think-Tank's. We should listen to others with an open mind and keep communication open and respectful.1.5 marks
   4. 4.(I) Thus Griffin's brilliance, without respect for the law or for others, made him a danger to society. OR (II) Respect for diversity, tolerance and honest dialogue remove misunderstandings and preserve peace and harmony between different groups.1.5 marks

   Marks split as in the board’s published marking scheme

2. Q2Long answer6 marksAsked: 2025

   11. Answer ANY ONE of the following two questions in about 100-120 words : I. Discuss Griffin as a brilliant scientist who degenerates into a lawless and homeless wanderer? (Footprints without Feet) II. How does Valli’s journey to the city serve as her initiation into understanding the profound mysteries of life and death, and how does her inquisitive nature shape her perceptions as she encounters these aspects of human existence? (Madam Rides the Bus)

   

   Medha Ma’am

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   Model answer · Griffin's character sketch

   1. 1.Griffin is a brilliant scientist who misuses his own discovery and becomes a lawless, homeless wanderer. His brilliance shows in his invention. He carried out experiment after experiment to prove that the human body could become invisible. In the end he swallowed certain rare drugs, and his body became as transparent as a sheet of glass. This shows real passion and commitment to science, and he even wanted solitude so that nobody would disturb his work. Yet he does not use this great invention for any good purpose. He abuses it to escape punishment and to satisfy his own needs. When his landlord disliked him and tried to throw him out, Griffin set fire to the house in revenge. He then became a homeless wanderer, without clothes, without money and quite invisible. His behaviour grows more reckless after this. He broke into a big London store and helped himself to clothes and food. At a theatrical shop in Drury Lane, he callously attacked the shopkeeper from behind and robbed him of all his money. At Iping, he pretended that a cheque was on its way, and he stole money from the clergyman's desk. When Constable Jaffers came to arrest him, he became furious and knocked Jaffers unconscious. So Griffin's genius, without any moral sense, turns him into a dangerous criminal.6 marks

   • Write about both sides of Griffin: first his invention of the invisibility potion and his commitment to science, then how he abuses that invention.
   • Give at least three lawless acts, for example setting fire to his landlord's house, robbing the shopkeeper and stealing from the clergyman's desk.

   Marks split as in the board’s published marking scheme

3. Q3Long answer6 marksAsked: 2024

   Answer any one of the following two questions, in 100-120 words : (a) Imagine that Griffin’s conscience pricks him and he decides to write a diary entry, about misusing science and endangering society, in the context of his own experience. Write this diary entry, as Griffin, in about 120 words. (Reference – Footprints without Feet by H.G. Wells) OR (b) A character arc is the transformation or development of a character throughout a story and refers to the changes a character undergoes as a result of their experiences, challenges, and interactions with other characters. In the light of the above information, trace the character arc of Matilda in Guy De Maupassants’ ‘The Necklace’, in about 120 words.

   

   Medha Ma’am

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   Hear it from Medha Ma’am · 120 s

   Model answer · Griffin's diary entry, misuse of science

   Date: ............ Time: ............ Dear Diary, Tonight my conscience will not let me sleep. I made a brilliant discovery: rare drugs that can make the human body invisible. I could have used it to serve mankind. Instead, I used it for revenge and crime. I set fire to my landlord's house, stole clothes and food from a big London store and robbed a shopkeeper after hitting him from behind. At Iping I frightened Mrs. Hall, stole the clergyman's money and attacked Constable Jaffers. Now I am a hunted man, alone and miserable. I have learnt that science without morality is a curse. A scientist must use his knowledge to make life better, not to endanger society. I wish I could undo my wrongs. Griffin

   Marks split from a structure derived from past papers (checked twice); not CBSE’s official scheme

4. Q4Short answer6 marksAsked: 2026

   Answer ANY TWO of the following three questions, in about 40-50 words each : 2x3 = 6 I. Describe the extraordinary behaviour of the furniture when the Halls entered the stranger’s room. (Footprints Without Feet) II. How does the statement “society must be protected from men like you” prove to be ironical in the story “A Question of Trust” ? III. “The Midnight Visitor” illustrates that “Stereotypes are often misleading”. Justify.

   How the model answer begins

   1. I. When the Halls entered the stranger's empty room early one morning, the furniture behaved as if it were alive. First, the bedclothes gathered themselves together and leapt over the bed-rail.

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5. Q5Long answer6 marksAsked: 2025

   Answer ANY ONE of the following two questions, in about 100-120 words : I. Evaluate Griffin’s character as a brilliant scientist and a lawless person. (Footprints without Feet) II. Half-baked knowledge is always dangerous. Rushing to conclusions without going deep into the details of things always leads to uninvited chaos and disasters. Explain the above mentioned statements in the light of Think-Tank’s interpretation of the rhymes in the book ‘Mother Goose’. (The Book that saved the Earth)

   How the model answer begins

   1. Griffin was a brilliant scientist but a lawless person. As a scientist, he carried out experiment after experiment to prove that the human body could become invisible. In the end he swallowed certain rare drugs, and his…

   The full answer from Medha Ma’am →
6. Q6Short answer6 marksAsked: 2024

   Answer ANY TWO of the following three questions in 40-50 words each : (i) Scientists contribute to make the world a better place. Griffin is an antithesis to this statement. Justify. (Footprints Without Feet) (ii) Why did Bholi's teacher feel like an artist admiring her masterpiece? (Bholi) (iii) What is the twist at the end of the story ‘The Necklace’? (The Necklace)

   How the model answer begins

   1. (i) Scientists use their knowledge to make life better for people. Griffin, a brilliant scientist, used his discovery of invisibility only for himself. He set fire to his landlord's house, robbed shops and attacked…

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7. Q7Long answer6 marksAsked: 2024

   Answer any one of the following two questions, in 100-120 words : (a) Imagine that Griffin's conscience pricks him and he decides to write a diary entry, about misusing science and endangering society, in the context of his own experience. Write this diary entry, as Griffin, in about 120 words. (Reference - Footprints without Feet by H.G. Wells) OR (b) A character arc is the transformation or development of a character throughout a story and refers to the changes a character undergoes as a result of their experiences, challenges, and interactions with other characters. In the light of the above information, trace the character arc of Matilda in Guy De Maupassants' 'The Necklace', in about 120 words.

   How the model answer begins

   1. (a) The piece earns this with 'Date', 'Time', 'Dear Diary', the first-person reflective tone and the name 'Griffin' at the end. OR (b) At the beginning Matilda is a pretty, charming girl married to a petty clerk. She is…

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8. Q8Long answer6 marksAsked: 2024

   Answer any ONE of the following two questions in 100-120 words. (a) Griffin's brilliance as a man of science fades before his darker traits. Give reasons from the text to support your answer. (Footprints Without Feet) OR (b) Hari Singh says - "He knew it but neither his lips nor his eyes showed anything." Anil successfully addressed the situation by not addressing it all. Elaborate based on your reading of 'The Thief's Story'.

   How the model answer begins

   1. (a) Griffin's brilliance as a man of science does fade before his darker traits. He was a brilliant scientist. After experiment after experiment, he swallowed certain rare drugs and made his body as transparent as a…

   The full answer from Medha Ma’am →
9. Q9Short answer5 marksAsked: 2023

   Attempt any one of the given extracts : (a) Let me put this more clearly, since no one will believe that a thirteen-year old girl is completely alone in this world. And I'm not. I have loving parents and a sixteen years old sister, and there are almost thirty people I can call friends. I have a family, loving aunts and a good house. No, on the surface I seem to have everything, except my one true friend. All I think about when I am with friends is having a good time. I can't bring myself to talk about anything, but ordinary everyday things. (i) On the surface, it appears that Anne the thirteen year old girl _____. (ii) How can we infer that the speaker felt alone in the world ? (a) She had a family of many people. (b) She had loving parents. (c) She had thirty friends. (d) She craves for a true friend. (iii) Anne and her friends talked about _____. (a) their problematic parents (b) their financial problems (c) common everyday things (d) the commuting problems (iv) Complete the analogy by selecting the suitable word from the text : alone : friends : : nothing : _____ (v) Select the option that correctly captures the usage of the idiom 'bring myself' from the extract : (a) to do something willingly (b) to do something unwillingly (c) a charitable act (d) an involuntary act

   How the model answer begins

   1. On the surface, it appears that Anne has everything: loving parents, a sister, friends, aunts and a good house, except one true friend.

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10. Q10Short answer5 marksAsked: 2023

    (b) Mrs. Hall almost fell down the stairs in hysterics. She was convinced that the room was haunted by spirits and that the stranger had somehow caused these to enter into her furniture. (i) Mrs. Hall tripped because ______ (a) the floor was oily. (b) she was standing on a chair. (c) she was in a state of panic. (d) the door was slammed. (ii) Mrs. Hall suspected everything in the room was put under a spell of witchcraft by ______. (iii) Fill in the blank with one word only : Mrs. Hall was afraid that spirits had entered her _______. (iv) According to the extract, the feeling of Mrs. Hall can be best described as (1) stunned (2) happy (3) awestruck (4) nervous (5) outraged (6) agitated Select the correct option : (a) (2) and (4) (b) (3) and (6) (c) (5) and (6) (d) (1) and (6) (v) 'Spirits' in the above lines means the same as (a) ghosts (b) conscience (c) ego (d) attitude

    How the model answer begins

    1. (c) she was in a state of panic.

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11. Q11Short answer3 marksAsked: 2026

    Why does Griffin, despite his scientific genius, end up leading a destructive life ? (Footprints Without Feet)

    How the model answer begins

    1. Griffin ends up leading a destructive life because he was a brilliant scientist but "rather a lawless person". He misused his invisibility for crime and revenge instead of using it for any good purpose. When his…

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12. Q12Short answer3 marksAsked: 2025

    Discuss the character development of Griffin, as he grapples with the repercussions of his actions and attempts to navigate a world, where his once extraordinary abilities have become a burden. (Footprints without Feet)

    How the model answer begins

    1. Griffin's character changes a lot. At first he is a brilliant scientist who makes himself invisible and wants power over others, but he is also "rather a lawless person". When his landlord tries to throw him out, he…

    The full answer from Medha Ma’am →

Questions parents and students ask

How many marks does "Footprints without Feet" carry in CBSE Class 10 English?

In the CBSE papers of 2023–2026, this chapter carried about 2 marks and about 0 questions a year; by marks it ranks 12 in English.

Which are the most important (VVI) questions of "Footprints without Feet"?

The 12 questions above are from the board’s real papers, each with the years it was asked; the most-asked come first with their full model answers. All 12 written questions of this chapter, with answers, are in the AskMedha app.

Do the answers follow the board’s marking scheme?

Yes. CBSE publishes its marking schemes; every model answer here is written point by point to the marks the board’s own scheme gives, and checked by a second, independent model.