CBSE Class 10 · English · board exam 2027
Chapter 5: Footprints without Feet — notes
The chapter’s 7 parts in the book’s order — the first idea of each and the points Medha Ma’am writes on the board — and the summary at the end. The full lesson and a check question for each part are in the app.
1. The Mystery of the Footprints
Okay, so let's start with a strange little scene.
- • Two boys see fresh muddy footprints on steps in London.
- • No man is seen making the footprints.
- • Footprints go down the street, then fade and disappear.
- • Explanation: a scientist named Griffin had become invisible.
- • He is seen only because he steps in mud, leaving footprints.
2. Griffin Becomes Invisible and Why He Is Wandering
Okay, so let's talk about Griffin.
- • Griffin: brilliant scientist, but lawless.
- • Swallowed rare drugs → body became transparent as glass, still solid.
- • Landlord tried to eject him → Griffin set fire to the house.
- • Had to remove clothes to escape unseen.
- • Result: homeless, clothesless, moneyless, invisible wanderer.
- • Chose mid-winter → bitterly cold, needed clothes.
3. The Big London Store at Night
Okay, so it was mid-winter, bitterly cold.
- • Griffin hides in a big London store for warmth.
- • After closing time: dresses himself, eats cold meat, coffee, sweets, wine.
- • Sleeps on a pile of quilts.
- • Wakes late — assistants arriving next morning.
- • Panics, runs, assistants chase him.
- • Escapes by removing clothes → invisible and naked again in January.
4. The Theatrical Shop and the Disguise
Okay, so Griffin is shivering, cold, after running out of that store.
- • Griffin goes to a theatrical shop at Drury Lane.
- • Needs clothes AND something to hide his invisible head.
- • Comes out wearing: bandages, dark glasses, false nose, bushy side-whiskers, large hat.
- • Attacks shopkeeper from behind, robs his money.
- • Now disguised, he leaves for the village of Iping.
5. Griffin at the Inn in Iping
Okay, so Griffin wanted to get away from crowded London.
- • Griffin takes a train to village of Iping, books two rooms.
- • Tells Mrs Hall: wants solitude, accident affected his face.
- • Paid in advance → Mrs Hall excuses his strange ways.
- • Stolen money runs out; he pretends a cheque is coming.
- • Curious episode: clergyman's study robbed at night.
- • Clergyman shouts \"Surrender!\" but room looks empty.
6. The Haunted Furniture and Suspicion
Okay, so — let's look at the morning after the burglary at the clergyman's house.
- • Scientist's door found open — unusual, since always locked.
- • Bedclothes cold, his clothes lying about — he was up long before.
- • Hat leaps up, hits Mrs Hall in the face.
- • Chair comes alive, charges, pushes them out, locks door.
- • Mrs Hall thinks room is haunted; neighbours suspect witchcraft.
- • Scientist suspected in clergyman's burglary — he suddenly has cash.
7. Griffin Reveals Himself and Escapes
Okay, so let's see what happens next.
- • Mrs Hall questions scientist about chair and locked room.
- • Griffin, furious, throws off bandages, whiskers, glasses, nose.
- • People see a headless man.
- • Constable Jaffers arrives to arrest him, warrant or no head.
- • Griffin removes all clothes — becomes fully invisible.
- • Jaffers knocked unconscious; Griffin escapes, unseen by all.
Summary
Okay, so, let's look back at the whole story. It starts with two boys following strange footprints in London, footprints that seem to come from nowhere. That turns out to be an invisible scientist, Griffin — and we only know he's there because mud sticks to his feet. Griffin had made his body transparent using rare drugs. But he was lawless, and he set fire to his landlord's house. So he had to run away without any clothes, and he became a homeless, invisible wanderer in bitter winter. He hid in a big London store to get clothes and food. But the assistants found him, and he had to flee naked again. Then he disguised himself at a theatrical shop — bandages, glasses, a false nose, whiskers — and robbed the shopkeeper for money, before travelling to the village of Iping. At the inn, his strange behaviour, a mysterious burglary at the clergyman's house, and his furniture moving on its own, all made Mrs Hall and the villagers suspect witchcraft. Finally, when he was questioned, Griffin furiously revealed he had no head, and then he threw off all his remaining clothes to become fully invisible again. He knocked out the constable Jaffers and escaped into the crowd, unseen by anyone. So, tell me — why do you think the villagers got so frightened, even before they knew about the invisibility?
AskMedha · Medha Ma’am — CBSE Class 10 English, Chapter 5. Written from the textbook, checked twice.
Questions parents and students ask
- How do I get the "Footprints without Feet" notes as a PDF?
- Press "Save as PDF" — the phone’s print sheet opens; choose "Save as PDF" there. The PDF holds the notes only.
- Where are these notes written from?
- From the chapter’s own textbook text, part by part, in the book’s own terms; a second, independent model then checked every part against the book. The full lesson, a check question for each part and the practice are in the AskMedha app.
The same preparation, with Medha Ma’am — on your phone
Every question of every chapter with its model answer, practice questions in the board’s own shapes, 60 minutes of class a day, written answers marked, a test every Sunday and a WhatsApp report to parents.
Medha Ma’am is an AI teacher, not a live tutor. Every answer is checked twice; a person takes responsibility.