📖 Class 10 English – Footprints Without Feet – Footprints Without Feet
Original Visual Revision Notes Aligned with the Class 10 English syllabus. Independently created study material. Not affiliated with or endorsed by NCERT.

📌 Table of Contents 1. 📚 Classroom Notes 2. 🎨 Easy Illustrations 3. ✏️ Worked Examples 4. 📋 Cheat Sheet 5. 🏠 Take-Home Handout 6. 🃏 Revision Flashcards 7. 🧠 Mind Map

📝 Section 1 — Classroom Notes

✍ About the Author

👷 Main Characters

🏨 Griffin's Discovery

📺 Adventures in London

🎭 The Disguise

🏠 Life at Mrs Hall's Inn

🚨 The Flying Furniture

🚨 Griffin Revealed

💡 Theme and Moral

🎨 Section 2 — Easy Illustrations

How Griffin Became Invisible Experiments Many tests on human body Rare Drugs Swallowed special chemical mixture Transparent! Body like glass — invisible but solid Problem! Must remove all clothes too! Griffin made himself invisible — but was left naked and homeless in winter!

Griffin's discovery made him invisible but created a huge problem — he had no clothes and no shelter.

Griffin's Disguise at Drury Lane Large hat Head bandages Dark glasses Fake nose Bushy whiskers Griffin's disguise covered the empty space where his head should appear.

Griffin needed a disguise to appear as a bandaged, eccentric person — his real head was invisible.

Griffin's Crimes — A Growing List Arson Set landlord's house on fire Theft 1 Stole food and clothes from store Theft 2 Attacked shopkeeper; stole money Theft 3 Stole from clergyman's desk Escape Knocked out constable Griffin's misuse of his gift led to a downward spiral of crime.

Griffin's crimes grew worse over time — from fire-setting to assault and repeated theft.

The Flying Furniture Scene at the Inn Empty Bed HAT FLIES! Chair! Mrs Hall — terrified! Griffin was invisible — moving things!

The furniture moved on its own — actually Griffin (invisible) was throwing things to scare Mrs Hall.

✏️ Section 3 — Worked Examples

❓ Question 1 — Comprehension

Why were the footprints appearing from nowhere in London? Explain what was actually happening.
1 Think about what makes footprints appear.
2 Remember that Griffin had just walked through mud.
3 Explain why the person could not be seen despite leaving footprints.
✅ Answer: Griffin, the invisible scientist, had stepped into mud which stuck to his bare feet. When he walked up the steps of a house and then down the street, his muddy feet left clear impressions — footprints appearing from nowhere. Passers-by could see the prints but not the person making them, because Griffin's body was completely transparent. As the mud dried and fell off, the footprints gradually faded and disappeared.

❓ Question 2 — Character Analysis

Is Griffin a hero or a villain? Use examples from the story to support your answer.
1 Consider Griffin's scientific brilliance — is that admirable?
2 List his crimes and selfish actions.
3 Form a balanced opinion.
✅ Answer: Griffin is more of a villain than a hero, though he has brilliant scientific talent. On the negative side: he burned his landlord's house, stole from a department store, attacked and robbed a shopkeeper, stole from a clergyman, terrorised Mrs Hall, and knocked out a constable. These are serious crimes. His scientific gift was used purely for personal gain and revenge. He is described as "rather a lawless person" — his intelligence without morality makes him dangerous rather than heroic.

❓ Question 3 — Vocabulary

What does "eccentric" mean? Why did Mrs Hall accept Griffin's eccentric behaviour at first?
1 Find where the word "eccentric" is used in the story.
2 Think about what made Mrs Hall tolerant of strange behaviour.
3 Consider what she hoped to gain from keeping Griffin as a guest.
✅ Answer: "Eccentric" means behaving in strange or unusual ways. Mrs Hall accepted Griffin's eccentric habits — keeping his bandaged face, not wanting to be disturbed, his irritable temper — because he paid her in advance. For an innkeeper, having a paying guest in winter (a quiet season) was important. She was willing to overlook the strange behaviour as long as she was getting money. She told herself he was just an eccentric scientist who valued his privacy.

❓ Question 4 — Theme

The story suggests that Griffin's great discovery brought him misery rather than happiness. Why?
1 Think about what life was like for Griffin after he became invisible.
2 Consider what he had to give up to remain invisible.
3 Reflect on whether his discovery benefited science or humanity.
✅ Answer: Griffin's discovery made his life worse in every way. He had no clothes, no shelter, no money, and had to hide his identity. He could not live normally — eat at a restaurant, sleep in a bed, or talk to anyone. He became bitter, aggressive, and criminal. His brilliant discovery was used only for personal survival and petty revenge. He never used it to help humanity or advance science. The story suggests that brilliance without wisdom leads to destruction — of others and of oneself.

📋 Section 4 — Cheat Sheet

Key vocabulary from "Footprints Without Feet" with simple meanings.

WordSimple Meaning
TransparentSee-through; light passes through it completely
BewilderedVery confused and unable to understand what is happening
EccentricStrange and unusual in behaviour; unconventional
SolitudeThe state of being alone, away from other people
ClergymanA minister or priest of a Christian church
ConstableA police officer of the lowest rank
TheatricalRelated to the theatre or drama; here: a costume shop
CallouslyIn a cold, cruel way with no regard for others' feelings
HystericsExtreme uncontrollable fear or laughter
ConvalescingRecovering from illness gradually
Magistrate's warrantAn official order from a judge to arrest someone
GarmentA piece of clothing
WitchcraftThe practice of magic or supernatural powers
ImprintsMarks or impressions left by pressing on a surface

📄 Section 5 — Take-Home Handout

📝 Part A — Fill in the Blanks

  1. Griffin's discovery made his body as __________ as a sheet of glass.
  2. His landlord tried to __________ him, so Griffin set the house on fire.
  3. At the department store, Griffin slept on a pile of __________ and overslept.
  4. Griffin arrived at the village of __________ and rented two rooms at the local inn.
  5. The constable __________ was knocked unconscious when he tried to arrest Griffin.

📝 Part B — True or False

  1. The two London boys could see Griffin walking but not his footprints. (True / False)
  2. Griffin stole clothes from a theatrical costumier's shop in Drury Lane. (True / False)
  3. Mrs Hall welcomed Griffin warmly and never asked any questions. (True / False)
  4. The clergyman caught Griffin stealing from his desk. (True / False)
  5. Griffin escaped by removing all his clothes, becoming invisible again. (True / False)

📝 Part C — Match the Columns

Column AColumn B
1. Griffina. Tried to arrest the headless man
2. Mrs Hallb. Scientist who made himself invisible
3. Mr Jaffersc. Landlady of the Iping inn
4. Two London boysd. Stole money while asleep; empty room found
5. The clergymane. First noticed the mysterious footprints

📝 Part D — Short Answer Questions

  1. What unusual problem did Griffin face during the cold January weather?
  2. Why did the villagers suspect that Griffin had broken into the clergyman's house?
  3. How did Griffin cause the furniture to move in Mrs Hall's inn?

📝 Part E — Think and Write

  1. If you became invisible for one day, what would you do — and what problems might you face?
  2. Griffin was a brilliant scientist but used his discovery for crime. What does this tell us about the importance of moral values in science?

✅ Detailed Answers

Part A: 1. transparent   2. eject   3. quilts   4. Iping   5. Jaffers
Part B: 1. False (they saw footprints not him)   2. True   3. False (she was friendly but he wanted no questions)   4. False (the study appeared empty)   5. True
Part C: 1–b   2–c   3–a   4–e   5–d
Part D:
1. Griffin could not wear clothes without becoming visible, but the January cold was unbearable. He needed to find clothing and shelter urgently, which led to breaking into the London store.
2. Suspicion grew when Griffin suddenly had money after saying he had none. Since money had been stolen from the clergyman, the connection seemed obvious to the villagers.
3. Griffin was invisible in the room — he physically moved and threw the hat and chair using his invisible hands. The furniture did not move on its own; Griffin made it happen.
Part E Sample Answers:
1. I might observe things secretly for safety — like checking if a house is safe. But problems would include: needing clothes to stay warm, being unable to eat in a restaurant, feeling lonely and isolated.
2. Scientific ability alone is not enough. Without honesty, responsibility, and care for others, science becomes a weapon. Griffin's story shows that great power needs great moral responsibility.

🃏 Section 6 — Revision Flashcards

Who wrote the story "Footprints Without Feet"?
H.G. Wells — British science fiction writer
How did Griffin become invisible?
He swallowed rare drugs that made his body transparent like glass
Why did footprints appear from nowhere in London?
Griffin had stepped in mud — his invisible feet left muddy impressions
What disguise did Griffin wear?
Bandages, dark glasses, fake nose, bushy whiskers, and a large hat
Who was Mrs Hall?
The landlady of the inn at Iping village where Griffin stayed
Why did the flying furniture happen?
Griffin (invisible) was in the room and physically moved the objects
What is the description of Griffin as a person?
"Brilliant scientist though he was, Griffin was rather a lawless person"
What is the main theme?
Science without morality leads to crime and misery — great power needs great responsibility

🧠 Section 7 — Mind Map

Characters Griffin, Mrs Hall Jaffers, clergyman The Discovery Rare drugs make body transparent like glass Disguise Bandages, glasses fake nose + hat Griffin Escapes Removes clothes — goes invisible; knocks out Jaffers Theme Science needs morality Iping Inn Mrs Hall's inn — flying furniture scene Setting London streets + Iping village Crimes Arson, theft, assault — growing worse Footprints Without Feet Lesson 5

Mind map showing the key ideas in "Footprints Without Feet".