Footprints Ch 5: Footprints without Feet (H. G. Wells)

English (Footprints Without Feet) · CBSE Class 10 · Supplementary Reader · H. G. Wells · 25 Quiz

Footprints without Feet — Summary, Author, Theme & Glossary

About the Author

H. G. Wells (1866–1946) was a famous English writer, often called the ‘father of science fiction’, author of classics like The Invisible Man, The Time Machine and The War of the Worlds. This story is adapted from his novel The Invisible Man.

Theme

The story warns that science and great gifts, when misused by a lawless mind, become dangerous. Griffin’s brilliant discovery of invisibility is put to selfish, criminal and destructive use rather than for the good of humanity.

Summary

Two boys in London are amazed to see fresh muddy footprints appearing from nowhere on the steps of a house. These belong to Griffin, a brilliant but lawless scientist who has discovered how to make the human body invisible by swallowing rare drugs. He had quarrelled with his landlord, set fire to the house in revenge, and removed his clothes to escape unseen — becoming a homeless, invisible wanderer who is tracked only because he stepped in mud.

In the bitter midwinter cold, Griffin slips into a big London store, where he clothes and feeds himself after closing time. But he oversleeps, is chased by the assistants, and escapes only by shedding his clothes to become invisible again. He next raids a theatrical company’s shop in Drury Lane, where he disguises himself with bandages, dark glasses, a false nose and whiskers, then attacks and robs the shopkeeper.

He travels to the village of Iping and takes rooms at an inn run by Mrs Hall, who finds the bandaged stranger eccentric but excuses him because he pays in advance. When his stolen money runs out, a clergyman’s house is robbed — the money vanishes from a desk in an apparently empty room. Soon Mrs Hall’s furniture seems to come alive — the hat leaps up and the chair charges and pushes the couple out — and she thinks the room is haunted. Suspected of the burglary, Griffin loses his temper and throws off his bandages and disguise, revealing a headless man! When Constable Jaffers tries to arrest him, Griffin sheds all his clothes, becomes fully invisible, knocks Jaffers unconscious, and escapes — leaving everyone helpless, for no one could lay hands on an unseen man.

Glossary

transparent = able to be seen through; eject = throw out; eccentric = odd, unusual in behaviour; solitude = being alone; chink = a light, sharp sound (of coins); poker = an iron rod for stirring a fire; hysterics = uncontrollable emotion; witchcraft = magic/sorcery; constable = a police officer; warrant = a legal order for arrest; callously = cruelly, without feeling.

NCERT Textbook Solutions (Footprints without Feet)

RF1-1Read and Find Out: How did the invisible man first become visible?

The invisible man first became traceable when he stepped in some mud and left muddy footprints as he walked. The two boys in London saw these ‘footprints without feet’ appearing from nowhere and followed them.

RF1-2Why was he wandering the streets?

Griffin was wandering the streets because he had become a homeless wanderer — without clothes, without money and quite invisible. He had quarrelled with his landlord, set fire to the house in revenge, and had to remove his clothes to escape unseen.

RF2-1Read and Find Out: Why does Mrs Hall find the scientist eccentric?

Mrs Hall finds him eccentric because of his uncommon appearance (bandages, dark glasses, false nose and whiskers), his desire for solitude, his unwillingness to talk, and his strange habits and irritable, quick temper. He told her an ‘accident’ had affected his face.

RF2-2What curious episode occurs in the study?

Early one morning, a clergyman and his wife heard money being taken from the desk in the study. When the clergyman flung open the door and shouted ‘Surrender!’, the room appeared completely empty — yet the desk had been opened and the housekeeping money was gone. (The invisible Griffin had stolen it.)

RF2-3What other extraordinary things happen at the inn?

Mrs Hall’s furniture seemed to come alive — the hat on the bedpost leapt up and hit her face, and the chair sprang into the air, charged at the couple and pushed them out of the room before the door slammed and locked. She thought the room was haunted. Later, suspected of the burglary, Griffin angrily threw off his bandages and disguise, revealing a headless man. When Constable Jaffers tried to arrest him, Griffin shed all his clothes to become fully invisible, knocked Jaffers unconscious, and escaped.

TI-1Think about it: ‘Griffin was rather a lawless person.’ Comment.

Yes, Griffin was indeed lawless and anti-social. He set fire to his landlord’s house in revenge; stole money from a London store, a theatrical shop, and a clergyman’s desk; attacked the shopkeeper from behind and robbed him; and assaulted and knocked out Constable Jaffers. Instead of using his remarkable discovery for the good of mankind, he misused it for theft, arson and violence — showing complete disregard for law and morality.

TI-2How would you assess Griffin as a scientist?

As a scientist, Griffin was brilliant and gifted — through years of patient experiments he achieved the extraordinary feat of making the human body invisible, something no one had done before. However, he was a misguided genius: he used his great discovery not to benefit humanity but for selfish, criminal and destructive ends. Thus, though a talented scientist, he was a failure as a human being, lacking all moral responsibility.

TA-1Talk about it: Would you like to become invisible? What advantages and disadvantages do you foresee?

(Sample) Invisibility sounds exciting but is a double-edged gift. Advantages: one could move about unseen, observe things secretly, play harmless pranks, or avoid danger. Disadvantages: like Griffin, one would be cold, lonely and unable to live a normal life — unseen, friendless and tempted to misuse the power for wrongdoing. On balance, the harm and isolation outweigh the fun; it is better to remain a normal, visible human being.

TA-2Are there invisible forces or ‘invisible’ aspects of matter around us?

(Sample) Yes, many forces around us are invisible — gravity, magnetism, electricity, air (wind), sound waves, radio waves and X-rays. Tiny aspects of matter such as atoms, molecules, germs and viruses cannot be seen with the naked eye. If we could suddenly see all these forces and particles, the world would look utterly strange, crowded and amazing — though perhaps also confusing.

Extra Practice — Difficult / HOTS & Value-Based Questions

Long-answer, analytical, character and value-based questions in CBSE exam style.

1How did Griffin misuse his scientific discovery of invisibility? (HOTS)

Griffin used his great discovery entirely for selfish and criminal purposes. He burnt down his landlord’s house, stole clothes, food, wine and money from a London store, robbed and attacked a theatrical shopkeeper, burgled a clergyman’s desk at Iping, frightened Mrs Hall with ‘living’ furniture, and assaulted Constable Jaffers before escaping. Not once did he use invisibility to help anyone. His misuse shows that scientific genius without moral responsibility is a danger to society.

2‘Scientific knowledge in the wrong hands can be dangerous.’ Discuss with reference to the story. (HOTS)

Griffin’s story is a powerful illustration of this truth. His discovery of invisibility was a remarkable scientific achievement, but in his lawless and selfish hands it became a tool for arson, theft and violence rather than progress. The same power that could have benefited mankind made him a menace. The story warns that scientific knowledge must be guided by ethics, responsibility and concern for others; otherwise it can bring harm instead of good.

3Draw a character sketch of Griffin. (character)

Griffin is a brilliant but deeply flawed character. He is a gifted, determined scientist whose experiments make him invisible. But he is also lawless, selfish, short-tempered, cruel and revengeful — setting fire to a house, stealing, and attacking people without remorse. Isolated and homeless, he lets his genius serve only his own ends. He is a classic example of a talented mind ruined by a lack of morality.

4Why is the story titled ‘Footprints without Feet’? (appreciation)

The title refers to the mysterious muddy footprints that appear ‘from nowhere’ on the London steps — footprints with no visible feet making them. These are the marks of the invisible Griffin, who is tracked only because he stepped in mud. The title is striking and mysterious, instantly arousing curiosity, and perfectly captures the central idea of an unseen man leaving visible traces.

5What lesson does the story teach us about science and responsibility? (value-based)

The story teaches that great knowledge and power carry great responsibility. Science should be used for the welfare of humanity, not for personal gain or revenge. A gifted mind without honesty, self-control and compassion — like Griffin’s — can become destructive. The real value lies in using one’s talents wisely and ethically for the good of all.