NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English (Footprints Without Feet) Chapter 5: Footprints without Feet

Complete NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English (Footprints Without Feet) Chapter 5 – “Footprints without Feet” by H.G. Wells: an original summary, theme and message, word meanings, and every textbook exercise (Read and Find Out, Think about it and Talk about it) answered in full, plus extra questions, MCQs and Assertion–Reason practice. Questions are reproduced exactly as in the NCERT book; all answers are written in exam-ready style.

Class: 10 Subject: English Book: Footprints Without Feet Type: Prose (Chapter 5) Author: H.G. Wells Session: 2026–27
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About the author

Herbert George Wells (1866–1946), popularly known as H.G. Wells, was an English writer often called the “Father of Science Fiction”. Trained in science, he combined imagination with scientific ideas to write classics such as The Time Machine, The War of the Worlds and The Invisible Man, from which this story is adapted. His stories often explore how human beings – and especially gifted scientists – may misuse knowledge and power. “Footprints without Feet” reflects his lifelong interest in the moral responsibility that should accompany scientific discovery.

Summary

Two boys in London are startled to see fresh, muddy footprints of bare feet appearing from nowhere and walking down the steps of a house. They follow the prints, fascinated, until the marks fade away. The footprints belong to Griffin, a brilliant but lawless scientist who has discovered how to make the human body transparent. After swallowing rare drugs, his body became as invisible as glass, though still solid.

Griffin was a tenant whom his landlord disliked and tried to evict. In revenge, Griffin set the house on fire and, to escape unseen, removed his clothes. Thus he became a homeless, invisible wanderer in the bitter cold of mid-winter. To keep warm, he slipped into a large London store, broke open boxes, dressed himself, ate and slept. Overslept, he was spotted by the staff next morning and had to flee, again shedding his clothes to vanish.

He then raided a theatrical company in Drury Lane, fitting himself with bandages, dark glasses, a false nose and a big hat, and robbed the shopkeeper. Seeking solitude, he travelled to the village of Iping and took rooms at an inn run by Mrs Hall. His strange appearance and irritable temper made the villagers suspicious. When his money ran out, a burglary occurred at the local clergyman’s house, and Mrs Hall later saw furniture moving on its own in his empty room. Confronted, Griffin furiously threw off his disguise to reveal a headless body. Constable Jaffers tried to arrest him, but Griffin shed all his clothes, became wholly invisible, knocked the constable unconscious and escaped, leaving everyone bewildered.

Theme & message

The story explores the misuse of scientific knowledge. Griffin is a genius, but he is lawless, selfish and even violent, using his remarkable discovery of invisibility for theft, arson and assault rather than for the good of humanity. Through his lonely, criminal life, Wells warns that science without ethics and self-control becomes dangerous. True greatness lies not merely in intelligence but in using one’s talents responsibly and for the benefit of others.

Word meanings

WordMeaning
imprintsmarks made by pressing
bewilderedconfused and puzzled
transparentclear, that can be seen through
lawlessnot obeying the law
ejectto force out / throw out
in revengeto take action in return for a wrong
wanderera person who roams about with no home
bitterly coldextremely cold
without regard to expensewithout worrying about the cost
fitted himself outprovided himself (with clothes)
gave chaseran after to catch
theatrical companya group that stages plays
callouslycruelly, without feeling
eccentricstrange or unusual in behaviour
solitudethe state of being alone
irritableeasily annoyed; bad-tempered
curious episodea strange incident
chinka light ringing sound (of coins)
hystericsuncontrolled emotion / panic
witchcraftthe use of magic powers
warrantan official document ordering arrest
unseennot able to be seen; invisible

Read and Find Out

1. How did the invisible man first become visible?

ANSWERThe invisible man, Griffin, first became partly visible when he accidentally stepped in some mud while walking on the steps of a house in London. The mud stuck to his bare feet, so he left fresh, muddy footprints that appeared as if from nowhere – revealing the presence of someone who could not be seen.

2. Why was he wandering the streets?

ANSWERGriffin was wandering the streets because he had become a homeless wanderer. After setting fire to his landlord’s house in revenge, he had to remove his clothes to escape unseen. As a result he was left without clothes, without money and quite invisible, with nowhere to go in the middle of London.

3. Why does Mrs Hall find the scientist eccentric?

ANSWERMrs Hall finds the scientist eccentric because of his very unusual appearance and behaviour. He arrived at the inn in winter wearing bandages round his forehead, dark glasses, a false nose and a big hat; he kept to himself, had no desire to talk, said he wanted solitude and that an accident had affected his face, and he had a short, irritable temper. Such strange habits made her think he was an odd, eccentric scientist.

4. What curious episode occurs in the study?

ANSWEREarly one morning a clergyman and his wife were awakened by noises in their study. Creeping downstairs, they heard the chink of money being taken from the clergyman’s desk. The clergyman flung open the door and shouted “Surrender!”, but to his amazement the room appeared completely empty. Though they searched under the desk, behind the curtains and even up the chimney, they found no one – yet the desk had been opened and the housekeeping money was missing. The thief was the invisible Griffin.

5. What other extraordinary things happen at the inn?

ANSWERAt the inn, Mrs Hall found the scientist’s door wide open one morning, his bed cold and his clothes and bandages lying about the room though he was nowhere to be seen. Suddenly she heard a sniff near her ear, the hat on the bedpost leapt up and struck her face, and the bedroom chair sprang into the air and charged at her, pushing her and her husband out before slamming and locking the door. Terrified, Mrs Hall fell into hysterics and believed the room was haunted by spirits.

Think about it

1. “Griffin was rather a lawless person.” Comment.

ANSWERGriffin was indeed a lawless person who repeatedly broke the law without any sense of guilt. When his landlord tried to evict him, he set the house on fire in revenge. He broke into a London store to steal warm clothes and food, and raided a theatrical shop, attacking the shopkeeper from behind and robbing him of his money. At Iping he stole money from the clergyman’s desk and finally knocked the constable, Mr Jaffers, unconscious while resisting arrest. His brilliant intellect was matched by a complete disregard for law, morality and the rights of others, which proves that he was truly a lawless and dangerous man.

2. How would you assess Griffin as a scientist?

ANSWERAs a scientist, Griffin was undoubtedly brilliant and original. He carried out experiment after experiment and achieved an extraordinary feat – he discovered rare drugs that could make the human body transparent and invisible, something no one had managed before. This shows great intelligence, determination and scientific imagination. However, he completely lacked moral responsibility. Instead of using his remarkable discovery for the benefit of mankind, he used it for theft, arson, revenge and violence. A true scientist works for the good of society, but Griffin’s selfishness and lawlessness made his genius destructive. Thus, while he was a gifted scientist, he was a poor and irresponsible human being.

Talk about it

1. Would you like to become invisible? What advantages and disadvantages do you foresee, if you did?

ANSWER(Sample answer) Becoming invisible may sound exciting, but I would not really like it. Advantages: one could move about unnoticed, surprise friends harmlessly, observe nature or events quietly, and help others secretly during danger or rescue work. Disadvantages: an invisible person cannot lead a normal life – like Griffin, one would be lonely, unable to wear clothes in public, and easily tempted to misuse the power for stealing or wrongdoing. People might also become fearful or use the power for crime. Since the dangers and loneliness outweigh the fun, I would prefer to remain visible and live an honest, normal life.

2. Are there forces around us that are invisible, for example, magnetism? Are there aspects of matter that are ‘invisible’ or not visible to the naked eye? What would the world be like if you could see such forces or such aspects of matter?

ANSWERYes, many forces around us are invisible. Magnetism, gravity, electric fields, radio waves, infrared and ultraviolet rays, sound waves and air all act on us though we cannot see them. Similarly, several aspects of matter are invisible to the naked eye – atoms, molecules, germs, bacteria and viruses are far too small to see. If we could suddenly see all these forces and tiny particles, the world would look amazing but also confusing and crowded. We would see lines of magnetic and gravitational pull, glowing waves of light and radio signals, and swarms of microbes everywhere. While it might help science greatly, it could also be frightening and overwhelming for our senses.

3. What makes glass or water transparent (what is the scientific explanation for this)? Do you think it would be scientifically possible for a man to become invisible, or transparent? (Keep in mind that writers of science fiction have often turned out to be prophetic in their imagination!)

ANSWERGlass and water are transparent because light can pass straight through them without being absorbed or scattered much. Their particles are arranged so that visible light waves travel through almost completely, allowing us to see objects on the other side. A body is visible only when it reflects, absorbs or scatters light; if light passed through it completely, it would be invisible. For a human being to become invisible, every part – skin, blood, bones and tissues – would need to let light pass through without bending or absorbing it, which is practically impossible with our present knowledge of biology. So at present it is not scientifically possible. However, since science fiction writers have often imagined inventions that later came true, we cannot completely rule out new discoveries in the distant future.

Extra questions

Short answer (30–40 words)

1. Who was Griffin and what had he discovered?

ANSWERGriffin was a brilliant but lawless scientist. After many experiments, he swallowed rare drugs that made his body transparent and invisible, though it remained as solid as glass. His discovery allowed him to move about completely unseen.

2. Why did Griffin set fire to the house?

ANSWERGriffin’s landlord disliked him and tried to evict him from his rooms. In revenge, Griffin set the house on fire. To escape from the scene without being seen, he had to remove all his clothes and slip away invisible.

3. Why did Griffin go to the village of Iping?

ANSWERGriffin was eager to get away from crowded London, where he had attracted attention. He took a train to the quiet village of Iping in search of solitude, booking two rooms at the local inn so that he could continue his work undisturbed.

4. How did Griffin keep himself warm in the London store?

ANSWERAfter the store closed, Griffin broke open boxes and wrappers and fitted himself out with warm clothes, shoes, an overcoat and a wide-brimmed hat. He ate cold meat, coffee, sweets and wine, and finally settled down to sleep on a pile of quilts.

5. Why did the villagers of Iping suspect Griffin?

ANSWERGriffin’s odd appearance, secretive habits and irritable temper already made the villagers uneasy. When the clergyman’s house was burgled and Griffin, who had admitted having no money, suddenly produced ready cash, they strongly suspected him of being the thief.

Long answer (100–120 words)

6. Describe the scene of Griffin’s confrontation with Mrs Hall and Constable Jaffers at the inn.

ANSWERWhen Mrs Hall demanded to know how Griffin had come out of an empty, locked room and what he had done to her furniture, the quick-tempered scientist became furious. Shouting that they did not understand who or what he was, he suddenly threw off his bandages, whiskers, spectacles and even his false nose, leaving the horrified people staring at a headless man. Constable Jaffers arrived to arrest him, but as Griffin removed one garment after another he grew more and more invisible. People who tried to help were struck by unseen blows. Finally a shirt flew into the air, Jaffers was knocked unconscious, and Griffin shook himself free and escaped, leaving everyone helpless and bewildered.

7. “Griffin’s invisibility was both a boon and a curse.” Discuss with reference to the story.

ANSWERGriffin’s invisibility was a remarkable scientific achievement that gave him great power. It allowed him to escape from the boys who followed his footprints, slip into shops unnoticed, steal money and clothes, and finally evade arrest by becoming completely unseen. In that sense it was a boon that protected him repeatedly. Yet the same power proved a curse. He could not lead a normal life, could not wear clothes in the bitter cold without becoming visible, and was driven to crime, loneliness and violence. His invisibility cut him off from society and made him a hunted, homeless wanderer. Thus his extraordinary gift, misused without responsibility, brought him more misery than benefit.

MCQs & Assertion–Reason

1. Who is the scientist in ‘Footprints without Feet’?

(a) Jaffers   (b) Griffin   (c) Wells   (d) Hall

2. Griffin made his body invisible by:

(a) wearing special clothes   (b) magic   (c) swallowing rare drugs   (d) surgery

3. How did the invisible man first become visible to the two boys?

(a) by speaking   (b) muddy footprints   (c) wearing a hat   (d) shouting

4. Why did Griffin set the house on fire?

(a) for fun   (b) to cook food   (c) in revenge on his landlord   (d) by accident

5. In which season did Griffin wander without clothes?

(a) summer   (b) monsoon   (c) spring   (d) mid-winter

6. Where did Griffin find clothes, food and a place to sleep?

(a) a hospital   (b) a big London store   (c) a church   (d) a school

7. What disguise did Griffin take from the theatrical company?

(a) a clown costume   (b) bandages, dark glasses and a false nose   (c) a soldier’s uniform   (d) a king’s robe

8. Who was the landlady of the inn at Iping?

(a) Mrs Hall   (b) Mrs Jaffers   (c) Mrs Griffin   (d) Mrs Wells

9. Who tried to arrest Griffin at the inn?

(a) the clergyman   (b) the landlord   (c) Constable Jaffers   (d) the shopkeeper

10. The main message of the story is that science should be used:

(a) for revenge   (b) responsibly and for the good of others   (c) for personal wealth   (d) secretly

Answer key: 1-(b)   2-(c)   3-(b)   4-(c)   5-(d)   6-(b)   7-(b)   8-(a)   9-(c)   10-(b)

Assertion–Reason – choose: (a) A and R true, R explains A; (b) A and R true, R does not explain A; (c) A true, R false; (d) A false, R true.

1. Assertion (A): Griffin left muddy footprints on the steps in London.

Reason (R): He had accidentally stepped in some mud while walking invisibly.

2. Assertion (A): Griffin became a homeless wanderer.

Reason (R): He had removed his clothes to escape unseen after setting the house on fire.

3. Assertion (A): Griffin was a responsible and noble scientist.

Reason (R): He used his discovery of invisibility for theft, arson and assault.

4. Assertion (A): Mrs Hall believed her room was haunted by spirits.

Reason (R): She saw the hat and chair move on their own and attack her.

5. Assertion (A): Constable Jaffers failed to arrest Griffin.

Reason (R): Griffin shed his clothes, became fully invisible and knocked the constable unconscious.

Answer key (A–R): 1-(a)   2-(a)   3-(d)   4-(a)   5-(a)

Exam tips

Score better in this chapter

Remember the correct sequence of events – footprints → fire → London store → theatrical shop → Iping inn → escape – as questions often test the order. Always name the characters correctly: Griffin (the scientist), Mrs Hall (innkeeper’s wife) and Constable Jaffers. For value-based and long answers, link the story to its central theme – the misuse of science without morality – and support every point with one specific example from the text. Keep answers in your own words and avoid copying full lines from the lesson.

FAQs

Who is the author of ‘Footprints without Feet’?

The story is written by H.G. Wells (Herbert George Wells), often called the “Father of Science Fiction”. It is adapted from his novel The Invisible Man.

How did Griffin become invisible?

Griffin was a brilliant scientist who, after repeated experiments, swallowed certain rare drugs that made his body as transparent as glass, though it remained solid – making him completely invisible.

Why is Griffin described as a lawless person?

Because he committed many crimes – he set his landlord’s house on fire, stole clothes and money, attacked a shopkeeper, robbed a clergyman and knocked a constable unconscious – all without any guilt.

What is the moral of ‘Footprints without Feet’?

The story teaches that scientific knowledge must be used responsibly and for the good of mankind. Science without ethics and self-control, as in Griffin’s case, becomes dangerous and destructive.

Questions are taken verbatim from the NCERT Footprints Without Feet textbook; the summary and all answers are written originally by ClearStudy.

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