GSEB Class 12 English Vistas Chapter 6 On the Face of It Solutions

Read and Find Out (Textbook Page No. 56)

Question 1. Who is Mr Lamb? How does Derry get into his garden?
Answer: Mr Lamb is an elderly man with a tin leg, as his real leg was lost many years ago during the war. He lives completely alone in his home. There is a garden close to his house, filled with ripe crab apples that appear orange and golden in color. Mr Lamb is relaxing in his garden when Derry climbs over the garden wall to enter it. Even though the gate is open, the young boy chooses not to use it.
In simple words: Mr Lamb is an old man with a tin leg who lives alone. Derry gets into his garden by climbing over the wall, even though the gate is open.

Exam Tip: When describing characters, always include their key physical characteristics and their living situation if it's relevant to their personality or role.

Read and Find Out (Textbook Page No. 62)

Question 1. Do you think all this will change Derry's attitude towards Mr Lamb?
Answer: Mr Lamb discovers from Derry that the boy dislikes being near people. They stare at his face and feel afraid of him, as half of his face was burnt by acid and appears very ugly. Mr Lamb offers him a new perspective on life. He shares with him a story about a person who was scared of everything and locked himself away in a room. This person died when a picture fell on his head. Derry finds that the old man speaks unusual things and is surprised to learn about his habits. Mr Lamb loves to read books and has many in his house. He has no curtains on his windows, enjoying both light and darkness. He keeps his windows open to listen to the wind. This exposure to Mr Lamb’s unique outlook and acceptance definitely begins to change Derry's negative attitude.
In simple words: Yes, Mr Lamb's talks will change Derry. Mr Lamb teaches him not to care about his burnt face and that he can achieve anything if he decides to.

Exam Tip: When answering "Do you think...", always state your opinion clearly at the beginning and then provide detailed reasons from the text to support it.

Reading with Insight

Answer the following questions in about six to seven sentences each:

Question 1. What is it that draws Derry towards Mr Lamb in spite of himself?
Answer: Both Derry and Mr Lamb experience physical damage. Derry has one side of his face disfigured and burned by acid. The old man possesses a tin leg because his real leg was removed during the war. Beyond these physical challenges, Derry notices signs of loneliness and sadness in Mr Lamb's existence. The old man tries to overcome these feelings, but the feeling of being an outsider is more painful for him than his physical hurt. Derry tries to avoid meeting others because they find his face frightening and unpleasant; they stay away from him because they are scared. His parents seem concerned about him and talk about his future. Mr Lamb gives him a new way to see things, encouraging him to observe, hear, feel, and think about the world around him. He tells Derry not to hate anyone else, stating that hatred is more destructive than acid because it harms a person from within. He reminds Derry that he has all his body parts and needs to make a firm choice and work towards his goals to succeed. He should not be afraid of people, and in turn, they will not fear him. All these elements draw Derry to Mr Lamb.
In simple words: Derry is drawn to Mr Lamb because both have physical challenges and feel lonely. Mr Lamb teaches Derry to think positively, not to hate, and to face the world bravely, which changes Derry's view of himself and others.

Exam Tip: Focus on the shared experiences and the wisdom imparted by Mr Lamb. Highlight how Mr Lamb's unique perspective makes him appealing to Derry.

Question 2. In which section of the play does Mr Lamb display signs of loneliness and disappointment? What are the ways in which Mr Lamb tries to overcome these feelings?
Answer: It is in the middle part of the first scene of the play that Mr Lamb shows signs of being lonely and disappointed. He mentions that when it gets a bit cooler, he will get his ladder and a stick to pick the crab apples. He plans to make jelly, and Derry could assist him. Then, he says that he is interested in everyone and everything that God has created, whether it is a person, a flower, fruit, grass, weeds, or even rubbish; there are many things to observe. Some of these include his crab apples, the weeds, a spider climbing up a silk ladder, or his tall sunflowers. He also enjoys talking and having company, as he has a hive of bees and likes to hear them buzzing. He sits in the sun and reads books. He appreciates both light and darkness, and listens to the wind through his open windows. There are no curtains at his windows because they either block things out or keep things in. These are the methods Mr Lamb uses to deal with his loneliness.
In simple words: Mr Lamb shows his loneliness when he talks about picking crab apples alone and his interest in all small things. He fights loneliness by being open to everyone and everything, enjoying nature, reading, and listening to the world around him.

Exam Tip: Quote or paraphrase specific instances from the play where Mr Lamb talks about his daily routines or feelings to demonstrate his loneliness and his coping mechanisms.

Question 3. The actual pain or inconvenience caused by a physical impairment is often much less than the sense of alienation felt by the person with disabilities. What is the kind of behaviour that the person expects from others?
Answer: The play 'On The Face Of It' draws our attention to the physical pain and mental distress of individuals suffering from physical handicaps. The writer, Susan Hill, presents two main characters – an old man and a small boy – who have different kinds of physical challenges. The old man has a tin leg, which hurt him when it first came off, but he later got used to it. He sometimes feels pain in wet weather and finds it difficult to run, climb a tree, or use a ladder. He lives entirely alone in a large house with a garden. The boy has one side of his face severely burned by acid. He felt physical pain then, and after leaving the hospital, he felt hurt by people's reactions. They see his face as horrible and ugly, show fear, and avoid him. In short, he is disliked, if not hated, and not accepted as a normal part of society. He dislikes being looked at. It is clear that the feeling of being an outsider causes these disabled individuals constant distress. Such people expect kind and thoughtful behavior from others. They do not want tears, pity, or sympathy. They dislike being pointed at, called names, mocked, or made fun of. They simply ask for reasonable treatment from others, filled with appreciation for their difficulties.
In simple words: People with disabilities often hurt more from feeling left out than from physical pain. They expect others to be kind, considerate, and treat them normally, without pity, stares, or mockery, and to appreciate the challenges they face.

Exam Tip: Emphasize the psychological impact of disability over the physical. Use terms like "alienation," "disliked," and "accepted" to convey the social challenges faced by the characters.

Question 4. Will Derry get back to his old seclusion or will Mr Lamb's brief association effect a change in the kind of life he will lead in the future?
Answer: (Two different answers are possible. One is being given below.) Derry will not return to his old isolation. He has spent only a short time with Mr Lamb, but even this brief interaction will create a change in the way he lives his future life. Instead of being concerned about what people say about his ugly face, he will use his mind and spirit to achieve what he decides to do in life. It is also possible that with his strong determination and passion to reach his goal, he might do better than others, even those who do not have any physical impairment. Through his convincing manner and clever use of stories, Mr Lamb persuades Derry that a life of isolation and withdrawal from the world is dull and risky. The world offers many beautiful things to see and admire, sounds to hear, and thoughts to ponder. One should have an open mind and a positive outlook. Hatred, Mr Lamb suggests, is worse than acid. Derry’s mother tries her best to keep Derry with her, but Derry decides to go back to Mr Lamb to observe things and listen to him. He no longer cares about his face; what he thinks and feels, and what he wants to explore and discover, is more significant. He does not wish to stay at home. He has a clear understanding of things, and if he does not go back there, he believes he will never go anywhere in the world again. In short, Derry’s decision to return to Mr Lamb shows the change in the kind of life he is likely to lead in the future.
In simple words: Derry will not go back to being alone. Mr Lamb's lessons will change his life, making him focus on his goals rather than his appearance or others' opinions. His decision to return to Mr Lamb proves this change.

Exam Tip: Clearly state the effect of Mr Lamb's influence on Derry's future. Highlight Derry's determination to embrace life despite his physical challenges, showing a positive transformation.

On the face of It Summary in English

On the face of It Summary:

This play deals with the issue of disabled individuals and shows that encouraging words alone can change our tense emotions. It is important for us to see and understand life in every living thing. Our appearance does not matter; what matters is how we can help a disabled person. It is not the actual pain or trouble from a physical impairment that bothers a disabled person, but rather how the people around him behave.

People often ignore disabled individuals, treating them as useless and refusing to accept them in normal life. So, a disabled person feels cut off from society and wishes to live alone. In a way, Derry suffers from an inferiority complex. Mr Lamb encourages him to think positively about life, people, and things. It is a lovely day, and Mr Lamb is in his garden. He is an old man with a tin leg. He lives a lonely life and is always ready to welcome any visitor to his garden.

One day, Derry, a fourteen-year-old boy, secretly enters Mr Lamb's garden. He has a burnt face from acid, making him look very ugly. He has become defiant and withdrawn because of his disfigured face. He does not want to face the world with his unpleasant, disfigured face. Derry climbs over the wall and carefully walks through the tall grass. He is quite near to Lamb and gets scared when Lamb speaks to him.

Lamb asks him to walk carefully because the long grass is full of wild apples that have fallen from the wind. Derry is completely confused, as he thought the place was empty. After being noticed by Lamb, Derry panics and wants to leave. Lamb asks him not to go, as he does not mind anyone coming into his garden. He always keeps the gate open. He advises Derry to enter through the gate instead of climbing over the garden wall. Lamb says that everyone who comes to his garden is welcome.

But Derry says that he has not come to steal; he only wants to come into the garden. Lamb then tells Derry not to be afraid of anything, but Derry points out that people are afraid of him because of his ugly and disfigured face. Derry adds that he is even scared of himself when he sees his face in the mirror. Lamb tries to comfort him. He asks him to bravely face the harsh realities of life. He tries to shift Derry's attention from his burnt face to the fruits in the garden, but Derry continues to talk about his ugly face.

Lamb tries to make him understand that a person's inner beauty matters more than their outer appearance. Derry does not agree with this. He tells Lamb that it is important to be handsome on the outside too. He says that even his mother only kisses him on the other side of his face.

He says that he has to spend his whole life with his half-burnt face. Mr Lamb points out that there is no difference between a flower and a weed, as both are living and growing plants. Derry mentions that Mr Lamb can put on trousers to cover up his tin leg. Then Mr Lamb reminds Derry of the fairy tale "Beauty and The Beast," in which the princess kisses the Beast, who then transforms into a handsome prince.

This helps Derry understand that ugliness is only skin deep. A person is defined not by their appearance but by who they truly are. "Handsome is that handsome does" is a proverb that means good actions make a person truly beautiful. This story aims to inspire Derry, so he should not worry about his burnt face. However, Derry tells Mr Lamb that people stare at his face and are afraid of him. Derry tells Lamb that women talk about his ugly face, saying no one will kiss him except his mother. Mr Lamb tells him that he must have heard many other similar things. The best thing, he advises, is to ignore such talk and not pay attention to it.

Mr Lamb discusses the bees in his garden. Some people enjoy their buzzing, while others dislike it. But Lamb calls it sweet music, explaining it is just a matter of attitude. Derry mentions that people stare at his face, so he avoids them. However, Mr Lamb tells him that staying alone is not a good idea. He tells a story about a man who was always scared of being hit by a car, getting sick, or having an accident, so he locked himself in a room. A picture later fell on his head, killing him. Derry says that his family often talks about him downstairs when he is not there. They worry about what will happen to him when they are gone and how he will manage in the world.

Mr Lamb disagrees with him. Lamb encourages him, saying he has two arms, legs, eyes, ears, a tongue, and a brain. He can achieve whatever he wants. He can be better than others, he tells Derry. He says Derry has a complete body and can perform better than others, or even excel. He asks Lamb several questions to learn more about him. Mr Lamb says he sits in the sun and reads books. He likes to keep the windows open to hear the wind. Lamb tells Derry that he has many friends everywhere.

Everyone who comes into his garden is his friend. Derry wonders how someone he knows nothing about can be his friend. Derry says that there are some people he dislikes. But Lamb points out that hatred would cause him more harm than any bottle of acid. Acid only burns your face, but hatred can destroy you from within. Lamb asks him to be a friend. Derry asks how they can be friends after just one meeting. But Lamb tells him that he can visit anytime, even if he is away. Derry thinks about helping him.

He tells Lamb that with only one leg, he could fall off a ladder and die. Derry offers to help him but wants to inform his mother, who would be worried. Lamb doubts if Derry would return. Derry promises to come back, but Lamb thinks to himself that people never really return, even if they say they will. Derry goes back home and tells his mother everything. Derry says he wants to go there, sit, listen, and look at things. Nobody else has ever spoken to him the way the old man has.

His mother stops him from going to the old man's house, saying she has heard strange stories about him and urging Derry not to go again. Derry insists that he must go, otherwise he will never go anywhere else in the world. Despite his mother's strong opposition, Derry slams the door and rushes off to help Lamb collect crab apples. Meanwhile, Mr Lamb climbs the ladder for the apples. The ladder then falls backward, and Mr Lamb is killed. Derry opens the gate and excitedly says he has returned. Suddenly, he sees Mr Lamb on the ground. He runs through the long grass and exclaims, "I came back, Lamey Lamb. I did come back." But there is no reply. Derry kneels beside him, weeps, and realizes that he has lost his only friend in this world.