NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English (Vistas) Chapter 5 On The Face of It

NCERT
SOLUTIONS
CLASS - 12th

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Book : Vistas Ncert Solutions | Chapter - 6 English

Class : 12th

Subject : English

Chapter : 6

Chapter Name : On The Face of It

Q1 What is it that draws Derry towards Mr Lamb in spite of himself?

Answer. Derry is drawn towards Mr. Lamb​​in spite of himself because he introduced him , a
new life where he was no different to others. The reason, Derry entertained the truth of being a
part of the world and accept it in the way it is with an amalgam of sweetness and bitterness was
all possible due to his conversation with Mr Lamb. He aroused out to be a vital figure to Derry as
he neither consoled him of his burned face nor found him ugly. He had rather shown him the joy
of living life to the fullest and accept whatever it offers him in the most pragmatic way.

Q2 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. The disappointment of Mr. Lamb has been encompassed in the last section of the play
where he tells himself that people come and go but never return to his place after meeting him
once. As he was an optimist he tried out many ways getting himself busy to abate his solitude.
Mr. Lamb says that when it's cold, he gets a stick and a ladder and pull the crab apples off the
trees and make jelly with it. After that, he says that he is interested in anybody and anything
which God has created, be it a human, animal, flowers, weed etc. It's also a spider climbing up
the ladder or hearing the bees singing. Moreover, he would read when the sun is up and there
aren't any curtains in his house because he embraces everything, even the darkness.

These are the ways in which Mr. Lamb overcomes his loneliness.

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Book : Vistas Ncert Solutions | Chapter - 6 English

Q3 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. Speaking from the context of the text On The Face Of It, the story is of two people who
are physically impaired. One has a tin leg and the other has a burned face.

Mr. Lamb the one with the tin leg, feels pain every now and then and lives alone in a big house
with books and nature surrounding him. Similarly, Derry who has a burned face, is afraid of
meeting people and their judgemental stares and comments.

These two were in the state of absolute solitude from within. Their physical incapability and
abnormality may cost them a sense of pain in their body but the harsh treatment, negligence
and sympathy of normal people make them feel alienated with low capabilities and instill a sort
of pain in their hearts. This treatment for them was more pain instilling than their physical
injuries which ribbed off their confidence to face the world with a rectitude.

It's not just the case with Derry and Mr Lamb but also the people who suffer any kind of physical
impairment. We all must entertain the fact that such people don't need our sympathies or
negligence but they wish a normal behavior from us, as we do to all others who are physically
fit. A sense of respect and goodness is what such people actually crave for.

Q4 Will Derry get back 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. Derry will not get back his old seclusion because being with Mr. Lamb for a while has
radically brought a positive change in him. He resists being in shackles of insecurities and want
to live his life like all normal people do. His conversation with Mr Lamb wasn't only a thing of a
few moments but something of great importance which instilled in him a sense of self love and
self respect, like a little lad has gotten an experienced vision of an old age man. Moreover, he
no longer cares about his face and what others might think of him, all due to the wisdom words
by Mr Lamb.

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Book : Vistas Ncert Solutions | Chapter - 6 English

Q. How about using your imagination to suggest another ending to the story?

Answer. There can be a different ending to the story, a rather happy one.

When Derry returns to Mr Lamb, he could have met him in a healthier state. They both could
have shared their experiences of how they deal with their respective problems. It would make
them feel better and embellish their new bond of 'friendship'.

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