Footprints without Feet Class 10: Summary, Themes and Griffin
Updated 14 October 2026 · Fact-checked
Footprints without Feet is an H.G. Wells story in the Class 10 supplementary reader about Griffin, a brilliant scientist who makes himself invisible but misuses his discovery to steal, attack and frighten people. In the CBSE board exam it comes in Section C as 3-mark short answers (40-50 words) and 6-mark long answers (100-120 words).
What Footprints without Feet is about
Footprints without Feet is a prose story by H.G. Wells, Chapter 5 of your supplementary reader, *Footprints without Feet*. It tells the story of Griffin, a scientist who discovers how to make his body invisible. Instead of using this power for good, he uses it to rob, attack and terrify people, first in London and then in the village of Iping.
There is no extract-based question from this book in your board paper. Instead, the chapter can come in Q9 as a short answer of 40-50 words (3 marks; you answer two of three) and in Q11 as a long answer of about 100-120 words (6 marks; you answer one of two). Long answers may ask about the theme or plot, interpretation, inference, a character sketch, or extrapolation beyond the text, such as a diary entry written as Griffin.
In real board papers: asked in 10 of the 21 board papers we hold (2023 to 2026), on average 2.7 marks per paper. See the questions
Footprints without Feet: summary
In our own words, in the order of the text. Read the NCERT text itself too: the board quotes from it.
The story opens with a mystery. Two boys in London are amazed to see fresh, muddy footprints of bare feet appearing on the steps of a house, with no person in sight. They follow the prints down the street until the marks fade away. The explanation is simple: they were following Griffin, a scientist who had found a way to make the human body transparent.
After many experiments, Griffin had swallowed certain rare drugs. His body became as transparent as glass, though it stayed solid. He was brilliant, but he was also lawless. When his landlord disliked him and tried to throw him out, Griffin set fire to the house in revenge. To escape unseen, he removed his clothes. So he became a homeless wanderer with no clothes and no money, visible only when he stepped in mud.
It was mid-winter, and the cold forced him to find clothing. He slipped into a big London store. After closing time he broke open boxes, dressed himself in warm clothes, shoes, an overcoat and a wide-brimmed hat, and ate cold meat, coffee, sweets and wine. He slept on a pile of quilts but woke up too late. When the assistants arrived and saw him, he panicked and ran. He escaped only by throwing off his new clothes, and was naked again in the chill January air.
Next he went to Drury Lane, the centre of the theatre world. In a theatrical shop he disguised himself with bandages round his forehead, dark glasses, a false nose, bushy side-whiskers and a large hat. To get away, he attacked the shopkeeper from behind and robbed him of all his money.
Griffin then took a train to the village of Iping and booked two rooms at the local inn. His strange appearance set people talking. Mrs Hall, the landlord's wife, tried to be friendly, but he said he wanted solitude and claimed an accident had affected his face. Because he had paid in advance, she excused his odd habits and bad temper. Soon his stolen money ran out, and he pretended a cheque was on its way.
Early one morning, a clergyman and his wife heard money being taken from the desk in their study. The clergyman burst in holding a poker, but the room was empty, and the housekeeping money was gone.
That same morning, the Halls found Griffin's usually locked door open and went in. His clothes and bandages lay about, but no one was there. Mrs Hall heard a sniff, the hat flew into her face, and a chair charged at them and pushed them out. Terrified, she believed spirits were in her furniture. The neighbours suspected witchcraft. When Griffin suddenly had cash again, he was suspected of the burglary, and the constable was secretly sent for.
Mrs Hall confronted Griffin. In a rage, he tore off his disguise and stood before them as a headless man. The constable, Mr Jaffers, tried to arrest him, but Griffin threw off his clothes and became fully invisible. He hit those who tried to help, knocked Jaffers unconscious and escaped.
Themes and message
Misuse of science
Griffin's discovery is extraordinary. He has proved that the human body can become invisible. But the story keeps asking whether he will use or misuse it, and the answer is clear: he misuses it. He never uses invisibility to help anyone. He uses it to escape after arson, to steal food and clothes, to rob a shopkeeper and a clergyman, and to frighten and hurt people. This suggests that knowledge and power are only as good as the person who holds them. A scientist needs a sense of responsibility, not just intelligence.
From the text: He robs the theatrical shopkeeper and the clergyman's desk, and knocks Jaffers unconscious. The narrator says, "Brilliant scientist though he was, Griffin was rather a lawless person."
Lawlessness and selfishness
Griffin acts as if rules do not apply to him. Every choice he makes serves only himself. When he is crossed, he takes revenge, and when he wants something, he simply takes it. He shows no guilt about burning a house, attacking a man from behind or deceiving Mrs Hall about a cheque. We can infer that his genius has made him arrogant: he thinks people who do not understand him deserve no respect. The story shows how selfishness, when joined to power, turns into cruelty.
From the text: "In revenge Griffin set fire to the house." Later, "he callously attacked the shopkeeper from behind" and robbed him.
Invisibility as a curse, not a gift
Invisibility seems like a wonderful power, yet it brings Griffin constant trouble. He becomes homeless, cold and hungry. To stay hidden he must be naked in mid-winter, and to be seen he must wear an odd disguise that makes everyone curious and suspicious. He cannot live a normal life or trust anyone. This irony suggests that a power used without thought for others ends up trapping its owner. Griffin is free to do anything, but he has nowhere to belong.
From the text: He is "a homeless wanderer, without clothes, without money"; he ends up "invisible but naked in the chill January air".
Fear and superstition about the unknown
The people of Iping cannot explain what they see, so they turn to supernatural ideas. Mrs Hall believes spirits have entered her furniture, and the neighbours blame witchcraft. Their fear shows how ordinary people react to something they do not understand. It also shows the gap between Griffin's scientific world and their everyday world. Yet common sense wins in the end: they connect the burglary with his sudden cash and send for the constable.
From the text: Mrs Hall "was convinced that the room was haunted by spirits"; "The feeling among the neighbours was that the trouble was caused by witchcraft."
Duty and the law
In contrast to Griffin's lawlessness, Mr Jaffers stands for duty. He is surprised to find he must arrest a headless man, but he does not run away. For him, a warrant is a warrant. He keeps struggling with an enemy he cannot see until he is knocked unconscious. Through him, the story values courage and a sense of duty, even though the law fails to hold Griffin this time.
From the text: A person under a warrant "had to be arrested, with or without his head"; Jaffers makes "a last attempt to hold on to the unseen scientist".
Characters
Griffin
The protagonist, a scientist who makes himself invisible and misuses the power
- Brilliant and determined scientist
- Lawless and revengeful
- Callous and violent
- Deceitful
- Quick-tempered and arrogant
He carried out "experiment after experiment" and succeeded, which shows brilliance and patience. He set fire to his landlord's house in revenge. He attacked the shopkeeper from behind and robbed him. He lied to Mrs Hall about expecting a cheque and about an accident to his face. When questioned, he became furious and shouted, "You don’t understand who or what I am!" He knocked Jaffers unconscious to escape.
Mrs Hall
The landlord's wife at the Iping inn where Griffin stays
- Friendly and welcoming
- Practical about money
- Curious
- Superstitious
- Bold enough to confront Griffin
She "made every effort to be friendly". She excused his strange habits because he had paid in advance. She peeped into his room when the door was open. She believed spirits had entered her chair. She confronted him herself instead of waiting for the constable.
Mr Jaffers
The village constable who tries to arrest Griffin
- Dutiful
- Courageous
- Determined
He was surprised to arrest a headless man but believed a warrant had to be obeyed "with or without his head". He kept struggling with an invisible man and made a last attempt to hold on before he was knocked unconscious.
The clergyman
The village clergyman whose housekeeping money Griffin steals
- Brave
- Alert
- Bewildered by the mystery
He crept downstairs with a poker and flung the door open, shouting "Surrender!" He searched under the desk, behind the curtains and up the chimney, and kept saying "Extraordinary affair!" all day.
How it is written
| Device | Example | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Mystery opening (suspense) | The story begins with two boys watching bare footprints appear on steps in London with no one there; the explanation comes only afterwards. | It grabs your attention at once and makes you want to know who the invisible walker is. It also explains the title, Footprints without Feet. |
| Irony | Invisibility should make Griffin powerful, yet it leaves him naked and shivering "in the chill January air" and forces him into a strange disguise. | It shows that his great discovery becomes a burden because he misuses it, which supports the theme of power without responsibility. |
| Contrast in characterisation | "Brilliant scientist though he was, Griffin was rather a lawless person." | One sentence sets his genius against his lack of morals. This contrast is the key to judging his character in long answers. |
| Humour | Mrs Hall's chair charges at her "legs foremost", and Jaffers believes a person must be arrested "with or without his head". | The comic touches lighten the fear and make the scenes at Iping lively, while still showing Griffin's mischief and the villagers' confusion. |
| Third-person narration | An all-knowing narrator explains Griffin's experiments, past crimes and movements, then shows how the villagers see him. | You know the truth while the characters do not, so you understand both Griffin's actions and the villagers' fear and wrong ideas, such as witchcraft. |
Key quotations
Short lines worth knowing by heart: who says them, when, and why they matter.
Brilliant scientist though he was, Griffin was rather a lawless person.
narrator: Just after we learn how Griffin made himself invisible, and before he burns his landlord's house.
It sums up Griffin's character in one line: genius without morals. Use it in any character sketch.
In revenge Griffin set fire to the house.
narrator: His landlord disliked him and tried to throw him out.
It shows his revengeful, lawless nature and explains why he became a homeless, naked wanderer.
he callously attacked the shopkeeper from behind
narrator: Griffin escapes from the theatrical shop in Drury Lane after taking his disguise.
The word 'callously' shows he feels no pity; he uses invisibility for violence and robbery.
My reason for coming to Iping is a desire for solitude.
Griffin: He tells Mrs Hall why he has come to the inn and avoids conversation.
It shows he wants to hide and be left alone; it also leads Mrs Hall to think he is an eccentric scientist.
My poor mother used to sit in that chair
Mrs Hall: She has just been pushed out of Griffin's room by a chair that seemed alive.
It shows her terror and superstition; she thinks spirits have turned her own furniture against her.
You don’t understand who or what I am!
Griffin: Mrs Hall demands to know what he did to her chair and how he left a locked room.
It shows his arrogance and temper; just after this he removes his disguise and appears headless.
that person had to be arrested, with or without his head.
narrator: Mr Jaffers arrives with a warrant and finds a headless man to arrest.
It shows Jaffers's strong sense of duty and adds humour to a frightening moment.
But this was easier said than done.
narrator: People cry "Hold him!" after Jaffers is knocked unconscious.
It shows that no one can catch an invisible man; Griffin escapes, and the law fails for now.
Footprints without Feet in real life
Each concept, met in an everyday situation. Read the situation, answer the question in your own words, then compare with the model answer. The one-line hook is what to remember.
Misuse of science
Suppose Rohan, the best coder in your class, finds a way into the school's online result portal. He changes a few marks for his friends and says he is only showing off his skill.
Compare Rohan with Griffin. Is talent by itself admirable? Answer in about 40-50 words.
Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
- Both have real talent.
- Griffin's discovery led him to steal, attack a shopkeeper and terrify Mrs Hall.
- Talent is judged by how it is used.
- Misused talent harms others and finally the person himself.
Answer: Like Griffin, Rohan has real talent but uses it selfishly. Griffin's discovery of invisibility led him to steal, attack a shopkeeper and terrify Mrs Hall. Skill alone is not admirable; what matters is how it is used. Misused talent harms others and, finally, the person himself.
Memory hook: A clever hack used to cheat is Griffin's invisibility in school uniform.
Lawlessness and selfishness
Imagine a boy in your housing society is scolded by the secretary for playing loud music late at night. That same night he lets the air out of the secretary's scooter tyres to take revenge.
How does Griffin's reaction to his landlord show where revenge of this kind leads? Answer in about 40-50 words.
Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
- Griffin's landlord disliked him and tried to eject him.
- Griffin set fire to the house in revenge.
- The result: naked, homeless, penniless, then theft.
- Link: revenge solves nothing and creates new trouble.
Answer: Griffin's landlord disliked him and tried to eject him, and Griffin set fire to the house in revenge. That one act left him naked, homeless and penniless, pushing him into theft. Similarly, the boy's petty revenge solves nothing; it creates new trouble and earns him a bad name.
Memory hook: Flat tyres or a burnt house: revenge always rolls back on you.
Fear and superstition about the unknown
Suppose steel plates clatter in your kitchen late one night and your grandmother says a spirit is wandering the house. Next morning you find paw marks on the window sill: a cat had come in.
Compare your grandmother's reaction with Mrs Hall's. What lesson does the story teach about such fears? Answer in about 40-50 words.
Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
- Mrs Hall blamed spirits when the hat and chair attacked her.
- Neighbours suspected witchcraft.
- In both cases the cause was real but unseen.
- Lesson: look for a reasonable explanation first.
Answer: Like Grandmother, Mrs Hall blamed spirits when a hat and chair attacked her, and neighbours suspected witchcraft. In both cases the cause was real but unseen: a cat, and an invisible man. The lesson is to look for a reasonable explanation before jumping to superstition.
Memory hook: Behind every 'ghost' there may be a cat, or an invisible Griffin.
Duty and the law
Imagine you are class monitor and your teacher asks you to note down everyone who left the class without permission. Your best friend is one of them and begs you to leave his name out.
What would Mr Jaffers do in your place? Justify with reference to the story. Answer in about 40-50 words.
Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
- Jaffers was not stopped even by a headless man.
- For him a warrant meant the arrest had to be made.
- Apply: record the friend's name honestly.
- Value: duty is the same for everyone; fairness earns respect.
Answer: Jaffers did not let a headless, frightening man stop him; a warrant meant the arrest had to be made. Like him, I should record my friend's name honestly. Duty applies equally to everyone, and fairness earns respect, even if it feels hard.
Memory hook: Head or no head, friend or no friend: duty is duty.
Topics in this chapter
- Griffin Character SketchComing soon
- Footprints without Feet Summary and ThemeComing soon
- Footprints without Feet Question AnswersComing soon
- Events at the Iping Inn ExplainedComing soon
- Griffin's Invisibility: Advantages and DisadvantagesComing soon
How the board asks Footprints without Feet
The question patterns to expect, and the method that works for each.
| Question type | How it is asked | Method |
|---|---|---|
| Short answer on a trait or reason (Q9, 3 marks) | A 'why' or 'how' question on Griffin, such as why he ends up leading a destructive life, or why a scientist like him is the opposite of what science should be. | In 40-50 words, answer directly in the first line, then give two pieces of text evidence (for example, the arson and the robbery of the shopkeeper). End with one line of judgement. Do not retell the whole story. |
| Short answer on an event at Iping (Q9, 3 marks) | Questions on Mrs Hall's view of Griffin, the episode in the clergyman's study, the 'haunted' furniture, or why Griffin was suspected of the burglary. | Name the event, say what happened in correct order, and explain its cause or result. For suspicion, link two clues: the burglary and his sudden cash after admitting he had none. |
| Character evaluation (Q11, 6 marks) | Evaluate Griffin as a brilliant scientist and a lawless person, or show how his brilliance fades before his darker traits. | In about 100-120 words, start with a clear judgement. Give one or two points on his brilliance, then three or four on his lawlessness, each with an event. Conclude on misuse of science. Use linking words for good expression. |
| Extrapolation: diary entry or letter as a character (Q11, 6 marks) | Imagine Griffin, or Mrs Hall, or Jaffers, writing a diary entry reflecting on the events and their lessons. | Write in the first person with a date and a suitable tone. Refer to real events from the text, such as the fire, the store, Drury Lane and Iping. Show reflection or regret, and end with a lesson. Stay within the word limit. |
| Theme and value-based (Q11, 6 marks) | Discuss the responsibility of scientists, or whether invisibility is a blessing or a curse, using Griffin's story. | State your view, support it with events (his suffering in the cold, his crimes, the panic he causes), and connect to a wider value such as using knowledge for others' good. Keep every claim tied to the text. |
| Extract questions in older papers (for practice only) | A 2024 paper set an extract from the Iping inn scene. Under the 2026-27 format, this book has no extract-based question. | Do not expect an extract in your exam. Still, reading closely helps you quote short phrases accurately in Q9 and Q11. |
Tricks to remember Footprints without Feet
Short memory aids. Say each one aloud once, then use it on a question the same day.
The route: Boys, Store, Lane, Inn
Say 'Barefoot Boys Shop in Drury Lane, then Iping'. Barefoot Boys = footprints on the London steps; Shop = the big London store; Drury Lane = the theatrical shop and the robbery; Iping = the inn.
Use it when: Use it to keep the London events in the right order in any 'trace the events' long answer.
Iping in five Cs and an H
Cash runs out, Cheque pretended, Clergyman robbed, Chair attacks, Cash suddenly appears, then Headless man and Jaffers.
Use it when: Use it to answer questions on the events at the inn without mixing up the order.
The disguise: Big Green Nose With Hat
B = Bandages round the forehead, G = dark Glasses, N = false Nose, W = bushy side-Whiskers, H = large Hat.
Use it when: Quote the disguise accurately when writing about Drury Lane or the headless-man scene.
One character, one theme
Griffin's drugs = misuse of science; the fire = lawlessness; the January cold = invisibility as a curse; Mrs Hall's chair = superstition; Jaffers's warrant = duty and the law.
Use it when: When a theme question comes, the matching character and event give you instant evidence.
Footprints without Feet: board-level solved questions
Ordered from board level to HOTS. Cover the solution, write your own, then compare step by step.
Example 1: How Griffin became invisible and was first noticed · 3 marks · Short answerBoard level
How did Griffin become invisible, and how did the two boys in London come to notice him? Answer in about 40-50 words.
Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
- Griffin carried out experiment after experiment, then swallowed certain rare drugs.
- His body became as transparent as glass, though it stayed solid.
- He was wandering naked and homeless after setting fire to his landlord's house.
- He stepped in mud, so he left bare footprints.
- Two boys saw fresh footprints appear from nowhere on a house's steps and followed them until they faded.
Answer: After carrying out many experiments, Griffin swallowed certain rare drugs, and his body became as transparent as glass, though still solid. Wandering naked after burning his landlord's house, he stepped in mud. Two boys saw bare footprints appearing from nowhere on a house's steps and followed them until they faded.
Example 2: Why Iping turned against the stranger · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level
Why was Mrs Hall ready to excuse Griffin's strange ways at first, and what made suspicion fall on him later? Answer in about 40-50 words.
Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
- Mrs Hall believed he was an eccentric scientist.
- He had paid her in advance, so she excused his strange habits and irritable temper.
- Later the stolen money ran out and he pretended to expect a cheque.
- The clergyman's money was stolen, and soon after Griffin suddenly produced cash.
- Suspicion grew and the village constable was secretly sent for.
Answer: Mrs Hall thought Griffin an eccentric scientist who had paid in advance, so she excused his irritable temper. Later his money ran out. When the clergyman's money was stolen and Griffin suddenly produced cash despite claiming to be penniless, suspicion fell on him and the constable was secretly sent for.
Example 3: Superstition meets science · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level
How did Mrs Hall and her neighbours explain the strange happenings in Griffin's room? What does their reaction suggest about how people face the unknown? Answer in about 40-50 words.
Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
- Mrs Hall was convinced the room was haunted by spirits that the stranger had made enter her furniture.
- The neighbours felt the trouble was caused by witchcraft.
- Inference: when people cannot explain something, they fall back on superstition.
- Irony: the real cause was a scientific discovery, an invisible man in the room (suggested by the sniff near her ear).
Answer: Mrs Hall believed spirits haunted the room and that the stranger had made them enter her furniture, while neighbours blamed witchcraft. This suggests that when people cannot explain something, they turn to superstition. Ironically, the real cause was science, an invisible man moving the hat and chair.
Example 4: Invisibility: more misery than power · 6 marks · Long answerHarder board level
'Griffin's invisibility brought him more misery than power.' Do you agree? Support your answer with evidence from the story in about 100-120 words.
Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
- Clear stand: agree.
- He was left homeless, penniless and naked in the bitter mid-winter cold of London.
- In the London store he had to throw off his new clothes and run when the assistants arrived.
- To be seen in public he needed a disguise of bandages, dark glasses and a false nose, which set tongues wagging at Iping.
- His power was used only for crime: robbing and attacking a shopkeeper, frightening Mrs Hall.
- He wanted solitude but got suspicion, a constable and a chase.
- Conclusion: his gift became a curse because he never used it for good.
Answer: I agree. Griffin's discovery left him homeless, penniless and shivering naked in the bitter mid-winter cold of London. To stay warm he hid in a big store, but when assistants arrived next morning he panicked, threw off his new clothes and fled. To appear in public, he needed a ridiculous disguise of bandages, dark glasses and a false nose, which made him an object of gossip at Iping. His invisibility gave him power only to steal, to attack a shopkeeper and to frighten Mrs Hall. Instead of the solitude he wanted, he faced suspicion, a constable and a crowd crying 'Hold him!' Thus his gift became a curse, because he never used it for any good purpose.
Example 5: The one quality Griffin lacked · 3 marks · Short answerHOTS / competency
Suppose Griffin had possessed just one more good quality. Which quality might have saved him from becoming a hunted man? Justify your choice from the story in about 40-50 words.
Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
- Name one quality clearly, e.g. self-control.
- Evidence 1: he set fire to his landlord's house in revenge, which left him naked and homeless.
- Evidence 2: his fury at Mrs Hall's questions made him throw off his disguise and expose himself.
- Evaluation: a calmer Griffin could have shared his discovery and earned respect.
Answer: Self-control might have saved Griffin. When his landlord tried to evict him, he burnt the house in revenge, which left him naked and homeless. At Iping, his fury at Mrs Hall made him expose himself. A calmer Griffin could have explained his discovery and earned respect instead of a warrant.
Example 6: Jaffers's diary after the struggle · 6 marks · Long answerHOTS / competency
Imagine you are Mr Jaffers, the Iping constable. After regaining consciousness, you write a diary entry describing your attempt to arrest the stranger and your thoughts about him. Write it in about 100-120 words.
Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
- Diary format: day/time line, first person, signed name at the end.
- He came to arrest the stranger suspected of the clergyman's burglary.
- He found a headless man who had thrown off bandages, whiskers, spectacles and nose.
- Sense of duty: a warrant had to be carried out, head or no head.
- The stranger vanished garment by garment; a shirt flew up and he fought an unseen man.
- Helpers were hit by blows from nowhere; he was knocked unconscious and the man escaped.
- Reflection: cleverness used for crime is dangerous.
Answer: Evening, the day of the arrest
What a day! I was called to the inn to arrest the stranger suspected of robbing the clergyman. When I arrived, the man had thrown off his bandages, whiskers, spectacles and even his nose. He had no head at all! Still, a warrant is a warrant, so I tried to hold him. As he tore off garment after garment, he vanished bit by bit, until a shirt flew up and I was wrestling with thin air. Blows rained on those who helped me. I clung on till I was knocked senseless. He escaped, but I did my duty. Such cleverness, used for crime, is a danger to everyone.
Jaffers
Where the marks are
How a typical answer is marked: the value points the examiner looks for and the marks each earns.
What happened when Mr and Mrs Hall entered Griffin's room, and how did Mrs Hall explain it? Answer in about 40-50 words. (3 marks)
| Step | Marks |
|---|---|
| Content: door unusually open; room empty, bedclothes cold, clothes and bandages lying about; a sniff, the hat dashed into her face, the chair charged and pushed them out, door locked | 1 |
| Content: Mrs Hall believed spirits haunted the room and the stranger had made them enter her furniture; grief about her mother's chair | 1 |
| Expression: clear, connected sentences within 40-50 words | 1 |
| Accuracy: up to 1 mark deducted for errors of spelling and grammar | 0 |
How did Griffin's own behaviour at Iping lead to his exposure as an invisible man? Answer in about 100-120 words. (6 marks)
| Step | Marks |
|---|---|
| Content: odd arrival and disguise set tongues wagging; desire for solitude; locked room, irritable temper | 1 |
| Content: money ran out, pretended cheque; clergyman's burglary and sudden cash made him a suspect; constable sent for | 1 |
| Content: furniture episode; Mrs Hall's questions made him furious; he threw off his disguise and showed a headless man | 1 |
| Expression: organisation and coherence of ideas | 1 |
| Expression: fluency and suitable vocabulary, within 100-120 words | 1 |
| Accuracy: spelling, grammar and punctuation | 1 |
Where students lose marks in Footprints without Feet
The slips examiners see most often, and what to write instead.
Mistake: Putting the fire in the wrong place
Students mix the London landlord with the Iping inn.
Wrong working
Griffin set fire to Mrs Hall's inn because she asked too many questions.
Right working
Griffin set fire to his London landlord's house in revenge, because the landlord disliked him and tried to eject him.
Do this: Remember: the fire is at the very start, in London, before he becomes a wanderer.
Usually costs: Can cost 1 mark of Content in a 3-mark answer.
Mistake: Saying Griffin was arrested
Students assume the constable succeeds because he is so determined.
Wrong working
In the end Jaffers arrested Griffin and took him to the magistrate.
Right working
Jaffers was knocked unconscious; Griffin shook himself free and no one knew where he was.
Do this: The story ends with Griffin escaping. Praise Jaffers's effort, not a success he never had.
Usually costs: Can cost 1 mark of Content and weaken a character sketch of Jaffers.
Mistake: Giving events to the wrong character
The clergyman's study and Mrs Hall's bedroom both involve an unseen presence.
Wrong working
The clergyman was pushed out of the room by a flying chair.
Right working
The clergyman found his study empty and money missing; it was Mrs Hall and her husband whom the chair pushed out.
Do this: Study = clergyman, poker, 'Extraordinary affair!'. Bedroom = Mrs Hall, hat, chair, her mother.
Usually costs: Can cost 1 mark of Content.
Mistake: Retelling the story instead of answering
Students write everything they remember rather than what the question asks.
Wrong working
Griffin swallowed drugs, went to a store, went to Drury Lane, went to Iping... (for a question on his character)
Right working
Griffin is selfish and violent: he callously attacked the Drury Lane shopkeeper from behind and robbed him.
Do this: Lead with the trait or judgement, then give one event as proof. Every sentence must serve the question.
Usually costs: Can cost 1-2 marks of Content in a 6-mark answer.
Mistake: Going far over the word limit
Students think a longer answer earns more marks.
Wrong working
A 90-word answer to a 40-50 word question, repeating points.
Right working
Two or three precise value points in 40-50 words.
Do this: Count your words while practising. Cut repeated ideas and long introductions.
Usually costs: Can cost the Expression mark, and wastes time needed for other questions.
Footprints without Feet: previous year questions
- Asked in 10 of the 21 board papers we hold (2023 to 2026), on average 2.7 marks per paper; 10 questions in all, counting OR alternatives. In 0 of 4 sample papers.
Counted from the real papers on our previous year papers page, not estimated. Average marks are over every board paper we hold, with an OR pair counted once. Chapter tags are ours.
Solved board questions from Footprints without Feet
Real questions from recent papers. Try each one first, then open our step-by-step solution with marks per step.
2026, set 2/5/1, Q9 · 6 marks · Short answer
Answer any two of the following three questions, in about 40-50 words each. (2 × 3 = 6)
- (i)3 marks
Why does Griffin, despite his scientific genius, end up leading a destructive life? (Footprints Without Feet)
- (ii)3 marks
Why does Horace Danby consider himself an honest man despite being a thief? How does this self-perception affect his decision in the story? (A Question of Trust)
- (iii)3 marks
In ‘A Triumph of Surgery’, how does Tricki’s condition reflect the consequences of pampering pets excessively? What does this suggest about human attachment?
Try it first, then show our solutionSolution
- 3 marks
(i) Griffin misuses his invisibility for crime and revenge. He robs people and attacks those who oppose him. Despite his brilliance he lacks ethics, empathy and responsibility. His pride makes him arrogant and lawless, so his genius becomes self-destructive.
- 3 marks
(ii) Horace Danby steals only from the rich, only once a year, to buy rare books, and otherwise lives respectably as a locksmith. He thinks he harms no one. This self-justification clouds his judgement, and his habit takes him to Shotover Grange, where the police catch him.
- 3 marks
(iii) Tricki becomes extremely sick because Mrs Pumphrey never says no to his food demands. This shows that over-indulgence harms instead of helping. It suggests that human attachment, when uncontrolled, turns into blind pampering, and care needs discipline and firmness.
Answer: Any two of (i)-(iii) answered; all three are given above.
Where the marks are
- Two relevant value points with textual evidence per answer (2 marks each)
- Expression: clear, coherent writing per answer (1 mark each)
- Any two answers attempted (6 marks)
2024, set 2/4/1, Q6(b) · 5 marks · Reading comprehensionCompetency-based
Read the following extract and answer the questions.
The arrival of a stranger at an inn in winter was in any case an unusual event. A stranger of such uncommon appearance set all tongues wagging. Mrs. Hall, the landlord's wife, made every effort to be friendly. But Griffin had no desire to talk, and told her, "My reason for coming to Iping is a desire for solitude. I do not wish to be disturbed in my work. Besides, an accident has affected my face." Satisfied that her guest was an eccentric scientist, and in view of the fact that he had paid her in advance, Mrs. Hall was prepared to excuse his strange habits and irritable temper.
(Footprints Without Feet)
- (i)1 mark
State any one inference about Griffin from the given context: "My reason for coming to Iping is a desire for solitude. I do not wish to be disturbed in my work. Besides, an accident has affected my face."
- (ii)1 mark
State True or False: Even though Mrs. Hall was satisfied with Griffin, she was skeptical to excuse his strange habits and irritable temper.
- (iii)2 marks
It was not difficult for Griffin to convince the landlord and his wife about his strange appearance and eccentric behaviour. Elaborate in about 40 words with reference to the context.
- (iv)1 mark
Which phrase would correctly substitute 'set all tongues wagging' in the given sentence from the extract? A stranger of such uncommon appearance ____________.
Try it first, then show our solutionSolution
- 1 mark
(i) Any one inference: Griffin was secretive, unfriendly and a loner who wished to avoid people and hide his identity.
- 1 mark
(ii) False. Mrs. Hall was ready to excuse his strange habits and temper.
- 2 marks
(iii) Griffin said he wanted solitude for his work and that an accident had affected his face, which explained his appearance. He also paid rent in advance, so Mrs. Hall took him for an eccentric scientist and excused his behaviour.
- 1 mark
(iv) ...became a source of gossip/rumour/idle speculation among people.
Answer: (i) Griffin was secretive and wanted to avoid people; (ii) False; (iii) accident story, wish for solitude and advance payment convinced them; (iv) became a source of gossip
Where the marks are
- (i) Valid inference (1 mark)
- (ii) False (1 mark)
- (iii) Any two points with reference to context (2 marks)
- (iv) Gossip/rumour phrase (1 mark)
Every Footprints without Feet question, by year
Practice questions on Footprints without Feet
Write each answer on paper first. Open the hint only if you are stuck, and the answer only when you have finished.
Q1 · 3 marks · Short answerBoard level
What did Griffin do inside the big London store, and why did he have to flee from it? Answer in about 40-50 words.
Hint
Think of three stages: getting in, the night inside, and the next morning.
Answer
Value points: slipped in for warmth because it was mid-winter; after closing broke open boxes, took warm clothes, shoes, overcoat, wide-brimmed hat; ate cold meat, coffee, sweets and wine; slept on quilts; woke late, panicked when assistants came, escaped only by taking the clothes off.
Model answer: Griffin slipped into a London store for warmth. After closing time, he broke open boxes, put on warm clothes, an overcoat and a hat, and ate cold meat, sweets and wine. He overslept, and when assistants arrived next morning, he panicked and escaped only by removing the clothes.
Q2 · 3 marks · Short answerBoard level
Describe the 'curious episode' in the clergyman's study. Why did it seem so extraordinary? Answer in about 40-50 words.
Hint
The room looked empty, but something proved a thief had been there.
Answer
Value points: early morning, clergyman and wife heard the chink of money; he flung open the door with a poker; room appeared empty; they searched under the desk, behind curtains, up the chimney; desk open and housekeeping money missing; an unseen thief.
Model answer: Early one morning, a clergyman and his wife heard money chinking in the study. Gripping a poker, the clergyman flung open the door, but the room seemed empty, even up the chimney. Yet the desk was open and money missing. It was extraordinary because an unseen thief had robbed them.
Q3 · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level
What qualities of Mr Jaffers does the arrest scene bring out? Answer in about 40-50 words.
Hint
Look at what he believed about a magistrate's warrant and how the struggle ended for him.
Answer
Value points: surprised but not put off by a headless man; firm sense of duty (warrant must be obeyed, with or without a head); brave struggle with an unseen opponent; persistent till knocked unconscious.
Model answer: Jaffers is dutiful and brave. Though surprised to face a headless man, he believed that a person named in a magistrate's warrant must be arrested, head or no head. He kept struggling with an unseen opponent and held on till he was knocked unconscious, showing courage and determination.
Q4 · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level
Why did Griffin go to Drury Lane, and what does his conduct there reveal about him? Answer in about 40-50 words.
Hint
He needed more than clothes this time. Then notice the word the writer uses for his attack.
Answer
Value points: Drury Lane was the centre of the theatre world; he wanted clothes and something to hide the empty space above his shoulders; took bandages, dark glasses, false nose, side-whiskers, hat; callously attacked the shopkeeper from behind and robbed him; reveals cruelty and selfishness.
Model answer: Griffin went to Drury Lane, the centre of the theatre world, hoping to find clothes and something to hide the empty space above his shoulders. He disguised himself with bandages, dark glasses and a false nose, then callously attacked the shopkeeper and robbed him, revealing his cruelty and selfishness.
Q5 · 6 marks · Long answerHarder board level
Write a character sketch of Mrs Hall in about 100-120 words, with evidence from the story.
Hint
Give each trait one event: her welcome, her tolerance, the open door, the chair, the confrontation.
Answer
Value points: friendly and hospitable; practical (tolerates temper because he paid in advance); curious (peeps into the open room); superstitious (spirits in the furniture); emotional (her mother's chair); bold (confronts Griffin herself).
Model answer: Mrs Hall, the landlord's wife at the Iping inn, is friendly and hospitable. She tries hard to be pleasant to the odd stranger, though he refuses to talk. She is also practical: since Griffin is an eccentric scientist who has paid in advance, she tolerates his irritable temper. Like any curious villager, she and her husband cannot resist peeping into his room when they find the door open. Her terror when the hat and chair attack her shows she is superstitious; she believes spirits haunt the room. Her grief that her mother's chair has turned against her shows her emotional side. Finally, she shows courage by confronting Griffin herself instead of waiting for the constable.
Q6 · 6 marks · Long answerHarder board level
Trace how one wrong act led to another in Griffin's journey from his landlord's house in London to his exposure at Iping. Answer in about 100-120 words.
Hint
Build a chain: each crime solves one problem and creates the next.
Answer
Value points: revenge fire leaves him naked and penniless; cold drives him into the store; flees naked again; disguise and robbery at Drury Lane; money runs out at Iping, fake cheque; clergyman's money vanishes, sudden cash; suspicion, exposure, chase.
Model answer: Griffin's troubles begin with revenge. When his landlord tries to eject him, he sets fire to the house and must strip to escape unseen, becoming a naked, penniless wanderer. The bitter cold drives him into a London store, where he helps himself to clothes and food. Caught napping, he flees naked again. Next, at a Drury Lane shop, he takes a disguise, attacks the shopkeeper and robs him. At Iping, the stolen money soon runs out, so he pretends to expect a cheque. Then the clergyman's money vanishes and Griffin suddenly has cash. Each crime solves one problem but creates a bigger one, until he is exposed and hunted.
Q7 · 3 marks · Short answerHOTS / competency
Suppose a medicine could make you invisible for a day. Would you take it? Give reasons, drawing on Griffin's experience. Answer in about 40-50 words.
Hint
Take a clear stand, then weigh one advantage against what invisibility did to Griffin.
Answer
Value points: clear stand; Griffin was cold, naked, homeless; needed a disguise to be seen; invisibility tempted him into theft and violence; a balanced judgement.
Model answer: I would not take it. Griffin's invisibility left him cold, naked and homeless, forcing him to hide behind bandages and a false nose. It also tempted him into theft and violence. Invisibility might help in a few situations, but it isolates a person and makes wrongdoing too easy.
Q8 · 6 marks · Long answerHOTS / competency
Your school is holding a debate on the motion 'A scientist must also be a good human being.' Write a speech supporting the motion, using Griffin as your main example. Answer in about 100-120 words.
Hint
Praise his genius first, then list what he did with it, then draw the lesson.
Answer
Value points: greeting and stand; Griffin's genius (experiment after experiment); misuse: fire, robbery, attack, frightening Mrs Hall, knocking out Jaffers; result: a hunted man; lesson: character decides how knowledge is used; closing.
Model answer: Good morning, everyone. I support the motion that a scientist must also be a good human being. Consider Griffin, a brilliant scientist who made the human body transparent after experiment after experiment. Yet his genius brought only harm. He burnt his landlord's house in revenge, robbed and attacked a shopkeeper, frightened Mrs Hall and knocked a constable unconscious. His discovery could have amazed the world; instead, it made him a hunted outlaw. Knowledge is like fire: it can cook food or burn a house. What decides its use is the character of the person holding it. So, along with intelligence, a scientist needs honesty, kindness and respect for the law. Thank you.
Test your recall
Answer in your head or on paper first, then open the card. Pulling an answer out of memory makes it stick far better than re-reading.
1.Where did the two boys first see the bare footprints?Show answer
On the steps of a house in the middle of London.
2.How did Griffin make himself invisible?Show answer
After experiment after experiment, he swallowed certain rare drugs; his body became transparent as glass but stayed solid.
3.Why did Griffin set fire to his landlord's house?Show answer
In revenge: the landlord disliked him and tried to eject him.
4.Why did Griffin go to Drury Lane?Show answer
It was the centre of the theatre world; he hoped to find clothes and something to hide the empty space above his shoulders.
5.What reason did Griffin give Mrs Hall for coming to Iping?Show answer
"My reason for coming to Iping is a desire for solitude." He also said an accident had affected his face.
6.Who kept saying "Extraordinary affair!" and why?Show answer
The clergyman, because his study seemed empty yet the desk was open and the housekeeping money was missing.
7.What made the village strongly suspect Griffin of the burglary?Show answer
He suddenly produced ready cash, though not long before he had admitted he had no money.
8.How does the story end?Show answer
Jaffers is knocked unconscious while trying to hold the unseen scientist, and Griffin shakes himself free.
Quick revision checklist
The night before the exam: can you do each of these without looking?
- Can you name the four places Griffin goes, in order: London steps, store, Drury Lane, Iping?
- Can you list the five parts of his Drury Lane disguise without looking?
- Can you explain why Mrs Hall first excused his irritable temper (two reasons)?
- Can you describe the clergyman's study episode in three sentences?
- Can you tell the hat-and-chair episode and say whom Mrs Hall and the neighbours blamed?
- Can you say what Jaffers believed about a magistrate's warrant, and what happened to him?
- Can you give one event as proof for each theme: misuse of science, lawlessness, curse of invisibility, superstition, duty?
- Can you write a 40-50 word answer on Griffin's character that starts with a trait, not a retelling?
Footprints without Feet: frequently asked questions
What is the summary of Footprints without Feet in short?
Griffin, a brilliant scientist, makes himself invisible by swallowing rare drugs. He burns his landlord's house, steals from a London store, robs a theatrical shopkeeper and goes to the village of Iping. There he steals from a clergyman, frightens Mrs Hall and, when exposed, beats off the constable Jaffers and escapes.
Why is Griffin called a lawless person?
He breaks the law again and again without guilt. He sets fire to his landlord's house in revenge, steals clothes and food, attacks and robs a shopkeeper, steals the clergyman's money and knocks out a policeman. He uses his discovery only for his own selfish ends.
Why was the story titled Footprints without Feet?
The story begins with two boys seeing muddy footprints appear on steps with no visible feet or person. The prints belong to the invisible Griffin. The title captures the mystery of invisibility and the idea of a man who leaves marks but cannot be seen.
Why did Mrs Hall think Griffin was an eccentric scientist?
He wore bandages and a disguise, refused to talk, and said he wanted solitude for his work. He also had strange habits and an irritable temper. Since he had paid in advance, she was ready to excuse him as an odd scientist.
Why did the villagers suspect Griffin of the burglary?
Griffin had admitted he had no more ready cash and claimed he was waiting for a cheque. Soon after the clergyman's housekeeping money disappeared, he suddenly produced some ready cash. This made the villagers strongly suspect him, and the constable was secretly sent for.
What is the message of Footprints without Feet?
The story suggests that knowledge and power must be used responsibly. Griffin's genius brings him nothing but trouble because he misuses it for revenge, theft and violence. A great discovery becomes harmful when the person behind it has no sense of right and wrong.
Based on: CBSE English Language and Literature syllabus 2026-27; NCERT Footprints without Feet (Reprint 2026-27), Footprints without Feet