On the Face of It

1. Who is Mr. Lamb? How does Derry get into his garden?
Mr. Lamb is an old man who lived in a big house with a huge and beautiful garden. He had
lost one of his legs due to a bomb explosion and it had now been replaced with a tin leg. He
liked to talk to people and make them his friends, and so, he kept the gates of his garden
always open. Derry was a fourteen-year-old boy who was low on self-esteem and liked to
stay alone. Considering the garden to be empty, he jumped over the wall to hide away from
the rest of the world

2. This is a play featuring an old man and a small boy meeting in the former’s garden. The
old man strikes up a friendship with the boy who is very withdrawn and defiant. What
is the bond that unites the two?
Derry jumped over the wall and sneaked into the garden of Mr. Lamb. He did not want to be
noticed by anyone. His burnt and distorted face made him want to run away from the society.
On the other hand, Mr. Lamb who had a tin leg was a topic of mockery for everyone. People
came to sit in the beauty of his garden, ate apples, pears and toffees, yet he was a non-entity
for them. Thus, although different, both Derry and Mr. Lamb were bound by a single cord.
The old man was able to understand the lonely boy’s feelings because he himself was lonely,
living in a huge but ‘empty’ house. Also, he could make out the reason behind this loneliness
very easily, which was their deformed body part. Derry was told by many to look at the
positive side but he was not able to overcome his grief and self-contempt. However, when
Mr. Lamb said the same, Derry noticed the different perspective and the underlying empathy
which brought him closer to Lamey-Lamb.
3. Do you think all this will change Derry’s attitude towards Mr. Lamb?
Derry’s burnt face made him the center of ridicule. Although people sympathized with him, it
was never a heartfelt one. This resulted in his pessimistic approach towards life. He thought
that everyone detested and despised him. On the contrary, Mr. Lamb did not show any pity
towards him. He considered Derry to be his equal and welcomed him in his garden. He helped
the boy to love and live life happily without any contempt for his own self. Derry had initially
considered the old man to be like others, but he gradually started respecting and liking him
for what he said.
4. What is it that draws Derry towards Mr. Lamb in spite of himself?
Derry was a young boy whose half of the face had been disfigured by acid. His shattered self-
confidence did not allow him to face the world. As a result, he tried to be only in secluded
places. Mr. Lamb did not show any dislike or horror at the way Derry looked, which surprised
him. Although Derry wanted to leave the garden the moment he noticed that he was not
alone, the old man’s interesting and “peculiar” conversation kept him glued. Also, Derry
noticed that like him, the old man also had a disfigured body part which attracted mockery.
Yet, he did not give in and was living his life happily. Mr. Lamb spoke words of encouragement,
hope and zest for life, which no one had ever spoken to him. He makes the boy aware of his
physical strength and explains the importance of emotional well-being. This realization draws
him closer to the old man.
5. 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?
Although the loneliness of Derry dominates the play, there are evident traces of Mr. Lamb’s
loneliness throughout the first scene of the play. The old man says that having heard the bees
for a “long time” he knows that they “sing”, not buzz. It not only depicts how his perception
was different from others but also illustrates that he was lonely and that he did not have any
one to be with. Another evidence of his loneliness is the fact that whole day he sat in the sun
and read books. This proves that books were his only true friends. He says that his “empty
house” is full of books, underlining the way in which the void of his empty life was filled in by
books. By the end of this scene, it becomes even clearer that he is lonely and sad when he
mutters to himself that no one comes back to him after the first meeting. Likewise, he did not
expect Derry to return. He was so sure that Derry would never return that he climbed the
ladder to collect all the apples himself, although Derry had offered to help him after informing
his mother. Ironically, the old man would have died unnoticed if Derry had not returned to fill
the emptiness of his own life.
6. 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?
A person with any physical impairment can live life with respect and honour, if he is not
ridiculed and punished with heartless pity. He expects empathy rather than sympathy. If
everyone looks down at him with a pessimistic approach, he may never be able to come out
of his sorrow, and consequently, recline to his own secluded world. He is already in
tremendous mental and emotional pressure. So, he expects others to be understanding
rather than remind him of his disability. In the play, Derry and Mr. Lamb, both are caught in a
similar situation. Mr. Lamb, as an adult, is able to cope with such problems, but Derry, being
a child, is not able to untangle this web alone. He develops a strong liking for this old man
because he spoke the words a person, with such problem, would want to hear.
7. 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?
The brief association of Derry with Mr. Lamb boosted his self-confidence and helped him to
respect his own self. The manner in which the old man made Derry realize the importance of
his being self-dependent, of respecting himself and of holding on to hope helped Derry
undergo a remarkable change. The new found self-esteem makes him tell his mother that his
looks are not important. It is not likely that the death of Mr. Lamb would take him back to his
secluded life. This big change is definitely here to stay and would not be undone due to
setbacks.
8. Use your imagination to suggest another ending to the above story.
This story could have had another ending where, after falling, Mr. Lamb gets seriously injured
and Derry calls an ambulance and takes him to a hospital. When his mother comes to know
of the accident, she allows Derry to take care of him in the hospital as well as after being
discharged. While his stay with the old man, he reads his books, takes care of the garden and
makes “friends” for life which changes his perspective to life completely. Later, he befriends
a boy whose father is a plastic surgeon, who operates on him and makes his life return to
normal.
(The above answer is only a sample provided for students' reference. It is strongly
recommended that students prepare the answer on their own.)

Important Questions
Short Answer Type Questions (3-4 Marks)

Question 1.
What qualities of Mr. Lamb attracted Derry to him?
Answer:
Derry suffers from a terrible complex. But his meeting with Mr. Lamb is a turning
point in his life. He gives confidence to Derry and encourages him to develop a
positive attitude towards life. Derry’s life now has a new meaning and purpose and
for this all the credit goes to Mr. Lamb’s motivation and words of encouragement.

Question 2.
What did Derry’s mother think of Mr. Lamb?

Answer:
Derry’s mother did not think very highly of Mr. Lamb and claimed to have heard not
really good things about him. She had been told and warned by people about Mr.
Lamb and so she tells Derry not to go back to him. She also tried to hold him back
but he does go back to Mr. Lamb.

Question 3.
What consolation did people give when they saw his acid burnt face?

Answer:
Derry’s face was burnt by acid on one side. When people saw Derry’s acid burnt face,
they tried to console him by telling him fairy tales. They said that it was not
important what he looked like. Derry knew that people lied and showed sympathy
only to comfort him and that he would not change and would continue to look like a
‘monstrous beast’.
Question 4.
Mr. Lamb told Derry the story of a man who hid himself in his room. Why did the man
do so and with what result?

Mr. Lamb told Derry the incident of a timid man who hid himself in his room and
refused to come out lest he should meet some fatal accident. But ironically, he died
in his room itself because a picture hanging on the wall fell off it, landed on his head
and killed him.

Question 5.
Why does Mr. Lamb leave his gate always open?

Answer:
Mr. Lamb always keeps his gate open because he does not mind strangers entering
his house, He is an extremely social person and is ever ready to welcome anyone
who enters his garden.

Question 6.
How does Mr. Lamb keep himself busy when it is a bit cool?
Answer:
When it gets a bit cool Mr. Lamb pulls down the ripe crab apples from the trees with
the help of a ladder and a stick. He then makes jelly from them as that is a good time
of the year to pick and make jelly out of orange and golden crab apples.

Question 7.
What peculiar things does Derry notice about the old man, Lamb?
Answer:
Derry thinks that the old man. Mr. Lamb, is peculiar and says peculiar things. Derry
notices that although Mr. Lamb talks about his friends he has not seen anyone
visiting the old man, who lives all by himself. Even when he asks Mr. Lamb to name
his friends, Mr. Lamb fails to give him any name. Mr. Lamb refuses to admit his
loneliness. Also, he asks Derry questions he does not understand. There are no
curtains at the windows in his house. He likes the light and darkness and hears the
wind with the window open.

Question 8.
Who was Derry? What did he suffer from?

Answer:
Derry is a complex-ridden fourteen-year-old boy. He is a victim of inferiority complex
after acid accidently spilled and burnt one side of his face. His handicap has filled
him with bitterness and so Derry suffers more on account of the pain that his own
views of how everyone hates him, causes him.
Question 9.
If you were to give a different ending to the story, ‘On the Face of It’ how would you
end it?

Answer:
I would rather want the story ‘On the Face of It’ to end with a happy reunion between
Mr. Lamb and Derry wherein the two become good friends with one another. Mr.
Lamb should continue to influence Derry positively and put him in a position where
he is able to befriend others despite his handicap.

Question 10.
As told by Mr. Lamb, why did a man lock himself up in his room and what happened
to him?
Answer:
The man locked himself up in his room as he was afraid of everything in this world.
So, he went into his room and locked the door, got into his bed and stayed there.
Finally, a picture fell off the wall on to his head and killed him.

Question 11.
In what sense is the friendship between Mr. Lamb and Derry fruitful?

After his meeting with Mr. Lamb, Derry is gradually able to shed his complexes and
rediscover the joys of life. Mr. Lamb gives confidence and motivates him to move
forward in life. Derry’s short interaction with Mr. Lamb leaves an indelible imprint on
the young boy’s mind and his attitude towards life undergoes a drastic change.

Question 12.
Why did Mr. Lamb help Derry?
Answer:
Mr. Lamb and Derry are united by the bond of loneliness and alienation they share on
account of their physical disabilities. Mr. Lamb lost a leg in the war and has a tin leg
while Derry has an acid burn on one side of his face. Mr. Lamb inspires Derry by
telling him not to focus on the shortcomings of life and his handicap and instead he
should try to enjoy the blessings of life. He persuades him to develop a positive
attitude and move forward in life.

Question 13.
Why did Derry insist that he would go back to Mr. Lamb?
Answer:
Derry insisted that he would go back to Mr. Lamb as he opened a new world of
thought and wisdom for Derry. Derry was comfortable and happy in Mr. Lamb’s
company and completely forgot his handicap. He felt he too could live an
independent life as he had all his faculties intact.
Question 14.
How did Derry’s handicap damage his life?
Answer:
Due to his handicap, his burnt face, Derry suffered from an acute lack of self-regard
and rejection. He did not like being with people because they constantly reminded
him of his ugliness and so he stayed away from them. He felt he was too ugly to be
liked and loved by anyone so he became a recluse.

Question 15.
Why does Derry stay away from people?
Answer:
Derry suffers from an acute sense of complex after one side of his face got burnt by
acid. He stays away from people who constantly remind him of his ugliness. He does
not like to see people shirking from him because he is ugly. He feels rejected and
unwanted.

Question 16.
What does Mr. lamb try to tell Derry through the example of a weed and a flower?
Answer:
Through the example of a weed and a flower Mr. Lamb speaks against
discrimination and the futility of appearance. He tells Derry that people should have
a broader perception and positive attitude towards life. He does not want Derry to
feel an outcast so he says all living things are the same and should be given respect.

Question 17.
How does Mr. Lamb react when Derry enters his garden?
Answer:
Mr. Lamb realizes that Derry is startled by his presence in the garden. So, he tries to
pacify the young lad with his reassuring and kind words. He tells Derry that he does
not mind strangers entering his garden and so Derry should not be afraid of
anything.

Long Answer Type Questions (5-6 Marks)

Question 19.
How did Mr. Lamb try to give courage and confidence to Derry?

Answer:
Derry suffers from an acute sense of self-hatred and rejection because of his burnt
face. He feels he is very ugly because of which no one will ever love him. Mr. Lamb
too has heard Derry only complain and bemoan about himself. He feels very sad to
see a fourteen-year-old boy giving up on life just because of his physical disability.
Mr. Lamb at first startles Derry with his strange talk. He tells Derry he is interested in
everything created by God. His encouraging words have a magical effect on Derry.
Mr. Lamb’s conversation that everyone and everything is essentially the same, the
notion of beauty is relative and his concept of the world and friendship baffle but
appeal to Derry and he gets fascinated by the old man. Slowly he sheds his complex
about his ugliness and rediscovers the joys of life.

Question 20.
The lesson, ‘On the Face of It’, is an apt depiction of the loneliness and sense of
alienation experienced by people on account of a disability. Explain.
Answer:
The lesson ‘On the Face of It’ aptly depicts the loneliness and sense of alienation
experienced by Derry and Mr. Lamb on account of a disability. The actual pain and
inconvenience caused by the disabilities is often much less than the sense of
alienation felt by the disabled person. Derry suffered from severe negative
complexes because of his burnt face. He became a pessimistic loner who indulged
in self-pity and was always suspicious of the intention of others. His anger and
frustration made him withdrawn and an introvert. Mr. Lamb, on the other hand, was
inwardly a loner who craved for company and acceptance. Though outwardly he was
always jovial, outgoing and optimistic, he was an extremely sensitive person. Derry
and Mr. Lamb’s physical disabilities caused pain and suffering not only to their body
but also to their mind and soul.

Question 21.
How did Mr. Lamb’s meeting with Derry become a turning point in Derry’s life?
Answer:
Derry, a complex-stricken lad of fourteen, is a victim of inferiority complex which is
borne out of a misinterpretation of himself and the world. He suffers from an acute
sense of self-hatred and rejection due to his burnt face and this leads him to total
alienation. Mr. Lamb too has a disability, a tin leg, but he never allows his handicap
to interfere with the pace and pleasure of his life. Mr. Lamb’s meeting with Derry
brings a turning point in the latter’s life. He gives Derry confidence and persuades
him to develop a positive attitude towards life. His message to Derry is very clear.
Alienation and withdrawal is not the solution. Derry believes in running away from
people but Mr. Lamb lives among people. Derry’s brief association with Mr. Lamb
proves to be quite rewarding. Mr. Lamb teaches him a new perspective of looking at
life, people and things. Derry decides never to get back to his old seclusion. His burnt
face will no longer interfere with his self-respect, poise and confidence. He will
gradually learn to find his place in the mainstream of life. Mr. Lamb helps Derry
rediscover himself and gives a new meaning to his life. Now Derry wants to leave his
handicap behind, forge ahead in life and live life to the fullest.

Question 22.
What is the bond that unites the two—the old Mr. Lamb and Derry, the small boy?
How does the old man inspire the small boy?
Answer:
The bond that unites Mr. Lamb and Derry is the loneliness and alienation they
experience on account of their physical disabilities. Mr. Lamb lost a leg in the war
and has a tin leg while Derry has an acid bum on one cheek which gives him an ugly
appearance. The actual pain and inconvenience caused by a disability is often much
less than the sense of estrangement felt by a disabled person. But, unlike Derry, Mr.
Lamb always maintains a positive attitude towards life and is a downright extrovert.

Mr. Lamb inspires Derry by telling him not to focus on the shortcomings of life and
his handicap and instead he should try to enjoy the blessings of life. He tells him to
be thankful to God for two arms, two legs, two eyes and ears, a tongue and a brain
and advises him to be friendly with everyone around him. Mr. Lamb’s inexplicable
words of wisdom inspire Derry and towards the end of the story we see him rushing
back to Mr. Lamb’s Garden to adopt the attitude and path that have been shown by
him. Derry’s long conversation with Mr. Lamb helps him overcome his inferiority
complex and poor self-esteem.

Question 23.
Derry said, “It (acid) ate me up.” How did this fact affect his attitude towards life?
Answer:
Derry’s attitude towards life becomes totally bitter after the acid bums one side of
his face. He suffers from a sense of alienation, low self-esteem and self-rejection.
Derry’s suffering is further aggravated by the feeling that he is unwanted and no one
loves him. His behaviour also results from people’s indifference, lack of concern and
compassion for physically impaired people. He feels their words of sympathy lack
genuineness and so he feels very hurt when they unwittingly remind him of his
impairment. Derry always remains very conscious of his handicap. He says that no
one will ever love him because he will continue to look ugly. He does not like Mr.
Lamb’s sermonizing as he feels that it or anything else cannot change the ugliness
of his face. Thus, Derry feels a terrible sense of frustration and loneliness due to his
severely burnt face.

Question 24.
What benefits did Derry reap from his association with Mr. Lamb?
Answer:
Derry reaped many benefits from his association with Mr. Lamb. He was able to get
rid of the habit of self-pity. He started understanding others’ perspective and
admired Mr. Lamb’s views of life and his outlook on life. Derry understood that his
physical handicap, his acid-burnt face was not the only important thing, there were
other important things in life. Derry became more confident of himself. He learnt to
appreciate nature and his
surroundings and to think objectively. He stopped paying attention to what people
thought of him. Mr. Lamb advised Derry to wait, watch and listen and to try to know
himself. All this helped Derry to overcome his complex and face the world
confidently.

Question 25.
Both Derry and Lamb are physically impaired and lonely. It is the responsibility of
society to understand and support people with infirmities so that they do not suffer
from a sense of alienation. As a responsible citizen, write in about 100 words what
you would do to bring about a change in the lives of such people.
Answer:
As a responsible citizen it is my responsibility towards society to understand and
support people with infirmities. I will always try to be supportive and considerate
towards them. I will treat them as equals and encourage them to take part in all
activities. It will be my endeavour to ensure that they do not suffer from a sense of
alienation and I will also advocate inclusive education for them. Campaigning for
their social acceptance, I will raise hope and encouragement for their empowerment.
It is the duty of each one of us to bring about a change in the lives of people who are
physically impaired and lonely.

Question 26.
What change took place in Derry when he met Mr. Lamb?
Answer:
Mr. Lamb’s meeting with Derry a complex- stricken lad with a burnt face becomes a
turning point in Derry’s life. Mr. Lamb teaches Derry to look positively at the world
and love and admire everything he sees and hears. He encourages Derry to make
friends with people and not to be bothered by their comments. He reminds Derry that
he can live a normal life as he has two legs, two hands, two eyes, two ears and a
brain like everyone else. Mr. Lamb warns Derry against hating people. Derry notices
that despite his handicap Mr. Lamb lives a normal independent life. His life and
attitude attract Derry and he now becomes determined to live and face the world
boldly. He becomes more confident of himself and gets rid of his habit of ‘self-pity’.

Derry reaped many benefits from his association with Mr. Lamb. He was able to get
rid of the habit of self-pity. He started understanding others’ perspective and
admired Mr. Lamb’s views of life and his outlook on life. Derry understood that his
physical handicap, his acid-burnt face was not the only important thing, there were
other important things in life. Derry became more confident of himself. He learnt to
appreciate nature and his
surroundings and to think objectively. He stopped paying attention to what people
thought of him. Mr. Lamb advised Derry to wait, watch and listen and to try to know
himself. All this helped Derry to overcome his complex and face the world
confidently.

Question 27.
Derry sneaked into Mr. Lamb’s Garden and it became a turning point in his life.
Comment.
Answer:
Derry, a complex-stricken lad of fourteen, is a victim of inferiority complex which is
borne out of a misinterpretation of himself and the world. He suffers from an acute
sense of self-hatred and rejection due to his burnt face and this leads him to total
alienation. Mr. Lamb too has a disability, a tin leg, but he never allows his handicap
to interfere with the pace and pleasure of his life. Mr. Lamb’s meeting with Derry
brings a turning point in the latter’s life. He gives Derry confidence and persuades
him to develop a positive attitude towards life. His message to Derry is very clear.
Alienation and withdrawal is not the solution. Derry believes in running away from
people but Mr. Lamb lives among people. Derry’s brief association with Mr. Lamb
proves to be quite rewarding. Mr. Lamb teaches him a new perspective of looking at
life, people and things. Derry decides never to get back to his old seclusion. His burnt
face will no longer interfere with his self-respect, poise and confidence. He will
gradually learn to find his place in the mainstream of life. Mr. Lamb helps Derry
rediscover himself and gives a new meaning to his life. Now Derry wants to leave his
handicap behind, forge ahead in life and live life to the fullest.

Question 28.
Both Derry and Lamb are victims of physical impairment, but much more painful for
them is the feeling of loneliness. Comment.
Answer:
As a responsible citizen it is my responsibility towards society to understand and
support people with infirmities. I will always try to be supportive and considerate
towards them. I will treat them as equals and encourage them to take part in all
activities. It will be my endeavour to ensure that they do not suffer from a sense of
alienation and I will also advocate inclusive education for them. Campaigning for
their social acceptance, I will raise hope and encouragement for their empowerment.
It is the duty of each one of us to bring about a change in the lives of people who are
physically impaired and lonely.

Question 29.
Who was Mr. Lamb? How did he make Derry gain confidence and come out of his
shell?
Answer:
Mr. Lamb is an elderly gentleman who suffers from a physical handicap. He has a tin
leg because his leg had been blown off in the war. The children tease him by calling
him “Lamey Lamb” but he does not mind it.
Derry suffers from an acute sense of self-hatred and rejection because of his burnt
face. He feels he is very ugly and so no one will love him. Mr. Lamb too has heard
Derry only complain and bemoan about himself. He feels very sad to see a fourteen-
year-old boy giving up on life just because of his physical disability. Mr. Lamb at first
startles Derry with his strange talk. He tells Derry he is interested in everything
created by God. His encouraging words have a magical effect on Derry. Mr. Lamb’s
conversation that everyone and everything is essentially the same, the notion of
beauty is relative and his concept of the world and friendship baffle but appeal to
Derry and he is fascinated by the old man. Mr. Lamb inspires Derry by telling him not
to focus on the shortcomings of life and his handicap and instead he should try to
enjoy the blessings of life. He tells him to be thankful to God for two arms, two legs,
two eyes and ears, a tongue and a brain and advises him to be friendly with everyone
around him. Derry’s long conversation with Mr. Lamb helps him overcome his
inferiority complex and poor self-esteem.