Score high on your Class 10 English exams with this complete Footprints Without Feet resource. Find detailed summaries for chapter, the gripping Griffin invisible man story, along with NCERT-style solutions, character sketches, and theme explanations. This page includes important questions with model answers, grammar exercises, extract-based questions, and extra practice materials. Whether you need quick chapter summaries or deep-dive exam preparation, access everything in one place to master your supplementary reader.

footprints without feet summary

English summary

What would you do if you saw fresh footprints appear out of nowhere on a cold London street?

This chapter tells how a brilliant scientist named Griffin makes himself invisible, and then misuses this power, turning a daring experiment into fear, theft, and chaos. You watch his choices pull him deeper into trouble, step by step, until the village tries—and fails—to catch a man they cannot see. It’s a chase story, a mystery, and a warning packed into one.

Two boys spot fresh muddy footprints on the steps of a London house, but there is no person in sight; print after print appears, then fades, leaving only a puzzle and a chill in the air. The truth is simple: Griffin has swallowed rare drugs that make his body “as transparent as a sheet of glass,” yet still solid, so he can move and touch things but cannot be seen; yes, he is clever, but he is also lawless—when his landlord tries to evict him, he burns the house and escapes naked, unseen except for the footprints in mud. It is mid-winter, bitterly cold, so he hides in a big London store at closing time, breaks open boxes, eats cold meat and sweets, drinks coffee and wine, dresses in shoes, an overcoat, and a wide-brimmed hat, and sleeps on quilts—yes, he is safe for now, but he oversleeps, assistants arrive, and he panics, strips off the clothes, and runs back into the January chill—invisible but freezing again. He rushes to Drury Lane, steals bandages, dark glasses, a false nose, whiskers, and a hat, then attacks the shopkeeper and robs him—now he can pass in public, but he is a wanted thief. He flees to Iping and books two rooms at an inn; Mrs Hall tries to be friendly, but he snaps, saying he wants solitude and has had an accident to his face, and though he pays in advance, his money soon runs out. A clergyman hears coins chink and shouts “Surrender!” at an “empty” room; money is gone, and fear spreads. Chairs leap, a hat strikes Mrs Hall, and a door slams by itself; people whisper witchcraft as Griffin suddenly has cash again. Cornered, he rips off bandages and shows a headless self; Constable Jaffers tries to arrest him, but as garments fly, fists strike from nowhere, and Jaffers falls, Griffin breaks free, and no one knows where to lay hands on him.

Characters:

Griffin: Brilliant yet reckless scientist; turns invisible and misuses power through theft and violence.

Mrs Hall: Innkeeper, practical and curious; alarmed by strange events and demands answers.

Clergyman and wife: Honest village couple; hear theft, find “nobody,” and spark village suspicion.

Constable Jaffers: Duty-first policeman; bravely fights an unseen man and is knocked out.

Theme / Moral:

Power without morality creates danger for others and ruin for oneself.

Visibility hides in actions: even the unseen leave footprints of their choices.

Curiosity can lead to discovery, but character decides whether it heals or harms.

footprints without feet Hindi summary

“अगर ठंडी लंदन की सड़क पर बिना किसी आदमी के ताज़े पैरों के निशान अचानक उभरतेदिखें, तो क्या किया जाता?”

 यह अध्याय एक प्रतिभाशाली वैज्ञानिक ग्रिफिन की कहानी है जो खुद को अदृश्य बनाताहै, लेकिन इस शक्ति का दुरुपयोग करके भय, चोरी, और अराजकता फैलाता है; यह एकसाहसी प्रयोग का पतन है, जहां उसके अपने फैसले उसे मुसीबत में और गहराई तक खींचतेजाते हैं, जब तक कि गांव वाले एक ऐसे आदमी को पकड़ने की कोशिश—और नाकाम—करते हैं जिसे वे देख ही नहीं सकते

दो लड़के लंदन के एक घर की सीढ़ियों पर ताज़े कीचड़भरे पैरों के निशान देखते हैं, परआसपास कोई व्यक्ति नहीं है; एक-एक करके छापें बनती हैं, फिर धुंधली होकर गायब होजाती हैं, हवा में सिहरन और दिमाग में पहेली छोड़ती हुई।

सच सरल है: ग्रिफिन ने दुर्लभ दवाइयाँ निगली हैं, जिससे उसका शरीर “काँच की शीटजितना पारदर्शी” हो गया है, पर ठोस भी है; वह चीज़ों को छू सकता है और हिला सकताहै, पर दिख नहीं सकता; हाँ, वह चतुर है, लेकिन बेपरवाह और कानून-विहीन भी—जबमकान-मालिक उसे निकालना चाहता है, वह घर में आग लगा देता है और नंगा भागनिकलता है, कीचड़ में पड़े पदचिह्न ही उसकी मौजूदगी का सबूत बनते हैं।

कड़क मध्य-शीत में वह एक बड़े लंदन स्टोर में बंद होने के बाद घुसकर डिब्बे तोड़ता है, ठंडामांस और मिठाइयाँ खाता है, कॉफी और वाइन पीता है, जूते, ओवरकोट और चौड़ी-टोपीपहनता है, और रज़ाइयों पर सो जाता है—हाँ, वह कुछ समय को सुरक्षित है, पर देर तक सोजाता है; सुबह सहायक आते हैं, वह घबरा जाता है, कपड़े उतारकर भागता है, जनवरी कीठिठुरन में फिर से अदृश्य सही, पर जमते हुए।

वह ड्र्युरी लेन भागता है, पट्टियाँ, काले चश्मे, नकली नाक, घनी मूँछें और टोपी चुराता है, फिर दुकानदार पर हमला करके उसे लूटता है—अब वह भीड़ में निकल सकता है, पर वहवांछित चोर बन चुका है।

वह आइपिंग भागकर एक सराय में दो कमरे लेता है; मिसेज़ हॉल मिलनसार बनने कीकोशिश करती हैं, पर वह झिड़क देता है, कहता है कि उसे एकांत चाहिए और उसके चेहरेको दुर्घटना हुई है; वह अग्रिम भुगतान करता है, पर पैसा जल्दी खत्म हो जाता है।

एक पादरी सिक्कों की छनक सुनता है और “सरेंडर!” कहकर “खाली” कमरे में घुसता है; पैसा गायब है, और भय फैलता है।

कुर्सियाँ उछलती हैं, टोपी मिसेज़ हॉल के चेहरे पर लगती है, और दरवाज़ा अपने आप पटकजाता है; लोग जादूटोना फुसफुसाते हैं, तभी ग्रिफिन के पास अचानक फिर नकद दिखताहै।

घिर जाने पर, वह पट्टियाँ नोचकर अपना बिना-सिर रूप दिखाता है; कांस्टेबल जैफ़र्स उसेपकड़ने की कोशिश करता है, पर जैसे-जैसे कपड़े उड़ते हैं, कहीं से भी मक्के पड़ते हैं, औरजैफ़र्स गिर पड़ता है; ग्रिफिन छूट जाता है, और किसी को समझ नहीं आता कि हाथ कहाँरखा जाए।

चरित्र:

ग्रिफिन: प्रतिभाशाली पर लापरवाह वैज्ञानिक; अदृश्य होकर शक्ति का दुरुपयोग करता है—चोरी और हिंसा तक जाता है।

मिसेज़ हॉल: सराय-प्रबंधक, व्यवहारिक और जिज्ञासु; अजीब घटनाओं से घबराकर साफ़जवाब मांगती हैं।

पादरी और पत्नी: ईमानदार ग्रामीण दंपति; चोरी की आवाज़ सुनते हैं, “कोई नहीं” पाते हैं, और गांव में संदेह जगाते हैं।

कांस्टेबल जैफ़र्स: कर्तव्य-निष्ठ पुलिसकर्मी; अदृश्य आदमी से बहादुरी से भिड़ता है औरबेहोश हो जाता है।

थीम / शिक्षा:

शक्ति बिना नैतिकता दूसरों के लिए खतरा और अपने लिए विनाश बनती है।

दिखाई न देने पर भी कर्मों के पदचिह्न छूटते हैं—पहचान कामों में झलकती है।

जिज्ञासा खोज तक ले जाती है, पर चरित्र तय करता है कि वह चंगा करेगी या हानि।

Footprints without Feet Keywords and meanings:

Griffin – brilliant but lawless scientist who becomes invisible

Invisibility – power to be unseen like transparent glass

Footprints – muddy marks that reveal the unseen man

London – city setting for early chase and thefts

Mid-winter – bitter cold season that makes invisibility risky

Store – big London shop where Griffin eats, dresses, sleeps

Drury Lane – theatre area where disguise items are stolen

Bandages – wraps used to hide head’s emptiness

Dark glasses – part of disguise to look normal

False nose – fake feature to cover invisibility

Whiskers – bushy side hair for disguise

Inn – lodging in Iping where strange events occur

Iping – village where suspense and chaos rise

Mrs Hall – innkeeper who suspects and questions Griffin

Clergyman – victim of burglary who shouts surrender

Housekeeping money – stolen cash from the desk

Chair – moving furniture that frightens the Halls

Witchcraft – villagers’ explanation for strange events

Constable Jaffers – duty-first policeman who tries to arrest Griffin

Arrest – attempt to catch the invisible man

Headless – shocking sight when Griffin unveils himself

Chase – pursuit by assistants and villagers

Theft – repeated stealing for survival and escape

Violence – attacks used to flee and rob

Solitude – Griffin’s stated reason for coming to Iping

Eccentric – unusual habits that worry Mrs Hall

Transparency – body as clear as glass yet solid

Landlord – owner who tries to eject Griffin

Fire – revenge burning of the house

Morality – missing ethics that turn power dangerous

Footprints without Feet Important Phrases :

“fresh muddy imprints of a pair of bare feet”

“A fresh footmark appeared from nowhere!”

“make the human body transparent”

“as transparent as a sheet of glass”

“as solid as glass”

“rather a lawless person”

“set fire to the house”

“a homeless wanderer”

“the air was bitterly cold”

“a big London store”

“with shoes, an overcoat and a wide-brimmed hat”

“sleep on a pile of quilts”

“the chill January air”

“the centre of the theatre world”

“bandages round his forehead, dark glasses, false nose, big bushy side-whiskers, and a large hat”

“callously attacked the shopkeeper from behind”

“a desire for solitude”

“an accident has affected my face.”

“the chink of money”

“Surrender!”

“Extraordinary affair!”

“the bedroom chair became alive”

“pushed them both out of the room”

“the room was haunted by spirits”

“You don’t understand who or what I am!”

“staring at a headless man!”

“with or without his head.”

“a man who was becoming more and more invisible”

“blows that seemed to come from nowhere”

“no one knew where to lay hands on him.”

footprints without feet question and answer

Text based questions and answers

Q1. How did the invisible man first become visible?

Answer:The invisible man first became visible when the effects of the scientist’s experiment began to wear off. His body that was once transparent slowly started appearing again. This happened because the invisibility was not permanent, and the human body naturally returned to its normal state. This shows that scientific experiments have limits and nature tries to restore balance.

Q2. Why was he wandering the streets?

Answer:He was wandering the streets because he was confused and unable to control his invisibility. Being invisible made him feel isolated and lost, so he moved around in search of help and a way to reverse his condition. This wandering reflects his fear and the consequences of misusing science.

Q3. Why does Mrs Hall find the scientist eccentric?

Answer:Mrs Hall finds the scientist eccentric because of his strange behavior and unusual experiments. He keeps to himself, acts secretively, and shows little concern for social norms. His odd habits make others suspicious and afraid, portraying how society often misunderstands those who are different or deeply focused on their work.

Q4. What curious episode occurs in the study?

Answer:In the study, strange and unexplained events happen, such as objects moving on their own or disappearing. This mystifies the people around, showing the invisible man’s powers in action. It emphasizes the theme of invisibility creating mystery and fear simultaneously.

Q5. What other extraordinary things happen at the inn?

Answer:At the inn, more strange incidents take place like sounds without a visible source and sudden movements. These events scare the guests and increase the suspense of the story. It highlights how the invisible man’s presence disrupts normal life and causes panic among people.

Text based questions and answers

Q1. “Griffin was rather a lawless person.” Comment.

Answer:Griffin showed lawless behavior by ignoring rules and using his invisibility for selfish and harmful purposes. He

stole, scared people, and acted violently, not caring about the damage he caused. This shows how power without responsibility leads to chaos. It reminds us that science must be guided by ethics and discipline.

Q2. How would you assess Griffin as a scientist?

Answer:Griffin was a brilliant but reckless scientist. His discovery of invisibility was amazing, but he lacked control and moral judgment. Instead of helping others, he used his power for bad deeds, causing fear and destruction. This shows that great intelligence must be paired with strong values for science to benefit humanity.

Q3. Would you like to become invisible? What advantages and disadvantages do you foresee, if you did?

Answer:Becoming invisible could give exciting advantages, like avoiding danger and exploring unseen places. However, it could also cause loneliness, fear, and temptation to misuse power. The story warns us that such abilities bring great responsibility and can harm both ourselves and others if not handled wisely.

Q4. Are there forces around us that are invisible, for example, magnetism? Are there aspects of matter that are ‘invisible’ or not visible to the naked eye? What would the world be like if you could see such forces or such aspects of matter?

Answer:Yes, forces like magnetism and many tiny particles are invisible to us. Scientists use tools to detect them. If we could see them, the world would look very different, showing hidden energy and matter everywhere. This could help us understand nature better but might also be overwhelming to our senses.

Q5. What makes glass or water transparent (what is the scientific explanation for this)? Do you think it would be scientifically possible for a man to become invisible, or transparent? (Keep in mind that writers of science fiction have often turned out to be prophetic in their imagination!)

Answer:Glass and water are transparent because their molecules allow light to pass through without much scattering. Making a human invisible would need bending light around the body, which is very difficult scientifically. However, science fiction inspires real discoveries, showing how imagination can lead to future inventions.

footprints without feet Grammar

Do as directed:

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb in brackets (Tenses)

• Griffin ______ (discover) the secret of invisibility after many experiments.
• Do as directed: Change the sentence into passive voice (Voice Change)
• The invisible man frightened the villagers.
• Do as directed: Change into indirect speech (Reported Speech)
• Mrs Hall said, “I want to know who you really are.”
• Do as directed: Fill in the blanks with suitable articles (Articles)
• He wore ______ long coat and ______ broad hat when he entered the room.
• Do as directed: Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions (Prepositions)
• Griffin escaped ______ the house through the back door.
• Do as directed: Fill in the blanks with suitable modals (Modals)
• He ______ (must/should) have taken care not to leave footprints behind.

• Do as directed: Combine the sentences using ‘because’ (Sentence Transformation)
• He was invisible. People were afraid of him.
• Do as directed: Change into a question (Question Formation)
• The invisible man entered the inn silently.
• Do as directed: Spot the error and rewrite the sentence (Editing)
• The man’s invisibility made him unstoppable and unseeable.
• Do as directed: Omit the unnecessary word and rewrite the sentence (Omission)
• He started to ran quickly to avoid being caught.
• Do as directed: Fill in the blanks with comparative or superlative forms (Sentence Transformation)
• The night was ______ (cold) than he had expected.
• Do as directed: Fill in the blanks with suitable verbs and modals in the passage (Gap Filling / Cloze Test)
• Griffin ______ (become) invisible by using a special formula. He ______ (can/must) hide anywhere without being seen.
• Do as directed: Change from affirmative to negative sentence (Sentence Transformation)
• Griffin frightened the people with his invisibility.
• Do as directed: Change the following into active voice (Voice Change)
• The footprints were followed by the boys carefully.
• Do as directed: Rewrite the sentences using ‘either…or’ (Sentence Transformation)
• Griffin could escape by flight. Griffin could escape by hiding.

Here is the answer key for the grammar exercises 

• discovered
• The villagers were frightened by the invisible man.
• Mrs Hall said that she wanted to know who he really was.
• a, a
• from
• must / should
• He was invisible because people were afraid of him.
• Did the invisible man enter the inn silently?
• The man’s invisibility made him unstoppable and invisible. (Correct word: invisible instead of unseeable)
• He started to run quickly to avoid being caught. (Omit ‘to’)
• colder
• became, must / can
• Griffin did not frighten the people with his invisibility.
• The boys carefully followed the footprints.
• Griffin could either escape by flight or hide.

footprints without feet Short questions and answers

Q1. Why did Griffin become a homeless wanderer without clothes or money?

Answer:Griffin had to remove his clothes to escape without being seen.

He became invisible but had no money or shelter.

Without clothes, he was forced to wander naked in cold weather.

This shows the practical difficulties invisibility caused him.

Q2. Why did Griffin choose the village of Iping to stay?

Answer:Griffin wanted solitude to work without disturbance.

He preferred a quiet place away from busy London crowds.

He also wanted to hide his strange appearance and temper.

Iping seemed suitable for privacy and concealment.

Q3. What caused the strange happenings in Mrs Hall’s inn?

Answer:Griffin moved invisibly inside the rooms at night.

He made noises and caused furniture to appear alive.

The hat on the bedpost hit Mrs Hall’s face.

The bedroom chair jumped and charged at her, terrifying her.

Mrs Hall thought the room was haunted by spirits.

Q4. How did Griffin explain his strange appearance to Mrs Hall?

Answer:Griffin said he wanted solitude to work.

He claimed an accident had affected his face.

This was a lie to hide his invisibility and real nature.

Mrs Hall believed his excuse because he paid in advance.

footprints without feet Short Long questions and answers.

Q1. Describe the event when Griffin revealed himself to the inn’s guests.

Answer:Griffin, angry at accusations, threw off his disguise.

Bandages, whiskers, spectacles, and false nose were removed.

The guests saw a headless man, which terrified them.

This dramatic reveal showed Griffin’s invisibility clearly.

Q2. How did the policeman react to Griffin’s invisibility during arrest?

Answer:The policeman tried to arrest Griffin despite his invisibility.

Griffin became more invisible as he removed clothes.

The policemen struggled to catch someone they could not see.

Eventually, Griffin escaped by shaking himself free.

This showed the difficulty of enforcing law on an invisible man.

footprints without feet extract based question answer

Extract 1:

“THE two boys started in surprise at the fresh muddy imprints of a pair of bare feet. What was a barefooted man doing on the steps of a house, in the middle of London? And where was the man?”

Q1. Why were the two boys surprised when they saw the footprints?

Answer:The footprints showed a barefooted man walking on the steps of a London house

The footmarks appeared from nowhere, which was very unusual and mysterious

They could see fresh footprints, but the person making them was invisible

This strange sight confused them because they could follow the footprints but not find the man

Extract 2:

“Griffin, the scientist, had carried out experiment after experiment to prove that the human body could become invisible. Finally he swallowed certain rare drugs and his body became as transparent as a sheet of glass – though it also remained as solid as glass.”

Q1. How did Griffin become invisible? What does the comparison with glass tell us?

Answer:Griffin conducted many experiments to discover the secret of invisibility

He swallowed special rare drugs that made his body transparent

The comparison to glass means his body became see-through like glass panes

However, it also remained solid, so he could still move and act normally

This shows that invisibility doesn’t mean losing physical strength or form

Extract 3:

“Brilliant scientist though he was, Griffin was rather a lawless person. His landlord disliked him and tried to eject him. In revenge Griffin set fire to the house.”

Q2. What does this extract reveal about Griffin’s character?

Answer:Despite being intelligent and brilliant, Griffin was dishonest and lawless

He had a violent temper and took revenge on his landlord

When the landlord tried to throw him out, Griffin burned down the entire house

This shows that his scientific talent was not matched with moral values

His actions caused harm to others, making him dangerous and irresponsible

Intelligence without morality leads to destruction and chaos

Extract 4:

“He had chosen a bad time of the year to wander about London without clothes. It was mid-winter. The air was bitterly cold and he could not do without clothes.”

Q1. What problem did Griffin face after becoming invisible? How did he solve it initially?

Answer:Griffin became invisible but had to remove his clothes to escape detection

Walking naked through London in January was extremely difficult due to bitter cold

He decided to slip into a big London store for warmth and shelter

Inside the store, he broke open boxes and dressed himself with warm clothes

He also ate food and drank wine to satisfy his hunger and keep warm

This shows that invisibility created practical problems he hadn’t considered

Extract 5:

“If only Griffin had managed to wake up in good time all might have been well. As it was, he did not wake up until the assistants were already arriving next morning. When he saw a couple of them approaching, he panicked and began to run.”

Q1. What mistake did Griffin make at the London store? What was the consequence?

Answer:Griffin overslept and didn’t wake up before the store assistants arrived

When he saw them approaching, he panicked instead of thinking calmly

He had to run away quickly to escape being caught

To get away, he had to remove all his clothes and become invisible again

He ended up back in the cold January streets, naked and invisible

His poor decision-making (panicking) cost him the warm clothes and food he needed

Extract 6:

“He soon found a suitable shop. He made his way, invisible, upstairs and came out a little later wearing bandages round his forehead, dark glasses, false nose, big bushy side-whiskers, and a large hat.”

Q1. Why did Griffin buy theatrical costumes? What did they help him do?

Answer:Griffin needed to hide the fact that he had no body visible above his shoulders

The theatrical shop had exactly what he needed—disguises to cover his “empty space”

He wore bandages, dark glasses, a false nose, fake whiskers, and a large hat

These items made him look like a normal person with a covered face

This disguise allowed him to move around in public without raising suspicion

However, he attacked the shopkeeper violently to steal the money to pay for these items

Extract 7:

“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.”

Q1. What excuse did Griffin give Mrs Hall for his strange behavior? What does this show about him?

Answer:Griffin told Mrs Hall that he wanted solitude to focus on his work undisturbed

He also lied by saying an accident had damaged his face, which is why he looked strange

Mrs Hall believed him and accepted his excuses because he paid in advance

This shows that Griffin was a skilled liar and manipulator

He used false stories to hide his true identity and criminal activities

His ability to deceive shows how invisibility gave him power to lie without consequences

Extract 8:

“Very early in the morning a clergyman and his wife were awakened by noises in the study. Creeping downstairs, they heard the chink of money being taken from the clergyman’s desk.”

Q1. What crime did Griffin commit at the clergyman’s house? How was it remarkable?

Answer:Griffin stole housekeeping money from the clergyman’s desk

The remarkable part was that when the clergyman opened the door with a poker, the room appeared completely empty

The desk was opened and money was missing, but no person was visible

The clergyman was shocked because he could not find anyone, yet the theft was real

This demonstrates the perfect crime that invisibility allows—stealing without being seen

It created mystery and fear, making people doubt what they had witnessed

Extract 9:

“All of a sudden Mrs Hall heard a sniff close to her ear. A moment later the hat on the bedpost leapt up and dashed itself into her face. Then the bedroom chair became alive. Springing into the air it charged straight at her, legs foremost.”

Q9. Describe the extraordinary events that happened in Griffin’s bedroom. What did Mrs Hall think was the cause?

Answer:Mrs Hall heard a sniff near her ear, which startled her

The hat on the bedpost suddenly flew up and hit her face

The bedroom chair suddenly jumped up and charged at her like it was alive

The chair pushed her and her husband out of the room and locked the door

Mrs Hall screamed in hysterics, thinking the room was haunted by ghosts

She believed the scientist had somehow brought spirits into her furniture

In reality, it was invisible Griffin inside the room, moving these objects

This scene combines horror with the mystery of invisibility

Extract 10:

“You don’t understand who or what I am! Very well I’ll show you.” Suddenly he threw off bandages, whiskers, spectacles, and even nose. The horrified people in the bar found themselves staring at a headless man!”

Q10. What did Griffin do to reveal his true identity? How did people react?

Answer:Griffin became furious at Mrs Hall’s accusations about the furniture and room

He decided to prove his extraordinary nature by removing his disguise

He threw off his bandages, whiskers, spectacles, and fake nose

The horrified crowd saw what appeared to be a headless man in front of them

People in the bar were shocked and terrified by this impossible sight

This dramatic moment revealed Griffin’s invisibility to everyone at the inn

It shows that Griffin’s pride and anger made him expose his secret

The crowd’s fear proved how dangerous and shocking invisibility truly 

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