How does Griffin misuse his scientific discovery in Footprints without Feet?

Griffin's discovery of invisibility is a remarkable scientific achievement, but he uses it irresponsibly. Instead of contributing positively to society, he chooses selfish and unlawful activities. He steals food, money, clothing, and shelter while creating fear among people. His actions demonstrate how intelligence without moral values can become dangerous. The chapter presents Griffin as a talented scientist whose lack of ethics leads him toward criminal behavior. Through his character, readers learn that scientific knowledge must be guided by responsibility and respect for others, otherwise even extraordinary discoveries can have harmful consequences.

Why is Griffin considered both intelligent and irresponsible?

Griffin is highly intelligent because he develops a scientific method that makes the human body invisible. Such an achievement requires exceptional knowledge, creativity, and determination. However, he is also irresponsible because he uses his invention for personal gain rather than public benefit. Instead of helping society, he breaks laws, damages property, and creates chaos wherever he goes. His behavior reflects a lack of moral judgment and social responsibility. The contrast between his brilliance and his actions forms the central conflict of the chapter and highlights the importance of ethical decision-making.

What role does invisibility play in the story Footprints without Feet?

Invisibility serves as both a scientific wonder and a source of conflict in the chapter. It gives Griffin extraordinary freedom and power, allowing him to move unnoticed and escape difficult situations. At the same time, it creates practical challenges because he struggles to find food, clothing, and shelter without attracting attention. The concept also raises questions about morality and human behavior. The story suggests that power alone does not guarantee success. Without responsibility and self-control, even the most advanced scientific achievement can create more problems than benefits.

What message does Footprints without Feet convey about science and ethics?

The chapter emphasizes that scientific progress must be accompanied by ethical values. Griffin's invention demonstrates the potential of human intelligence, but his misuse of that discovery causes fear and disorder. The story warns readers that knowledge without responsibility can become harmful. Scientific achievements should be used to improve lives and solve problems rather than serve selfish interests. By presenting Griffin as a gifted yet morally flawed character, the author encourages students to consider the ethical implications of innovation. The chapter ultimately promotes the idea that character is as important as intelligence.

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Footprints Without Feet Chapter 5 Footprints without Feet

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Footprints Without Feet · Chapter 5

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English: Footprints Without Feet

by H.G. Wells

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Footprints Without Feet Chapter 5 shares its name with the entire supplementary reader, and once you read it, the reason becomes clear. Adapted from H.G. Wells's classic science-fiction tale, the story follows Griffin, a brilliant scientist whose obsession with invisibility leads him into chaos, fear, and isolation. He discovers a method to make the human body invisible, but soon learns that invisibility solves nothing and creates new, often comic and sometimes alarming problems — from being unable to hide from the cold to leaving telltale footprints in mud. This page gives Myclass24 students a complete chapter breakdown, a free downloadable PDF, organised tables for quick revision, and answers to the most frequently searched questions about this story.

Download the Free PDF of NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Footprints Without Feet Chapter 5, the title story

Get the complete NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Footprints Without Feet Chapter 5, the title story, as a printable PDF for offline revision.

Chapter Focus: The Price of Invisibility

Griffin's invisibility is, at first glance, a scientific triumph — the kind of feat that would make any researcher famous. But the chapter quickly reveals the cost of his ambition. He cannot eat in public without his food appearing to float midair, he cannot stay warm without clothing that instantly gives away his location, and he is forced into a life of hiding, theft, and increasing desperation just to survive. His footprints in the snow, visible even though his body is not, become the story's central image: proof that you cannot fully erase yourself from the physical world, no matter how clever the science. Also read NCERT Solutions for Class 10 and NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English.

For exams, this chapter is usually tested through questions on Griffin's motivations, the practical problems caused by invisibility, and the chase sequence where two young men follow his footprints through the town. Strong answers connect Griffin's scientific brilliance to his growing isolation, showing how a discovery meant to give him power instead strips away his ability to live a normal life.

Quick Character Guide

Character	Role in the Story	Key Trait
Griffin	The scientist who discovers and uses the invisibility formula	Brilliant, isolated, increasingly desperate
The Two Young Men	Notice and follow Griffin's mysterious footprints in the snow	Curious, observant, drive the chase sequence
Shopkeepers / Townspeople	Encounter the effects of Griffin's invisible presence	Confused, frightened by unexplained events

Table 1 — Main Characters in Footprints Without Feet

Themes and Quick Facts at a Glance

Aspect	Details
Genre	Science fiction, adapted from H.G. Wells's The Invisible Man
Setting	A small English town, including shops, streets, and snowy paths
Central Theme	The unintended consequences of scientific ambition; isolation that comes with power
Key Image	Visible footprints left by an invisible man — the source of the chapter's title
Narrative Style	Suspenseful third-person narration building curiosity around an unseen figure
Common Exam Tags	scientific discoveryisolationtitle significanceextract-based Q&A

Table 2 — Theme, Setting, and Exam Snapshot

Questions

Who is the author of Footprints Without Feet?: The chapter is adapted from H.G. Wells, a foundational figure in science fiction, best known for his novel The Invisible Man, from which this story is taken.
Why does the textbook take its title from this chapter?: The phrase captures the story's most striking image — footprints appearing in mud or snow with no visible feet making them — which symbolises the entire book's interest in unusual, thought-provoking situations.
How does Griffin become invisible?: He develops a scientific formula that changes how his body interacts with light, making it transparent, and tests the method on himself with dramatic and difficult consequences.
Is Footprints Without Feet important for the Class 10 CBSE exam?: Yes. It is commonly tested through questions on Griffin's scientific journey, the chase scene, and the practical and emotional costs of his invisibility.

Chapter 5: Footprints without Feet