Chapter 5 – On The Face Of It

NCERT Solutions Class 12 English Vistas Chapter 5 – On The Face Of It

On The Face Of It is a poignant one-act play by British author Susan Hill, included in the NCERT Class 12 English Vistas supplementary reader. The play explores the unlikely friendship between two people scarred by life — Derry, a fourteen-year-old boy with a badly burned face, and Mr. Lamb, an elderly man with a tin leg. Through their conversations in Mr. Lamb's garden, the play tackles themes of disability, social prejudice, self-pity, and the courage to embrace life fully. Check out NCERT Solutions for Class 12 and NCERT solutions for Class 12 English, NCERT solutions for Class 10 English-Vistas.

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Chapter Overview at a Glance

Key Characters in On The Face Of It

Summary of On The Face Of It – Chapter 5 Vistas

The play begins when Derry, a shy and bitter teenager, sneaks into Mr. Lamb's garden thinking it is empty. He is startled to find Mr. Lamb there. Derry is initially defensive and hostile, expecting the old man to react with disgust or pity to his disfigured face — as most people do. Instead, Mr. Lamb greets him warmly and invites him to stay.

Their conversation unfolds naturally across the garden. Derry is consumed by self-pity and bitterness. He recounts how people stare, whisper, and even express false sympathy, which he finds more hurtful than open cruelty. He once overheard a woman say she would rather be dead than look like him — a remark that has haunted him deeply.

Mr. Lamb, who calls the weeds in his garden as important as any flower, gently challenges Derry's perception of himself and the world. He shares his own experience of losing a leg and how he chose not to let it define him. He keeps his gate always open, welcomes everyone, and finds meaning in everything — bees, crab apples, sunlight, and people.

Derry feels genuinely seen and understood for the first time. He decides to return home briefly to tell his mother he is going back to Mr. Lamb's garden. His mother, fearful and overprotective, pleads with him not to go. But Derry, for the first time exercising true agency, defies her and returns — only to find that Mr. Lamb has fallen from a ladder while picking crab apples and has died. The play ends with Derry weeping over the old man's body, a moment that signals both profound loss and the beginning of Derry's transformation.

Major Themes in On The Face Of It

Disability and Social Prejudice: The play directly confronts how society treats people with physical differences — with pity, fear, or cruelty. Both Derry and Mr. Lamb have experienced this, but each responds differently.

Isolation vs. Inclusion: Derry isolates himself from the world; Mr. Lamb's open garden (with its always-open gate) is a symbol of radical inclusion and openness.

Self-Pity and the Will to Live: Susan Hill contrasts Derry's self-destructive withdrawal with Mr. Lamb's life-affirming philosophy. The play suggests that the real disability is not physical but emotional and mental.

The Transformative Power of Friendship: A single meaningful connection — Mr. Lamb's unconditional acceptance — is enough to change the course of Derry's thinking and behaviour.

Perception vs. Reality: The title itself is ironic — "on the face of it" things appear one way, but a deeper look reveals hidden truths about people, beauty, and life.

Important NCERT Questions & Answers – Chapter 5 On The Face Of It

Q1. What is it that draws Derry to Mr. Lamb despite Derry's initial discomfort?

Mr. Lamb treats Derry without pity or horror — he speaks to him naturally, as he would to anyone. This is a rare and deeply moving experience for Derry, who has grown used to being treated as an object of fear or sympathy. Mr. Lamb's philosophy of embracing all of life, including weeds and broken things, gives Derry a new way of seeing himself.

Q2. In what ways are Derry and Mr. Lamb similar to each other?

Both are physically marked by life's hardships — Derry by acid burns, Mr. Lamb by the loss of a leg. Both have experienced social exclusion. However, their responses differ greatly. Mr. Lamb serves as a mirror for what Derry could become if he chooses acceptance over bitterness. This contrast is the emotional engine of the play.

Q3. What does Mr. Lamb's open garden symbolise in the play?

Mr. Lamb's garden with its always-open gate symbolises his open heart and his inclusive approach to life. He welcomes everyone — children, strangers, and even weeds — without judgement. The garden represents the opposite of Derry's closed-off world and is a space where healing and acceptance are possible.

Q4. Why does Derry return to Mr. Lamb at the end, and what does it signify?

Derry's return is an act of courage and self-determination. For the first time, he makes a choice based on what he needs, rather than retreating out of fear of others' reactions. The return signifies his emotional awakening and readiness to engage with life. The tragedy of finding Mr. Lamb dead intensifies this moment — Derry has grown, but growth comes at a cost.

Important Symbols in the Play