Discover comprehensive NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Vistas Chapter 5: “On the Face of It.” Engage with the poignant narrative through meticulously crafted question-and-answer solutions. Delve into themes of perception and human connection depicted in the chapter, enhancing your literary understanding. These solutions provide a solid grasp of the text, assisting in effective exam readiness. Elevate your learning journey with these concise, reliable, and insightful academic resources.
NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Vistas Chapter – 5 On the Face of It Questions and Answers
READ AND FIND OUT ➤➤➤
Who is Mr. Lamb? How does Derry get into his garden?
Answer: Mr. Lamb, an elderly gentleman, tends to his personal garden. Derry enters the garden whenever the sporadic melodies of birds and the gentle rustling of tree leaves fill the air. The garden’s gate is consistently left open, welcoming people to enter.
READ AND FIND OUT ➤➤➤
Do you think all this will change in Derry’s attitude towards Mr. Lamb?
Answer: Before encountering Mr. Lamb, Derry displays signs of loneliness and disillusionment, experiencing a sense of isolation due to people’s behavior. He perceives Mr. Lamb as another individual who will reject him, akin to others.
However, over time, he discovers Mr. Lamb’s distinctiveness. Despite Mr. Lamb’s utterance of peculiar statements that elude Derry’s understanding, Derry intuits their significance. Initially regarding Mr. Lamb as an eccentric elderly man, Derry’s sentiments transform into profound affection and esteem by the play’s conclusion. This transformation becomes evident as he mourns Mr. Lamb’s passing.
READING WITH INSIGHT ➤➤➤
1. What is it that draws Derry towards Mr. Lamb in spite of himself?
Answer: Mr. Lamb became the catalyst for Derry’s contemplation, marking the first instance of someone sparking his intellectual curiosity. Through Mr. Lamb’s influence, Derry gained the self-assurance to confront the world despite his scarred visage. Previously, others had only offered their sympathy, reinforcing his belief in his misfortune and his sense of alienation.
However, Mr. Lamb altered Derry’s perspective, showing him that his disfigured face held no significance in determining his worth. This revelation empowered Derry to believe in his potential to thrive in society like any other individual. Most importantly, Derry recognized that Mr. Lamb himself required assistance, which instilled in him a sense of purpose. This recognition propelled Derry’s gravitation towards Mr. Lamb.
2. 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?
Answer: Towards the conclusion of the initial scene, Mr. Lamb exhibits signs of solitude and disillusionment. He expresses a desire for Derry to remain in his company. Derry’s perceptiveness enables him to recognize Mr. Lamb’s loneliness, prompting him to candidly reveal his solitary state and his sense of unhappiness due to being overlooked. In response, Mr. Lamb briefly feigns an excuse about attending to his bees. Despite Derry’s labeling of him as eccentric and insane, Mr. Lamb doesn’t react angrily. Instead, he perceives Derry’s words as a pretext for avoiding a return to him.
This notion gains further validation when Derry eventually leaves to see his mother. Mr. Lamb privately reflects that despite people promising to return, they consistently fail to do so. To counter these emotions, Mr. Lamb employs reading and tending to his garden as coping mechanisms. He endeavors to immerse himself in contemplation, often seeking solace in his thoughts, as well as his interactions with his bees and apple trees.
3. 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 behavior that the person expects from others?
Answer: Undoubtedly, those with physical impairments often endure the weight of isolation more acutely than the challenges posed by their disabilities. Society, albeit unintentionally, contributes to this feeling of detachment. Despite expressing pity for the disabled and even putting on displays of respect, people frequently hesitate to form genuine friendships with them.
This sentiment resonates with Derry in the story “On The Face Of It.” He contemplates residing in a community exclusively comprised of individuals with disfigured faces, a reflection of his perception that others avoid him, inflicting significant emotional distress. However, his serendipitous encounter with Mr. Lamb, also physically impaired, serves as a catalyst for renewed self-assurance. Their friendship blossoms, transcending Mr. Lamb’s considerable wisdom. Derry recognizes that Mr. Lamb, too, grapples with a sense of alienation akin to his own.
Remarkably, a disabled individual craves companionship even more than their able-bodied counterparts. They yearn for equal treatment and connection from others, valuing companionship over mere kindness.
4. 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?
Answer: Despite his internal hesitations, Derry defied his own reservations to approach Mr. Lamb. His mother had strongly dissuaded him from seeking Mr. Lamb’s company, and even Mr. Lamb himself didn’t anticipate Derry’s return. However, Derry’s actions signaled his unwavering determination. He sought solace from his isolation by reaching out to Mr. Lamb, drawn to his ideas. The garden provided an ideal space for Derry to engage in independent contemplation.
Crucially, Mr. Lamb’s acceptance and desire for Derry’s assistance marked a pivotal departure from others’ behavior, instilling in Derry a sense of belonging and purpose. Given these factors, there appears to be little reason for Derry to return to the seclusion he so despised.