by H.G. Wells
NCERT Questions & Answers + Important Extra Questions
NCERT Textbook Questions
How did the__( invisible man first become visible?
Answer
Griffin, the invisible man, first became visible in a peculiar, partial way: (i) Two boys noticed fresh muddy footprints appearing on the steps of a house in London — but there was no person making them. (ii) The footprints were remarkable because they appeared one after another as if someone was walking, but no one could be seen. (iii) Griffin was completely naked (clothes would make him visible) and walking barefoot through the streets. (iv) His feet picked up mud, making the footprints visible even though his body was not. (v) The boys followed the footprints, but they grew fainter and fainter as the mud wore off — and then disappeared entirely. This is how the story begins — with the mystery of "footprints without feet."
Why was Griffin wandering the streets?
Answer
Griffin was wandering the streets of London because: (i) He was a brilliant but lawless scientist who had discovered how to make the human body invisible. (ii) He had conducted the experiment on himself and become invisible. (iii) However, he had also set fire to his landlord's house — to destroy all evidence of his experiments — and was now a fugitive. (iv) He was completely naked — he couldn't wear clothes or he'd become visible again. (v) It was mid-winter in London, and he was freezing cold without any clothing. (vi) He had no money, no shelter, and no food. His brilliant scientific discovery had left him homeless, cold, hungry, and on the run from the law.
Why does Griffin decide to slip into a big London store?
Answer
Griffin slipped into a big London department store because: (i) He was bitterly cold — walking naked through London streets in winter was unbearable. (ii) The store had everything he needed: warm clothes, food, and shelter. (iii) He waited until the store closed for the night, then had the run of the entire building. (iv) He found warm clothes and dressed himself — shoes, an overcoat, a wide-brimmed hat, and wrapped bandages around his face. (v) He ate food from the store's kitchen and slept on a pile of quilts. (vi) However, the next morning the store assistants arrived early and saw him. He had to undress quickly to become invisible again and escape, losing all his stolen clothes. The store was a temporary refuge, not a permanent solution.
Why does Griffin go to the village of Iping?
Answer
Griffin went to the village of Iping because: (i) He needed a quiet, isolated place where he could work on his experiments undisturbed — specifically, to find a way to reverse his invisibility and become visible again. (ii) London was too crowded — too many people bumping into him, too many police, too dangerous. (iii) He chose winter to arrive because his heavily bandaged face and dark glasses wouldn't seem unusual — he could claim he was a victim of an accident. (iv) He booked a room at an inn run by Mrs Hall, paying in advance with stolen money. (v) He wanted to be left alone — but his strange appearance and secretive behaviour aroused the villagers' curiosity and suspicion.
What curious episode occurred in the study?
Answer
The curious episode was: (i) The clergyman and his wife were woken early in the morning by noises coming from the study. (ii) The clergyman crept downstairs and heard someone sneezing and the chink of money being handled. (iii) He opened the door with a poker in hand — but the room was empty. Yet the desk had been opened and the housekeeping money was missing. (iv) The invisible Griffin had broken into the clergyman's house and stolen money from the desk. (v) The clergyman and his wife searched everywhere — under the desk, behind the curtains, up the chimney — but found no one. This was because Griffin was invisible, standing right there in the room while they searched. This episode increased the village's sense of mystery and fear.
Important Extra Questions
What is Griffin's character?
Answer
Griffin is: (i) Brilliant but immoral: He is a genius scientist who discovered invisibility, but uses his gift for crime — theft, arson, and assault. (ii) Short-tempered and violent: He attacks Mrs Hall's furniture (throws it at people), hits people, and loses his temper easily. (iii) Lawless: He sets fire to his landlord's house, steals from stores, robs a clergyman, and steals from a theatrical company. (iv) Selfish: He only cares about his own comfort and experiments — not about the harm he causes others. (v) Foolish despite his intelligence: His brilliant discovery brings him nothing but misery — he can't eat, sleep, or live comfortably. The story warns that science without morality is dangerous.
What is the message of the story?
Answer
(i) Science without ethics is destructive: Griffin's discovery could have benefited humanity, but he used it for crime and personal gain. (ii) Power corrupts: Invisibility gave Griffin power, and he used it to bully, steal, and terrorise — not to help anyone. (iii) Brilliance without character is worthless: Griffin is a genius but a terrible human being — his intelligence is wasted because he lacks moral values. (iv) Crime leads to isolation: Griffin's criminal behaviour leaves him alone, hunted, and miserable — the opposite of what he hoped. (v) The story is a cautionary tale about the responsibility that comes with knowledge and power.