On the Face of it

Ans. The young man Derry entered Mr Lamb’s garden by climbing over the garden wall. He thought that it was an empty place. He didn’t know there was anybody there. He didn’t come to steal apples or anything. He just wanted to be in a secluded place. The garden appeared to be quite a suitable place for him.

Ans. Derek, also called Derry was a young boy of 14. He was quiet, shy and defiant boy. One side of his face was totally burnt by acid. He was a victim of inferiority complex.

Ans. People generally pity the handicap or react with insensitivity. For instance, people used to stare at Derry. He even once overhead two women remarking that only a mother could love his face. His own family even always discussed his future. Mr. Lamb also shared his experience being started at by people and children calling him Lamey Lamb.

Ans. the moral of the play is very loud and clear. The physically disabled should focus on the brighter side of life and not to brood over the shortcomings. The society should accept them as they are and expand their social interactions. In this way they can fight out the loneliness, depression and disappointment.

Ans. Mr. Lamb is an old man. Probably he had served in the army where one of his legs was blown off in the war. Now he has a tin leg. He stays in a big house and has a garden open to welcome everyone in his garden. Most of his time is spent on reading books or sitting in the garden.

Ans. Mr. Lamb tells Derry that it all depends upon people’s individual perceptions. A thing is a beauty for one while that beauty may be a beast for others.

Ans. Derry’s mother does not hold a good opinion about Mr. Lamb. She has heard many things about the old man, therefore stops Derry to visit Mr. Lamb.

Ans. Actually Mr. Lamb has taught Derry, the most important lesson of life. He advised him not to care about the comments made by others. He now no longer cares about his burned face or looks. He is more concerned with what he thinks and feels and is rue of what he wants to hear and see. He knows if does not go back, he will never go back. Therefore, he returns back.

Ans. Once Derry returned home, he argued with his mother about returning to Mr. Lamb’s house and telling her that there was nothing to be afraid of. Moreover, he said, that he wanted to be with Mr. Lamb because he spoke of things that mattered things that nobody else had ever said, things that he wanted to think about. He told his mother that he hated it in the house, and then ran back to Mr. Lamb’s house.

Ans. Mr. Lamb has a tin leg. One of his legs was blown off in the war. He has to walk on an artificial tin leg. But Mr. Lamb doesn’t feel like a physically handicapped person. Nor does he suffer from an inferiority complex. Children call him “Lamey – Lamb” but doesn’t mind it.

Ans. Mr. Lamb turned Derry into a confident boy from a different one. Both were physically handicapped but with different perspectives towards life. In the beginning Derry was a withdrawn boy who hated meeting people. Their stares and pity made him frustrated. He suffered a lot due to his burned face and was a pessimist Mr. Lamb transformed his vision of life. So he decided to live it on his own terms and conditions. Mr. Lamb discussed his own life with Derry to make him understand that he should be open minded. He told him that God had made all the things and one should not keen oneself in a room forever. He also kept his garden gate open and welcomed all.

Ans. Yes. Mr. lamb’s meeting with Derry brought a turning point in Derry’s life. He gave confidence to Derry. He persuaded him that he can get better than the rest of the people. He should stop hating people. Hatred burns oneself inside. Derry should take life as it was. This left a deep impression on Derry. He came back to Mr. Lamb only to find him dead. But Mr. Lamb brought a change in Derry’s life. He developed the confidence to face the world in a more positive way.

Ans. The brief association of Derry with Mr. Lamb boosted his self-confidence and helped him to respect his own self. The manner in which the old man made Derry realize the importance of his being self-dependent, of respecting himself and of holding on to hope helped Derry undergo a remarkable change. The new found self-esteem makes him tell his mother that his looks are not important. It is not likely that the death of Mr. Lamb would take him back to his secluded life. This big change is definitely here to stay and would not be undone due to setbacks.

Ans. I would like to end story with a happy ending in which, both Mr. Lamb and Derry happily collect crab apples and lived together. Derry got inspire from Mr. Lamb and start following the message of accepting life as it comes.

With reference to any one example from the text, comment on how Derry found Mr. Lamb different from other adults he had encountered.

Ans. Mr Lamb was a person full of life. Sadness or negativity found no place in his world. His physical impairment and people’s humiliating remarks had failed to dampen his spirit. His undying optimism and ever friendly attitude drew Derry towards him. For Derry, Mr Lamb was his source of inspiration.

Ans. Derry’s mother is given little characterization in the play, but she seems simultaneously overprotective and not understanding of her son. She contributes to his isolation by keeping him home because of his facial injury, and treats him with a sense of pity that robs him of dignity and treating him like a perpetually helpless victim. In the play, Derry’s mother forbids him from returning to Mr. Lamb’s house, but Derry leaves anyway, finally asserting himself in a positive way.

Ans. Derry developed a new vision of life under Mr Lamb’s guidance. He became positive and looked happy. Derry no longer cared about his face and looks. He was more concerned with himself, what he thought and felt, what he wanted to see and find out and hear. He knew that if he did not go back to Mr Lamb’s garden then, he would never go anywhere in that world again. He wanted the world. He no longer wanted to shun it or avoid the people.

Ans. Mr. Lamb always kept his gate open because he always wanted visitors to come to his house. Mr. Lamb resided alone in a big house and that is why he wanted a companion. He left the gates open so that visitors might not turn away watching the gates closed.

Ans. Both of them had their own disabilities, Mr. Lamb was a man who owned a tin leg and Derry was a victim of acid attack. Both of them had physical deformities which made them stay away from society. The callousness of society affected them adversely

Ans. ‘It ate my face up. It ate me up’. These words are uttered by Derry. He said these words because his face was eaten by acid. He had one side of his face disfigured with acid and didn’t like it. That was the main reason why he always kept to himself and did not have any friends. He was withdrawn and pessimistic.

Ans. Mr. Lamb is an old man with a tin leg. His real leg was blown off years ago during the war. He lives all alone in his house. There is a garden near the house. It has ripe crab apples looking orange and golden in colour. It is a place which welcomes different kinds of people and lets them do what they want. Mr. Lamb wanted kids and all to visit him as he couldn’t move much.

Ans. Derry was a young boy who came to Mr. Lamb’s garden. One side of his face had been burnt by acid. He was reserved and did not like to mix with people. He would always think that he was the ugliest person on the earth.

Ans. People often asked him to look at those people who were in pain, are brave, never cry, never complain and don’t feel sorry for themselves. They also asked him to think of those who were worse off. He was better off than those people who were blind, born deaf, confined to a wheel chair, or are crazy and dribble

Ans. When people looked at Derry’s burnt face, they kept staring at him. They often reacted as if they were afraid of him. Some of them pitied him and consoled him by saying sympathetic words.

Ans. Unlike Derry’s thought that Mr. Lamb would be angry at him if he saw him entering stealthily into the garden. Mr. Lamb treated Derry very gently and welcomed him to his garden. In fact, he was happy to get someone to talk to him in his loneliness. Like a father, he even gave Derry advice to be careful while fetching apples as he might slip and get hurt physically.

Ans. Derry suffers from the complex that most of the physically impaired persons suffer from. He has become withdrawn and defiant. He has got a burnt face. He thinks that he is the ugliest person on the earth. People find his face very terrible. So, he is not afraid of the people but they are afraid of him

Ans. Mr. Lamb is optimistic, whereas Derry is pessimistic and has an inferiority complex. Mr. Lamb helps him overcome his inferiority complex and advises him not to pay much attention to what others thought about him. He asked him to enjoy life and the beauty of nature. He brings about a positive change in Derry.

Ans. Lamb was new to the place and she had not much personal information about him. She had also heard adverse remarks made by people about Mr. Lamb, who was leading a lonely life, with no contact with outside world. Earlier, children used to tease and chase him, so he would not be a healthy company for her son.

Ans. We find a positive change in Derry at the end. He is free from his old complexes. Lamb has given him a direction and purpose of life.

Ans. Derry was a small boy who had a burnt face due to acid. He was very withdrawn and defiant. He used to run away from the world as he hated others staring at him. He thought people are afraid of his infirmity. Similarly, Mr. Lamb too was a handicapped person. He had lost his one leg in a bomb explosion during war years ago. He lived alone in this world.

The two of them have infirmity and are rejected by the people. Both have a vacuum in their hearts for not having company. Mr. Lamb is a man full of positive energy. When Derry met him, he found himself drawn towards Mr. Lamb. Mr. Lamb happened to be the only one who give him a new line of thought about his physical infirmity. Thus, they both shared a bond that united the two of them.

Ans. The lesson ‘On The Face of It’ aptly depicts the loneliness and sense of alienation experienced by Derry and Mr. Lamb on account of a disability. The actual pain and inconvenience caused by the disabilities is often much less than the sense of alienation felt by the disabled person. Derry suffered from severe negative complexes because of his burnt face. He became a pessimistic loner who indulged in self-pity and was always suspicious of the intention of others. His anger and frustration made him withdrawn and an introvert. Mr. Lamb, on the other hand, was inwardly a loner who craved for company and acceptance. Though outwardly he was always jovial, outgoing and optimistic; he was an extremely sensitive person. Derry and Mr. Lamb’s physical disabilities caused pain and suffering, not only to their body, but also to their mind and soul.

Ans. Both Mr. Lamb and Derry suffer from problems. Mr. Lamb had a tin leg, whereas Derry had a burnt face. But both of them differ in their attitude towards handling their problems. Mr. Lamb is very positive in his outlook. He sees the beauty in everything, including weeds. He doesn’t let physical handicap prevent him from living life to the fullest. He is very friendly, opened his doors to the world as he thinks that the world and people are important. Moreover, he is strong and doesn’t let people’s negative comments hurt him. Besides, being very practical, he knows one’s life is in one’s own hands. He also shows understanding of Derry’s problems.

On the contrary, Derry is scared of meeting people as he hates seeing their fear of him and facing their rejection. He is too sensitive and people’s comment hurt him deeply. He becomes upset due to his parents’ overprotectiveness and mother’s repulsion for his burnt face. He is defiant and rude and does not talk to people. He sees everything in a bad light and is pessimistic about everything. He not only hates himself but the world and remains away from all. He indulges in self-pity over his face but he has inner deep desire to be accepted which he hides under an abrasive exterior. However, he changes at the end after listening to Mr. Lamb and becomes ready to face the world and overcome obstacles to do so. Eventually he finds courage and strength to get what he wants.

Ans. Derry is a fourteen-year-old boy whose main problem is his burnt face. One side of his face had been burnt by acid. He suffers from a tremendous sense of inferiority complex. He is always conscious of the fact that his face is “bad”, “terrible” and “the ugliest thing”. People are “afraid” of him. He tries to escape people. He allows himself to be alienated from the world. On the other hand, Mr. Lamb doesn’t allow his physical disability to come in his way. He accepts life as it comes. He has a positive attitude towards life, things and people. He doesn’t find solace in escapism. Children tease him by calling him “Lamey-Lamb” but he doesn’t mind it. One of his legs was blown off in the war. But he is full of life and enjoys it to his best. He enjoys sitting in the sun, reading books and growing weeds and flowers.

Derry is withdrawn and defiant. He doesn’t trust people. He thinks that no one will ever love and kiss him except his own mother. He can’t stand people staring at him or passing uncharitable remarks. He is touchy and hyper sensitive. Mr. Lamb is open-minded and open-hearted. All are welcome. He loves everybody and everything. He teaches Derry how to handle people and things.

Ans. Derry was a fourteen-year-old young boy who suffered from a sense of inferiority complex due to his acid–burnt face. He never accepted himself like that and therefore, he was never able to reconcile himself with his physical disability. But there was a positive change in him when he came into association with Mr. Lamb. He was surprised to notice that Mr. Lamb, despite his physical impairment, was an optimistic and cheerful man. He never felt miserable or pitiable. He played with children and always kept the doors and windows of his house open so as to welcome everybody at all times. This left a deep impression on Derry’s mind. He liked the way Mr. Lamb took his disability and learnt how to deal with people and things that come in the path as hurdles. His attitude towards life took a turning point and he became a different man who wanted to meet the world with open arms like Mr. Lamb who gave him a direction and purpose of life.

Ans. Derry is a fourteen-year-old boy with a face burnt by acid. Mr. Lamb serves as an ideal for Derry. Mr. Lamb has a tin leg. But he never allows his disability to sour the joys of life. Derry, on the other hand, makes himself quite pitiable and miserable. His hyper sensitivity is like an open wound. He can’t stand people staring at him. Even cruel and uncharitable remarks upset him. He can’t keep his ears shut. Nor does he possess a large and generous heart like that of Mr. Lamb, whom children called ‘Lamey-Lamb’, but Mr. Lamb does not mind it. He plays with them and gives them jelly and toffees. Derry, on the other hand, has developed a perverted mindset. The worst is that Derry distrusts the world and its people. We find a change in Derry towards the end. Mr. Lamb’s ideas leave their imprint on him. He is free from that complex now. He doesn’t care about his burnt face and it no more seems important to him.

Ans. Derry was a fourteen-year-old young boy who suffered from a sense of inferiority complex due to his acid burnt face. He never accepted himself like that and therefore, he was never able to reconcile himself with his physical disability. But there was a positive change in him when he came into association with Mr. Lamb. He was surprised to notice that Mr. Lamb, despite his physical impairment, was an optimistic and cheerful man. He never felt miserable or pitiable. He played with children and always kept the doors and windows of his house open so as to welcome everybody at all times. This left a deep impression on Derry’s mind. He liked the way Mr. Lamb took his disability and learnt how to deal with people and things that come in the path as hurdles. His attitude towards life took a turning point and he became a different man who wanted to meet the world with open arms like Mr. Lamb.

Ans. Derry’s main problem is his burnt face. One side of his face had been burnt by acid. He suffers from a tremendous sense of inferiority complex. He is always conscious of the fact that his face is “bad”, “terrible” and “the ugliest thing”. People are “afraid” of him. He tries to escape from people. He allows himself to be alienated from the world. On the other hand, Mr. Lamb doesn’t allow his physical disability to come in his way. He accepts life as it comes. He has a positive attitude towards life, things and people. He doesn’t find solace in escapism. Children tease him by calling him “Lamey-Lamb” but he doesn’t mind it. One of his legs was blown off in the war. But he is full of life and enjoys it to his best. He enjoys sitting in the sun, reading books and growing weeds and flowers.

Derry is withdrawn and defiant. He doesn’t trust people. He thinks that no one will ever love and kiss him except his own mother. He can’t stand people staring at him or passing uncharitable remarks. He is touchy and hyper sensitive. Mr. Lamb is open-minded and open-hearted. All are welcome. He loves everybody and everything. He teaches Derry how to handle people and things.

Ans. Like Derry and Lamb, there are so many people in this world who are impaired and lonely. They suffer from an inferiority complex and a sense of alienation. They remain aloof and turn themselves into a recluse. It is our duty to accept them and make them realise that this world belongs to them as well. We should treat them in a kind and sympathetic way. We should not look down upon them with pity in our eyes as they will feel bad and disheartened with such treatment. We should accept them with open arms and make them realise that their disability is not their fault. We should fill their hearts with hope and optimism and allow them to feel equal with the rest of the world.

Ans. Derry was a fourteen-year-old young boy who suffered from a sense of inferiority complex due to his acid-burnt face. He never accepted himself like that and therefore, he was never able to reconcile himself with his physical disability. He had a poor self-esteem and felt victimized. But there was a positive change in him when he came in association with Mr. Lamb. He was surprised to notice that Mr. Lamb, despite his physical impairment, was an optimistic and cheerful man. He had a positive bent of mind. He never felt miserable or pitiable. He played with children and always kept the doors and windows of his house open so as to welcome everybody. He was very warm and friendly towards Derry. He told him that he had a weed garden because he felt weeds are also green living plants like others. Why should, then, they be called weeds. He also said that children called him `Lamey lamb’ whenever he went out into the streets, but he didn’t feel bad about it. He, on the other hand, made toffees to give them to the children whenever they met him. Derry was quite impressed with his attitude of ‘waiting, watching, listening’. This provided confidence to Derry and he was a changed personality after meeting Mr. Lamb. Thus, we can say that optimism in one’s attitude helps deal with all the changes in life.