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 ON THE FACE OF IT

About the Author

● Susan Hill is an English Novelist, children’s writer and playwright.
● Her ghost story was published in 1983. The Woman in Black.
Key Point
The meeting in the Garden
● A 14 year old boy, Derry climbed over and entered the garden.
● He heard a voice and got scared.
● The voice was of Mr. Lamb who wanted to aware him about not to trip up on crab apples.
● Berry assumed of garden being empty and explained that he was not sneaking in.
● Mr. Lamb put his fears at rest.
● Derry can enter garden anytime.
Apprehensive Derry
● Derry’s one side of face was burnt, due to acid.
● This made him furious & everybody pity on him.
● Because of this he vehemently said that he is not a ‘poor guy’.
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● Mr. Lamb changed the subject because of heated moment but it made Derry more furious.

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● He said people pretend to be sympathetic towards him & he was ugly.
Mr. Lamb’s Philosophy

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● The acid incident not just ate up Derry’s face but it ate him up.
● Derry thought Mr. Lamb was not interested but Mr. lamb was a noble person.

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● Mr. Lamb was interested in everything God made.

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● Weeds and flowers both are beautiful.
● Lamb did not find any difference in Derry.
● Celebrated life in all its forms.
Mr Lamb Reveals his Impairment
● One leg of Mr Lamb was blown off in a war.
● Kids call him ‘Lamey-Lamb’ which did not bother him.
● His leg could be covered but not the burnt face of Derry.
Optimistic Mr Lamb
● Positive attitude towards life.
● Reminds Derry of the ‘Beauty and the Beast’.
● Derry is interested in everything made by God.
Pessimistic Derry
● Filled with bitterness.
● Did not believe in fairy tales and his face will always be same.
● Only his mother kisses him on the other side of face.
● Derry mocked Mr Lamb’s thoughts and call people worse.
Derry Calls Mr Lamb Peculiar
● At bus stop, two women talked about his face.
● Called it a terrible thing, only mother could love such face.
● Derry was hurt and felt it cruel.
 ● Mr Lamb advised not to believe everything he hears.
● Derry called Mr. Lamb Peculiar.
● He liked the garden but not being around people.
Story by Mr Lamb
● A man who was so afraid to die.
● He feared each & every thing & locked himself in a room.
● He died when a picture fell of the wall on his head.
● One cannot hide oneself or shun society of fear.
● Derry laughed at the story.
The Positive Side of Life’
● No curtains in Mr Lamb’s house.
● He likes light and darkness & to hear wind.
● Derry liked the sound of rain falling on the roof.
● Derry was not lost & still he was sensitive somewhere.
● His family pity on him & are worried about his future.
● Mr. Lamb called everyone his friend, even Derry.
● To him being friends doesn’t mean to know all the details about a person.
● Derry told him his real name is ‘Derek', but he wants to be called Derry.
Watching, Listening, Thinking
● Hatred is more dangerous – Mr. lamb.

● Mr lamb contradicted by asking what kind of world would that be.

● Derry is amazed the way Mr. Lamb understands everything.
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● Some said to Derry that he would have been better in hospital with others like him.

● Mr. Lamb replied, ‘Watching, Listening, Thinking,’

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● Derry could come and go in Mr Lamb’s house as much he wanted.

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● Derry should come out of his shell and shed his bitterness.
Derry offers his Help

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● Mr. Lamb wanted to get some apples from the tree.
● He learned to deal with his handicap.
● Derry wanted to help but his mother, won’t allow once he gets home.
● It was Derry’s bitterness that won’t let him come out – Mr Lamb.

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● Derry could do any thing he chooses to – Mr Lamb.

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● Mr. Lamb says Derry doesn’t have gets to fight the odds.
● Derry became infuriated & mocks his lame leg.
● He promised to return to the ground.
Derry Choose for Himself
● Derry’s mother warned Derry about Mr. Lamb being eccentric.
● Derry still insisted and took a stand for himself.
● Derry said he did not care about his face anymore.
Derry is a changed Person
● Final scene to the garden again.
● Found Mr Lamb lying on the ground.
● His ladder slipped & he fell on the ground.
● Mr. Lamb was not moving and probably dead.
● But he taught Derry how to live.
Summary
Around 14 year old boy named Derry was walking in a garden. He panicked to see an old man Mr. Lamb
who awarded him about not tripping upon crab apples. Derry was an upset and pessimistic guy because of
his facial scar. He developed a strong hatred towards people who pity on him. Mr Lamb put him at ease and
advised him to accept life as it comes. Mr. Lamb. He was more cheerful and optimistic person. He was an
admirer of nature and beauty. Derry was influenced by Mr. Lamb’s attitude. Mr. Lamb told him that he has
an impairment too. His leg was blown off in a war. Kids made fun of him & called him Lamey-Lamb which
did not bother him. He reminded Derry of the ‘beauty and the Beast’ Derry was filled with bitterness and
his mother would kiss him on the other side of his face. People would talk about his face. Mr. Lamb told a
story of guy. Who was so afraid to die that he would lock himself in a room. But he died when a picture fell
off the wall on his head. Derry found it funny.
Mr lamb had no curtains and he liked light & darkness & to hear sound of wind. Derry liked the sound of
rain falling on the roof. Derry was not lost and still had positive attitude. Mr. Lamb called everyone his
friend, even Derry. He said to be a friend all the details are not important to know. Looking at all the
optimistic thoughts of Mr. Lamb, Derry asked how he thinks like that. Watching, Listening and Thinking
were the three mysterical things followed by Mr. Lamb, At last, Derry understood things. Derry was leaving
back for home and Mr Lamb wanted to get some apples for the jelly, Derry promised to return back after
informing his mother even when Mr. Lamb doubted him. Derry once reached home told her mother about
Mr. Lamb. Her mother warmed him about Mr. Lamb being eccentric.
Derry choose for himself and said that he did not care about his face any more. When he reached back to
the garden he called for Mr. Lamb but he saw him lying on the ground without any movement. Mr Lamb’s
ladder slipped & he fell on the ground. Derry was devastated but Mr. Lamb taught Derry how to live.
MCQ
Q.1 Why does Mr Lamb the gate of his house always open? (All India 2020)
Ans. Because Mr. Lamb loved to seet and meet people. He wanted people to come to his garden and he
could interact with them and greet them. Everybody was Mr. Lamb’s friend.
Q.2 How does Mr. Lamb keep himself busy when it is a bit cool?

H T (Delhi 2012)
Ans. Mr. lamb gets a ladder and stick to pull down apples. He called it magic fruit and make jelly out of

Q.3
them.
How does Mr. Lamb react when Derry enters his garden?
I G (All India 2017)

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Ans. He warned him about the crab apples, that he could trip down them. He welcomed Derry into the
garden. He told him that his home is open to all.
Q.4

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Why does Derry’s mother not want him to go back to visit Mr. lamb?
(Delhi 2017)
Ans. Derry’s mother have heard about Mr. Lamb that He is not a good person. She asked Derry not to go

Q.5

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back to Mr. Lamb Derry asked her not to whatever she hears.
What qualities of Mr. Lamb attracted Derry to him? (All India 2009)
Ans. Mr. Lamb was not scared of Derry’s burnt face. He was patient and listened to him. He made him
understand the importance of beautiful things. Mr. Lamb saw everything in an optimistic way. Even
when kids mocked him by calling lamey-lamb, he liked it and never took it personally. These were
some qualities of Mr. Lamb which attracted Derry.
Q.6 What was Derry’s infirmity? How had it made him withdrawn and defiant? (All India 2014)
Ans. Derry’s face had burnt scar on one side of his face. This made him look ugly and frightful and
everybody was scared of his look. People either pitied him or ignore him. He had no friends because
of his face. His parents were worried about his future which bothered him more than his own
impairment. Because of all this treatment he developed a lot of hatred inside me and he became a
pessimist, withdraw and defiant.
Q.7 It ate my face up. It ate me up’. Who said these words? Why?
Ans. These words are said by Derry. Acid fell on his face which left an ugly scar on his face. That’s why he
said. It ate his face up. But the people shunned him because of the scar and he developed a hatred
towards himself and the people around, that’s why he said it ate me up.
Q.8 Discuss the relevance of the title ‘on the face of it’.
Ans. The title is little od. People can be different from what they appear to be. Mr. lamb and Derry both
were different from inside. Mr. Lamb looked mysterious, lonely and secretive man but he was first
the opposite. He was gentle, kind, considerate & loving person. He helped Derry to give a new
perspective to life.
 Derry had a strong resistance towards people because of his ugly face. After meeting Mr. Lamb
Derisy learnt to admire things and understood the life to the fullest. Thus the author has titled her
play. ‘On the face of It?
Q.9 Aren’t you interested?
You’re a boy who came into the garden.
Plenty do. I ‘m interested in anybody.
Anything. There’s nothing God made that
doesn’t interest me. Look over there… over
beside the far wall. What can you see?
Rubbish
Rubbish? Look, boy, look… what do you see?
Just… grass and stuff. Weeds.
(i) Aren’t you interested? This line has been stated in the context of ___________.
(a) Derry’s behaviour
(b) Derry’s burnt face
(c) Derry’s purpose
(d) Derry’s dilemma
(ii) Why Mr. Lamb is interested in anybody?
(a) Because he is friendly to others.
(b) Because he has a positive outlook in life.
(c) Because he loves to help others.
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(d) Because he didn’t want anybody to be in trouble.
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(iii)

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What was the purpose of Mr. Lamb asking Derry to look at the far wall?
(a) To make him admire the beauty of his garden.

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(b) To show him the positive outlook of life.
(c) To make Derry understand the absurdity of his behaviour.

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(d) To get Derry’s help in making jam.

Ans.
(iv)

(i) (b) Derry’s burnt face

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To What Mr. Lamb is pointing to beside the wall?
(a) Crab apples

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(b) Weeds (c) Herbs (d) Flowers

(ii) (b) Because he has a positive outlook in life.

(iii) (c) To make Derry understand the absurdity of his behaviour.
(iv) (b) Weeds
Q.10 And that’s all true, and you know it. It won’t make my face change. Do you know, one day, a woman
went by me in the street…..
I was at a bus – stop…… and she was with another woman, and she looked at me, and she said,
“Look at that, that’ a terrible thing. That’s a face only a mother could love.” So you believe
everything you hear, then?
(i) That’s here refers to
(a) Derry’s negative outlook
(b) Mr. Lamb’s belief that Derry is normal like other children.
(c) Derry’s realisation that there are worse handicaps.
(d) Mr. Lamb has different attitude towards life.
(ii) What made Derry so negative?
(a) People’s comments (b) His burnt face
(c) Mother’s attitude. (d) His loneliness
 (iii) What impact does the lady’s comment love on Derry?
(a) Anger (b) Irritation (c) Hurt (d) Resentment
(iv) The word terrible can be replaced with
(a) rubbish (b) grave (c) shocking (d) awful
Ans. (i) (c) Derry’s realisation that there are worse handicaps.
(ii) (a) People’s comments
(iii) (c) Hurt
(iv) (d) Awful
Q.11 It’s have been trespassing.
Ah. That’s not why
I don’t like being near people. When they stare… when I see them being afraid of me.
You could lock yourself up in a room and never leave it. There was a man who did that. He was
afraid, you see. Of everything. Everything in this world. A bus might run him over, or a man might
breathe deadly germs onto him, or a donkey might kick him to death, or lightening might strike him
leave down, or he might slip on banana skin and fall and people who saw him would laugh their
heads off.
(i) That’s not why. This statement indicates that
(a) Mr. Lamb’s suspicious of Derry.
(b) Mr. Lamb’s doesn’t like Derry.
(c) Mr. Lamb’s doesn’t believe in Derry.
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(d) Mr. Lamb knows that Derry is negative.
(ii) Why people are afraid of Derry?
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(a) Because of his anger issues.
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(b) Because of his burnt face.

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(c) Because of his negative attitude. (d) Because of his mother’s nature.
(iii) The moral of the given story by Mr. Lamb is
(a) people have different views

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(c) you cannot live your life fear
(iv) The word trespassing can be replaced by
(b) you cannot please everyone
(d) isolation is not a solution

Ans.
(a) exploit
B (b) invade
(i) (c) Mr. Lamb doesn’t believe in Derry
(iii) (c) you cannot live your life fear
(c) offend (d) unlawful
(ii) (b) Because of his burnt face.
(iv) (b) invade