On The Face Of It — Class 12 English Notes

Topics covered in On The Face Of It

1. 1.On The Face Of It

   Short Summary

   "On the Face of It" is a play about the unexpected friendship between an old man named Mr. Lamb and a young boy named Derry. Mr. Lamb has a tin leg, while Derry has a severely scarred face due to an acid accident. Through their conversation, they explore themes of isolation, acceptance, and the impact of physical appearance on their lives. Mr. Lamb's optimistic outlook influences Derry to see beyond his physical scars.
   
   

   Long Summary

   The play begins with Derry entering Mr. Lamb's garden, thinking it is abandoned. Mr. Lamb welcomes him and engages him in conversation, despite Derry's initial resistance and anger. Mr. Lamb, who has lost a leg in the war and uses a tin leg, is cheerful and finds joy in simple things, like his garden and the bees he keeps.

   Derry, on the other hand, is a fourteen-year-old boy with a face scarred by acid. He is withdrawn and bitter, believing that people judge him solely based on his appearance. Throughout their conversation, Mr. Lamb encourages Derry to look beyond his physical appearance and see the beauty in life and people.

   Mr. Lamb shares his philosophy of life, emphasizing that everyone has some sort of problem and that one should not let physical impairments define their existence. He points out that while he has a tin leg, it doesn’t stop him from living a fulfilling life. Derry, though initially skeptical and defensive, starts to feel understood and valued in Mr. Lamb's company.

   In the final scenes, Derry's mother forbids him from going back to Mr. Lamb’s garden, fearing he might be hurt or influenced wrongly. However, Derry is determined to return, finding something meaningful in Mr. Lamb's words and garden. When he returns, he finds Mr. Lamb has fallen from a ladder and is dead, leaving Derry to reflect on the brief but impactful relationship they had.
   
   

   Key Events

   1. Derry enters Mr. Lamb’s garden thinking it is abandoned.
   2. Initial conversation where Mr. Lamb welcomes Derry despite his anger and defensiveness.
   3. Mr. Lamb shares his life philosophy, emphasizing the importance of seeing beyond physical appearances.
   4. Derry opens up about his feelings and experiences related to his scarred face.
   5. Derry decides to return to Mr. Lamb’s garden against his mother’s wishes.
   6. Derry finds Mr. Lamb dead, reflecting on the impact of their conversation.

   
   Lessons to Learn

   • Acceptance and empathy: Understanding and accepting people beyond their physical appearances.
   • Optimism: Finding joy and purpose despite physical impairments or societal judgments.
   • Courage: The strength to defy societal norms and prejudices.
   • The impact of brief relationships: How even short encounters can significantly influence one's perspective and life choices.

   
   Practice Questions

   Unseen Passage 1

   Passage: The garden was a haven for Mr. Lamb, who found solace among his bees and plants. He believed that every living thing had its place and purpose, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant. His conversations with Derry were filled with wisdom and warmth, offering the boy a new perspective on life and his own worth.

   
   Questions:

   1. What does Mr. Lamb find solace in?
      
      
   2. How does Mr. Lamb view living things?
      
      
   3. What impact did Mr. Lamb's conversations have on Derry?
      
      
   4. Describe the tone of Mr. Lamb's interactions with Derry.
      
      
   5. What lesson can be drawn from Mr. Lamb's philosophy?

   
   Answers:

   1. Mr. Lamb finds solace among his bees and plants in the garden.
      
      
   2. Mr. Lamb views every living thing as having its place and purpose, no matter how small or insignificant.
      
      
   3. Mr. Lamb's conversations offer Derry a new perspective on life and his own worth.
      
      
   4. The tone of Mr. Lamb's interactions with Derry is filled with wisdom and warmth.
      
      
   5. The lesson to be drawn is the importance of seeing the value in all living things and maintaining an optimistic outlook.

   
   Unseen Passage 2

   Passage: Derry's scarred face had always been a source of pain and isolation for him. He believed that people could only see his scars and not the person he was inside. Meeting Mr. Lamb, who had his own physical impairment, challenged Derry's views. Mr. Lamb taught him that true beauty lies within and that everyone has something valuable to offer.

   
   Questions:

   1. What was the source of pain and isolation for Derry?
      
      
   2. How did Derry perceive people's reactions to him?
      
      
   3. What impact did meeting Mr. Lamb have on Derry?
      
      
   4. What lesson did Mr. Lamb impart to Derry?
      
      
   5. How did Mr. Lamb's own impairment influence his views?

   
   Answers:

   1. The source of pain and isolation for Derry was his scarred face.
      
      
   2. Derry perceived that people could only see his scars and not his true self.
      
      
   3. Meeting Mr. Lamb challenged Derry's views and offered him a new perspective.
      
      
   4. Mr. Lamb imparted the lesson that true beauty lies within and everyone has something valuable to offer.
      
      
   5. Mr. Lamb's own impairment made him realize the importance of looking beyond physical appearances.

   
   Additional Practice Questions Related to the Chapter

   1. What is the significance of Mr. Lamb’s garden in the play?
      
      
   2. How does the play explore the theme of isolation?
      
      
   3. Compare and contrast the attitudes of Mr. Lamb and Derry towards their physical impairments.
      
      
   4. What role does Derry’s mother play in shaping his views about himself and others?
      
      
   5. How does the ending of the play reflect the central themes?

   
   Vocabulary Lists

   1. Solace
   2. Impairment
   3. Isolation
   4. Perspective
   5. Optimism

   
   Important Quotes

   • "You’ve got two arms, two legs and eyes and ears, you’ve got a tongue and a brain. You’ll get on the way you want, like all the rest."
     
     
   • "There’s nothing God made that doesn’t interest me."

   
   Sample Essay

   Topic: The Role of Physical Appearance in 'On the Face of It'

   In Susan Hill’s play "On the Face of It," physical appearance plays a pivotal role in shaping the characters' experiences and perceptions. The protagonist, Derry, is a young boy whose face is disfigured by acid, leading him to a life of isolation and bitterness. He believes that his appearance defines his identity and how others perceive him. Mr. Lamb, on the other hand, has a tin leg but maintains an optimistic and accepting attitude towards life. Through their interactions, Hill highlights the superficial judgments people make based on appearance and the deeper connections that can be formed when these judgments are set aside. The play ultimately conveys that true beauty and worth lie within, and that acceptance and empathy are key to overcoming the barriers created by physical differences.