Class 10 English - CBSE
Prose: A Letter to God
A Letter to God by G.L. Fuentes is a poignant story about Lencho, a hardworking farmer whose crops are completely destroyed by a devastating hailstorm. With unwavering faith in God, Lencho writes a letter asking for a hundred pesos to survive and resow his fields. The postmaster and employees read the letter and, moved by his immense faith, collect money to help him. However, Lencho receives only seventy pesos and writes a second letter to God, calling the post office employees a 'bunch of crooks.' This chapter tests critical thinking and themes of blind faith and human charity for CBSE board exams.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
Lencho's Unshakable Faith
Lencho possesses extreme, childlike faith in God, believing that God's eyes see everything, even what is deep in one's conscience.
Irony in the Story
Situational irony is a major literary device here; the post office employees who secretly help Lencho are ultimately accused by him of being dishonest.
Human Empathy and Kindness
The postmaster and his colleagues demonstrate true humanity by pooling their own money to preserve Lencho's faith in God.
Destructive Power of Nature
The hailstorm symbolizes the helplessness of farmers against unpredictable natural calamities, wiping out their hard work in minutes.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In the CBSE Class 10 English Communicative/Language & Literature exam, this chapter typically carries 4 to 6 marks. Expect extract-based questions (1-2 marks), short answer questions testing character traits and irony (3 marks), and long-answer questions exploring the theme of faith versus human reality (5 marks).
Frequently Asked Questions
Lencho wrote a letter to God because his entire corn crop was destroyed by a severe hailstorm, and he believed God was his only remaining hope to save his family from starvation.
Lencho wrote a letter to God because his entire corn crop was destroyed by a severe hailstorm, and he believed God was his only remaining hope to save his family from starvation.
Why did Lencho call the post office employees a 'bunch of crooks'?
Lencho assumed that God could not make a mistake or deny him money. Since he received only 70 pesos instead of the 100 he asked for, he blamed the post office staff for stealing the missing 30 pesos.
What is the main message of 'A Letter to God'?
The story highlights the power of innocent, blind faith while ironically contrasting it with human charity, showing how mortals often fail to recognize kindness.
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