Class 10 English - ODISHA
Prose: A Letter to God
A Letter to God by G.L. Fuentes is the first prose piece in the Class 10 English curriculum for BSE Odisha students. It tells the poignant story of 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 faith, they collect money to help him. This chapter emphasizes the power of absolute faith, human kindness, and the subtle irony of human nature in board exams.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
Unwavering Faith
Lencho's absolute, childlike belief that God sees everything, even one's deepest conscience, and will definitely help him in times of despair.
Irony in the Story
The situational irony where the post office employees, who actually collected and sent the money to Lencho, are suspected by him of being a 'bunch of crooks'.
Lencho's Character
Lencho is portrayed as an innocent, hardworking farmer who knows how to write and treats the post office staff as instruments of divine help.
The Impact of Nature
The transition of the hopeful rain shower into a destructive hailstorm, symbolizing how unpredictable and harsh nature can be to farmers.
Human Empathy
The postmaster's act of charity highlights the presence of genuine kindness and compassion in human society without expecting any reward.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In the BSE Odisha Class 10 English board examination, this chapter typically carries around 5 to 8 marks. Questions usually include multiple-choice questions (MCQs), short-answer questions testing comprehension of Lencho's faith and the postmaster's action, and long-answer descriptive questions about the central theme or character sketches.
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 the only one who could help his family survive starvation.
Lencho wrote a letter to God because his entire corn harvest was completely destroyed by a hailstorm, and he firmly believed that God alone could help him and his family survive.
Why did Lencho call the post office employees a 'bunch of crooks'?
Lencho found only seventy pesos in the envelope instead of the hundred he asked for. Since he believed God could not make a mistake, he suspected the post office staff stole the missing thirty pesos.
What is the main theme of 'A Letter to God'?
The main theme is the power of unshakeable faith in God, contrasted with human charity, misunderstanding, and the irony of human gratitude.
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