Class 10 English - UP
Prose: A Letter to God
A Letter to God by G.L. Fuentes is the first prose chapter in the Class 10 English First Flight textbook prescribed by the Uttar Pradesh (UPMSP) board. The story revolves around Lencho, a hardworking farmer whose crops are completely destroyed by a massive hailstorm. With unwavering faith in God, Lencho writes a letter asking for a hundred pesos to survive and resow his fields. The chapter explores themes of blind faith, human kindness, and irony, as the post office employees collect money to help him, yet Lencho calls them a bunch of crooks. This chapter is vital for board exams as it frequently appears in reading comprehension and long-answer questions.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
Lencho's Unshakable Faith
Lencho possesses deep, childlike faith in God, believing that God's eyes see everything and that He will certainly help him in his crisis.
The Irony in the Ending
The postmaster and employees collect money to help Lencho out of charity, but Lencho suspects them of stealing part of the money, creating a classic situational irony.
Destruction by Hailstones
A promising rain shower turns into a destructive hailstorm that ruins Lencho's cornfield entirely, leaving his family with no food for the coming year.
Human Empathy and Kindness
The postmaster is deeply moved by Lencho's faith and decides to answer the letter by collecting contributions from his employees and friends.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In the Uttar Pradesh (UPMSP) Class 10 English board examination, this chapter typically carries around 4 to 6 marks. Common question types include multiple-choice questions (MCQs), reference to context (extract-based questions), short answer questions about Lencho's character or the postmaster's action, and long answer questions based on the theme of faith and irony.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Lencho write a letter to God?
Lencho wrote a letter to God because his entire corn crop was destroyed by a severe hailstorm, and he needed a hundred pesos from God to feed his family and resow his fields.
Why did Lencho call the post office employees a 'bunch of crooks'?
Lencho called them crooks because he received seventy pesos instead of the hundred he asked for, and he falsely believed that the post office staff had stolen the remaining thirty pesos.
What is the central theme of 'A Letter to God'?
The central theme is the power of absolute, blind faith in God and the paradoxical nature of human helpfulness versus human suspicion.
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