Class 12 English - HARYANA
Supplementary: On the Face of It
Supplementary chapter 'On the Face of It' by Susan Hill from the Class 12 English Vistas book explores the themes of physical impairment, loneliness, and alienation through the unlikely bond formed between an elderly man named Mr. Lamb and a young boy, Derry, who has a burned face. The play deals with psychological scars rather than physical ones, emphasizing the importance of a positive outlook on life, empathy, and acceptance. For Haryana (BSEH) board exams, this chapter is crucial as it frequently features in long-answer questions testing character analysis, thematic understanding, and critical interpretation of dialogue.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
Theme of Loneliness and Alienation
Both Mr. Lamb and Derry experience isolation from society—Mr. Lamb due to his tin leg and open-door policy, and Derry due to his severely burned face and people's prejudiced reactions.
Mr. Lamb's Character and Philosophy
An optimistic, open-minded old man who accepts life as it comes, finds beauty in ordinary things like weeds, and refuses to let his physical disability define him.
Derry's Complex and Defensive Nature
A fourteen-year-old boy suffering from severe inferiority complex, bitterness, and self-hatred because people stare at him with fear and pity.
The Significance of the Title
'On the Face of It' implies that things or people should not be judged merely by their external appearance, as reality is often deeper than what is visible on the surface.
The Metaphor of the Bee and Weeds
Mr. Lamb compares 'weed' to flowers to teach Derry that all of God's creations are equal and valuable, challenging society's superficial classifications.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In the Haryana (BSEH) Class 12 English board exam, this chapter regularly carries about 4 to 6 marks. Students can expect one long-answer type question (essay type) testing the character sketch of Mr. Lamb or Derry, or thematic significance, alongside short-answer questions based on crucial dialogues and incidents from the play.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Derry initially enter Mr. Lamb's garden?
Derry enters the garden thinking it is empty and hoping to hide away from people because he is conscious of his burned face and wants to avoid being stared at.
What is the significance of the fairy tale of Beauty and the Beast in the play?
Derry mentions the story to highlight that despite the Beast's ugliness, he was loved by Beauty, but he bitterly notes that nobody will ever love him except perhaps his mother, and even she kisses him only on the other side of his face.
What happens to Mr. Lamb at the end of the story?
Mr. Lamb falls off a ladder while trying to pull down crab apples from a tree and dies, but not before he successfully instills a new sense of confidence and life in Derry.
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