Character Contrasts in ‘Footprints Without Feet’ lets you understand what are the kind of questions we can expect in the CBSE Board Exam.
While the main textbook First Flight focuses on human values and nature, the supplementary reader ‘Footprints Without Feet’ dives deep into human psychology, deception, and social issues.
For CBSE Class 10 students, the 6-mark questions from this book often demand a comparative analysis of character traits. Here is a guide to the most vital character comparisons to help you prepare for the board exams.
Beyond the Plot | Theme 1: Trust and Transformation
Comparison: Anil vs. Hari Singh (The Thief’s Story)
Question: “Trust can transform even a thief.” Analyze this statement by comparing the attitudes of Anil and Hari Singh.
Answer:
- Hari Singh (The Cynic): At the start, Hari is deceptive, cunning, and views people only as victims to be robbed. He believes that “greedy men show fear” when robbed, but he has no experience with kindness. He stays with Anil initially only to steal.
- Anil (The Catalyst): Anil is easy-going, kind, and careless with money. He knows Hari is stealing small amounts from the grocery money but ignores it. His most powerful weapon is his unconditional trust.
- The Shift: Anil’s decision to trust Hari with his house key and his education breaks Hari’s defense. While Hari Singh steals the money, he returns it because he cannot bear to betray the only man who treated him with dignity. Anil’s goodness transforms Hari.
Character Contrasts | Theme 2: Intelligence vs. Wisdom
Comparison: Ausable vs. Max (The Midnight Visitor)
Question: Max had a gun, but Ausable had his wits. Compare the two secret agents based on their presence of mind.
Answer:
- Max: Max fits the stereotype of a spy—slender, crafty, and armed with a pistol. However, he relies entirely on brute force and threats. He lacks critical thinking and panics easily.
- Ausable: Ausable is the opposite of a spy stereotype—fat and wheezy. However, he possesses mental agility. Without a weapon, he concocts a believable story about a “balcony” and the “police” in split seconds.
- Conclusion: Max is defeated not by a weapon, but by his own gullibility. Ausable proves that a sharp mind is more dangerous than a loaded gun.
Theme 3: Lawless Science vs. Ethical Crime
Comparison: Griffin (Footprints Without Feet) vs. Horace Danby (A Question of Trust)
Question: Both Griffin and Horace Danby are criminals, yet their characters are vastly different. Compare them.
Answer:
- Horace Danby (The “Good” Thief): Horace is considered a “good and honest citizen” by society, except for his annual robbery. He steals only from the rich to buy rare books, never threatens anyone, and hates the thought of prison.
- Verdict: While both break the law, Horace retains a shred of humanity and purpose (books), whereas Griffin descends into pure anarchy and violence.
Theme 4: Vanity vs. Self-Respect
Comparison: Matilda Loisel (The Necklace) vs. Bholi (Bholi)
Question: Matilda was beautiful but unhappy; Bholi was “ugly” but found happiness. Compare their journeys of self-worth.
Answer:
- Matilda Loisel: She is born pretty but is deeply unhappy because she believes she deserves a life of luxury. Her vanity and dissatisfaction lead her to borrow a necklace she doesn’t need, losing ten years of her life to repay the debt. She relies on outer appearance for her worth.
- Bholi: She is neglected and mocked for her pockmarks and stamina. However, through education, she builds inner strength. She rejects the greedy Bishamber not out of vanity, but out of self-respect.
- Key Lesson: Matilda ruins her life by chasing what she doesn’t have; Bholi builds her life by embracing who she is.
Theme 5: Guidance and Parenting
Comparison: Mrs. Pumphrey (A Triumph of Surgery) vs. Bholi’s Parents (Bholi)
Question: Compare the parenting styles of Mrs. Pumphrey and Bholi’s parents. How did their “care” affect their wards?
Answer:
- Mrs. Pumphrey (Excessive Love): She loves her dog Tricki dearly but her love is ignorant and indulgent. By overfeeding him chocolates and cream cakes, she nearly kills him with kindness. She represents a parent who spoils the child.
- Bholi’s Parents (Neglect): They view Bholi as a burden. Her mother says, “Let the teachers worry about her.” They provide her with neither love nor encouragement, dressing her in old clothes.
- Conclusion: Both are examples of bad guardianship. Mrs. Pumphrey does too much, and Bholi’s parents do too little. The balance is missing in both cases.
Character Contrasts | Theme 6: Leadership and Humility
Comparison: Think-Tank vs. Noodle (The Book That Saved the Earth)
Question: In the play ‘The Book That Saved the Earth’, who displays true leadership qualities: the ruler or the apprentice?
Answer:
- Think-Tank: He is the Commander-in-Chief but is arrogant and pompous. He demands to be saluted and claims to have a “giant brain,” yet he misinterprets simple nursery rhymes as threats. He rules through fear and ego.
- Noodle: Though he is just an apprentice, Noodle is wise and diplomatic. He knows the correct answers but feeds them to Think-Tank by saying, “I have a small idea,” allowing the boss to take the credit.
- Verdict: Noodle is the true leader behind the scenes, proving that humility often accompanies true intelligence, while arrogance accompanies stupidity.
Student Checklist for Comparison Answers
When writing these answers in your exam, ensure you check these three boxes:
- Direct Comparison: Did I use a linking word like however, unlike, or whereas?
- Evidence: Did I mention a specific incident (e.g., “Horace loved rare books” or “Matilda lost the necklace”)?
- The “So What?”: Did I explain why the characters acted differently? (e.g., “Because of his greed…” or “Due to her vanity…”).
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