On the face of it

Q1. Who is Derry? What self‐opinion does he hold?

Derek, also called Derry was a young boy of 14. He was a quiet, shy and defiant boy. One side of his face was
totally burnt by acid. He was a victim of inferiority complex.

Q2. How does Lamb try to remove the baseless fears of Derry?
Mr. Lamb influences Derry by his optimistic philosophy. He advised him not to give attention to other’s comments,
try to be internally pure and strong and eliminate the negativity in life.

3. What did Derry’s mothers think of Mr. Lamb? OR Why did Derry’s mother stop him from going to Mr. Lamb?
Derry’s mother does not hold a good opinion about Mr. Lamb. She has heard many things about the old man,
therefore stops Derry to visit Mr. Lamb.

Q4. Why does Derry go back to Mr. Lamb in the end?

Actually Mr. Lamb has taught Derry, the most important lesson of life. He advises him not to care about the
comments made by others. He now no longer cares about his burned face or looks. He is more concerned what he
thinks and feels what he wants to hear and see. He knows if does not go back, he will never go back. Therefore he
returns.

Q5. Comment on the moral value of the play.[imp]

The moral of the play is very loud and clear. The physically disabled should focus on the brighter side of life and
not brood over the defects. The society should accept them as they are and expand their social interactions .In this
way they can fight out the loneliness, depression and disappointment

6. Mr. Lamb says to Derry; ‘it’s all relative, beauty and the beast’, what essentially does he mean by
that?
Lamb tells Derry that it all depends upon people’s individual perceptions. A thing is a beauty for one while that
beauty may be a beast for others.

7. What was Lamb’s advice to Derry about ‘hating people’?

When Derry said that he hated some people, Mr Lamb told him that hating people did more harm than a bottle of
acid. Whereas acid had only burnt his face, hatred could burn him from within.

8. Who is Mr Lamb? How does Derry get in to his garden?[imp]

Mr Lamb an old man who lives in a big house and owns a garden. Though he has a tin leg, he has a positive
outlook towards life, people and things. Derry enters his garden not to steal or pick up apples but to keep himself
away from the people. He climbs over the garden wall and enters the garden.

9. Do you think all this will change Derry’s attitude towards Mr Lamb?
Derry suffers from inferiority complex because of his burnt face. Mr Lamb motivates him to think positively about
life, people and things. So Derry comes back to Mr Lamb though his mother tries to prevent him from going to Mr
Lamb.

10. What is it that draws Derek/ Derry towards Mr. Lamb in spite of himself?
Derry is a young boy who suffers from a sense of inferiority complex as his half of the face has been disfigured by
acid. He tried to be in secluded places. When Derek meets Mr. Lamb for the first time, he wants to run away feeling
embarrassed. However the old man startles him with his strange talk. Derry is surprised to see him. Mr. Lamb
does not mind his stealthy entry in to his garden. Derry is further surprised when Mr. Lamb says he’s not as ugly
as he believes himself to be. Mr. Lamb talks about his interest in everything created by God including weeds. He
encourages Derry by saying “you’ve got two arms, two legs…you’ll get on the way you want, like the rest”.
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Though his shattered self confidence did not allow him to face the world, Mr. Lamb’s talk about everything and
everybody being essentially the same, his notion of beauty being relative, his concept of the world and friendship
fascinates him. Derry sheds his complex of being ugly and rediscovers the joy of life. It is not only Mr. Lamb’s
strange ideas that attract Derry, but also his loneliness and longing for company. He returns to him at the end. The
two have a great affinity. Both have suffered loneliness and both long for company.

11. In which section of the play does Mr Lamb display signs of loneliness and disappointment? What
are the ways in which Mr Lamb tries to overcome these feelings?
Mr Lamb has a positive outlook towards life, people and things. He accepts life as it comes. Although the
loneliness of Derry dominates the play, there are evident traces of Mr. Lamb’s loneliness throughout the first scene
of the play. The old man says that having heard the bees for a “long time” he knows that they “sing”, not buzz. It
not only depicts how his perception was different from others but also illustrates that he was lonely and that he did
not have any one to be with. Another evidence of his loneliness is the fact that whole day he sat in the sun and read
books. This proves that books were his only true friends. He says that his “empty house” is full of books,
underlining the way in which the void of his empty life was filled in by books. By the end of this scene, it becomes
even clearer that he is lonely and sad when he mutters to himself that no one comes back to him after the first
meeting. Likewise, he did not expect Derry to return. He was so sure that Derry would never return that he
climbed the ladder to collect all the apples himself, although Derry had offered to help him after informing his
mother. Ironically, the old man would have died unnoticed if Derry had not returned to fill the emptiness of his
own life.

12. The actual pain or inconvenience caused by a physical impairment is often much less than the
sense of alienation felt by the person with disabilities. What is the kind of behaviour that the person
expects from others?[vimp]
It is true that the actual pain or inconvenience caused by a physical impairment is quite painful. The sense of
alienation is more painful. Both Derry and Lamb suffer from physical impairment. Lamb has an artificial tin leg
where as Derry has a severely burnt face. Both must have suffered terribly. We see that Derry not only suffers for
his burnt face but also from an acutely low self-regard, self-rejection and his notion of how much people hate him
for being ugly. His loneliness and suffering are aggravated by his feeling that nobody loves/wants him. He suffers
pains of alienation within his family (he believes his mother kisses him not because she loves him, but because she
has to).People’s indifferent attitude, their hatred and dislike for handicaps, and their utter lack of concern and
compassion, hurt people more than the actual pain of impairment. Victims of impairment do not want empty
words of sympathy and pity, for they feel more hurt when people continue to remind them of their being
handicapped. We should accept them as they are-help them to lead better lives by creating the appropriate
opportunities and environment.

13. Will Derry get back to his old seclusion or will Mr Lamb’s brief association effect a change in the
kind of life he will lead in the future?
Derry is a young boy who suffers from a sense of inferiority complex as his half of the face has been disfigured by
acid. He tried to be in secluded places. Before meeting Mr Lamb, he has negative attitude towards life and people.
He avoided meeting people and interacting with them. His loneliness and suffering are aggravated by his feeling
that nobody loves/wants him. He suffers pains of alienation within his family (he believes his mother kisses him
not because she loves him, but because she has to). But the meeting with Mr Lamb changes his life. He teaches him
how to look ate life, things and people. Even though Mr Lamb is a physically handicapped person with an artificial
leg, he has positive attitude towards life. Though children tease him by calling ‘Lamey- Lamb, he still loves them.
He longs for company. He loves reading books. His positive attitude towards life, people and things make Derry to
get rid of his inferiority complex. He no longer will be having an inferiority complex. He becomes self-confident.
He will gradually try to find a place in the mainstream of life.

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. 14. What is the significance of Derek’s words, “I thought it was empty…an empty house” in the play?
Derek climbs over the boundary wall and enters Mr. Lamb’s garden. Mr Lamb is not surprised at this as he’s used
to seeing children coming in to steal and eat apples. But Derek has come into the garden out of curiosity . When
Lamb sees him, Derek is embarrassed and tries to give an explanation. Derek’s words are significant. It points out
to his terrible sense of frustration, loneliness and isolation on account of his severely burnt face .These words also
prompt Lamb to speak about his loneliness. These words go a long way in Lamb’s understanding of Derek’s
character and his subsequent efforts in helping Derek come out of his inferiority complex, poor self-regard and self-
rejection. These words are a bitter reminder of the bitterness that has crept into Derek’s mind due to other people’s
dislike and hatred for his ugly face. It reveals the desperate cry of a fourteen-year-old boy for love and acceptance.

15. Both Mr. Lamb and Derry represent two serious aspects of life, though their origin can be called the
same. Explain the statement.
Both Mr. Lamb and Derry are physically handicapped but view their lives differently. Derry has a scarred face. He
develops an inferiority complex that people hate him or pity him for his ugly face. He intentionally distances
himself from people and likes to live in solitude. On the other hand Mr. Lamb is an optimist. He has a tin leg.
Though children make fun of him but he takes it in his stride. He does not let his disability affect his life .He
believes in enjoying life in its glory. He enjoys sitting in the sun, accepts life without any bitter feeling, He keeps his
house open for everyone

16. ‘I am not afraid, people are afraid of me’, why does Derry say so?
Derry lives in a cocoon of complexes . Due to his burnt face, he feels isolated himself from all others. He even don’t
mix up with others. He considers his burnt face `an unpleasant sight` and thinks that people are afraid of him.

17. Mr. Lamb says to Derry; ‘it’s all relative, beauty and the beast’, what essentially does he mean by that?
Mr. Lamb means to say that different people have different view pints to look at the same thing. Some find one
thing beautiful, others find it ugly. It all depends on outlook and attitude. It is, therefore, important to adopt a
positive attitude towards everything just like the Princess Beauty who loved the monstrous Beast in the fairy tale.
The point is that what you look like, but what you are inside.

18. What does Derry know about the fairy tale ‘Beauty and the Beast’? Why is he not convinced by its moral?
-Derry had heard the tale; Beauty liked the monstrous Beast; when she kissed he turned into a handsome
prince; moral was not how you look outside but how you look inside is important; Derry was not convinced as
even if someone kissed he would never change and his mother always kissed him only on the other cheek.

19. Mr. Lamb has successfully learned to cope with his loneliness. How?
He keeps busy with gardening, rearing bees, making apple jam etc. Also he keeps windows and doors open to
welcomes all companies.

20. What did Derry’s mothers think of Mr. Lamb? OR Why did Derry’s mother stop him, going to Mr. Lamb?
Derry’s mother does not hold a good opinion about Mr. Lamb. She had heard many things about the old man,
therefore stops Derry to visit Mr. Lamb.

21. How does Lamb try to remove the baseless fears of Derry?
Mr. Lamb influences Derry by his optimistic philosophy. He advised him not to give attention to other’s comments,
try to be internally pure and strong and eliminate the negativity in life.

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22. “It’s got nothing to do with my face and what I look like.” What attitudinal change do Derry’s words to his
mother indicate?
Derry’s attitude is now positive and he looks forward to a better life, no longer hiding from others.

23. Though the play ends with Mr. Lamb’s death there is still an element of hope. Explain.
The positive change in Derry’s attitude by Mr. Lamb will be permanent, and his life will get better. Mr. Lamb has
passed his knowledge and philosophy to younger generation. Though Mr. Lamb is physically dead, but his ideas
will remain alive in Derry’s heart.

24. What is the significance of Derek’s words, “I thought it was empty…an empty house” in the play?
Ans: Derek climbs over the boundary wall and enters Mr. Lamb’s garden – Lamb not surprised at this as
he’s used to seeing children coming in to steal and eat apples – but Derek has come into the garden out of
curiosity – when Lamb sees him, Derek is embarrassed and tries to give an explanation.
Derek’s words are significant – points out to his terrible sense of frustration, loneliness and isolation on
account of his severely burnt face – these words also prompt Lamb to speak about his loneliness – these
words go a long way in Lamb’s understanding of Derek’s character and his subsequent efforts in helping
Derek come out of his inferiority complex, poor self-regard and self-rejection – these words are a bitter
reminder of the bitterness that has crept into Derek’s mind due to other people’s dislike and hatred for his
ugly face – a desperate cry of a fourteen-year-old boy for love and acceptance.

25. What is it that draws Derry towards Mr. Lamb?

Lamb makes Derry feel comfortable. He doesn’t question him about his disability and instills confidence in him.
Mr. Lamb influences Derry by his optimistic philosophy. He advised him not to give attention to other’s comments,
try to be internally pure and strong and eliminate the negativity in life. He is a good friend to him

26. Why and how did Derry enter Mr. Lamb's garden ?
Ans. The young man Derry entered Mr. Lamb's garden by climbing over the garden wall. He thought that it was
an empty place. He didn't know there was anybody there. He didn't come to steal apples or anything. He just
wanted to be in a secluded place. The garden appeared to be quite a suitable place for him.

27. Why does Derry say : " .... I'm not afraid. [Pause] People are afraid of me ?"
Ans. Derry suffers from a complex. Most of the physically impaired persons suffer from such a complex. He
becomes withdrawn and defiant. He has got a burnt face. People find his face very terrible. They get scared when
they look at his horrible face. So he is not afraid of the people but they are afraid of him.

28. Why did Derry come into Mr. Lamb's garden ? Why was he startled ? (A.I. CBSE 2008}
Ans. Derry told Mr Lamb that he didn't enter the garden to steal anything. He thought it was an empty place. He
didn't know if anybody was living there. He was startled to find Mr Lamb suddenly coming near and speaking to
him. Derry asked in disbelief and surprise: "What ? ...Who's there ?"

29. According to Derry, what do people think and say about him ? (A.I. CBSE 2008)
Derry thought that people were afraid of his burnt face. It was a terrible thing. Derry thought that no one would
ever kiss him except his mother. When people stared him, he felt they were afraid of him. This made him
withdrawn. He tried to avoid meeting people. Derry thought he was as ugly as a 'devil' and people thought him
so.

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30. How did Derry get his face burnt ?
Ans. One side of Derry's face was totally burnt. Mr Lamb guessed that Derry's face got burned in a fire. Derry
corrected him. He got acid all down on that side of his face. The acid burned it all the way. It ate his face up.

31. "I'm interested in anybody. Anything. There is nothing that God made that doesn't interest me."Do these
words truly reflect Mr Lamb's character ?
Ans. Mr Lamb is a man with a positive attitude towards life and people. He is not an escapist like Derry. He is
also a physically disabled person. But the matter ends here only. He has zest for life. He loves people. He loves
growing weeds, collecting honey and making jelly. He is always interested in anybody and anything.

32. Why does Mr Lamb have a tin leg ?

Ans. Mr Lamb has a tin leg. One of his legs was blown off in the war. He has to walk on an artificial tin leg. But
Mr Lamb doesn't feel like a physically handicapped person. Nor does he suffer from an inferiority complex.
Children call him "Lamey-Lamb" but he doesn't mind it.

33. What was the fate of the man who locked himself up in his room ? Why does Mr Lamb give this example ?
Ans. There was a man who was afraid of everything. A bus might run over him. A donkey might kick him to
death. So he went into his room. He locked the door and stayed there. A picture fell off the wall on to his head
and killed him. Mr Lamb doesn't want Derry to alienate himself. It can be dangerous.

34. I'm not fond of curtains. Shutting things out." says Mr Lamb. How do these words reveal Mr Lamb's
personality ?
Ans. Mr Lamb's physical disability doesn't crush his openness and large-heartedness. He is not alienated from the
mainstream of life like Derry. On the other hand, he keeps his house and heart open to people. Anybody can
enter his garden. He is not fond of curtains. He doesn't believe in shutting things out.

35. Why does Mr Lamb say to Derry that "People are never just... nothing. Never" ?
Ans. Mr Lamb's message is very clear. Alienation or withdrawal is not the solution. Derry believes in funning
away from people. For him people are just nothing. Mr Lamb lives among the people. He keeps his heart always
open for the people. They are important and "never just nothing".

36. What kind of world will it be if all the physically disabled start living together to avoid people staring at
them ?
Ans. Derry believes in withdrawal and escapism. He wants to live where no one may stare and pass cruel
remarks at him. The blind ought to be with the blind people and the idiot boys with the idiots. Mr Lamb doesn't
believe in such a segregation. It will not be a pleasant and healthy world.

37. "Once you got home, you'd never let yourself come back." says Mr Lamb to Derry. Is he right in his
assessment ?
Ans. Mr Lamb says that once Derry gets home, he will never let himself come back. People say but never come
back. But Derry says that he will come back. Mr Lamb should wait for him. Derry does come back. His mother
tries to hold him back but he comes back to Mr Lamb.

38. Why does Derry's mother warn him not to go to meet Mr Lamb ?
Ans. Derry's mother claims to have heard many things about Mr Lamb. She has been told and warned by the
people. She asks Derry not to go back there. Derry asks her not to believe all she hears. He is determined to go
there.

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 39. Why doesn't Derry stay to help Mr. Lamb to get crab-apples ?(A.I. CBSE 2008)
Ans. Derry can't stay to help Mr Lamb to get crab-apples. He was away from home for long. His mother must be
worried. She wanted to know where he was. His home was at a distance of three miles across the fields. He was
fourteen but still his mother wanted to know where her son was.

40. Why does Derry go back to Mr Lamb ?

Ans. Derry is determined to go back to Mr Lamb. Mr Lamb says "things nobody else has ever said". Moreover, he
has promised Mr Lamb to come back to him. He wants to prove that he has fulfilled his promise. Mr Lamb has
given him a new meaning of life. So he is coming to meet him again.

41. Has Derry overcome the complex regarding his burnt face ? How ?
Ans. Derry feels bad when people talk about his face. But now Derry is not the same person. He has overcome his
inferiority complex. Nor does he care what he looks like. It is not important for him now. He is going back to Mr
Lamb only to look at things like him.

42. Describe the message that the play 'On The Face of It' conveys to the readers.
Ans. The one-act-play 'On The Face of It' conveys a definite message. Life has to be lived. We should always be
within the mainstream of life. We should not allow ourselves to be alienated. Nor should we suffer from a
complex if we are physically challenged. We should accept life as it comes.

43. Both Derry and Mr Lamb suffer physical disabilities but their attitude towards life and people is totally
different. Highlight their contrasting traits in your own words.(V. Imp.)
Ans. Derry's main problem is his burnt face. One side of his face was eaten up by acid. He suffers from a
tremendous sense of inferiority complex. He is always conscious that his face is "bad", "terrible" and "the ugliest
thing". People are "afraid" of him. He tries to escape people. He allows himself to be alienated from the world. On
the other hand, Mr Lamb doesn't allow his physical disability to come in his way. He accepts life as it comes. He
has a positive attitude towards life, things and people. He doesn't find solace in escapism. Children tease him by
calling "Lamey-Lamb" but he doesn't mind it. One of his legs was blown off in the war. But he is full of life and
enjoys it at his best. He enjoys sitting in the sun, reading books and growing weeds and flowers.
Derry is withdrawn and defiant. He doesn't trust people. He thinks that no one will ever love and kiss him except
his own mother. He can't stand people staring at him or passing uncharitable remarks. He is touchy and hyper-
sensitive. Mr Lamb is open-minded and open-hearted. All are welcome. He loves everybody and everything. He
teaches Derry how to handle people and things.

44. How did Mr. Lamb's meeting with Derry become a turning point in Derry's life ? (CBS£ 2008)
Ans. The play 'On the Face of It' features an old man and a small boy. The man is Mr Lamb and the boy Derry
who meets him in the former's garden. Derry is withdrawn and defiant. He does not like being with people. Once
he got acid all down on one side of his face. The acid burnt it all away. This creates a complex in his mind. He
considers his face as the most terrible thing in the world. When he looks in the mirror and sees it, he is afraid of
himself. He thinks that people are afraid of him. He doesn't like being near them. No one will ever kiss him. Only
his mother kisses him and that too on the other side of his face. People look at his face and pass uncharitable
remarks. Mr Lamb is a physically challenged man. He has got a tin leg. The real one got blown off, years back.
Children tease him calling "Lamey — Lamb". But Mr Lamb never minds such things. He has a positive attitude
towards life. He likes to talk and have company. He is open and never shuts himself in.
Mr Lamb's meeting with Derry brings a turning point in Derry's life. He gives confidence to Derry. He persuades
him that he can get better than rest of the people. He should stop hating people. Hatred burns oneself away
inside. Derry should take life as it is. This leaves a deep impression on Derry. He comes back to Mr Lamb only to
find him dead. But Mr Lamb brings a change in Derry's life. He develops confidence to face the world in a more
positive way.

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45. Derry is a victim of his own complex. He develops a negative attitude towards life and people. Do you find
some change in him in the end ? (V. Imp.)
Ans. Derry is a victim of his own inferiority complex. This complex is born out of a distorted understanding of
himself and the world. One side of his face was badly burnt by acid. When he sees his face in the mirror he gets
afraid of himself. Derry develops a negative attitude towards life. He doesn't fit anywhere. He is withdrawn and
defiant. He avoids people. He can never think that anybody can love and kiss him except his mother.
Derry's deep complex leads him to total alienation. He is unlike Mr Lamb. Mr Lamb has a tin leg. But he never
allows his disability to sour the joys of his life. Derry makes himself quite pitiable and miserable. His hyper-
sensitivity is like an open wound. He can't stand people staring at him. Cruel and uncharitable remarks upset the
balance of his mind. Children call Mr Lamb : "Lamey-Lamb" but he doesn't mind it. Derry has developed a
perverted thinking. He mistrusts the world and its people. We find a change in Derry in the end. Mr Lamb's ideas
leave their imprints on him. He is free from that diseased complex now.

46. Generally persons suffering from a physical impairment feel a sense of alienation and withdraw
themselves from the world. But Mr Lamb never allows his physical disability to sour and spoil the pace and
pleasures of his life. Justify the statement by giving examples from the text.(Imp.)
Ans. Physical impairment causes a deep mental agony. It gives birth to a deep inferiority complex. The person
gets alienated from the mainstream of life. He finds solace in withdrawal and self-pity. But Mr Lamb is an
exception. He has a tin leg. One of his legs was blown off in the war. He never allows his physical disability to
sour and spoil the pace and pleasures of his life. He accepts life as it comes. He tries to find and give a definite
meaning to it. He always lives for others and among others. Nor does he become an object of self-pity. He always
keeps open his heart for others. Everyone is welcome. He loves everybody and everything.
Mr Lamb is full of life. He enjoys sitting in the sun and reading books. He grows plants, flowers and fruit trees.
He collects honey and makes jelly from apples. Children sometimes call him "Lamey-Lamb" but he doesn't mind
it. On the other hand, he plays with them. He gives apples and toffees to them. He gives a new direction and
meaning to Berry's life before his death.

47. Though the play ends with Mr. Lamb’s death there is still an element of hope. Explain
The positive change in Derry’s attitude by Mr. Lamb will be permanent, and his life will get better. Mr. Lamb
has passed his knowledge and philosophy to younger Generation.
Though Mr. Lamb is physically dead, but his ideas will remain alive in Derry’s heart.

48. ‘It ate my face up. It ate me up. Who said these words and why?
The latter was an old person, Mr. Lamb, who was lame in one leg. Derry, the boy who had
scarred face in the story 'On The Face Of It', by Susan Hill, said these words to Mr. Lamb. ... Owing to the scar on
his face, people around him often humiliated him.