- Author: H. G. Wells (1866–1946) — English novelist, called the “Father of Science Fiction”; famous works include The Time Machine, The War of the Worlds, and The Invisible Man.
- Type: Extract (adapted) from Wells’ novel The Invisible Man (1897); included in the NCERT Supplementary Reader Footprints without Feet as Chapter 5.
- Central character: Griffin — a brilliant but unscrupulous scientist who discovers how to make the human body invisible and misuses the power.
- Core themes: Science without ethics is dangerous; invisibility as a curse, not a blessing; crime and its consequences; isolation and eccentricity.
- Title paradox: “Footprints without Feet” — the visible muddy footprints of an otherwise invisible man; a paradox that captures the central irony of the story.
- Board weightage: 3–5 marks; questions appear as short-answer (2 marks), long-answer (5 marks), and character-based questions. Important for MCQs in new pattern.
1. About the Author — H. G. Wells
Full name: Herbert George Wells. Born: 21 September 1866, Bromley, Kent, England. Died: 13 August 1946, London.
- Wells was a prolific English writer whose novels pioneered modern science fiction. He is ranked alongside Jules Verne as one of the founders of the genre.
- He studied biology under T. H. Huxley, which gave his science fiction a grounding in real scientific thinking.
- Major works: The Time Machine (1895), The Island of Doctor Moreau (1896), The Invisible Man (1897), The War of the Worlds (1898).
- His stories often warn against the misuse of science and explore the dark side of technological power.
- The Invisible Man was published in 1897 as a serialised story. It explores what happens when a scientist gains extraordinary power and uses it irresponsibly.
2. Summary — Part 1: The Discovery and the Footprints
The story opens with a curious and startling sight: two boys in London notice a fresh set of muddy footprints appearing on the steps of a house — but there is no visible person making them. The footprints appear, move, and then fade as they reach the dry pavement. The boys follow them in excitement and bewilderment, but the footprints eventually disappear.
The reader is then introduced to the man behind these footprints: Griffin, a scientist who had carried out an experiment to prove that the human body could be made invisible. After years of research, he had swallowed certain drugs and his body had become transparent — as clear as glass. He was invisible, but he could still be felt, and he could leave marks (like footprints in mud or snow).
Key detail: The footprints appear because Griffin had recently walked through freshly whitened steps; the mud or chalk clings to his invisible feet and reveals his presence temporarily.
3. Summary — Part 2: Setting the Landlord’s House on Fire
Griffin was not just eccentric — he was lawless and irresponsible. His landlord disliked him and had tried to get rid of him. In a fit of anger and revenge, Griffin set the landlord’s house on fire. To escape without being identified, he had to remove all his clothes (since clothes would still be visible), leaving him naked and invisible in the cold streets of London.
This act marks a critical turning point: Griffin goes from being a rogue scientist to a criminal. He is now homeless, penniless, exposed to the bitter cold, and completely alone.
4. Summary — Part 3: Stealing from a London Store
Wandering in the cold and hunger, Griffin slipped into a big London store (a department store) for warmth. He ate food from the store, drank wine, and dressed himself in warm clothes. He even slept on a pile of quilts in the store.
However, in the morning when the store assistants arrived, Griffin was caught in an awkward situation — he was wearing clothes and thus visible. He was spotted and chased by the store assistants. To escape, he had to tear off all his clothes and become invisible again, once more naked and shivering in the cold.
Point to note: The store episode shows that invisibility is not a comfortable advantage — the moment Griffin wears clothes to protect himself from cold, he becomes partially visible and loses his cover.
5. Summary — Part 4: Stealing from a Theatrical Company
Still desperate for warmth, food, and money, Griffin entered the shop of a theatrical company (a store that sold costumes and stage props). There he helped himself to a false nose, some side-whiskers (fake side-burns), a hat, bushy eyebrows, bandages, spectacles, a wide-brimmed hat, and a long overcoat. He also stole money from the shopkeeper’s desk.
By putting on all these disguise items, Griffin was able to appear as a fully visible, bandaged person — the bandages covered his invisible face, and the hat and whiskers completed the disguise. This is how Griffin first invented his characteristic appearance: a stranger covered entirely in bandages, wearing dark glasses, with a fake nose and wide-brimmed hat.
He also attacked the shopkeeper (knocking him unconscious) to make his escape. This further establishes Griffin as violent and dangerous.
6. Summary — Part 5: Moving to Iping Village
Griffin decided to move out of London to avoid detection. He chose the village of Iping in the countryside and arrived at the local inn run by Mrs Hall (the landlady). Griffin was a very unusual guest:
- He wore bandages covering his entire face, dark spectacles, a false nose, and a wide-brimmed hat.
- He paid Mrs Hall in advance (with the stolen money), which made her tolerate his eccentric behaviour.
- He demanded complete privacy and reacted violently to any intrusion into his room.
- He claimed he had come to Iping for solitude and to carry on his experiments.
- He ordered food in bulk and spent long hours alone in his room.
Mrs Hall was curious and slightly frightened by Griffin but put up with him because he paid well. The villagers of Iping found him very strange but kept their distance initially.
7. Summary — Part 6: Robbing the Clergyman’s House
When Griffin ran out of the stolen money, he needed more funds. He secretly broke into the house of the clergyman (vicar) of Iping. The clergyman and his wife were awakened in the early morning by strange sounds — coins clinking, a drawer being opened. They came downstairs to investigate but found no one in the study. The money from the clergyman’s desk (about £25 in coins and notes) had disappeared mysteriously.
This episode creates great suspense and panic in Iping. The villagers are baffled and frightened by what appears to be supernatural activity.
8. Summary — Part 7: Confrontation with the Village Constable
Mrs Hall grew increasingly suspicious of Griffin. One morning she found that her furniture had moved by itself — chairs were moving, a hat flew at her, and the furniture seemed to dance. She was terrified and called for help. The village constable (Mr Jaffers) arrived with a warrant to arrest Griffin on suspicion of burglary (the robbery at the clergyman’s house).
What followed was extraordinary. When Jaffers tried to arrest Griffin, Griffin began removing his bandages and disguise — revealing nothing underneath. His head disappeared first, then more of his body as he stripped off his clothes. The constable tried to hold a man who was increasingly invisible, and the crowd that had gathered was horrified. Eventually Griffin broke free completely and escaped, leaving the constable and villagers in shock.
Key moment: Mrs Hall demands to know how her furniture moved and how Griffin entered and left his room unseen. Griffin’s response is to remove his disguise and reveal his invisible nature — shocking everyone present.
9. Summary — Part 8: Footprints in Snow — Dr Kemp’s House
After escaping from Iping, Griffin made his way to the nearby town of Port Burdock where he visited the house of a scientist acquaintance, Dr Kemp. Griffin arrived unseen and sat in Kemp’s room. Kemp was startled to hear a voice and see a cigar apparently floating in the air.
Griffin revealed himself to Kemp and told him the full story of his experiments and adventures. He asked Kemp to be his partner — to help him establish what Griffin called a Reign of Terror using his invisibility. But Kemp, horrified by Griffin’s criminal plans, secretly sent a note to the police.
The police arrived. Griffin managed to escape again, but this time snow on the ground revealed his footprints — the same paradox as the opening of the story. The invisible man could not hide his tracks in snow, and the authorities were able to follow his trail.
10. Title Significance — “Footprints without Feet”
The title is a paradox: footprints are always made by feet, but here the feet themselves are invisible. This impossibility-turned-reality perfectly captures the central idea of the story.
- Literal meaning: The muddy or snowy marks left by Griffin’s invisible feet — visible evidence of an invisible person.
- Symbolic meaning: No matter how powerful or invisible Griffin becomes, he cannot escape leaving traces of his actions. His crimes always leave a mark, just as his feet leave prints.
- Irony: The very power that Griffin thought would give him freedom (invisibility) is the source of his undoing — he is cold, lonely, hungry, and ultimately tracked because of his footprints.
- Broader message: Science can make the impossible possible, but it cannot make a person free from consequences.
11. Themes
- Science without ethics is dangerous: Griffin’s discovery is brilliant, but he uses it for revenge, theft, and violence. The story is a warning against unchecked scientific power.
- Invisibility as a curse: Griffin expects power and freedom but gets cold, hunger, loneliness, and eventual capture. His “gift” becomes a prison.
- Crime and consequence: Every crime Griffin commits — arson, theft, assault — leads to greater isolation and danger. He cannot escape the law forever.
- The misuse of power: Griffin’s plan for a “Reign of Terror” shows how extraordinary power in irresponsible hands leads to tyranny, not progress.
- Isolation: Invisibility cuts Griffin off from human society completely. He cannot be touched, cannot be in company, cannot live normally.
12. Character Sketch — Griffin
Griffin is the protagonist of the story, but he is far from a hero. He is a complex, morally flawed character:
- Brilliant scientist: He carried out a difficult and extraordinary experiment — making himself invisible. This required exceptional intelligence and scientific knowledge.
- Lawless and unscrupulous: He set his landlord’s house on fire, robbed shops and houses, and assaulted people without remorse.
- Selfish and ruthless: He wanted to use invisibility for his own gain and for a “Reign of Terror,” showing total disregard for others.
- Reckless: He did not plan how to survive as an invisible man — the cold, the need for food, and the problem of visible clothes were all things he had not solved.
- Eccentric and violent: His behaviour in Iping — demanding isolation, reacting violently to visitors — shows his instability.
- Tragic dimension: In some ways Griffin is also tragic — his extraordinary ability brought him only misery. He became a homeless criminal, feared and hunted.
In one line: Griffin is a brilliant but wicked scientist whose misuse of his own discovery destroys him.
13. Message and Values
- Scientific discoveries must be used for the benefit of humanity, not for personal gain or harm to others.
- Power without responsibility and ethics leads to self-destruction.
- No one can truly hide from the consequences of their actions — just as Griffin’s footprints always betrayed him.
- Greed, anger, and lawlessness ultimately isolate a person from society.
- True freedom is not about being invisible to others but about living honestly and ethically.
14. Literary Devices
- Paradox: “Footprints without feet” — the core device of the story; an invisible man leaving visible traces.
- Irony: Griffin gains the power of invisibility but loses all the comforts of normal life; his power becomes his weakness.
- Suspense: The story builds suspense skillfully — the mysterious footprints, the strange lodger, the clergyman’s robbery, the furniture moving.
- Satire: The story satirises the blind pursuit of science without moral consideration.
- Foreshadowing: The opening scene of footprints appearing and disappearing foreshadows the entire story of a man who cannot truly vanish.
- Symbolism: The bandages Griffin wears symbolise the layers of deception he hides behind. When he removes them, the truth (his emptiness and invisibility) is revealed.
- Third-person narration: The story is told from an omniscient third-person viewpoint, giving readers access to events Griffin is involved in even when unseen.
15. Word Meanings
| Word / Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Invisible | Not able to be seen; transparent |
| Transparent | Clear enough to see through; not blocking light |
| Eccentric | Strange or unusual in behaviour; odd |
| Unscrupulous | Having no moral principles; not hesitating to act wrongly |
| Bewilderment | A state of utter confusion or shock |
| Bandages | Strips of cloth used to cover wounds; here used as disguise |
| Theatrical company | A business that provides costumes, wigs, and props for plays |
| Solitude | The state of being alone; isolation |
| Constable | A police officer of the lowest rank |
| Reign of Terror | A period of widespread fear and violence; Griffin’s plan to use invisibility to dominate others |
| Clergyman / Vicar | A Christian priest or minister; head of a local parish |
| Warrant | An official document authorising the police to arrest someone |
| Burglary | The crime of entering a building illegally to steal |
| Paradox | A statement or situation that seems self-contradictory but reveals a truth |
| Innkeeper / Landlady | A person who manages an inn or rented lodgings; here, Mrs Hall |
| Drugs (in context) | Chemical substances used in Griffin’s scientific experiment to become invisible |
Answer: The invisible man (Griffin) first became visible because of mud. He had walked through freshly whitened steps (chalked or muddy steps), and the white material clung to his invisible feet. As a result, his footsteps appeared as visible imprints on the steps and pavement, even though the feet themselves could not be seen. This is the striking opening image of the story — muddy footprints appearing from nowhere, followed by two curious boys who tried to track them.
Answer: Griffin was wandering the streets of London because he had set his landlord’s house on fire to take revenge on the landlord who wanted to throw him out. To escape without being seen or identified, he had to remove all his clothes (since clothes are visible even when the body is not), leaving him naked. Thus he became a homeless, penniless, invisible wanderer in the cold streets of London, with nowhere to sleep and no money for food or shelter.
Answer: Mrs Hall, the landlady of the Iping inn, found Griffin eccentric for several reasons: (1) He wore bandages covering his entire face, dark spectacles, a large hat, and a fake nose — extremely unusual in appearance. (2) He insisted on total privacy and became angry if anyone entered his room. (3) He told Mrs Hall that he had come to Iping for solitude and did not want to be disturbed. (4) He reacted violently to the slightest intrusion, making him frightening as well as strange. These combined traits made him seem very eccentric and unsettling to the innkeeper.
Answer: In the theatrical company’s store, Griffin did several extraordinary things: (1) Being invisible, he entered the store without being seen. (2) He selected and put on a variety of disguise items — a false nose, bushy side-whiskers, a large hat, dark spectacles, and bandages to cover his invisible face. (3) He stole money from the shopkeeper’s cash box. (4) He also attacked and knocked out the shopkeeper to make his escape. By dressing in these theatrical props, he was able to make himself appear as a bandaged, disguised visible person — his characteristic disguise throughout the rest of the story.
Answer: Village constable Jaffers arrived at the inn with a warrant to arrest Griffin on suspicion of the burglary at the clergyman’s house. When Jaffers tried to arrest Griffin, something extraordinary happened: Griffin began removing his bandages and disguise in front of the constable and the assembled crowd. As each piece of clothing and bandage came off, that part of Griffin’s body became invisible. First his head disappeared, then more of his body. Jaffers tried to grab and hold someone who was rapidly becoming invisible. Eventually Griffin broke free entirely — completely invisible — and the constable was left grasping at empty air. Griffin escaped while the constable and villagers stood in disbelief and horror.
Answer: Griffin told Dr Kemp that he planned to use his power of invisibility to establish a “Reign of Terror” — to dominate and terrorise people by committing crimes and attacking them since no one could see or stop him. He wanted Kemp to be his partner and helper in this scheme. Dr Kemp, however, was horrified by this violent and criminal plan. As a responsible scientist and citizen, Kemp believed that science should be used ethically. He secretly wrote a note to the police, alerting them to Griffin’s presence and plans, thus trying to bring Griffin to justice.
Answer: Griffin’s invisibility only applied to his body — it was a property of his biological tissue, made transparent by the drugs he had taken. Clothes and other objects he wore remained visible. Therefore, whenever Griffin needed to be completely invisible (to escape or to move unseen), he had to remove all his clothes. This made life extremely uncomfortable because he was left naked in the cold. Whenever he dressed himself for warmth, he risked becoming visible and being spotted. This is the fundamental practical problem with his invisibility, and the story uses it repeatedly to show that his power is more a curse than a gift.
Answer: Griffin’s story is a powerful warning about science misused. He was undoubtedly a genius — his discovery of a formula to make the human body invisible was a remarkable scientific achievement. However, he had no ethical framework to guide how he used this power. Instead of contributing to human welfare, he used his discovery to commit arson, theft, assault, and to plan a “Reign of Terror.” His story shows that scientific ability alone, without moral responsibility, leads to destruction — not just for society but for the scientist himself. Griffin ended up homeless, hunted, and completely cut off from humanity. The story implies that true scientific progress must be guided by ethics and concern for others.
Answer: A paradox is a statement that appears contradictory but contains a truth. “Footprints without Feet” is paradoxical because footprints are by definition made by feet, yet in the story there are visible footprints being made by invisible feet. (1) At the beginning, two boys in London see muddy footprints appearing on steps with no visible person making them. (2) Near the end, Griffin’s footprints in snow give away his position to the police even though he himself cannot be seen. In both cases, the footprints betray an invisible man. The paradox also works symbolically: Griffin thought invisibility would make him free and untraceable, but his actions always left traces. He could not escape the consequences of his crimes, just as he could not stop leaving footprints.
Answer: Griffin treated both Mrs Hall and the clergyman with complete disregard for their rights and feelings. He paid Mrs Hall with stolen money, demanded unreasonable privacy, behaved rudely and violently towards her, and ultimately caused chaos in her inn by making furniture move and attacking the constable. With the clergyman, he committed outright robbery — breaking into the vicar’s house and stealing approximately £25. Both cases reveal that Griffin was selfish, ruthless, and had no respect for others. He viewed people merely as obstacles or sources of resources. His willingness to steal from a man of God (the clergyman) shows the depth of his moral decline, and his treatment of Mrs Hall shows contempt even for those who help him.
Answer: Griffin went to Iping to escape attention and to have a quiet place where he could continue his scientific experiments. He believed a small countryside village would ask fewer questions than the busy city of London. He paid Mrs Hall generously in advance to secure his privacy. However, it was not a wise decision in the long run. In a small village, a stranger with a bandaged face and eccentric behaviour attracted more curiosity and suspicion than in an anonymous city. The local constable, the clergyman, and Mrs Hall all became suspicious of him. The robbery of the clergyman’s house directly pointed suspicion towards the strange lodger. Thus, Griffin’s attempt to hide in Iping ultimately led to his exposure and forced him to flee.
Answer: Dr Kemp plays a crucial role as the moral foil to Griffin. While Griffin represents science without ethics, Dr Kemp represents science with responsibility. When Griffin reveals his identity and his plans for a “Reign of Terror,” Kemp is horrified. He refuses to be Griffin’s accomplice and secretly informs the police, prioritising public safety over any loyalty to a fellow scientist. In many ways, Dr Kemp can be considered a hero because he acts ethically under pressure (Griffin was threatening and dangerous). He risks Griffin’s wrath to protect innocent people. His action represents the correct use of moral judgment: recognising that some uses of power are wrong, regardless of their scientific brilliance.
Answer: Yes, this statement is largely accurate. As a scientist, Griffin was undeniably brilliant — he achieved the seemingly impossible feat of making the human body invisible, an idea that even today exists only in science fiction. This required deep knowledge of physics, chemistry, and biology. However, as a human being, Griffin was deeply flawed. He set a house on fire out of petty revenge, stole from shops and homes, assaulted innocent people, and planned to terrorise society. He showed no remorse and cared only for himself. His brilliance was entirely in service of his own ego and lawless desires. Therefore, he serves as a reminder that intelligence and talent must be paired with conscience — a brilliant mind without goodness can become society’s greatest threat.
Answer: Mrs Hall was disturbed by several inexplicable events in the inn: furniture appeared to move on its own, a chair seemed to charge at her, and Griffin’s room appeared empty even though he had not been seen leaving. Frightened and angry, she confronted Griffin in the presence of other villagers. She demanded to know how her furniture had moved and how he had got in and out of his room. Griffin, furious at being questioned, responded dramatically: he began removing his bandages, his spectacles, his fake nose — stripping away his disguise piece by piece. As each item was removed, that part of his face disappeared, until he stood headless before the horrified onlookers. The crowd was terrified and bewildered by this supernatural sight, and Griffin used the chaos to escape from the inn.
- Jules Verne
- H. G. Wells
- Arthur Conan Doyle
- Charles Dickens
- A magic potion found in a forest
- Rare herbs from a jungle
- Certain scientific drugs developed through his experiment
- Paint that could make objects transparent
- To conduct a fire experiment
- Because his landlord tried to have him evicted
- To keep himself warm in winter
- To create a distraction for a robbery
- A hospital
- A big London department store
- The shop of a theatrical company
- The clergyman’s house
- Port Burdock
- Iping
- Canterbury
- Dover
- Griffin’s wife
- The landlady of the Iping inn
- A police detective
- A scientist colleague of Griffin
- A ghost walking through walls
- Fresh muddy footprints appearing from nowhere on steps
- A bandaged man running away from a store
- A hat flying through the air by itself
- He set it on fire
- He kidnapped the clergyman
- He robbed money from the clergyman’s desk
- He vandalized the church
- To write a book about his experiment
- To find a cure for his invisibility
- To establish a Reign of Terror using his power of invisibility
- To surrender to the police
- Simile
- Metaphor
- Paradox
- Alliteration
Answer: Griffin’s invisibility, achieved through a scientific experiment involving special drugs, gave him the ability to move undetected. He exploited this in multiple crimes: he set his landlord’s house on fire while escaping unseen; he entered a large London store, ate food, and stole clothes; he robbed a theatrical company’s shop of a disguise and money, assaulting the shopkeeper; and he robbed the Iping clergyman’s house of £25. The story powerfully suggests that science without ethics is not progress — it is danger. Griffin’s genius was directed entirely towards his own selfish and violent ends. Rather than bringing relief to humanity, his discovery brought theft, arson, and terror. The story argues that a scientist has a moral responsibility to use knowledge for good. Griffin’s eventual exposure and the horror he generates in every community show that no one — however brilliant or powerful — can permanently evade the consequences of wrongdoing.
Answer: Although Griffin expected invisibility to give him unlimited freedom and power, it turned out to be far more disadvantageous: (1) Cold and exposure: He could not wear clothes without becoming visible, so he was left naked in the cold streets of London. (2) Hunger: He had no money and no legitimate way to obtain food — he could only steal. (3) Isolation: He could not live among people normally; he was completely cut off from human society. (4) Betrayed by his own footprints: In mud and snow, his invisible feet left visible prints that gave him away — the very opposite of invisibility. (5) Cannot maintain disguise: The moment he wore clothes to protect himself, he became partially visible and had to flee or strip again. (6) Hunted: His crimes made him a fugitive; instead of power, he had only fear and loneliness. The story concludes that invisibility is not a superpower but a trap.
Answer: Griffin is the central character of “Footprints without Feet” and is depicted as a highly intelligent but deeply flawed individual. Scientifically: Griffin was a remarkable scientist who achieved the extraordinary feat of making himself invisible through a series of experiments. Morally: He was unscrupulous, selfish, and violent. He set a house on fire, robbed multiple places, assaulted people, and planned a reign of terror. Psychologically: Griffin was unstable, prone to violent rage (shown by his reaction to any intrusion in Iping), and increasingly isolated. He had lost all connection to normal human life and values. Tragically: Despite his genius, Griffin ended up homeless, cold, hungry, and hunted. His power brought him no happiness or security. He serves as a reminder that intelligence and talent must be paired with conscience — a brilliant mind without goodness can become society’s greatest threat. In literary terms, Griffin is an anti-hero — a protagonist without heroic qualities.
Answer: The title “Footprints without Feet” is a paradox because footprints can only be made by feet, yet in the story they are left by feet that are invisible and therefore should not produce any trace. Literally, when Griffin (the invisible man) walks through mud or snow, his unseen feet still leave visible impressions — footprints without any visible feet making them. This image opens and closes the story, framing the entire narrative. Deeper meaning: The title symbolises the truth that no act, however secret or invisible, can be entirely without consequence. Griffin believed invisibility would let him act freely without repercussion, but his footprints always gave him away. The title thus carries a moral message: every action leaves a trace, and no one can truly hide from the results of their deeds.
Answer: A series of suspicious events led to Griffin’s exposure in Iping: (1) The mysterious robbery of the clergyman’s house, where money vanished with no sign of a break-in, made the village uneasy. Suspicion naturally fell on the eccentric, bandaged stranger at the inn. (2) Mrs Hall noticed that furniture in Griffin’s room appeared to move on its own, a hat flew at her, and she found the room empty even though Griffin had not been seen leaving. She became convinced something supernatural was happening. (3) She confronted Griffin publicly. Griffin, furious at this intrusion, responded by dramatically removing his disguise — his bandages, spectacles, and hat — revealing that his face was entirely invisible. The horrified onlookers could see his head simply was not there. (4) Constable Jaffers arrived with an arrest warrant. Griffin continued removing his clothing, becoming increasingly invisible as he did so, until he was entirely invisible and escaped the constable’s grasp. He fled Iping in a state of rage, leaving behind a scene of shock and bewilderment.
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