1. How does Mr. Lamb keep himself busy when it is a bit cool? (Delhi
2012)
Answer. Mr. Lamb was a person who could survive and enjoy in all
circumstances and seasons. When it got cooler, Mr. Lamb kept himself busy by
breaking the crab apples from the trees in his garden and making jelly from
them.
2. What qualities of Mr. Lamb attracted Derry to him? (All India 2009)
Answer. Mr. Lamb was a person full of life. Sadness or negativity
found no place in his world. His physical impairment and people’s humiliating
remarks had failed to dampen his spirit. His undying optimism and ever friendly
attitude drew Derry towards him. For Derry, Mr. Lamb was his source of
inspiration.
3. What did Derry’s mother think of Mr. Lamb? (All India 2009)
Answer. When Derry informed his mother of Mr. Lamb and that he
wanted to sit with him, she resented it. She thought that he was not a good man
and she did not want her son to remain in touch with him for any purpose.
4. How does Mr. Lamb try to
remove the baseless fears of Derry? (All India 2008)
Answer. Mr. Lamb tries to remove the baseless fears of Derry by
telling him that nothing in this world is so worthless that it deserves to be
considered as trash. Even weeds have their own value. He advises Derry to ignore
people’s comments and think of beautiful objects. He tells him to hear only
those things that are worth hearing. It is attitude that matters.
5.What is the bond that unites the two—the old Mr. Lamb and Derry, the
small boy?
How does the old man inspire the small boy? (Delhi 2013)
How did Mr. Lamb’s meeting with Derry become a turning point in Derry’s
life? (Delhi 2008, Foreign 2009)
Answer. Derry, a small boy, had a side of his face burnt as acid
had fallen over it. Thus he grew up to be withdrawn arid defiant. The old Mr.
Lamb got one of his legs blown off in a war and had a tin leg in place of it.
He lived alone, but unlike Derry, he did not let his handicap rule his life.
Derry’s brief association with Mr. Lamb changed him from a bitter, pessimistic
and complex-ridden boy to a mature and confident person. His attitude towards
life underwent a transformation. He got encouraged by Mr. Lamb’s unending
enthusiasm and unceasing zeal to live life. Thus Mr. Lamb’s unfailing optimism
helped transform Derek completely. Mr. Lamb’s conversation with him about
everything and everybody being essentially the same, his notion of beauty being
relative, his talk about pretty girls and love, his concept of the world and
friendship and the incident of the timid man, all fascinated and inspired
Derek. Gradually, Derek was able to shed his old self and rediscover life. He
was able to experience the joy of little things of life like rain drops falling
pitter-patter on the roof. He even told his mother, “You shouldn’t believe all
you hear.” Thus, Derek’s brief association with Mr. Lamb became a turning point
in his life.
6. The lesson, ‘On the Face of It’ is an apt depiction of the loneliness
and sense of alienation experienced by people on account of a disability.
Explain.
Answer. Mr. Lamb and Derek both were victims of physical
impairment. Mr. Lamb had an artificial leg made of tin and Derek had a scared
face. Undoubtedly, both had suffered humiliations in life on account of their
handicaps. Derek, however, suffered not only from his handicap but also from
low self-esteem, lack of confidence, desolation and withdrawal. He felt that
nobody wanted him or loved him. They feared looking at his ugly face. Looking
at Derek’s example, we feel that people with physical impairment need genuine
concern. They can perform better than average individuals who do not suffer
from any disability, provided they get the right opportunities to prove
themselves.
7. Derry and Mr. Lamb both are victims of physical impairment but their
attitudes towards life are completely different. Explain. (Delhi 2009)
Answer. Derry, a fourteen year old boy, did not expect anything out
of life. Being a pessimist, he had lost all self-regard and led an isolated
existence. He felt unwanted because he had a scared face. Mr. Lamb, on the
other hand, was full of life. Although he lived alone and had a tin leg, he
kept himself busy by tending to his garden, his bees and making toffee and
jelly. He welcomed everybody to his house and garden. He enjoyed sitting in the
sun, reading books and gardening. Although kids mocked him by calling him
‘Lamey Lamb’, he did not bother about it. He was an apostle of optimism,
enthusiasm and hope. Thus we see that there is a striking contrast between Mr.
Lamb and Derry.
