ON THE FACE OF IT by SUSAN HILL

CBSE CLASS XII, ENGLISH CORE, VISTAS , NON DETAILED TEAXT BOOK , lesson ' On the Face of it'
its a one act play which details the bond between an old man called Mr. Lamb and a fourteen year old boy named Derry, both are suffering from physical disability

1. SUSAN HILL

2. About the Author Susan Hill is an English author of fiction and nonfiction works. Her novels include the ‘woman in black’, ‘The mist in the mirror’ and ‘I’m the king of the castle’ for which she received the Somerset Maugham award in 1971.

3. Introduction The story is about a teenage boy, Derry, who has a burnt face and Mr. Lamb who is a disabled old man with an artificial leg made of tin. Derry accidently enters his garden so that he can hide himself from people who hate him because of his ugly face. Mr. Lamb not only welcomes him in his garden but also encourages him to lead a normal life, leaving behind his past.

4. Characters Derry: a boy of 14 with a burnt face, looks ugly, loner, pessimistic, suffered from severe negative complexes, anger and frustration, withdrawn and introverted, low confidence, indulged in self pity, suspicious of the intent of others Mr. Lamb: an Old man with a tin leg, lonely, craved for company and acceptance, jovial, optimistic, lover of nature, social, outgoing, tolerant, helpful, sensitive, independent, didn’t mind children calling him Lamely Lamb or picking the Crab apples. Derry’s mother

5. On the Face of It Summary The story starts with a teenage boy (Derry) who enters a garden. Due to an accident when acid befell on his face and got burned on one side. He was afraid of facing people that’s why he has gone there to hide. Because other people tease him for having such a face. Upon entering the garden he finds someone already present there. Hence, he tries to leave but the old man, Mr. Lamb (owner of the garden) stops him.

6. Not arriving without permission Derry feels guilty. However, Mr. Lamb welcomes him in his garden and tells him not to leave just because of his presence. People don’t like his face that’s what Derry think and that’s why he wants to leave. Then again Mr. Lamb asks him to stay there. After that, they start having a conversation that how no one like Derry and how he hates people behaving like this with him. Also, Mr. Lamb attempts to console him. On the Face of It Summary

7. Mr. Lamb state to him that he has a tin leg and how kids make fun of him. Yet he enjoys his life to the fullest. Their conversation went on and on and reveal various things about Derry’s fear, hatred, and depression about being in such a condition. Also, Mr. Lamb keeps on telling him to think about the positive things. Before long they became friends and Mr. Lamb asks Derry to assist him in plucking the crab apples of his garden. On the Face of It Summary

8. Derry state to him that he had come too far from his home and hadn’t told anything about this to his mother. So, Mr. Lamb asks him to take permission from his mother. Bur Derry finds it difficult and this leads to a small argument between both of them. Eventually, Derry agrees and tells Mr. Lamb that he would come back after asking permission from his mother. However, his mother does not want him to go but he came back to fulfill his promise. On the Face of It Summary

9. In the meantime, Mr. Lamb climbs a ladder on his own to pluck the crab apples as he was sure that Derry would not return. Moreover, because of his disability, it was difficult for him to climb. So, he slips from the ladder and dies. On the other hand, Derry returns to the garden to help him but on entering the garden he sees him lying on the floor. Further, he attempts to move him but didn’t get any response from him. In the end, he came to know that he is dead and starts crying. On the Face of It Summary

10. Conclusion   The writer wants to say that we should never feel shame on our appearance. Also, we should be positive and optimistic about ourselves.

11. GIST OF THE LESSON The play depicts beautifully yet grimly the sad world of the physically impaired. It is not the actual pain or inconvenience caused by a physical impairment that trouble a disabled man but the attitude of the people around him. Two physically impaired people, Mr. Lamb with a tin leg and Derry with a burnt face, strike a band of friendship. Derry is described as a young boy shy, withdrawn and defiant. People tell him inspiring stories to console him, no one will ever kiss him except his mother that too on the other side of his face

12. Mentions about a woman telling that only a mother can love such a face. Mr. Lamb revives the almost dead feelings of Derry towards life. He motivates him to think positively about life, changes his mind set about people and things how a man locked himself as he was scared-a picture fell off the wall and got killed. Everything appears to be the same but is different- Ex. of bees. And weeds The gate of the garden is always open. GIST OF THE LESSON

13. Derry is inspired and promises to come back. Derry’s mother stops him but he is adamant saying if he does not go now it would be never. When he comes back he sees lamb lying on the ground It is ironical that when he searches a new foothold to live happily, he finds Mr. Lamb dead. In this way the play depicts the heart rendering life of physically disabled people with their loneliness, aloofness and alienation. But at the same time it is almost a true account of the people who don’t let a person live happily. GIST OF THE LESSON

14. THEME

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16. Justification of title