On The Face of It by Susan Hill

 Solution

1. Who is Mr. Lamb? How does Derry get into his garden?

Mr Lamb is an old man with a tin leg. His real leg was blown off during the war. He lives alone in his house. There is a garden near the house. Mr. Lamb is sitting in his garden when Derry climbs over the garden wall to get into his garden. Though the gate is open, the boy does not use it.

2. Do you think all this will change Derry’s attitude towards Mr. Lamb?

When Derry had not met Mr. Lamb, he liked to live alone due to his burned face. He believed that everyone despised him. But Mr. Lamb did not show any pity on him. He considered Derry to be his equal and welcomed him in his garden. Derry considered the old man like others, but he gradually started respecting him.

3. What is it that draws Derry towards Mr. Lamb in spite of himself?

Derry finds Mr. Lamb different from others. Mr. Lamb shows no shock or fear on seeing Derry’s burned face. He talks to him in a loving manner. He welcomes him to his garden. He offers to pluck apples and make jelly for him. He calls him his friend. He says that things look outwardly different, but inwardly they are all the same. He gives the example of flowers, trees, herbs and weeds. They look different, but they are all growing living things. Similarly, people can have different looks, but inwardly they are all the same. Derry says that he hates some people. At this, Mr. Lamb says that it can do him more harm than any bottle of acid. Acid burns only the face, but hatred burns from inside. He tells Derry never to think of his burned face. He has two arms, two legs, eyes ears, tongue and a brain. And if he has a firm mind, he can do better than others. It is by such words of encouragement that Mr. Lamb draws Derry to himself.

4. 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?

In the first section of the play Mr Lamb displays signs of loneliness and disappointment. He likes to talk and wants to have company. The old man says that having heard the bees for a “long time” he knows that they “sing”, not buzz. He sat in the sun and read books. He says that his “empty house” is full of books.

5 . 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?

Answer

A person with any physical impairment can live life with respect and honour. He expects empathy rather than sympathy. If everyone looks down at him with a pessimistic approach, he may never be able to come out of his sorrow. He is already in tremendous mental and emotional pressure. So, he expects others to be understanding rather than remind him of his disability.
In the play, Derry and Mr. Lamb, both are caught in a similar situation. Mr. Lamb, as an adult, is able to deal with such problems, but Derry, being a child, is not able to deal this. He develops a strong liking for this old man because he spoke the words a person, with such problem, would want to hear.

4. 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?

Answer

The brief association of Derry with Mr. Lamb boosted his self-confidence and helped him to respect his own self. The manner in which the old man made Derry realize the importance of his being self-dependent, of respecting himself and of holding on to hope helped Derry undergo a remarkable change. The new found self-esteem makes him tell his mother that his looks are not important.
It is not likely that the death of Mr. Lamb would take him back to his secluded life. This big change is definitely here to stay and would not be undone due to setbacks.