Character Analysis

Major Themes

CBSE Board Questions & Answers

Extract Based Questions (3-4 marks each)

• Extract 1: “The big drops are ten cent pieces and the little ones are fives.”
  a) Who said these words and to whom? b) What do these words reveal about the speaker? c) What literary device is used here?
  Answer:
  a) Lencho said these words to his family while watching the rain.
  b) These words reveal Lencho’s optimism, his dependence on rain for prosperity, and his simple way of thinking. He sees rain as a direct source of income.
  c) Metaphor – raindrops are compared to coins without using ‘like’ or ‘as’.
• Extract 2: “What faith! I wish I had the faith of the man who wrote this letter.”
  a) Who spoke these words? b) What letter is being referred to? c) What does this reveal about the speaker’s character?
  Answer:
  a) The postmaster spoke these words.
  b) The letter written by Lencho to God asking for 100 pesos.
  c) It reveals the postmaster’s admiration for Lencho’s faith, his own humility, and his respect for religious beliefs even if they seem unusual.

Short Answer Questions (2-3 marks each)

• Q1: What did Lencho hope for and why? (2 marks)
  Answer: Lencho hoped for rain because his corn field needed water for a good harvest. As a farmer who depended entirely on his crop for his family’s survival, he knew that without rain, his family would face hunger and poverty. Rain was essential for his livelihood.
• Q2: Why did Lencho compare raindrops to coins? (2 marks)
  Answer: Lencho compared raindrops to coins because rain meant prosperity and wealth for him. Each raindrop would help his corn grow, which would eventually bring him money when he sold the harvest. The bigger drops were like ten cent pieces and the smaller ones were like five cent pieces, showing his optimistic and practical nature.
• Q3: How did the hailstorm affect Lencho’s crops? (3 marks)
  Answer: The hailstorm completely destroyed Lencho’s corn field. The hailstones were so large and fierce that they stripped all the leaves from the plants, destroyed the flowers, and ruined the entire crop. The field was left completely bare – not even grass remained for the animals to eat. This total destruction meant financial ruin for Lencho and his family.
• Q4: What was Lencho’s reaction after receiving the money? (3 marks)
  Answer: Lencho was angry and disappointed when he received only 70 pesos instead of 100. He firmly believed that God could not make a mistake and would never deny his request. Therefore, he concluded that the post office employees were “crooks” who had stolen 30 pesos from the money God had sent him. His reaction showed his unwavering faith in God but complete distrust of humans.
• Q5: Why did the postmaster decide to help Lencho? (3 marks)
  Answer: The postmaster was initially amused by the letter addressed to God, but he was deeply moved by Lencho’s unwavering faith. He admired such strong belief and didn’t want to shake or disappoint Lencho’s faith in God. To preserve this innocent faith and help a fellow human being in distress, he decided to collect money from his colleagues and contribute from his own salary.

Long Answer Questions (5-6 marks each)

• Q1: Analyze the character of Lencho. What are his strengths and weaknesses? (6 marks)
  Answer: Lencho is the protagonist of the story, representing a simple farmer with complex character traits.
  
  Strengths:
  • Unwavering Faith: His absolute belief in God’s existence and power is remarkable
  • Hard Work: He is dedicated to his farming and works tirelessly
  • Optimism: He remains hopeful even in difficult circumstances
  • Family Responsibility: He cares deeply for his family’s welfare
  
  Weaknesses:
  • Suspicion: He distrusts fellow human beings without reason
  • Ingratitude: He fails to appreciate the kindness shown by strangers
  • Narrow-mindedness: He cannot see beyond his own perspective
  • Lack of Reasoning: He doesn’t question or analyze situations logically
  
  Lencho represents the irony of human nature – having faith in the divine while lacking faith in humanity, not realizing that humans often serve as instruments of divine help.
• Q2: What is the central irony in “A Letter to God”? How does it contribute to the story’s message? (6 marks)
  Answer: The central irony in “A Letter to God” lies in the contrast between Lencho’s faith in God and his distrust of humans.
  
  The Irony:
  • Lencho has complete, unquestioning faith in God
  • He distrusts and suspects fellow human beings
  • However, it is actually humans (postmaster and colleagues) who answer his prayer
  • He calls these helpful people “crooks” while believing God sent the money
  • He fails to recognize that human kindness was God’s way of helping him
  
  Contribution to the Message:
  • Shows that divine help often comes through human agency
  • Highlights how prejudices can blind us to goodness around us
  • Suggests that we should have faith in both divine power and human kindness
  • Demonstrates that our assumptions about people can be wrong
  • Emphasizes the importance of gratitude and recognition of help from others
  
  The irony makes the story thought-provoking and delivers a powerful message about faith, humanity, and gratitude.
• Q3: How does the postmaster’s character serve as a foil to Lencho’s character? (5 marks)
  Answer: The postmaster serves as an excellent foil to Lencho, highlighting the contrasts in their personalities and approaches to life.
  
  Contrasting Traits:
  • Faith: Lencho has blind faith in God; Postmaster has faith in human goodness and practical action
  • Attitude toward Humans: Lencho is suspicious and distrustful; Postmaster is trusting and helpful
  • Response to Others’ Beliefs: Lencho is rigid in his thinking; Postmaster is respectful and understanding
  • Gratitude: Lencho is ungrateful; Postmaster appreciates and admires faith
  • Problem-solving: Lencho turns to divine intervention; Postmaster takes practical human action
  
  Effect of the Contrast:
  The postmaster’s character makes Lencho’s flaws more apparent while highlighting the beauty of human compassion. This contrast reinforces the story’s central message about the importance of having faith in both divine power and human kindness.
• Q4: What message does the story “A Letter to God” convey about faith and humanity? (6 marks)
  Answer: “A Letter to God” conveys several profound messages about faith and humanity through its narrative and characters.
  
  About Faith:
  • Faith can be a source of strength during difficult times
  • Unwavering belief can inspire others and lead to positive outcomes
  • However, blind faith without reasoning can lead to ingratitude
  • Faith should be balanced with appreciation for human efforts
  
  About Humanity:
  • Humans are capable of extraordinary kindness and compassion
  • People can serve as instruments of divine help
  • Community support and collective goodness exist in society
  • Human nature has both positive and negative aspects
  
  Combined Message:
  • We should have faith in both divine power and human goodness
  • Prejudices and assumptions can blind us to the kindness around us
  • Gratitude is essential – we should appreciate help from all sources
  • Divine intervention often works through human agency
  • The story ultimately celebrates both faith and humanity while warning against extremes in either direction.

Vocabulary & Word Study

Important Words with Meanings

Phrases and Expressions

Contextual Usage for Exam

• Use ‘crest’ in a sentence related to the story
  Answer: “Lencho’s house was built on the crest of the hill, giving him a clear view of his entire corn field below.”
• What does ‘plague of locusts’ mean in the context?
  Answer: In the story, ‘plague of locusts’ is a metaphor used by Lencho to describe the destructive hailstorm. Just as locusts destroy crops by eating them, the hail destroyed his crops by battering them to pieces.
• Explain the irony in calling the postal workers ‘crooks’
  Answer: The irony lies in the fact that Lencho calls the postal workers ‘crooks’ (thieves) when they were actually the ones who helped him by collecting and sending money. They were honest, generous people, not criminals.

Literary Analysis & CBSE Exam Focus

Literary Devices (Important for CBSE)

Critical Appreciation Points

Moral and Philosophical Lessons

Exam-Focused Analysis Points

1. Title Significance: “A Letter to God” captures the essence of faith and communication with the divine
2. Setting Importance: Rural, isolated location emphasizes Lencho’s dependence on nature
3. Conflict Types: Man vs Nature (hailstorm), Man vs Man (suspicion), Internal conflict (faith vs reality)
4. Author’s Purpose: To explore human nature, faith, and the importance of gratitude
5. Universal Appeal: Themes of faith, kindness, and human nature are universally relevant