Footprints without Feet | Class 10 English Notes

Griffin’s Adventures in London

After escaping the boys who followed his footprints, Griffin's adventures continue in London during mid-winter, a harsh time for an invisible man without clothes. To survive the bitter cold, Griffin sneaks into a large London store after closing time. Inside, he indulges in clothing himself with warm garments, including shoes, an overcoat, and a wide-brimmed hat, which make him visible again. He also feeds himself with cold meat, coffee, sweets, and wine from the store's kitchen and grocery sections. He finally settles down to sleep on a pile of quilts. However, Griffin oversleeps and is discovered by the store assistants the next morning. Panicking, he flees by quickly removing his clothes, becoming invisible and naked once again in the cold January air. To hide the empty space above his shoulders and find clothes, he visits a theatrical company's stockroom in Drury Lane, where he dresses with bandages, dark glasses, a false nose, bushy side-whiskers, and a large hat. To escape unnoticed, he attacks the shopkeeper from behind and robs him. This section highlights Griffin's increasing desperation, his use of invisibility for survival and crime, and the difficulties posed by his condition.

📊 Diagram: Footprints without Foot

🧪 Activity: READ AND FIND OUT: Students are asked to consider why Griffin chose to wear bandages and other disguises and how his invisibility affected his actions.

🔗 Connection: This section leads to Griffin's move to the village of Iping and the strange events that follow, showing the consequences of his invisibility on others.