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Word Meaning, Summary, Important Questions Of Chapter 1 A Letter to God | Class 10

Hindi Meaning Of Difficult Words | Chapter 1 A Letter to God

Crest

Top of a hill

शिखा

peak, highest point, top

Amiable

Friendly And Pleasant

सौम्य

gentle, mild, placid

Contentment

Satisfaction

संतोष

gratification, quietness, reconciliation

Exclaimed

cry out suddenly in surprise, strong emotion, or pain.

चिल्लाना

yell, shout, scream

Regarded

Consider Or Think Of In A Specified Way

विचार करना

ponder, mull, think

Blow

hard stroke with fist

आघात

hit, jolting, damage

Boss

person in authority

मालिक

master, proprietor, manager

Bunch

gang / group

झुंड

bundle, gather, collect

Career

a profession

कैरियर

business, profession, vocation

Caused

made

उत्पन्न करना

generate, produce, originate

Charity

benefaction

दानी संस्था

fund, trust, foundation

Confidence

faith

आत्मविश्वास

trust, belief, conviction

Conscience

an inner sense of right and wrong.

अन्तश्चेतना

morals, standards, values

Continent

remark

संयमी

mainland, abstinent, abstemious

Correspondence

Communication by exchanging letters with someone.

पत्र - व्यवहार

correlation, similarity, resemblance

Crook

rogue

बदमाश

shifty, wily, rascal

Daybreak

The time in the morning when daylight first appears

सवेरा

morning, dawn, morrow

Deny

refuse

अस्वीकार करना

reject, decline, disown

Dotted

Full Of

छितराया हुआ

disseminated, scattered, sporadic

Downpour

Heavy Rain

मूसलधार बारिश

torrent, hailstorm, splurge

Draped

Adorn, Cover, Or Wrap

ढांकना

sheathe, shroud, deck

Effort

attempt

प्रयास

try, endeavor, offer

Entire

complete

संपूर्ण

thorough, total, overall

Exposing

make (something) visible by uncovering it.; reveal

प्रकट करना

unfold, evince, disclose

Expression

aspect of face

मुखाकृति

countenance, features, phiz

Goodwill

friendly, helpful, or cooperative feelings or attitude

सद्भावना

amiability, benevolence, compassion

Hailstones

A Pellet Of Hail

ओलावृष्टि

crystal, glacier, glaze.

Harvest

season's yield of crop

उपज

improvisation, collecting, garnering

Instruct

Teach / inform

निर्देश दें

order, command, direct

Intimately

Closely

घनिष्टता से

informally, personally, well.

Lick

pass the tongue over

चाटना

partake, taste, lap

Obliged

grateful

आभारी

require, compel, constrain

Ox of a man

hardworking

मेहनती

diligent, industrious, conscientious

Perform

पालन करना

execute, act, produce

Predict

say in advance

पूर्व-सूचना देना

anticipate, conclude, envision.

Regarded

looked closely

ध्यान से देखना

watch, observe, take notice

Resemble

Have A Similar Appearance

मेल खाना

dovetail, go together, harmonize

Resolution

a firm decision to do or not to do something.

संकल्प

determination, pledge, solemn vow

Shake

weaken

मंद करना

quiver, shiver, judder

Slightest

very little

थोड़ा सा

meager, scant, diminutive

Solitary

a lonely

एकान्त

unique, only, individual

Stuck

remained determined

दृढ़ निश्चयी रहे

fixed, joined, glued.

Thoughout

all through

सर्वत्र

everywhere, ubiquitously, anywhere

Upset

worried

परेशान

distress, trouble, perturb

Wrinkling

have wrinkles

झुर्रियाँ पड़ना

creased, lined, crinkled

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About The Poet | Chapter 1 A Letter to God

INTRODUCTION

Written by G.L. Fuentes, ‘A Letter to God’ is a amusing yet lovable story which highlights the theme of faith and explores how people like Lencho can respond when driven by it. The innocent and childlike Lencho is the main character, who decides to write a letter to God in order to ask for money to tide him over, since a severe hailstorm had devastated his crops. This is a story of surprising twists. Equally interesting is the response of the postmaster who is moved by the deep and simple faith of the farmer and arranges some money for him by way of donations from the employees, though it is less than what Lencho had asked for. Amusingly, he signs himself as ‘God’. The story takes another surprising turn when Lencho writes to God, yet again and complains about the dishonest employees of the post office, who he assumes must have pocketed the missing money for he is convinced that God couldn’t have sent him half the amount he had asked for.

Short Summary Of Chapter 1 A Letter to God

SUMMARY

Written by G L Fuentes, A Letter to God’ is a story about the great faith of a simple farmer in God. The story begins with Lencho who is hoping for rains, so that his crops would give a better yield. The rain does come with a devastating hailstorm which destroys the standing corn crop and leaves Lencho staring into a bleak future. Lencho is a strong believer in God so he decides to write a letter to the God, asking for some money. On seeing Lencho’s letter, the postmaster is amused and later, deeply moved by Lencho’s deep faith in God. The postmaster collects money from his colleagues and sends some money to Lencho. But the money sent by the postmaster falls short. Nevertheless, the postmaster sends 70 pesos to Lencho. He once again writes a letter to the God in which he expresses his doubts about the honesty of the post office employees.

TITLE JUSTIFICATION

TITLE JUSTIFICATION

The title, ‘A Letter to God’ arouses the reader’s interest as the idea of someone sending a letter to God is quite intriguing. The interest is sustained and even heightened on reading the story of how Lencho, the main character appeals to God for monetary help through a letter. It is not so much about the actual letter but the unquestioning faith of a naïve man in the benign power of the almighty. Hence the title is suitable as it is the letter that reveals the character of Lencho and also makes the story unfold.

THEME

THEME

The main theme of the story is faith. The author also delicately poses the question – Is Lencho’s unquestioning faith in God appropriate? He is very faithful in his prayer to God asking for the one hundred pesos that he needs. Is Lencho innocent and childlike or naïve and an ignorant simpleton? God answers his prayers through the post office clerks, who sympathize with the farmer and donate the money. However, they are only able to collect 70 pesos. The faith of Lencho is such that he cannot imagine that it could not have been God who cheated him. Ironically, he assumes that the officials are dishonest and writes another letter instructing God to refrain from sending the money through the post office.

MESSAGE

MESSAGE
The message conveyed through this interesting story is that while faith is one’s spiritual need, one should be realistic and rational. Unquestioning and irrational faith like Lencho’s can make such people highly vulnerable. In the story, a comic end is achieved due to the good intentions of the post office employees. However, the situation could have been totally different, even dangerous, if the letter had been found by a bunch of crooks who may have exploited Lencho’s gullibility to their advantage.

CHARACTER SCATCH

CHARACTER SKETCH

Lencho

Lencho was a diligent farmer. He had grown corn in his field and was waiting for rains anxiously. He was very happy when the rain finally came but it later turned to worry as the rain became a hailstorm and destroyed his fields. He had deep faith in God and despite the destruction of his crop, he was hopeful that everything would be all right. Although Lencho was strong like an ox and worked hard in the field, his faith in God prompted him to write a letter to God. He asked for hundred pesos from God and was certain that he would receive the amount. When he received only a little more than half, he again wrote to God asking for the remaining money and accused the postal department for stealing money. This shows that undoubtedly Lencho was a religious man. At the same time he was naïve, and had the unquestioning and unrealistic faith in God.

The Postmaster

The postmaster proves to be a truly sensitive and generous person. His first reaction to Lencho’s letter to God is of amusement but later he can’t help appreciating the deep and simple albeit, naïve faith of the poor farmer. He even goes out of his way to help Lencho by collecting from his subordinates a little more than half the amount that Lencho had requested from God. However, his help never came in the knowledge of Lencho. Quite ironically, Lencho in his second letter to God, expressed his suspicion about the honesty of the post office employees, the postmaster included and begged God not to route the money through them. Sadly, the kindness and generosity of the postmaster’s efforts remained unknown and unappreciated by Lencho.

GLOSSARY

Bunch-a group;
Crooks-dishonest people;
An ox of a man- a very strong man;
Evident-plain and clear;
Intimately-very closely;
Supper-light evening meal;
Predicted- something said about the future;
Draped- wrapped or covered;
Locusts-winged insects that destroy crops;
Solitary-lonely;
Daybreak-sunrise;
Amiable- pleasant, friendly;
Resolution-determined decision;
Denied- deprived of something.

TYPE I: REFERENCE TO CONTEXT (VERY SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS)

TYPE I: REFERENCE TO CONTEXT

(VERY SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS)

Read he extracts and answer the following questions:

The only thing the earth needed was a downpour or at least a shower. Throughout the morning Lencho who knew his fields intimately had done nothing else but see the sky towards the north-east.

Questions

(i) Name the author?

(ii) What had Lencho sown in his fields?

(iii) How did Lencho think about God?

(iv) What were Lencho’s feelings when he saw the sky?

Answers

(i) The author of the story is G.L. Fuentes.

(ii) Lencho had sown corn in his fields.

(iii) Lencho thought God who sees everything, even in man’s deep conscience.

(iv) When Lencho saw the sky, he had feelings of hopefulness as he wanted rain.

“It’s really getting bad now”, exclaimed the man, ” hope it passes quickly.” It did not pass quickly. Questions

(i) What does ‘it’ refer to?

(ii) What was getting bad?

(iii) Why did Lencho feel mortified’?

(iv) Why is Lencho so worried?

Answers

(i) ‘It’ refers to the hailstorm.

(ii) The storm was getting bad.

(iii) Here Lencho felt so because all his hopes were cruelly dashed to the ground by the fury of the hailstorm.

(iv) Lencho is so worried as he wanted rain for his crop, but now he is faced with a storm which would destroy his crops.

All through the night, Lencho thought only of his one hope: the help of God, whose eyes, as he had been instructed, see everything, even what is deep in one’s conscience.

Questions

(i) Why was Lencho awoke all night?

(ii) What help did Lencho wish from God?

(iii) What can God’s eyes see?

(iv) What trait of Lencho is seen in the above lines?

Answers

(i) Since his corn crop was flattened by the hailstorm, Lencho was awoke all night.

(ii) Lencho wished that God would help him by granting him 100 pesos.

(iii) God’s eyes can see everything in man’s heart, however deeply hidden it may be.

(iv) Lencho comes across as a man who has deep faith in God.

At the post office, he placed a stamp on the letter and dropped it into the mailbox. One of the employees, who were a postman and also helped at the post office, went to his boss laughing heartily and showed him the letter to God. Never in his career as a postman had he known that address.

Questions

(i) Who wrote the letter and to whom?

(ii) Who did the postman share his amusement with?

(iii) Why did the letter make the postman ‘laugh heartily”?

(iv) What was the address mentioned on the letter?

Answers

(i) Lencho, the farmer wrote the letter to God.

(ii) He shared his amusement with his boss.

(iii) The postman laughed as he found it hilarious because no one writes letters to God. He was amused by the simplicity of the writer.

(iv) The letter was addressed to God.

So, in order not to shake the writer’s faith in God, the postmaster came up with an idea: answer the letter.

Questions

(i) Who is referred to as the writer’s faith”?

(ii) Why does the postmaster not wish to disillusion the the writer’s faith”?

(iii) Which letter is referred to in the above lines?

(iv) What do we come to know about the postmaster from the above lines?

Answers

(i) Lencho, the farmer is referred to as the writer’s faith’.

(ii) The postmaster was touched by the simple and strong faith of Lencho so he did not have the heart to shatter his illusion.

(iii) The letter refers to the one which Lencho had written to God.

(iv) The postmaster proves to be a kind and sensitive man who admires Lencho’s simple faith and decides to help him.

He put the money in an envelope addressed to Lencho and with it a letter containing only a single word as a signature: God.

Questions

(i) Who is referred to as “he”?

(ii) From where was the money collected?

(iii) Why was the letter signed as ‘God’?

(iv) What trait of the postmaster is revealed in the above lines?

Answers

(i) The postmaster is referred to as ‘he’.

(ii) The postmaster collected the money from his employees whom he encouraged to donate in the name of charity.

(iii) Since, the childlike Lencho had addressed the letter to God, the postmaster, not willing to disillusion him, signed as ‘God’.

(iv) The postmaster proves to be a kind and compassionate man who goes out of his way to help poor Lencho.

Lencho showed not the slightest surprise on seeing the money; such was his confidence-but he became angry when he counted the money.

Questions

(i) What money is referred to in the above lines?

(ii) Why was Lencho not surprised?

(iii) Who sent the money to Lencho?

(iv) What made Lencho angry?

Answers

(i) The ‘money’ refers to currency notes that Lencho received the post office.

(ii) Since Lencho had unwavering faith in God’s help. So he was not at all surprised on seeing the money. (iii) The postmaster sent the money to Lencho.

(iv) Lencho was angry at the dishonest employees of the post office, who he assumed must have pocketed the missing money for he was convinced that God couldn’t have sent him half the amount he had asked for.

Send me the rest, since I need it very much. But don’t send it to me through the mail because the post office employees are a bunch of crooks. Lencho.”

Questions

(i) What is referred to as ‘the rest’?

(ii) To whom is the letter addressed?

(iii) Why does Lencho think that the post office employees were a ‘bunch of crooks?

(iv) What trait of Lencho’s nature is brought in the above lines?

Answers

(i) ‘The rest’ refers to the remaining money that Lencho had not received from God.

(ii) The letter is addressed to God.

(iii) Lencho thought that the employees of the post office were dishonest, as he assumed that they must have pocketed the missing money for he was o convinced that God couldn’t have sent him half the amount he had asked for.

(iv) Lencho’s simple and credulous nature and his unquestioning faith in God’s goodness is revealed in the above lines.

TYPE II: SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS (30-40 WORDS EACH)

Answer the following questions:

What did Lencho hope for?

Ans. Lencho had grown corn in his fields and desperately needed rains to save his crops from dying. He would sit all day at the top of the hill and watch his corn crop. If rains did not come it would die. Rains would mean a bright future for his family and certainly no starvation.

Why did Lencho say the raindrops were like ‘new coins”?

Ans. Rain drops portended a good crop. They ensured food for his family and money for the rest of the year. Thus Lencho was right in comparing the rain drops to coins which would bring money and good fortune for his family.

Who does Lencho have complete faith in? Which sentences in the story tell you this?

Ans. Lencho had complete faith in God. The following sentences in the story tell us this:

(a) Lencho thought only of his one hope: the help of God in one’s conscience.

(b) God, he wrote, “If you don’t help me………. this year.”

(d) Lencho showed not the little surprised on seeing the money……… such was his confidence……….

(e) God: Of the money that I asked for only……….. I need it very much.

Why does the postmaster send money to Lencho? Why does he sign the letter ‘God’?

Ans. The postmaster wondered at Lencho’s deep faith in God. He did not want to shake his faith and disillusion him. Therefore he sent him the money so that he would think that God had granted his request. He signed the letter ‘God’ so that Lencho would believe that it was really God who had sent him the money.

Did Lencho try to find out who had sent the money to him? Why/Why not?

Ans. No, Lencho did not try to find out who had sent the money to him because he was convinced that it was sent by God himself. So he could not imagine that some person alone could have sent him the money.

Who does Lencho think has taken the rest of the money? What is the irony in the situation? (Remember that the irony of a situation is an unexpected aspect of it. An ironic situation is strange or amusing because it is the opposite of what is expected.)

Ans. Lencho thought that the employees had taken away the rest of the money. The irony in the situation is that the postmaster and his employees had raised money and sent it to Lencho. But Lencho did not know the secret and suspected them and called them as a bunch of crooks.

What were Lencho’s feelings when rain turned to. hailstorm?

Ans. Lencho had prayed for rains for a long time. When it came it came with a furious hailstorm which lasted long and devastated his crop of corn. His earlier delight changed to misery and mortification as all his effort and time had proved to be in vain.

What makes this story beautiful?

Ans. The story has many beautiful and appealing aspects but the aspect that is the most appealing is the character of Lencho. His unwavering faith in God arouses a mixture of emotions like wonder, hilarity and admiration at the same time. It is rare to find such simple people in today’s world.

What made Lencho desperate?

What did the rain drops mean to Lencho?

Ans. Lencho had grown corn in his fields and desperately needed rains to save his crops from dying. Rain drops portended a good crop. They ensured food for his family and money for the rest of the year. Thus Lencho compared the rain drops coins which would bring money and good fortune for his family.

Lencho was crestfallen when the rain turned to hailstorm. Comment?

Ans. Lencho and his family was totally dependent on the crop of corns. But, unfortunately, it was destroyed by the rain which later turned into hailstorm. After this, Lencho and his family has nothing left to eat and had no money to buy anything for their survival. So Lencho was crestfallen when the hailstorm destroyed the whole crops.

Why did Lencho never think about the person who had sent him the money?

Ans. Lencho had unwavering faith in God. He could not imagine or think that a person could also send him money. He was such a simple person who did not question his faith in God.

TYPE III: LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS (100-120 WORDS EACH)

Answer the following questions:

There are two kinds of conflict in the story: between humans and nature, and between humans themselves. How are these conflicts illustrated?

Ans. In the initial part of the story, the episode of a much awaited downpour turning into a hailstorm shows the conflict between man and nature. When rain comes Lencho is ecstatic, dreaming about happy days ahead. But after sometime, Lencho feels sad and gloomy when rain turns into hail. He curses the hailstorm. It seems that nature and Lencho want different things. In the latter part of the story, when Lencho blames the post office employees for stealing the part of the money, it becomes the cause of conflict between. humans. One can imagine what the postmaster must have gone through when he read the second letter in which Lencho expressed his suspicion and anger towards the post office employees. It is ironical and tragic that the best intentions of these good people came to nothing because of Lencho’s naive nature.

Are there people like Lencho in the real world? What kind of a person would you say he is? You may select appropriate words from the box to answer the question.

Naive stupid ungrateful selfish comical unquestioning greedy

Ans. In the real world, people like Lencho are rare. Lencho seems to be naïve and unquestioning. Naïve because he doesn’t even bother to think about who sent the money or if God would actually sent the money. Probably his naivete comes from his unquestioning belief in God. Lencho is a diligent farmer. He had grown corn in his field and was waiting for rains anxiously. He was very happy when the rain finally came but it later turned to worry as the rain became a hailstorm and destroyed his fields. He had deep faith in God and despite the destruction of his crop. he was hopeful that everything would be all right. Although Lencho was strong like an ox and worked hard in the field, his faith in God prompted him to

write a letter to God. He asked for hundred pesos from God and was certain that he would receive the amount. When he received only a little more than half, he again wrote to God asking for the remaining money and accused the postal department for stealing money. This shows that undoubtedly Lencho was a religious man. At the same time he was naïve, unquestioning and unrealistic also and it shows traces of greediness when he did not receive the amount he had asked from God.

Lencho had deep and unquestioning faith in God. Comment.

Ans. Lencho was a poor farmer. He had firm faith in the almighty God. His firm faith can be proved with the help of following evidence.

Once, a hailstorm destroyed the crops of Lencho and left nothing. There was no one in the valley to help him and support his family. As he had firm faith in God he wrote a letter addressing to God. He asked the God for 100 pesos so as to sow the field again and feed his family that year. He sought the money to save his family as well as himself from starving. In the letter, Lencho described his plight at the destruction caused to his crops by the hailstorm. He went to the city and mailed the letter through the post office. Thus his action proves his unwavering conviction that God would help him.

Describe the character of Lencho in the light of his faith and attitude towards God and Man?

Ans. Lencho was a poor, hard-working farmer. His crops were destroyed completely because of hailstorm. He became hopeless because he did not have even a penny, so he feared that his family would have to starve that year.

Lencho was a simple person with firm faith in God. He hoped that God would help him and make sure that he and his family would not starve. He went to the post office and wrote an appealing letter with confidence to God for help and addressed it to “God”. In the opinion of Lencho, unlike God, men could dishonest and deceitful. After receiving the money donated by post office employees at the behest of the postmaster, he was angry and wrote to God yet again and complained about the dishonest employees. ‘bunch of crooks’, of the post office, who he assumed must have pocketed the missing money for he was convinced that the good God couldn’t have sent him half the amount he had asked for.

The reactions of Lencho are influenced by his beliefs Discuss.

Ans. In the story, the character of Lencho is seen as behaving in response to his circumstances and his own beliefs. The story begins with Lencho who hopes for rains, so that his crops would give a better yield. The rain does come with a devastating hailstorm which destroys the standing corn crop and leaves Lencho staring into a bleak future. Lencho is a staunch believer in God so he decides to write a letter to the God, asking for some money. Lencho also promises to repay the debt when the next crop would give him enough money. On seeing Lencho’s letter, the postmaster is amused and later, deeply moved by Lencho’s deep faith in God. He collects money from his colleagues and sends the entire collection of 70 pesos to Lencho. Lencho, quite angry, once again writes a letter to God in which he expresses his doubts about the honesty of the post office employees and requests God to send him the rest but not through the post office employees.

Lencho’s character embodies both simplicity and stupidity. Discuss.

Ans. Lencho’s reactions were prompted by deep faith in the almighty. It is indeed true that faith can move mountains and gives man the spiritual strength to take on the ups and downs of life. When circumstances are adverse faith in the almighty keeps a man going and hoping for relief and succour. At the same time one has to admit that excess of anything is bad. Lencho is so dependent on God for help, that he stops relying on his own resources and inner powers.

Unquestioning and irrational faith makes Lencho appear as a ridiculous figure. He takes his faith to unrealistic extent and pins all his faith on God’s help. It is wisely said that too much of anything is bad. Wisdom lies in moderation and balance. Thus his character simultaneously combines the qualities of simplicity and stupidity.

The story questions the popular belief that goodness is always rewarded. Discuss with reference to the story.

Ans. The story questions the belief that goodness is always rewarded. The truth of this observation is amply substantiated by G.L. Fuentes through the character of the postmaster. The postmaster proves to be a truly sensitive and generous person. His first reaction to Lencho’s letter to God is of amusement but later he can’t help appreciating the simple and deep, albeit, naïve faith of the poor farmer. He even goes out of his way to help Lencho by collecting from his subordinates 70 pesos that Lencho had requested from God. However the postmaster’s good deed never came to the knowledge of Lencho. Quite ironically Lencho, in his second letter to God, expressed his suspicion about the honesty of the post office employees, the postmaster included, and begged God not to route the money through them. Unfortunately, the kindness and generosity of the postmaster’s efforts remained unknown and unappreciated by Lencho. Thus it seems that life is quite unpredictable and good deeds, contrary to man’s expectation, may even go unrewarded.

Though the story is simple, it is not without its moments of humor. Discuss with reference to the chapter.

Ans. Though the story is a simple one with a message about the value of deep faith in God, but it is not without its moments of humor. In the story, Lencho puts in a great deal of hard work and manages to grow a crop of corn. He only needs rain to keep starvation at bay. Instead, what he gets is a hailstorm which flattens his ripe crop of corn. His plea to God for money is fulfilled by the postmaster and his subordinates who donate money to help Lencho in his hour of need. Lencho quite humorously, assumes that the officials are dishonest and have pocketed the 30 pesos and writes another letter comically instructing God to refrain from sending the money through the post office. Lencho comically assume the post office people who bailed him out to be a ‘bunch of crooks’. The simpleton in Lencho creates humor in the story.

QUESTIONS FOR PRACTICE