On the Face of It

NCERT Class 12 · English Based on NCERT Class 12 English textbook · Free CBSE study kit

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Chapter Notes

Overview

This play by Susan Hill explores the transformative power of human connection through the unlikely friendship between an old man, Mr. Lamb, and a young boy, Derry, who is withdrawn and defiant due to a disfigured face. The chapter exists in the syllabus to teach students about empathy, self-acceptance, and the idea that physical appearance does not define a person's worth. The one big idea a student must walk away with is that inner strength and a positive outlook can overcome the pain of alienation and societal prejudice.

Key Concepts (12)

Disfigurement

A permanent change in a person's physical appearance, often caused by burns, accidents, or disease, leading to visible scarring or deformity.

e.g. Derry's face was disfigured by acid that 'ate my face up' and left him with only half a face.

Alienation

The feeling of being isolated, estranged, or separated from others due to a perceived difference, often leading to loneliness and withdrawal.

e.g. Derry feels alienated because people stare at him, whisper about him, and are afraid of his face, making him avoid social contact.

Empathy

The ability to understand and share the feelings of another person, without necessarily having experienced the same situation.

e.g. Mr. Lamb shows empathy by not staring at Derry's face, not asking intrusive questions, and treating him like any other visitor.

Prejudice

A preconceived opinion or judgment about a person or group, often based on superficial characteristics like appearance, without factual basis.

e.g. People assume Derry is 'poor' or 'terrible' because of his face, and a woman whispers, 'That's a face only a mother could love.'

Resilience

The capacity to recover quickly from difficulties or adversity; the ability to maintain a positive attitude despite challenges.

e.g. Mr. Lamb demonstrates resilience by not letting his tin leg or the taunts of children ('Lamey-Lamb') affect his enjoyment of life.

Self-pity

Excessive, self-absorbed unhappiness over one's own troubles, often leading to a victim mentality and inability to move forward.

e.g. Derry initially indulges in self-pity, believing no one will ever kiss him and that his face will never change, but Mr. Lamb challenges this.

Optimism

A hopeful and positive outlook on life, focusing on possibilities and opportunities rather than limitations.

e.g. Mr. Lamb's optimism is evident when he says, 'You've got two arms, two legs and eyes and ears, you've got a tongue and a brain. You'll get on the way you want.'

Physical impairment

A loss or abnormality of a body structure or function, such as a missing limb or a disfigured face, which may cause functional limitations.

e.g. Mr. Lamb has a tin leg because his real leg was blown off in the war, and Derry has a burned face from acid.

Social stigma

The disapproval or discrimination against a person based on a characteristic that is perceived as undesirable, such as a disability or disfigurement.

e.g. Derry faces social stigma as people avoid him, stare at him, and say he would be 'better off with others like himself.'

Transformation

A marked change in form, nature, or appearance; in this play, a change in attitude and outlook on life.

e.g. Derry undergoes a transformation from a withdrawn, angry boy to someone who declares, 'I want the world... I want it.'

Friendship

A voluntary, mutual relationship between two people based on trust, acceptance, and shared interests, without conditions.

e.g. Mr. Lamb considers Derry a friend simply because he came into the garden, saying, 'So far as I’m concerned. What have you done to make me think you’re not?'

Perspective

A particular attitude toward or way of regarding something; a point of view that shapes interpretation.

e.g. Mr. Lamb offers a new perspective by calling weeds 'life' and saying, 'Why is one green, growing plant called a weed and another ‘flower’? Where’s the difference. It’s all life.'

How It Works

Derry's transformation from withdrawal to hope

Derry enters Mr. Lamb's garden, initially angry and defensive, expecting rejection.
Mr. Lamb does not react with fear or pity; instead, he talks about apples, weeds, and bees, treating Derry as a normal visitor.
Mr. Lamb shares his own disability (tin leg) and how he copes, showing that physical impairment does not define a person.
Mr. Lamb challenges Derry's negative beliefs by asking questions and telling the story of the man who locked himself in a room and was killed by a falling picture.
Derry begins to see the world differently, noticing the beauty in the garden and the value of listening and watching.
Derry decides to return home but resolves to come back, asserting his independence against his mother's fears.
Derry returns to Mr. Lamb's garden, only to find Mr. Lamb has fallen from a ladder and died, but Derry's final cry 'I want the world' shows his lasting transformation.

💡 Students often forget that Derry's transformation is not complete at the end; he is still weeping, but his desire to engage with the world is the key change.

Mr. Lamb's method of overcoming loneliness

Mr. Lamb keeps his garden gate always open, inviting anyone to come in.
He engages with visitors by talking about nature, asking questions, and sharing stories.
He does not dwell on his own disability or the taunts of children ('Lamey-Lamb').
He fills his house with books and keeps windows open to hear the wind and rain.
He makes toffee with honey for children and tends to his bees, finding joy in small things.
He accepts that people may not come back, but remains open and welcoming.

💡 Mr. Lamb's loneliness is subtly revealed in his final line, 'They never do, though. Not them. Never do come back.' Students often miss this sign of disappointment.

The cycle of prejudice and self-isolation

Derry's disfigured face causes people to stare, whisper, and avoid him.
Derry internalizes these reactions, believing he is ugly and that everyone is afraid of him.
Derry withdraws from society, avoiding people and expecting rejection.
His withdrawal reinforces the prejudice of others, who see him as 'different' and 'poor.'
Mr. Lamb breaks this cycle by accepting Derry without judgment, showing that the cycle can be broken by empathy.

💡 Students often think Derry's isolation is solely due to his face; the play shows it is also due to his own reaction to others' prejudice.

Exam Traps — Don't Make These Mistakes

⚠ Confusing Mr. Lamb's optimism with naivety

✗ Mr. Lamb is naive because he thinks everything is fine and ignores the real pain of Derry's situation.

→ Mr. Lamb does not ignore Derry's pain; he acknowledges it ('You’ve got a burned face') but offers a different perspective. His optimism is based on experience, not ignorance.

✓ Mr. Lamb is not naive; he is resilient and wise. He acknowledges Derry's disfigurement but focuses on what Derry can do, not on what he lacks.

⚠ Misinterpreting Derry's anger as hatred of Mr. Lamb

✗ Derry hates Mr. Lamb because he shouts at him and calls him 'daft' and 'crazy.'

→ Derry's anger is a defense mechanism. He shouts because he is confused by Mr. Lamb's kindness, not because he hates him. His final action of returning proves his affection.

✓ Derry's outbursts are a result of his inner turmoil and inability to accept kindness. He does not hate Mr. Lamb; he is testing him to see if he will react like others.

⚠ Claiming that Mr. Lamb's death is the central theme

✗ The play is about the tragic death of Mr. Lamb and how it affects Derry.

→ Mr. Lamb's death is the climax, but the central theme is Derry's transformation. The play focuses on how Derry learns to see beyond his face and embrace life.

✓ Mr. Lamb's death is a tragic event, but the play's central theme is Derry's journey from self-pity and isolation to a desire to engage with the world.

⚠ Assuming Derry's mother is entirely wrong

✗ Derry's mother is a villain who wants to keep him trapped and miserable.

→ Derry's mother is overprotective and fearful, but she acts out of love and concern. She says, 'You can’t help the things you say. I forgive you.' She is not evil, just misguided.

✓ Derry's mother represents societal fear and overprotectiveness. She is not a villain but a worried parent who fails to understand Derry's need for independence.

⚠ Forgetting the significance of the garden setting

✗ The garden is just a place where the characters meet; it has no symbolic meaning.

→ The garden is a symbol of openness, life, and acceptance. Mr. Lamb says, 'The gate’s always open,' and the garden is full of weeds, flowers, and bees, representing the diversity of life.

✓ The garden symbolizes a world without prejudice. Mr. Lamb's open gate and acceptance of all plants (weeds and flowers) mirror his acceptance of all people, including Derry.

Compare & Contrast

Outlook on life and self

Derry's attitude at the beginning of the play

Derry's attitude at the end of the play

At the start, Derry is withdrawn, angry, and believes his face makes him unworthy of love or friendship. At the end, he asserts, 'I want the world,' showing a newfound desire to engage with life despite his disfigurement.

Coping mechanism

Mr. Lamb's response to his disability

Derry's response to his disability

Mr. Lamb accepts his tin leg with humor ('Lamey-Lamb') and does not let it limit his life; he keeps busy with gardening, reading, and welcoming visitors. Derry initially lets his disfigured face define him, avoiding people and expecting rejection, until Mr. Lamb helps him see differently.

Approach to Derry's future

Derry's mother's perspective

Mr. Lamb's perspective

Derry's mother is overprotective and fearful, wanting to keep Derry at home and away from the world. Mr. Lamb encourages Derry to explore, take risks, and find his own path, saying, 'Only you know that.'

Exam Focus

Marks pattern: 1 MCQ (1 mark) on character or theme, 1 SA of 2-3 marks on a specific incident or quote, 1 LA of 5-6 marks on a thematic question (e.g., 'How does Mr. Lamb change Derry's outlook?')

Most asked: Derry's transformation and Mr. Lamb's role in it · The theme of prejudice and alienation · The symbolism of the garden and the open gate · Comparison of Derry and Mr. Lamb's attitudes towards their disabilities

Don't skip: Long answer question on Derry's transformation and the role of Mr. Lamb; Question on the theme of 'inner beauty vs. outer appearance' with textual evidence

One-Line Revision (read aloud before the exam)

Derry's face was disfigured by acid, not fire, as he clarifies to Mr. Lamb.
Mr. Lamb has a tin leg because his real leg was blown off in the war.
The garden gate is always open, symbolizing Mr. Lamb's acceptance of all people.
Mr. Lamb grows weeds intentionally, arguing that all plants are life and there is no real difference between a weed and a flower.
Derry initially believes no one will ever kiss him except his mother, and he resents her pity.
Mr. Lamb tells the story of a man who locked himself in a room to avoid all risks and was killed by a falling picture.
Derry's mother forbids him from visiting Mr. Lamb, fearing the old man's influence.
Derry defies his mother and returns to Mr. Lamb's garden, declaring, 'If I don’t go back there, I’ll never go anywhere in this world again.'
Mr. Lamb dies after falling from a ladder while picking crab apples.
Derry weeps over Mr. Lamb's body, but his final cry 'I want the world' shows his lasting transformation.
The play's title 'On the Face of It' refers to judging by appearances, which the play challenges.
Mr. Lamb says, 'There’s worse things can happen. You can burn yourself away inside,' meaning hatred and bitterness are more damaging than physical scars.
Derry's age is fourteen, and Mr. Lamb is an old man who lives alone.
The play has three scenes: Mr. Lamb's garden, Derry's house, and Mr. Lamb's garden again.

MCQs — 10 Questions with Answers

Q1. Why does Derry climb over the garden wall instead of using the open gate?

A. He believes the garden is empty and private, so he assumes he must sneak in ✓
B. He is too angry to respect Mr Lamb's property and wants to trespass deliberately
C. Mr Lamb has locked the gate and Derry has no other way to enter the garden
D. He is trying to steal crab apples from the garden without being seen

Answer: A — Derry climbs the wall because he thinks the garden is abandoned; Mr Lamb later reveals the gate is always open, showing Derry created his own barrier based on false assumption.

Q2. What does Mr Lamb mean when he tells Derry 'It's all relative. Beauty and the beast'?

A. The fairytale of Beauty and the Beast proves that love can change ugly people into beautiful ones
B. Judgments about beauty and ugliness are subjective and depend on perspective, not absolute truth ✓
C. Derry should accept being ugly because there are always people uglier than him in the world
D. Mr Lamb is saying that Derry's burned face makes him beastly and only his mother could love him

Answer: B — Mr Lamb is challenging the idea of fixed, objective beauty standards; he suggests that what one person sees as ugly or beautiful is relative and changes with viewpoint.

Q3. Which statement best explains why Mr Lamb does NOT react with shock or pity when Derry reveals his acid-burned face?

A. Mr Lamb has seen many burned faces and is no longer surprised by such injuries
B. Mr Lamb himself has a visible disability (tin leg) and accepts that all people have imperfections worth living with ✓
C. Mr Lamb is too old and deaf to understand what Derry is telling him about his accident
D. Mr Lamb does not believe Derry's story and thinks he is lying for attention

Answer: B — Mr Lamb's acceptance stems from his own experience of disability and his philosophy that all life—human and natural—is equally valuable and worthy of respect.

Q4. Read this extract: 'I grow weeds there. Why is one green, growing plant called a weed and another 'flower'? Where's the difference. It's all life.... growing. Same as you and me.' What does Mr Lamb's attitude toward weeds reveal about his broader philosophy?

A. He believes that all plants should be treated equally in a garden, regardless of whether they are useful or attractive
B. He rejects society's arbitrary classifications and celebrates all life as equally valuable, applying this principle to human worth as well ✓
C. He is lazy and does not want to work hard to maintain a proper garden with only flowers
D. He is trying to convince Derry to stop complaining and accept his fate like the weeds accept being called weeds

Answer: B — Mr Lamb's celebration of weeds as worthy of life demonstrates his radical egalitarian philosophy that human value, like plant value, is not determined by social labels or appearance.

Q5. Which of the following is NOT a reason Derry feels isolated and afraid of human connection?

A. He overheard a woman call his burned face 'a terrible thing. That's a face only a mother could love'
B. He believes all people are secretly afraid of his appearance and pity him out of obligation
C. He is afraid to kiss girls or be kissed because no girl will ever find him attractive
D. Mr Lamb told him that his disability is worse than being blind, deaf, or wheelchair-bound ✓

Answer: D — Mr Lamb never told Derry this; instead, Derry himself sarcastically recites these comparisons as examples of what 'people always say,' which Mr Lamb challenges, not supports.

Q6. Why does Derry reject the fairytale narrative of 'Beauty and the Beast' that adults offer him as comfort?

A. He has never read the story and does not know what it is about
B. He finds it cruel and unrealistic, insisting that the beast stays a beast and his face will never magically transform ✓
C. He is angry that people compare him to an ugly monster instead of accepting him as handsome
D. He believes Mr Lamb invented the story to make fun of his appearance

Answer: B — Derry explicitly rejects the false hope that love or transformation will change his reality; he demands acceptance of his permanent condition, not promises of magical change.

Q7. Read this assertion: Statement I — Mr Lamb has a tin leg because he lost his real leg in an accident years ago. Statement II — Mr Lamb hides his tin leg under long trousers so that no one will stare at him or judge him. Which is correct?

A. Both Statement I and Statement II are correct
B. Only Statement I is correct; Mr Lamb does not hide his tin leg and does not seem troubled by stares ✓
C. Only Statement II is correct; Mr Lamb always covers his leg when going out in public
D. Neither statement is correct; Mr Lamb has two real legs and wears a tin hat instead

Answer: B — Statement I is confirmed in the text: his leg was 'blown off, years back.' Statement II contradicts Mr Lamb's behavior; he explicitly says people 'get tired of staring' and he does not seek to hide his disability.

Q8. Derry says, 'Why don't you ask me? Why do you do what they all do and pretend it isn't true and isn't there?' What does this reveal about Derry's emotional conflict?

A. Derry wants people to acknowledge his burned face directly instead of ignoring it out of fear or politeness ✓
B. Derry is angry that Mr Lamb refuses to speak to him at all and keeps changing the subject
C. Derry believes Mr Lamb is pretending to be disabled to gain sympathy from him
D. Derry thinks Mr Lamb should ask him how he got burned so he can tell the full story of his accident

Answer: A — Derry's anger stems from people's avoidance; he interprets their silence as shame or disgust, so he paradoxically demands acknowledgment while also fearing judgment—a core adolescent conflict.

Q9. What does the open gate of Mr Lamb's garden symbolize in the play? (HOTS: requires inference beyond literal meaning)

A. Mr Lamb is careless about security and does not mind if people steal his crab apples
B. The garden is a public park that belongs to the city and anyone can enter freely
C. A welcoming, inclusive space where marginalized people like Derry can be accepted without judgment or pity ✓
D. Derry should have asked permission before entering instead of climbing over the wall

Answer: C — The open gate contrasts with Derry climbing the wall in fear and shame; it symbolizes Mr Lamb's radical philosophy of acceptance and inclusion for all outsiders and 'disabled' individuals.

Q10. Based on the play's dialogue, which statement best explains why Mr Lamb does not comfort Derry by saying 'Others suffer worse, so you should not complain'?

A. Mr Lamb agrees with Derry that there is no point in comparisons; they do not change his burned face or his pain ✓
B. Mr Lamb is too old to remember examples of people who are blind, deaf, or wheelchair-bound
C. Mr Lamb wants Derry to focus only on his own suffering and not care about others
D. Mr Lamb believes that comparisons are helpful and tells Derry exactly this argument

Answer: A — When Derry sarcastically lists comparisons that others make ('people worse off than you'), Mr Lamb agrees the comparison is 'true' but his point is that such platitudes do not fix Derry's actual pain or change his reality.

Flashcards

What physical injury does Derry have and how did it happen?

Derry's face was burned by acid, which destroyed one side of his face permanently, leaving him disfigured and deeply traumatized.

What disability does Mr Lamb have?

Mr Lamb has a tin leg that replaced his real leg, which was blown off years ago, and he accepts it without shame or self-pity.

Why does Derry initially climb the garden wall instead of using the open gate?

Derry assumes the garden is empty and private, and later learns the gate was open to all, symbolizing how his fear creates unnecessary barriers.

What does Mr Lamb mean by 'It's all relative' in the context of beauty?

He suggests that concepts like beauty, ugliness, and worth are subjective judgments that change depending on perspective, not fixed truths.

How does Mr Lamb respond when Derry talks about his burned face?

Mr Lamb acknowledges the reality of Derry's injury matter-of-factly without pity or horror, then redirects conversation to the natural world around them.

What does the garden symbolize in the play?

The garden represents a non-judgmental, inclusive space where disabled and marginalized individuals can exist freely without social stigma or conformity.

Why does Derry reject the 'Beauty and the Beast' fairytale argument?

He refuses false hope, insisting that the beast stays a beast and his face will never change, so transformation through love is unrealistic propaganda.

What does Mr Lamb think about the weeds in the far corner of his garden?

He celebrates them as equally valid life and growth, questioning why society calls some plants 'weeds' and others 'flowers' based on arbitrary judgments.

How does Derry interpret people's behavior around him?

He believes people are afraid of his face and pity him out of obligation, so he reads their discomfort as confirmation of his own worthlessness.

What is Derry's core emotional conflict in this scene?

He struggles between his internalized shame about his appearance and his anger at society's cruelty, isolating himself as protection against further hurt.

Important Board Questions

State in one or two sentences why Derry feels isolated from other people, and name one physical piece of evidence from his past that reinforces this belief. [2 marks]

Identify Derry's core belief about how people perceive him (fear/pity) and cite the specific cruel comment from the woman at the bus-stop that shaped his isolation.

Explain how Mr Lamb's attitude toward his own disability (his tin leg) contrasts with Derry's attitude toward his burned face. Use two specific examples from the dialogue to support your answer. [5 marks]

Show that Mr Lamb accepts and does not hide his tin leg (does not wear long trousers; nickname 'Lamey-Lamb' does not trouble him), whereas Derry internalizes shame and believes no one will ever look beyond his appearance. Reference Mr Lamb's statement about people tiring of staring and his refusal to seek pity.

Analyze how the garden and the open gate serve as symbols of Mr Lamb's philosophy of life. In your answer, explain what Mr Lamb's approach to 'weeds' and 'flowers' teaches Derry about how to view himself and the world around him. (You may reference the fairytale discussion and Mr Lamb's statement 'It's all relative' in your response.) [6 marks]

Establish that the garden is symbolically inclusive and non-judgmental (open gate = all welcome); explain that Mr Lamb's refusal to distinguish between weeds and flowers challenges arbitrary social labels; connect this to his radical assertion that all life has equal worth, implying that Derry's worth is not diminished by his appearance. Contrast this with Derry's internalized ableism and false fairytale hopes; show how Mr Lamb reframes identity beyond physicality by stating 'the world's got a whole face, and the world's there to be looked at.'

Assertion-Reason Questions for On the Face of It

Q1. Assertion (A):

Derry's primary fear in the play is that society will reject him because of his burned face.

Reason (R):

The acid burn is so severe that it has made his face physically unrecognizable and socially unacceptable.

Answer: C — A is true but R is false — The assertion is true—Derry's fear of social rejection is the core of his isolation. However, the reason is misleading. The reason suggests the physical severity causes social rejection, when in fact it is society's perception and Derry's internalization of shame that drive his fear. Mr Lamb suggests the physical fact is less damaging than the psychological response to it.

Q2. Assertion (A):

Mr Lamb uses his own disability (tin leg) as a teaching tool to help Derry accept difference.

Reason (R):

Both Mr Lamb and Derry share physical disabilities, and shared experience creates mutual understanding.

Answer: B — Both A and R are true, but R is NOT the correct explanation of A — Both assertion and reason are true. Mr Lamb does intentionally compare their disabilities to normalize them, and shared experience does facilitate understanding. However, the reason does not fully explain the assertion—Mr Lamb's primary teaching is not about shared experience per se, but about the relativity of perception and the power of perspective change. A person without disability could teach the same lesson.

Q3. Assertion (A):

The open gate of Mr Lamb's garden symbolizes universal acceptance and non-judgment.

Reason (R):

An open gate is physically unsafe and allows anyone, including thieves, to enter the garden.

Answer: C — A is true but R is false — The assertion is absolutely true—the open gate is explicitly presented as a symbol of Mr Lamb's inclusive philosophy. However, the reason is false. Mr Lamb's openness is not about physical safety or naivety about theft; it is a deliberate moral stance. He accepts the risk because his values take precedence over property protection.

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Case-Based Questions (CBQ) for On the Face of It

Case Study:

At a school in an urban Indian city, a 14-year-old girl named Priya suffered severe burns on 40% of her face in a cooking accident. After her discharge from the hospital, she refused to attend school for six months, believing that all her classmates would judge and reject her. Her teachers and counsellors repeatedly told her, 'Don't worry, people will accept you,' and 'Inner beauty is what matters.' Despite these reassurances, Priya remained isolated. One day, her elderly neighbour, who had lost an arm in a workplace accident decades ago, invited Priya to work in his community garden. Unlike others, he did not compliment her courage or mention her appearance at all. Instead, he simply included her in daily tasks—planting seeds, tending vegetables, and even making pickles from the harvest. Over three months, Priya gradually began to see herself not as a burned face but as a gardener, a learner, and a contributor. She eventually returned to school, not because anyone promised her acceptance, but because she had experienced it without fanfare.

Q1. Why did reassurance from teachers and counsellors fail to help Priya, even though their statements were logically true?

A. Because Priya was too intelligent to believe simple platitudes about acceptance
B. Because abstract promises of acceptance do not substitute for concrete, lived experience of being included without judgment ✓
C. Because Indian culture does not value inner beauty as much as Western culture does
D. Because Priya needed medical treatment, not psychological support

Answer: B

Q2. What was the elderly neighbour's most important contribution to Priya's healing, based on the passage and the play's themes?

A. He taught her practical gardening skills that would help her career
B. He demonstrated acceptance through actions and normalcy rather than through words or special attention ✓
C. He explained to her that everyone has disabilities and struggles
D. He convinced her that her appearance would change with time

Answer: B

Q3. How does the neighbour's approach differ from the standard societal approach to disability?

A. The neighbour focuses on external rehabilitation; society focuses on internal strength
B. The neighbour uses traditional medicine; society uses modern psychology
C. The neighbour demands gratitude; society offers support
D. The neighbour includes the person in ordinary life without making their disability the focus; society often treats disabled individuals as objects of pity or inspiration ✓

Answer: D

Q4. Which character from 'On the Face of It' does the elderly neighbour most resemble in his philosophy and approach?

A. Mr Lamb, who accepts disability as a fact of life and includes others without fanfare or false reassurance ✓
B. Derry, who initially isolates himself from others
C. Priya's mother, who shows conditional love
D. The woman at the bus-stop, who whispers cruel judgments

Answer: A

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