NCERT Solutions for Class 10th English Chapter 1: A Letter to God

The story "A Letter to God" revolves around Lencho, a hardworking farmer whose unwavering faith in God shapes his response to life's challenges. This tale highlights the importance of belief and the complexities of human nature, such as greed and ingratitude. Let’s delve into the key elements of this touching narrative.

Lencho’s Trust in God

Lencho is portrayed as a dedicated farmer who nurtures his crops with great care. After a long period of anticipation for a good harvest, disaster strikes in the form of a devastating hailstorm that destroys his entire crop. Faced with despair and hopelessness, Lencho turns to his faith. He firmly believes that God will provide for him in his time of need.

The Letter to God

Knowing how to write, Lencho pens a heartfelt letter addressed to God, asking for 100 pesos to support his family. He drops the letter in the mailbox with the hope that God will hear his plea and send the money he desperately needs.

The Postman’s Discovery

The postman discovers Lencho’s letter while sorting through the mail. Amused by the unusual addressee, he bursts into laughter and rushes to show the letter to the postmaster. However, the postmaster's reaction is quite different. Upon reading Lencho's earnest request, he realizes the gravity of the situation.

A Collective Effort to Help

Moved by Lencho’s faith, the postmaster decides to take action. He organizes a collection among the post office employees to help Lencho. They manage to raise 70 pesos. Although it is not the full amount Lencho requested, they decide to send it in an envelope labeled "From God" to maintain Lencho's faith.

Lencho’s Reaction

The following Sunday, Lencho visits the post office to check for a reply. When the postmaster hands him the envelope, Lencho’s initial excitement quickly turns to disappointment when he counts the money and realizes it is only 70 pesos.

Convinced that God does not make mistakes, Lencho feels the post office has failed him. In a fit of frustration, he takes paper and ink and writes another letter to God. In this letter, he expresses his discontent, stating that he did not receive the full amount he requested.

Lencho’s Distrust in Humans

In his second letter, Lencho accuses the post office employees of being dishonest and asks God to send the remaining 30 pesos directly, advising Him not to send it through the mail again.

Themes and Lessons

The story of "A Letter to God" offers several valuable lessons:

Faith in Adversity

Lencho’s faith in God exemplifies how belief can be a source of strength during challenging times. Despite losing everything, his unwavering trust shows that hope can thrive even in despair.

The Role of Community

The postmaster and his employees come together to support Lencho, highlighting the importance of community and compassion. Their willingness to help reflects the goodness that exists in humanity.

Greed and Ungratefulness

Lencho's reaction to receiving 70 pesos instead of 100 reveals a darker side of human nature—greed and ingratitude. His assumption that the post office staff are crooks despite their efforts illustrates how extreme expectations can blind us to the kindness of others.

Summary

In summary, "A Letter to God" is a poignant story that explores faith, community, and human flaws. Lencho’s journey from despair to disappointment serves as a reminder of the importance of gratitude and the impact of our beliefs on our lives. Through this tale, readers are encouraged to reflect on their own faith and the relationships that sustain them.

By conveying this story in a relatable manner, we learn that while faith can uplift us, it is essential to recognize and appreciate the kindness of those around us. The narrative of Lencho serves as a timeless reminder that belief, when paired with gratitude, can lead to a more fulfilling life.

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Chapter 1 – A Letter to God Download Free PDF (Updated for 2024-25)

A Letter to God Class 10 English Question Answers

Q1. What did Lencho hope for?
Answer: Lencho hoped for rains as the only thing that his field of ripe corn needed was a shower.

Q2. Why did Lencho say the raindrops were like ‘new coins’?
Answer: Lencho’s crops were ready for harvest. As raindrops would have helped in getting a better harvest, resulting in more prosperity, so Lencho compared them with new coins.

Q3. How did the rain change? What happened to Lencho’s fields?
Answer: The rain was pouring down. But suddenly, a strong wind began to blow and very large hailstones began to fall along with the rain. All the crop in Lencho’s fields destroyed.

Q4. What were Lencho’s feelings when the hail stopped?
Answer: After hail stopped, Lencho’s soul was filled with sadness. He could see a bleak future for him and his family. Hew was worried aboutlack of food for the coming year.

Q5. Who or what did Lencho have faith in? What did he do?
Answer: Lencho had faith in God. He believed that God’s eyes see everything, even what is deep in one’s conscience. He wrote a letter to God saying that he needed a hundred pesos to sow his field again.

Q6. Who read the letter?
Answer: Postmaster read the letter.

Q7. What did the postmaster do then?
Answer: The Postmaster first laughed. But then he became serious. He was deeply moved by the writer’s faith in God. He did not want to shake this faith. So he decided to collect the money and send it to Lencho.

Q8. Was Lencho surprised to find a letter for him with money in it?
Answer: No. Lencho was not at all surprised to see the letter from God with money inside it. His confidence and faith in God was such that he had expected that reply from God.

Q9. What made him angry?
Answer: When he finished counting moneyhe found only seventy pesos. But he demanded hundred pesos. He was confident that God could neither make a mistake nor deny him what he had requested. Therefore, he concluded that the post office employees must have taken the remaining thirty pesos.

Q10. Who does Lencho have complete faith in? Which sentences in the story tell you this?
Answer: Lencho had complete faith in God. The sentences in the story that show this are as follows:

• But in the hearts of all who lived in that solitary house in the middle of the valley, there was a single hope: help from God.
• 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.
• “God,” he wrote, “if you don’t help me, my family and I will go hungry this ”
• He wrote ‘To God’ on the envelope, put the letter inside and, still troubled, went to
• God could not have made a mistake, nor could he have denied Lencho what he had
• It said: “God: of the money that I asked for, only seventy pesos reached Send me the rest, since I need it very much.”

Q11. Why does the postmaster send money to Lencho? Why does he sign the letter ‘God’?
Answer: Postmaster was moved by Lencho’s complete faith in the God. So, he decided to send money toLencho. Moreover, the postmaster did not want to shake Lencho’s faith in God. So, he signed the letter ‘God’. It was a good ploy to convey a message that God had himself written the letter.

Q12. Did Lencho try to find out who had sent the money to him? Why/Why not?
Answer: No, Lencho does not try to find out who had sent the money to him. This is because he had great confidence in God and never suspected that it could be someone else other than God who would send him the money. His faith in God was so strong that he believed that God had sent him the money.

Q13. 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 An ironic situation is strange or amusing because it is the opposite of what is expected.]
Answer: Lencho thinks that the post office people have taken the money. It is the post office people who send the money to Lencho. But, on the other hand, Lencho thinks they have stolen his money. He calls them crooks. Thus there is an element of irony in this situation.

Q14. 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.

Answer: I don’t think there can be any such people in the real world. Lencho is literate and yet he doesn’t know how his letter will reach God without any address. He probably would be naïve and unquestioning.

Q15. There are two kinds of conflict in the story: between humans and nature, and between humans themselves. How are these conflicts illustrated?
Answer: The conflict between humans and nature is shown by the destruction of Lencho’s crops by the hailstorm. As the crops failed by hail, Lencho started feeling sad and gloomy after the storm appropriately projects the conflict of the nature and the man. The Story also shown another conflict, between humans themselves. The postmaster, along with the help of the other post office employees, sent Lencho the money that they could manage to collect.

They were not related to Lencho in any manner. It was an act of kindness and selflessness on their part. Even though they did a good deed, Lencho blamed them for taking away some amount of money. This shows that man does not have faith in his fellow humans, thereby giving rise to this conflict.

Q16. There are different names in different parts of the world for storms, depending on their nature. Can you match the names in the box with their descriptions below, and fill in the blanks? You may use a dictionary to help you.

1. A violent tropical storm in which strong winds move in a circle:________c________________

2. An extremely strong wind: ___________a_____________

3. A violent tropical storm with very strong winds: ______________p____________

4. A violent storm whose centre is a cloud in the shape of a funnel:_____________n____________

5. A violent storm with very strong winds, especially in the western Atlantic ocean: ____________r_______

6. A very strong wind that moves very fast in a spinning movement and causes a lot of damage: _________l________________

Answer

1. Cyclone
2. Gale
3. Typhoon
4. Tornado
5. Hurricane
6. Whirlwind

Q17. Match the sentences in Column A with the meanings of ‘hope’ in Column B.

Q18. Join the sentences given below using who, whom, whose, whichas

1. I often go to Mumbai is the commercial capital of India. (which)
2. My mother is going to host a TV show on She cooks very well. (who)
3. These sportspersons are going to meet the Their performance has been excellent. (whose)
4. Lencho prayed to His eyes see into our minds. (whose)
5. This man cheated I trusted him. (whom)

Answer:

1. I often go to Mumbai, which is the commercial capital of
2. My mother, who cooks very well, is going to host a TV show on
3. These sportspersons, whose performance has been excellent, are going to meet the

President.

4. Lencho prayed to God, whose eyes see into our
5. This man, whom I trusted, cheated

Q19. Find sentences in the story with negative words, which express the following ideas emphatically.

1. The trees lost all their_______________________________

2. The letter was addressed to God_________________________________

3. The postman saw this address for the first time in his__________________________________

Answer:

1. The trees lost all their leaves. Not a leaf remained on the
2. The letter was addressed to God It was nothing less than a letter to God.
3. The postman saw this address for the first time in his Never in his career as a postman had he known that address.

Q20. . In pairs, find metaphors from the story to complete the table below. Try to say what qualities are being compared. One has been done for you. 

Answer: 

A Letter to God Questions and Answers PDF

The "A Letter to God Questions and Answers PDF" is a helpful resource for students looking to understand the story better. This PDF includes important questions along with clear answers that focus on the themes, characters, and main ideas of the story. It's perfect for Class 10 English students who want to prepare for exams or simply want to grasp the text more thoroughly. By downloading this material, students will have the support they need to enhance their learning and improve their understanding of the story.

Download A Letter to God Questions and Answers PDF

A Letter to God Important Question Answers

Q1: What is the main theme of "A Letter to God"?
Ans: The main theme of "A Letter to God" is faith and the importance of believing in a higher power. It highlights how trust in God can provide hope in difficult situations, while also addressing issues of greed and ingratitude.

Q2: Who are the main characters in the story?
Ans: The primary characters in the story are Lencho, a hardworking farmer; his wife, who supports him; the postman, who finds Lencho's letter amusing; and the postmaster, who decides to help Lencho by collecting donations.

Q3: What event causes Lencho to write a letter to God?
Ans: Lencho writes a letter to God after a hailstorm destroys his crops, leaving him in despair. He believes that only God can help him recover from this disaster and provides for his family.

Q4: How does Lencho react when he receives the 70 pesos?
Ans: Lencho is disappointed when he counts the 70 pesos, believing that God must have sent him the full amount he requested (100 pesos). He feels that the post office employees are dishonest and writes another letter to God, asking for the remaining money.

Q5: What lesson can we learn from Lencho's story?
Ans: The story teaches us about the power of faith and hope, but it also warns against greed and ungratefulness. Lencho's attitude towards the help he received reflects how sometimes we may take support for granted and focus on what we did not receive rather than being thankful for what we have.