CLASS X LITERATURE WORKSHEET (2021-22)
FIRST FLIGHT
CHAPTER 1 – A LETTER TO GOD
- G. L. Fuentes
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Gregorio López y Fuentes, (born Nov. 17, 1895, Huasteca, Veracruz, Mex. —died Dec. 10, 1966,
Mexico City), novelist who was one of the most important chroniclers of the Mexican Revolution and
its effects. ‘A Letter to God’ is a story written by Gregorio Lopez Y Fuentes, a Mexican writer, who was
one of the most important chroniclers of the Mexican Revolution and its effects. The story presents the
infinite faith of a man to God.
About the story
A Letter to God’ is a story of extreme faith in god. The writer had tried to depict the faith of a poor and
simple farmer in god. Lencho was an honest and hard-working farmer. Once there was a hailstorm. It
destroyed his crop completely. Lencho had great faith to God. He asked God to send him money. The
postmaster saw the letter. He decided to help Lencho. He collected some money. He put it inside the
envelope. Lencho came to the post office to check his mail. The post office people gave him the
envelope. Lencho opened the envelope. He took out the money and counted it. He found that it was
less than he had asked for. He wrote another letter to God. He asked God to send him rest of the
money. But he wanted God not to send the money through the mail. He considered them a bunch of
crooks who had stolen thirty pesos from the hundred pesos sent by God.
NEW WORDS
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Predict : say in advance .
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Intimately : closely.
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Draped : cover or decorate something
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Hailstones - small balls of ice falling as rain.
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Plague - of something large number of a pest that invade an area.
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Crest: Top of a hill
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Downpour: Heavy Rain
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Solitary: Existing alone; lonely.
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Regarded- Consider Or Think Of In A Specified Way
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Resemble- Have A Similar Appearance To Or Qualities In Common With
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Exposing- make (something) visible by uncovering it.; reveal
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Conscience- an inner sense of right and wrong. |
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ox of a man- hardworking
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daybreak- The time in the morning when daylight first appears
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Amiable- Friendly And Pleasant
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Correspondence- Communication by exchanging letters with someone.
KEY POINTS
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Lencho was a farmer and had the field of ripe corn.
He needed a downpour to make his harvest good.
But the rain turned into hailstones which destroyed his whole crop of corn.
He had nothing to eat so he decided to seek help from god.
He wrote a letter to god demanding 100 pesos.
The post office employees made fun of him. But the post master decided to help him.
He collected 70 pesos from his own effort.
But Lencho was angry to receive 70 pesos in place of 100.
He wrote another letter to god demanding rest of the money.
He also requested to send the money through another means because what he believed that
post office employees were bunch of crooks.
SETTING
This story takes place in Mexico on a field in a valley on a low hill crest. Also surrounding the valley
was a river, corral, and huge mountains. The field is very dry.
CHARACTERS
1. Lencho : Lencho is protagonist in this story. He plays the dominant male father figure role in his
family. After a heavy hail storm he wants to help his family survive a drought in the village. With his
faith he is positive that everything will work out in his favor.
2. Postmaster: Postmaster is one of the other characters in this story. He plays a post office role were
he gets curious into Lencho life. After he reads an interesting letter, Lencho sends to the post office. He
then decides to help Lencho out anonymously.
Practice Questions Q.1. What impression do you form of the postmaster after reading the story ‘A Letter To God?
Q.2. Do you think that Lencho was right to call the post office employees a bunch of crooks?
Why or why not?
Q.3. To what does Lencho compare raindrops and why?
Ans : Lencho compares raindrops to new coins because his crops were ready for harvest. Rain would
ensure a better harvest and good crops. This would help him earn more and bring in prosperity. That
is why, he compares raindrops to new coins.
Q.4 In the story ‘A Letter to God’ Lencho asks for remaining 30 pesos from God distrusting the
postmaster. Based on your understanding of the story and characters, showcase an imaginary
situation wherein both characters discuss the issue.
Ans : The characteristic faith of Lencho ensured that he believed in God and subsequently feel cheated
by the postmaster and other post office employees.
Lencho : What a bunch of crooks you all are!
Postmaster : And you accuse us, so! Where would your remaining money go if God had sent it as well?
Lencho : I feel that you have embezzled my money!
Postmaster : Oh, embezzled your money? Why would we keep the remaining pesos with us?
Lencho : You were afraid of God. You shared some portion with me and the rest you shared amongst
yourselves!
Postmaster : But why would we contribute the money if we had to take a share from it secretly?
Lencho : What do you mean by that? How did you contribute the money?
Postmaster : Although we value your devotion, but it was only the post office employees who
contributed a share of their money and collected 70 pesos
Lencho : What are you saying now? Do you mean God gave me no money?
Postmaster : I’m afraid. God gave you strength to bear the situation but the money was shared with
you by the post office employees.
Lencho : Oh, all my devotion! How would I have known? I am really regretful about the entire
situation.
Postmaster : We would like you to place the same faith in God and keep striding out through your
difficulties.
Q.5. Elaborate on the actions taken by the postmaster and the reason behind them.
Ans : The postmaster was initially amused to see the letter, but then he was moved by Lencho’s faith in
God. He decided to collect money to ensure that Lencho’s faith was not shaken. He contributed money
from his own salary and asked his friends and other employees to help. He managed to collect seventy
pesos.
Extra Questions
Q.1. Read the following extracts and answer the questions that follow:
I. In the north-east huge mountains of clouds could be seen approaching. The air was fresh and sweet.
The man went out for no other reason than to have the pleasure of feeling the rain on his body, and when
he returned he exclaimed, “These aren’t raindrops falling from the sky, they are new coins. The big drops
are ten cent pieces and the little ones are fives.
(a) Why did Lencho go out in the rain?
(b) Lencho compares the rain drops to new coins. Why?
(c) Which word in the extract means the same as ‘very big’.
(d) What are the raindrops compared to?
II. “God,” he wrote, “If you don’t help me, my family and I will go hungry this year. I need a hundred pesos
in order to sow my field again and to live until the crop comes, because the hail storm…”
(a) Who is he in the above lines?
(b) Why did the speaker need money?
(c) How much money does the speaker need?
(d) What character trait of the speaker is revealed through the above lines?
III. The moment the letter fell into the mail box the post master went to open it. It said: God: Of the money
that I asked for, only seventy pesos reached me. 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.”
(a) What does Lencho mean by ‘the rest’?
(b) What was in Lencho’s mind when he was writing the letter?
(c) Find out the word from the extract which is the opposite of ‘honest’.
(d) Who are called ‘a bunch of crooks’?
Q.2. Answer the following questions in 30 – 40 words:
a) Describe Lencho’s feeling when the storm had passed. What was Lencho’s only hope after the
devastation in his fields?
b) Explain: ‘The postmaster- a fat, amiable fellow.’
c) Bring out the message of ‘A Letter to God’.
d) Justify the title: ‘A Letter to God’.
Q. 3. Answer the following questions in 100 – 120 words:
a) Lencho’s faith in God was commendable. Justify.
b) Strong determination and faith can move mountains. Elaborate.
c) Postmaster was an epitome of humanity. Elucidate.
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