Study Material on The Invisible Man_Solved Questions

THE INVISIBLE MAN

QUESTIONS BASED ON PLOT,THEME EVENTS,INCIDENTS AND CHARACTERS

Q.1. Describe the plot and the story structure of The Invisible Man.

Ans. The story starts in the English village of Iping in West Sussex. There is curiosity and fear when a mysterious stranger arrives to stay at the local inn, The Coach and Horses. Every bit of the stranger’s body except his shiny pink nose is covered in one way or the other. In fact even his nose is covered but it does not appear to be so.

This stranger is extremely reclusive and demands to be left alone. He spends most of his, time in his room making some chemical experiments. He unnerves the locals and becomes the talk of the village.

Meanwhile a burglary occurs in the Vicar’s house and the stranger is strongly suspected to have a hand in it. Mrs. Hall questions the stranger about the money which he offers because only a day before he had said that he had little money with him. This annoys the stranger and he reveals that he is an invisible man. The police try to catch him but he throws off all his clothes and escapes.

Escaping from the police and the people one day he enters a house wherein he finds one of his old college mates named Dr Kemp. He tells him all about himself and seeks his help but Kemp informs the police secretly. When the police arrive, a fierce fighting ensues. Griffin runs away but he is caught next day by the public and Kemp. He is brutally killed on the road.

Q.2.Give your impressions of Mrs. Hall as the owner of Coach and Horses.

Or

Give a character sketch of Mrs. Hall.

Ans. Mrs. Hall and Griffin are the two characters which occupy almost all the space in the novel till the 7th chapter. After that we do not hear any more of her. She is the owner of the inn named Coach and Horses.

A Friendly Woman : She is a very friendly woman who enjoys socializing with her guests. When Griffin arrives, she makes him comfortable. However, she can see that her guest doesn’t like to talk and this troubles her.

A Business Woman : Mrs. Hall is clearly a woman who means business. Even when she does not like Griffin and her husband speaks against him, she tolerates him because she does not expect to get any guest in winter. She is angry with him only when Griffin is unable to pay for his stay.

A Strong Woman : Mrs. Hall is a strong woman. She nags her husband on every possible occasion. When Henfrey and her husband talk to her, she wants to listen to Henfrey. However, when Griffin snubs her husband, she is angry and even refuses to accept the money he offers.

 Q.3.How did Marvel become rich by cheating Griffin? Write his character sketch on the basis of this fact.

Ans.    A Tramp : Thomas Marvel is a tramp. Griffin thinks that he is poor and weak and will therefore prove to be a good assistant. Thus Marvel becomes Griffin’s partner.

Marvel’s Job : Marvel carries around Griffin’s scientific notebooks for him and also a large sum of money which Griffin had stolen from a bank. When Marvel leaves Griffin, he keeps the books and the stolen money with him.

Marvel’s Betrayal : Eventually, Marvel grows afraid of Griffin. He flees to Port Burdock and seeks police protection. This infuriates Griffin and he vows to kill him for the betrayal. In fact Griffin even makes an attempt on Marvel’s life but he is driven off by a police officer.

Then he becomes preoccupied with hiding from the law and avenging himself by killing Dr Kemp. Thus Marvel is spared.

Using the Stolen Money : Marvel uses the stolen money to open his own inn. He names the inn as The Invisible Man and becomes wealthy. He tries to study secretly Griffin’s notes. He hopes to be able to understand these notes one day and know the secret of invisibility.

Moreover, some pages of those books have been washed clean after being in a ditch.

Q.4. Discuss the role of Colonel Adye in the novel ‘The Invisible Man’.

Or

        Write a character sketch of Colonel Adye.

Ans. Colonel Adye is the chief of police in the town of Port Burdock. We hear of him for the first time when Griffin enters Kemp’s house and seeks his cooperation. While Kemp assures Griffin of helping him, he quietly writes a note to Colonel Adye inviting him to come and arrest Griffin.

A Dedicated Officer : Colonel Adye is a dedicated officer. He is also able bodied and reliable. He saves Kemp from Griffin’s first attempt on his life and also leads the hunt for the unseen fugitive. In the dangerous moment when Griffin is just about Kemp’s house, he risks his, life and goes to the police station to put blood-hounds on Griffin. Unfortunately he does not succeed in doing so.

A Martyr : When he came to Kemp’s house, he was struck violently. He was hurled headlong down the staircase with a grip on his throat and a knee in his groin. He rolled over and sat up staring. Yet he did not lose heart. He decided to catch Griffin. This time, Griffin is able to escape.

Next time when Adye comes, Griffin is breaking windows. Adye takes Kemp’s revolver as his only protection to go to the police station. Griffin meets him on the way and snatches his revolver and asks him to go back to Kemp’s house. Adye knows that Griffin wants to kill Kemp, so he fights him and loses his life.

 Q.5.Dr Cuss is a source of humour in the novel. Discuss.

Or

       Discuss the role of Dr Cuss in the novel ‘The Invisible Man’.

Ans. Dr Cuss is the general practitioner in the village Iping. He is the one character who excites laughter.

Cuss’s Curiosity : Cuss becomes a victim of his curiosity. The bandages on Griffin’s body excite his professional desire. The resort of the thousand and one bottles does the same. He hits upon the subscription list for a village nurse as an excuse.

When Cuss enters the room, he finds Griffin’s hands in his pocket. When a paper flew towards the fire place, Griffin takes his arm out and rushes to catch the paper. Then it happens that Cuss sees it is an empty sleeve without an arm or a hand. Then he puts his sleeve back in his pocket quickly.

“How the devil,” says Cuss, “can you move an empty sleeve like that?” At his Griffin pulls his sleeve out of his pocket and nips his nose. Cuss hits Griffin’s arm and he feels exactly like hitting an arm. A frightened Dr Cuss runs out of the room straight to Mr Bunting’s house to ask if he is mad. Bunting laughs at his story.

Cuss’s Trousers : In the scene in which Marvel and Griffin visit Coach and Horses to take Griffin’s books, Griffin takes away the trousers of Cuss along with all the clothes of Bunting. Cuss comes out of the parlour without his trousers and thinks that Marvel is Griffin who has become visible. This is so because Marvel has the bundle of clothes. He runs after him saying, ‘Hold him’. But when he tries to chase Marvel, he is knocked off his feet by Griffin. He staggers and sets off back to Coach and Horses without his trousers.

Q.6.Give a character sketch of Griffin.

Ans. A Brilliant Scientist : Griffin is a brilliant research scientist. He discovers a formula which can make a human being invisible. The formula is based on taking some drugs which make the blood clear. Griffin successfully uses the formula on himself and becomes invisible but he is unable to reverse the process.

A Psychopath : Griffin is a psychopath. His actions are distinguished by a moral and anti-social behavior. What is more, he has no feeling of remorse for his evil doings. He robs the shopkeepers of their goods and money. He hits them and binds one of them in a sheet. He burns the house of his landlord. He even causes his father’s death. Yet he regrets none of these actions. A day before his death he skills Colonel Adye of Police. In fact he wanted to kill many more persons, only he did not have the chance to do that.

Griffin’s Anger : Griffin’s Anger is his greatest weakness. But for it, he could have lived much longer and perhaps lead a glorious life. He is revealed as the Invisible Man because Mrs. Hall’s questions make him angry.

Griffin’s Selfish Nature : Griffin was extremely selfish. He uses everyone for his own interest. He uses his father, Mrs. Hall, Mr. Marvel and Dr Kemp. If any of these refuses to be used, he becomes Griffin’s enemy and Griffin is ready to kill him.

Q.7.Kemp brings Griffin’s idea of his reign of terror to an end. Write a character sketch of Kemp in the light of this statement.

Ans. Dr Kemp is a scientist who lives in the town of Port Burdock. He was a student of the same college where Griffin had his education. Hence the two know each other. After becoming invisible, when Griffin is in search of a shelter, by chance he enters Kemp’s house.

Hard to Believe : Kemp finds it hard to believe that there is an invisible man and that it is Griffin. Eventually, he overcomes his shock and sits down to talk to Griffin.

Kemp’s Betrayal : Kemp allows Griffin to tell his story. He gives his word that he shall not betray Griffin and gives an impression that he is ready to help Griffin. So Griffin tells him about his experiments and all that happened to him between his arrival on Kemp’s house and then. However, Kemp realizes that Griffin is a psychopath. So he quietly summons Colonel Adye or Port Burdock Police. But Adye fails to apprehend Griffin who escapes calling Kemp a traitor and threatening to kill him.

The End of Terror : Kemp is no coward. He assists police in catching Griffin. However, Colonel Adye is killed by Griffin. Kemp rushes through the streets chased by Griffin. Kemp is able to rouse the towns people. With their help, Griffin is killed and his reign of terror is brought to an end.

Q.8.Describe the robbery episode in the Vicar’s house.

Ans. It was four o’clock in the morning. Mrs. Bunting woke up suddenly as had heard the sound of the bedroom door being opened and closed. When she became sure of the presence of a human being, she awakened her husband Mr. Bunting.

The vicar clearly heard some sounds coming from his study downstairs and then a violent sneeze. The vicar took a poker and descended the staircase as noiselessly as possible. It was all quiet.

When both of them entered the study, they saw that the drawer was opened. There was a rustle of papers. A candle was lighted and placed on the desk. Yet there was no thief. They heard the sound of money being taken. The money was gone.

As they rushed out in the passage, the kitchen door slammed. They entered the kitchen. It was empty. They searched everywhere but there was no one to be found. Yet there was no doubt that the burglary had occurred.

Q.9.Describe how Griffin escaped from Coach and Horses when even the constable Jaffers as there.

Ans. Mrs. Hall and Griffin were arguing about money because he had not paid any for the last five days. Griffin agrees to pay some money. This makes everyone present there suspect that he was behind The burglary at the Vicar’s house. They begin to question him which makes Griffin angry.

Angry Griffin : Griffin got so fed up that he revealed himself to the people at the bar. “You don’t understand”, he said, “Who I am or What I am”. Then he removed his shiny nose and put it in the hand of Mrs. Hall. The centre of his face where the nose was, became a black cavity. Mrs. Hall was shrieking.

The Crowd : The villagers heard the screaming and came to see what the matter was. They saw Mrs. Hall fall down. In the mean time Griffin had removed all the bandages and spectacles that covered his face. So the people saw a headless man standing there.

Jaffers : Then constable Jaffers was brought in to arrest him. Griffin fought with Jaffers and the crowd and seemed to be losing. Finally he declared that he would surrender but he did not do so. He took off all his clothes, became invisible and escaped.

Q.10.Describe the entry of Mr. Marvel in Iping.

Ans. Marvel was shabbily dressed when he entered the village Iping from the direction of the downs. He moved towards the inn ‘Coach and Horses’. Old Fletcher was so struck by his ways that he inadvertently let a quantity of whitewash run down and brush into the sleeve of his coat while regarding him.

In Coach and Horses : Marvel stopped at the foot of the inn and appeared to undergo a serve struggle before he entered the house. He opened the door of the parlour. When some people shouted that it was a private room, he went to the bar.

Reappears : After a few minutes, he walked out in a furtive, manner and went towards the gates of the yard. Mr. Huxter a shopkeeper saw him coming back with a packet of some clothes and three books. He thought that it was a thief. So he ran after him yelling “Thief” but something tripped Huxter and he fell on the road.

Q.11.How did Griffin get back his books from ‘Coach and Horses’?

Ans. Cuss and Bunting were busy trying to read Griffin’s papers but they failed to make anything of them.

Arrival of Griffin : Marvel let Griffin get into the room where Cuss and Bunting were there. They saw Marvel and asked him to leave while they did not see Griffin who had already entered the room.

Cuss and Bunting Beaten : After Marvel’s departure Cuss and Bunting locked the door. The intention was that they could work without interruption. Unfortunately for them, it also meant that no one would interrupt the invisible man when he started beating them.

Griffin gets the Books : Griffin put pressure on the two necks and soon they were touching the table. He asked them not to move at all or he would kill them. Then he deprived Cuss of his trousers and the Vicar of all his clothes. He tied them in a table cloth and threw them out of the window into the waiting hands of Marvel. Then he tied the three books with Vicar’s braces and threw them likewise out of the window. Marvel ran away with his burden while Griffin took care that nobody is able to get him.

Q.12.Describe Marvel’s meeting with the Mariner.

                                                Or

            Why did the Mariner get annoyed with Marvel?

Ans. The scene occurred in Port Stowe. Marvel was nervously waiting on a bench waiting for the arrival of Griffin. An elderly Mariner came there with a newspaper in his hand.

Struck by Marvel’s Opulence : While coming towards Marvel, the Mariner bad heard a sound like the droppings of coins into a pocket. He was struck by the contrast of Marvel’s appearance with the suggestion of opulence. However his mind was soon lost in a news of the newspaper.

The News : The Mariner told Marvel that there was an amazing news about an Invisible Man. He said that the story must be true because it was supported by names and details.

Marvel’s Interest : Marvel said that the Invisible Man had a great advantage over others. While saying so Marvel was highly circumspect and was intently looking all around. Then he bent towards the Mariner and said in a low voice that he privately knew something about the Invisible Man. But even as he was saying it, his expression changed and he rose from his seat. While going away he said that the news was a hoax.

Angry Mariner : At this the Mariner grew angry. He said if Marvel knew that it was a hoax why did he let him go on and tell all the stauff? In this anger he went on abusing Marvel.

Q.13.How did Marvel escape from Griffin’s clutches?

Ans. It happened in the pub called The Jolly Cricketers. There were four people chatting… a barman, a cabman, an American and a policeman off duty.

Marvel’s Entry : Suddenly Marvel burst into the pub. He was crying for people to save him from the Invisible Man. Since a lot of noise was being heard, the barman believed Marvel. He hid him in a back room. The American had a gun. He was ready to shoot Griffin if he entered the front door.

Griffin’s Entry : However, Griffin had entered unseen. People saw Marvel being forced to the kitchen door. The policeman rushed and gripped Griffin’s wrist. He was hit in the face and went rolling back.

Marvel’s Escape : Now the cabman collared Griffin. He cried, “I got him.” The barman’s red hands caught Griffin too. “Here he is” said he. So Griffin had to leave his grip of Marvel who tried to hide behind the legs of the fighting men. Griffin threw a piece of tile at the policeman. The American shot five bullets in the direction from where the missile had come. Griffin was injured and had to leave. Thus Marvel got his freedom.

Q.14.How was Griffin treated at Kemp’s house wherein he had entered by chance while seeking a shelter?

Ans. Griffin surprised : Griffin did not know that it was Kemp’s house. So he was much surprised when he saw Kemp in the bedroom in which he had entered.

Convincing Kemp : It was not easy for Griffin to convince Kemp that he was the same Griffin who was with him at the University College. He had to use even force to do so.

Food and Clothing : Once it was done, Griffin asked Kemp to provide him with some clothing which was given to him. Griffin was very hungry and thirsty. So Kemp had to give him drink and food also.

Griffin Sleeps : Kemp wanted to hear Griffin’s story about his invisibility but Griffin was too tired to say anything at that time. So he told Kemp that he would talk to him only next day and he must go to sleep at once. Thus Kemp left him alone and Griffin went to bed. Griffin once again threatened Kemp not to reveal his presence to any one.

Meditative Kemp : Kemp could not sleep at all. He read all the day’s newspapers. He was lost in thoughts. One thing was certain that Griffin was not only invisible, he was also mad and homicidal.

Inviting Colonel Adye : He decided to invite Colonel Adye of Port Burdock police to come and arrest Griffin. So he wrote a note and sent it to Colonel Adye before the awakening of Griffin.

Q.15.Describe the scene at the department store named Omnium at closing time.

Ans. Griffin had found a resting place among a huge pile of mattresses. There he waited for the closing time which came after about an hour. Now the blinds of the windows were being drawn and he customers being marched doorward.

A number of young men started to tidy up the scattered goods. All the goods displayed for sale were being folded up and put into tidy racks. Then a number of youngsters, carrying pails and brooms came and scattered saw dust. The floor was cleaned. At last there was noise of locking doors and after that silence came upon the place. Griffin left his lair and began to look for the goods he wanted.

Q.16.How did Griffin escape from Dr Kemp’s house when Adye had come quietly to arrest him?

Ans. The Welcome Sounds : Kemp had kept Griffin busy in talking about his plans when he (Kemp) heard some movement downstairs. Kemp was no longer listening to Griffin but to the sounds which indicated the arrival of police.

Arrival of Police : Soon, Griffin also heard these sounds and asked Kemp what is was and he advanced towards the door with extended arms. And then things happened very swiftly. Kemp tried to intercept him. Griffin started and stood still. He understood the situation. “Traitor!” cried Griffin and he began to undress himself.

The Scuffle : Kemp opened the door and heard the hurrying feet and voices. He now tried to shut the door and in the process had a scuffle with Griffin. He was pitched heavily into the corner of the landing. When Adye reached near him, he saw Kemp rush forward and then felled like an ox.

The Escape : Before Adye could understand the matter, he was struck violently and the front door of the house slammed.

“My God !” cried Kemp “the game’s up ! He’s gone !”

Q.17.How did Kemp and Adye plan to arrest Griffin after his escape from Kemp’s house?

Ans. Both Adye and Kemp agreed that Griffin must be caught. For this Kemp proposed very strict measures against Griffin because he was insane and extremely selfish.

Their Strong Points : They made plans. They had some advantages too. For one thing, they knew that Griffin wanted to get his books from Marvel. So it was expected that Griffin would try to get Marvel.

Griffin had told Kemp about his fear of dogs and of walking bare-foot. So Kemp planned to have blood-hounds and spread glass powder on the roads. They took care that Griffin should not get food or sleep. When Adye said that it was not sportsman like, Kemp answered that Griffin was inhuman. Since Griffin had cut himself off from human-kind, his blood would be upon his own head.

Q.18.How did Wicksteed meet his death?

Ans. Mr. Wicksteed : Mr. Wicksteed was probably one of those unfortunate persons who had not yet heard of the Invisible Man called Griffin. Mr. Wicksteed was an amiable man of about forty five. He was Steward to Lord Burdock. He lay crushed on the edge of a pit. The Place was two hundred yards from Lord Burdock’s Lodge gate.

The Probable Method of Killing : Mr. Wicksteed was on his way home for his mid-day meal. It was found that he was perhaps murdered by an iron rod pulled up from a broken fence. A school girl had seen him walking towards the pit away from his direct path. She saw him striking something repeatedly with his walking stick.

An iron rod moving around by itself seemed to have aroused his curiosity and let to the tragedy. The iron rod was probably in the hands of the Invisible Man. He was irritated by Mr. Wicksteed’s interruption and killed him.

Q.19.How did Colonel Adye die?

Or

        Describe the encounter between Griffin and Colonel Adye.

Ans. When Adye came to Kemp’s house, Kemp showed him the letter received from Griffin. Suddenly there was much noise. Someone was breaking the glass windows upstairs. Adye asked Kemp to give him his revolver because he wanted to go to the police station. The idea was to bring blood-hounds and put them on Griffin. The revolver was for his defence against Griffin who was likely to meet him on his way.

A Martyr : Adye had just come out of Kemp’s house when Griffin’s voice stopped him asking him to go back to the house. Adye fired in the direction of the sound. Griffin struck Adye in the mouth and got the revolver from him.

Once again Griffin asked Adye to go back into the house. Adye turned towards the house. He walked slowly with his hands behind him. He could still see the revolver floating in the air. Deciding to dodge Griffin, he suddenly leapt backwards trying to clutch the revolver. He missed it and fell forward on his face. Griffin fired a shot which seemed to have killed Adye. Thus Adye became a Martyr to his duty.

(Courtesy : Gayatri Sarmah, XII-Science)