A Letter to God — Class 10 (First Flight)

Simple, exam-focused notes • aligned for CBSE Class 10 • includes extract-based questions, model answers and word-count guidance

Introduction

This post gives a brief context, short summary, character sketches, solved NCERT questions and practice extracts for the chapter A Letter to God by G. L. Fuentes. Model answers follow CBSE word limits: one-line (1 mark), 40–60 words (2–3 marks) and 90–120 words (4–5 marks). Use the table of contents to jump to any section.

Short summary

Lencho, a hardworking farmer living on a hillside, eagerly awaits rain to save his ripening crop. The rain arrives but soon turns into a heavy hailstorm that destroys his entire field, leaving him worried about his family’s survival. Trusting completely in divine help, he writes a letter to God asking for 100 pesos. The postmaster, touched by his faith, gathers money from his staff and sends Lencho 70 pesos. Lencho, however, believes that God sent the full amount and assumes the postal employees stole the missing money. He writes again, requesting God not to send money through the post office as, in his view, the staff cannot be trusted.

Character sketches (Long Answer Type)

Lencho

Lencho is portrayed as a simple, honest and hardworking farmer who depends entirely on the success of his crops. His life revolves around farming, and he has deep trust in the natural cycle of rain and harvest. What makes him stand out is his unwavering belief in God. Even after the hailstorm destroys his crop, he remains hopeful because he believes divine help will come. His innocence is shown when he writes a letter to God asking for money, convinced that God will reply. Later, when he receives only 70 pesos, he assumes the postal employees must have taken the rest. This tells us that while Lencho is sincere and pure-hearted, he also sees the world in a very straightforward way, without questioning his assumptions.

Keywords: faith, innocence, trust, simplicity, honesty.

Exam pointer: Highlight how Lencho’s faith drives the plot and creates irony at the end.

Postmaster

The postmaster is a thoughtful and kind-hearted man who understands the importance of faith in a person’s life. When he reads Lencho’s letter to God, he is first amused but soon realises the sincerity behind it. Rather than ignoring the letter, he decides to help Lencho by collecting money from the post office employees and even contributing from his own salary. His actions show that he values compassion and humanity. He sends the collected amount anonymously to protect Lencho’s belief in divine help. This reveals his sensitivity, empathy and willingness to go beyond his duty to support someone in distress.

Keywords: kindness, empathy, leadership, generosity, sensitivity.

Exam pointer: Emphasise his role as the moral centre who preserves Lencho’s belief without seeking credit.

Post-office employees

The post-office employees are generous and cooperative individuals who join the postmaster in helping Lencho. Although they initially find the idea of writing to God amusing, they respect Lencho’s faith and do not want to disappoint him. They willingly contribute whatever they can from their wages to support the postmaster’s effort. Their kindness reflects a sense of community and responsibility, proving that ordinary people can show extraordinary compassion. Ironically, despite their sincere help, Lencho suspects them of being dishonest, which adds humour and depth to the story’s ending.

Keywords: cooperation, goodwill, charity, teamwork, compassion.

Exam pointer: Mention their contribution to the theme of human goodness despite being misunderstood.

NCERT textbook Q&A (solved)

Oral Comprehension Check — short answers

Q1. What did Lencho hope for? (1 mark, 1–2 lines)

Lencho hoped for rain to save his crops and ensure a good harvest. (approx. 12 words)

Q2. Why did Lencho say the raindrops were like "new coins"? (1 mark)

He compared the drops to coins because rain meant a good harvest, which would bring income. (approx. 14 words)

Q3. How did the rain change? What happened to the fields? (1–2 marks)

The rain turned into a hailstorm that destroyed the crop; not a leaf remained on the plants. (approx. 18 words)

Q4. Who read the letter? (1 mark)

A postman found the letter and showed it to the postmaster, who then read it. (approx. 12 words)

Thinking about the text — longer responses

Q1. Who does Lencho have complete faith in? Which sentence in the story tells you this? (2–3 marks, 40–60 words)

Lencho has complete faith in God. The line that supports this is: "Lencho thought only of his one hope: the help of God, whose eyes, as he had been told, see everything." This shows he depends solely on divine help rather than on people or institutions. (approx. 48 words)

Q2. Why does the postmaster send money to Lencho and sign the letter 'God'? (2–3 marks)

The postmaster is moved by Lencho's deep faith and doesn't want to destroy it. He collects money from staff and signs as 'God' so Lencho will believe the money was sent by divine help and keep his faith intact. (approx. 36 words)

Q3. What is the irony at the end of the story? (2–3 marks)

The irony lies in Lencho's reaction: though he receives help from the post-office staff, he accuses them of stealing when 30 pesos are missing. Those who helped are suspected as cheats by the one they helped. (approx. 32 words)

Q4. Describe how the hailstorm affected Lencho and what this reveals about rural life dependent on nature. (4–5 marks, 100–120 words)

The hailstorm was disastrous for Lencho, as it destroyed his entire crop within an hour. The field, which had earlier promised a good harvest, was left bare, with nothing remaining for the family to survive on. This sudden destruction shows how vulnerable farming families are when natural forces turn unfavourable. Rural life often depends entirely on a single harvest, and any damage can lead to hardship and uncertainty. The event highlights the emotional and economic strain felt by farmers like Lencho. His immediate shift from joy to despair also reflects how nature plays a central part in the lives of people who rely solely on agriculture. (approx. 112 words)

Extract-based questions (practice)

How to attempt: Read the extract carefully, mention the context briefly (1–2 lines), then answer the question with textual support. For 4–5 marks write ~90–120 words.

"Lencho thought only of his one hope: the help of God, whose eyes, as he had been told, see everything, even what is deep in one's conscience."

Q. Explain the extract and show how it tells us about Lencho's character. (4 marks, ~100 words)

Context: Lencho is distraught after the hail destroys his crop and looks for help. The extract shows Lencho's exclusive trust in God. He believes God watches over everything, including a person's innermost thoughts, and so writes to God for money. This demonstrates his simple faith and lack of suspicion toward God. His reaction later — blaming the postmen for the missing amount — further shows he expects human actions to differ from divine action, and that his faith remains unshaken even when shown human kindness. (approx. 92 words)

"There was a single hope: help from God. He had an unshaken belief that God would not let his family starve."

Q. How does this extract show Lencho’s state of mind after the hailstorm? (4 marks, ~100 words)

Context: The hailstorm has destroyed Lencho’s entire crop, leaving him worried about survival. The extract reveals how completely he turns to divine help in a moment of crisis. Instead of thinking of human solutions—like borrowing, seeking work, or asking neighbours—he relies only on God. This shows both his deep trust and his desperation. His belief that God would rescue him highlights his innocence and simple worldview. It also explains why he confidently writes a letter asking for money and expects a reply. His later anger at the missing amount further shows how firmly he believes divine help cannot fail. (approx. 109 words)

Flowchart & Mind map

Rain expected → hope for harvest

↓

Hailstorm destroys crops

↓

Lencho writes letter to God (100 pesos)

↓

Postmaster collects & sends 70 pesos

↓

Lencho suspects postmen (irony)

Important vocabulary (CBSE-style)

Word	Meaning	Usage (in sentence)
Hailstorm	A storm of small balls of ice (hail)	The hailstorm destroyed the standing crops.
Faith	Strong belief or trust in something or someone	Lencho's faith in God never wavered.
Compassion	Sympathy for the suffering of others	The postmaster acted with compassion.
Naive	Showing a lack of experience, judgment, or information	Lencho's naive trust leads him to write to God.
Anonymous	Done without a name; not identified	The postmaster sent the money anonymously.

Value-based & analytical long questions

VQ1. 'Kindness is best when it is given without expectation.' Discuss this statement with reference to the postmaster's actions. (5 marks, 90–120 words)

The postmaster's behaviour exemplifies selfless kindness: he organises contributions and sends money to Lencho without seeking recognition. By signing the envelope 'God', he protects Lencho's dignity and faith. His satisfaction comes from helping, not from praise. In doing so he shows that true charity values the emotional state of the receiver and aims to preserve their self-worth. This action suggests that kindness is most effective when it considers the feelings of the one being helped, and when it seeks to relieve suffering rather than gain credit. (approx. 96 words)

VQ2. How does the story highlight the gap between perception and reality? (5 marks)

Lencho's perception—that the missing thirty pesos were stolen by postmen—contrasts sharply with reality: the postmaster and employees had contributed the seventy pesos themselves. This gap underlines human tendency to jump to conclusions without seeking facts. It also exposes social and educational divides: Lencho's simple worldview does not include the possibility of anonymous human kindness. The irony serves as social commentary on how lack of understanding and limited exposure can shape misjudgements, even towards those who intend goodwill. (approx. 78 words)

HOTS (Higher Order Thinking Skills) questions

Why might the author have chosen to end the story with Lencho's misunderstanding rather than revealing the postmaster's identity? (think of theme and effect)
Imagine Lencho discovers later that the post-office employees had sent the money. How might his reaction change, and why? (speculate with reasons)
Compare Lencho's faith in God with faith in human kindness. Which does the story appear to favour and why?
What social or educational reforms might reduce incidents of such misunderstandings in rural communities?
Can anonymous help ever be harmful? Discuss with examples from the story and real life.

Practice MCQs

To whom did Lencho address his letter?
How much money did Lencho ask for?
The postmaster sent money because he:
What happened to Lencho’s crops?
What does Lencho’s immediate reaction to receiving the money show?
Why did Lencho compare the raindrops to coins?
Which quality of the postmaster is highlighted the most?
What does Lencho’s second letter reveal about him?
What was ironic about Lencho’s accusation?
Which phrase best describes Lencho’s faith?
Why did the postmaster decide to answer the letter?
The hailstorm lasted for about:
What does the story mainly highlight?
Which action shows Lencho’s innocence the most?
What made the post-office staff contribute money?

Answer key

Exam tips & word limits

CBSE-style guidance:

1-mark: One line (8–20 words). Be direct.
2–3 marks: 40–60 words. Give context (1 sentence), answer (1–2 sentences) and link to text.
4–5 marks: 90–120 words. Begin with context (1 sentence), explain with textual references, conclude with a linking sentence.

A quick template for longer answers: Context — Explanation with evidence — Significance/Conclusion.

Friday, February 3, 2023

A Letter to God by G. L. Fuentes - Complete Guide CBSE Class 10