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

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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.

Table of contents

• Short summary
• Character sketches
• NCERT textbook questions (solved)
• Extract-based questions
• Flowchart & Mind map
• Important vocabulary
• Value-based & analytical questions
• HOTS questions
• Practice MCQs & key
• Exam tips & word limits

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

1. 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)
2. Imagine Lencho discovers later that the post-office employees had sent the money. How might his reaction change, and why? (speculate with reasons)
3. Compare Lencho's faith in God with faith in human kindness. Which does the story appear to favour and why?
4. What social or educational reforms might reduce incidents of such misunderstandings in rural communities?
5. Can anonymous help ever be harmful? Discuss with examples from the story and real life.

Practice MCQs

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

Answer key

1. C
2. A
3. B
4. C
5. B
6. B
7. B
8. C
9. C
10. C
11. C
12. C
13. B
14. B
15. B

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.

Made for classroom use • © Class 10 notes

Class XI - Elective English - Woven Words - Shorty Story - The Luncheon - William Somerset Maugham

Summary

"The Luncheon" by Somerset Maugham is a short story about a man who is approached by a woman he once knew, who asks him to take her out for lunch. The woman, who had once impoverished the man, promised to only have a modest meal, but ended up ordering several expensive dishes. Despite the man's concerns about being able to pay the bill, he took her to the expensive restaurant and treated her to lunch. Years later, the man runs into the woman again and sees that she has become extremely overweight, weighing 21 stone. The man, who is not a vengeful person, finds satisfaction in the contrast of their current circumstances, feeling that he has finally had his revenge. The story is characterized by its use of irony, as the actions of the characters often contradict their words and expectations.

UNDERSTANDING THE TEXT

Question 1. Although the author was not a vindictive man he was very happy to see the twenty one stone lady who had impoverished him twenty years ago, and says he had finally had his revenge. What makes him says this?

Answer:

Twenty years prior, the author struggled to make ends meet financially. The lady asked him to take her to Foyot's, a pricey restaurant, for lunch. The author believed he could only afford to treat her to a modest meal. The lady assured him that she never ate much for lunch, but ended up ordering several expensive dishes. Despite this, she persisted in claiming she only had one small dish and scolded the author for eating too much meat (a single small mutton chop). This left the author penniless for a whole month. The memory of this incident stayed with him, and when he met the lady again twenty years later, she had become extremely overweight, weighing 21 stone. Despite not being a vengeful person, the author felt that he had finally gotten his revenge.

Question 2. There are quite a few places where the author uses the expressions ‘My heart sank, panic seized’ etc. What was the reason for this? Explain.

Answer:

The author was residing in a small flat in Paris and struggled to make ends meet. The lady requested he take her to Foyot's, a lavish restaurant, for lunch. During the meal, she ordered a number of pricey dishes. This caused the writer to become anxious about paying the bill, leading to expressions such as "my heart sank" and "panic seized me".

Question 3. Locate instances of irony in the story.

Answer:

In "The Luncheon" by Somerset Maugham, there are several instances of irony:

• The lady promised not to eat much for lunch, but ended up ordering several expensive dishes, which was the opposite of what she promised.

• Despite being unable to afford the bill, the author treated the lady to lunch at an expensive restaurant.

• The lady scolded the author for eating too much meat (a single small mutton chop) even though she had ordered several dishes.

• The author had been impoverished by the lady twenty years prior, but when they met again, he was content with his life while she had become overweight.

• The lady advised the author not to eat too much, but she herself had ordered several dishes and become overweight.

These instances of irony highlight the contrast between the lady's actions and words, as well as the unexpected outcomes of certain events.

Question 4. What are the instances which create humour in “The Luncheon”?

Answer:

"The Luncheon" by Somerset Maugham has several instances that create humour:

• The lady's promise to only have a modest meal, but her subsequent ordering of several expensive dishes, is a source of humor due to the contrast between her words and actions.

• The lady scolding the author for eating too much meat (a single small mutton chop), even though she herself had ordered several dishes, is a humorous situation that highlights the irony and contrast between the characters' actions.

• The contrast between the author's worry about paying the bill and the lady's insistent ordering of expensive dishes is also a source of humor.

• The description of the lady's weight gain and the author's satisfaction with their changed circumstances, despite his not being a vindictive person, adds to the humor of the story.

Overall, the humor in the story arises from the contrast between the characters' words and actions, as well as the unexpected outcomes of certain events.

TALKING ABOUT THE TEXT

Question 1. People with foibles are often not conscious of them. Discuss in the light of the story.

In "The Luncheon," the lady is a character with a foible and is not conscious of it. Her foible is her tendency to over-indulge in food, as evidenced by her insistent ordering of several expensive dishes despite promising to only have a modest meal. This behavior is not something she is aware of or conscious of, as she scolds the author for eating too much meat (a single small mutton chop) even though she herself had ordered several dishes.

This is a common phenomenon, where people with foibles are often not conscious of them. People's habits and behaviors can be shaped by their experiences, personality, and environment, and they may not realize the impact they have on others or themselves. In this case, the lady's habit of over-indulging in food is not something she is aware of, and she is not consciously trying to be difficult or troublesome.

In conclusion, the story highlights the idea that people with foibles are often not conscious of them and that this can lead to unexpected and humorous situations.

Question 2. Discuss the author’s attempts at keeping up his pretence of friendliness while he was mentally preoccupied with the expense of the luncheon.

Answer:

In "The Luncheon," the author is trying to maintain a pretence of friendliness while he is mentally preoccupied with the expense of the lunch. He is worried about the cost of the meal and is concerned that he will not have enough money to pay the bill. Despite this, he tries to appear friendly and cordial to the lady, who is the one who asked him to take her to lunch.

The author uses expressions such as "my heart sank" and "panic seized me" to show his internal struggle and the tension he feels about the cost of the meal. However, he tries to keep up the pretence of friendliness by making small talk with the lady and acting as if everything is normal. He does this to avoid offending her or making her feel uncomfortable, even though he is worried about the cost of the meal.

In conclusion, the author's attempts at maintaining a pretence of friendliness while being mentally preoccupied with the expense of the lunch highlight the tension between the characters and the internal struggle of the author. Despite his worries, he tries to present himself as friendly and cordial, showing the contrast between his internal thoughts and external demeanor.

APPRECIATION

Question 1. The author is a humorist

a. How does the story reflect his sense of humour?

b. What makes his lady friend remark—‘you are quite a humorist’?

c. Give instances of the author’s ability to laugh at himself.

Answer:

1. "The Luncheon" by Somerset Maugham reflects the author's sense of humor through its use of irony, contrast, and humorous situations. The story is written in a lighthearted and witty tone, which highlights the author's ability to find humor in everyday situations and to present it in an entertaining manner.

The author creates humor in the story by contrasting the words and actions of the characters. For example, the lady promises to only have a modest meal but ends up ordering several expensive dishes, which is a source of humor due to the contrast between her words and actions. The author also uses humor to highlight the ironies of the situation, such as the lady scolding the author for eating too much meat (a single small mutton chop), even though she herself had ordered several dishes.

In addition, the author uses humor to present the tension between the characters and the internal struggle of the author. The contrast between the author's worry about paying the bill and the lady's insistent ordering of expensive dishes is also a source of humor. The description of the lady's weight gain and the author's satisfaction with their changed circumstances, despite his not being a vindictive person, adds to the humor of the story.

Overall, the story reflects the author's sense of humor through its use of irony, contrast, and humorous situations. The author's ability to find humor in everyday situations and present it in an entertaining manner is what makes the story a humorous and enjoyable read.

2. The story revolves around the author's lady friend inviting him to have lunch at the expensive restaurant Foyot. Despite financial limitations, the author agrees to go to the restaurant that is frequently visited by senators. He formulates a plan to order only a few items so that he doesn't overspend for the month. However, the irony arises when the lady friend starts placing one order after another, completely unaware of the author's budget constraints. Eventually, she suggests having a small lunch, to which the author jokingly replies that he would rather skip dinner that night. This humor earns the author a compliment from his lady friend, who remarks, "you are quite a humorist."
   
   

3. The story showcases the author's sense of humor and his ability to laugh at himself. The author recounts the lady's invitation to a pricey restaurant like Foyot, and how he was unable to decline because of his youth. As the lady begins ordering expensive dishes, the author recognizes the irony and laughs at himself for agreeing to the luncheon at Foyot. Throughout the story, the author displays his capacity for self-deprecating humor.

Question 2. How does the first person narrative help in heightening the literary effects of the story?

Answer:

This story is composed in a first person narrative which makes the readers familiar with the mindset of the narrator and his evident anticipation, apprehension and embarrassment of visiting the costly restaurant Foyot at the suggestion of his lady friend. It allows us to go deeper into the confusion and the fear developed by the narrator inside himself. The polite and soft gesture exhibited by the narrator in front of his lady friend explains the sheer embarrassment and monetary dilemma which he was experiencing. It allows the reader to visualise his mind about the anger and sarcasm which he possessed against his lady friend. The variations in the external gentility and inner mental stress helps us to understand his plight which gives rise to irony.