On the Face of It NCERT Solutions Class 12 PDF Download 2026

Ans: Mr. Lamb is an old man who has a tin leg because his real leg was blown off in the war. He lives alone in a big house with a garden. Derry gets into his garden not by opening the gate, but by climbing over the garden wall, thinking the place was empty.

Ans: Yes, Mr. Lamb’s philosophy of life deeply impacts Derry. Initially, Derry is defensive and rude, but Mr. Lamb's non-judgmental nature, his acceptance, and his talk about "things that grow" versus "things that are just weeds" change Derry's perspective. Derry decides to return to the garden, defying his mother, which shows his attitude has shifted from fear to acceptance.

Ans: Derry is drawn to Mr. Lamb because the old man does not stare at his burnt face or show fear/pity. Mr. Lamb talks to him like a normal person. He treats Derry as an equal and shares his own physical impairment (the tin leg) without shame. This openness and the lack of "preaching" make Derry feel comfortable and understood for the first time.

Ans: Mr. Lamb displays loneliness when he mutters to himself while picking apples and when he tells Derry that people promise to come back but never do. He overcomes these feelings by keeping his garden gate always open, listening to the bees sing (not buzz), talking to anyone who enters, and finding company in nature (sun, growing plants).

Ans: The play highlights that society's reaction—staring, whispering, pitying, or fearing—hurts more than the physical wound itself. Derry is more hurt by people calling him a "terrible thing" or his mother kissing only the "good side" of his face than by the acid burn. A person with disabilities expects to be treated normally, with dignity and acceptance, rather than being constantly reminded of their differences.

Ans: Derry says this because his face is burnt by acid, making him look "ugly" to others. He has noticed people staring at him with horror or disgust. He feels their reaction is fear, so he believes he is the one causing fear, not feeling it.

Ans: Mr. Lamb lost his leg in the war. A bomb blew it off years ago. He now wears a tin leg.

Ans: Children call him "Lamey-Lamb" because of his tin leg and limp. He reacts calmly, saying the name fits him. He doesn't get angry; instead, he keeps his gate open for them to come in and take apples.

Ans: He points out the difference between a flower and a weed. He says both are green plants growing in the dirt. Why is one called a "weed" (bad) and another a "flower" (good)? It’s all life, growing. This teaches Derry not to judge himself harshly.

Ans: He leaves his gate open because he likes company. He doesn't mind who comes in. He wants the world to be welcome in his garden, symbolizing his openness to life despite his loneliness.

Ans: She whispered to another woman, "Look at that, that's a terrible thing. That's a face only a mother could love." This comment deeply hurt Derry.

Ans: While most people hear bees "buzzing" (which implies noise), Mr. Lamb listens to them for a long time and hears them "singing." This reflects his positive perception of nature.

Ans: He wants to go back to help Mr. Lamb with the crab apples. More importantly, he wants to go back because for the first time, he felt accepted and heard. He says, "If I don't go back there, I'll never go anywhere in this world again."

Ans:

• Derry: Young, withdrawn, pessimistic, and defensive. He hates people staring at his burnt face and isolates himself. He is full of "acid" (bitterness) inside.
• Mr. Lamb: Old, social, optimistic, and accepting. Despite his tin leg, he keeps his gate open and welcomes everyone. He finds beauty in weeds and bees.

Ans: Derry is talking about the acid that burnt his face. Physically, it destroyed his skin ("ate his face"). Metaphorically, it destroyed his personality ("ate me up"). The trauma has consumed his confidence and happiness, leaving him bitter and fearful. He feels his identity is entirely defined by his scar.

Ans: The play ends tragically. Derry returns to the garden panting, only to find Mr. Lamb lying on the ground. The ladder has slipped, and Mr. Lamb has fallen while picking apples. He is dead. The significance is poignant: just as Derry learns to live and connect, his mentor dies. However, Derry's final words "I came back" signify that he has conquered his fear, fulfilling Mr. Lamb's hope.

Ans: Mr. Lamb mentions the fairy tale to show that outward appearance doesn't matter; it's what's inside (the handsome prince inside the beast) that counts. However, Derry rejects this, believing he will always remain a "beast" and no one will ever kiss him except his mother.

Ans: It reveals Mr. Lamb's love for freedom and nature. He doesn't like curtains (which shut things out). He wants to hear the wind and see the light, symbolizing his open-mindedness.

Ans: Mr. Lamb says this to encourage Derry to stop obsessing over his own "half-face" and look at the broader world. It means life is vast and full of variety waiting to be experienced.

Ans: Derry's mother represents the prejudice of society. She has heard "things" about Mr. Lamb (likely that he is an eccentric, crazy old man). She wants to protect Derry, but in doing so, she unwittingly tries to keep him isolated in his shell.