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Class 10 UP Board English Prose Chapter 1 A Letter to God Summary
Class 10 UP Board English Prose Chapter 1 A Letter to God Complete Solution presents a touching story about faith, hope and human kindness. The chapter tells the story of Lencho, a poor farmer whose ripe crop is completely destroyed by a severe hailstorm. For him and his family, the harvest was their only source of income and survival.
Lencho had deep faith in God. He firmly believed that God sees everything and would certainly help him in his time of need. With this unshakable belief, he wrote a letter to God asking for one hundred pesos so that he could sow his field again and support his family. This incident forms the central theme of UP Board Class 10 English Chapter 1 A Letter to God Question Answer.
When the postmaster and the employees at the post office read the letter, they were first amused but soon deeply moved by Lencho’s faith. To keep his belief alive, they collected money among themselves and sent it to him in the name of God. This act highlights the theme of humanity and kindness in the story.
However, when Lencho received only seventy pesos instead of one hundred, he did not doubt God. Instead, he suspected the post office employees of stealing the remaining money. Through this irony, Class 10th English Chapter 1 A Letter to God teaches an important lesson about faith and human nature. The story beautifully conveys that faith can give strength, but blind trust can sometimes lead to misunderstanding.
This chapter is very important for students preparing English Class 10 Chapter 1 Question Answer for board exams, as it focuses on values like faith, optimism, and compassion.
Class 10 UP Board English Prose Chapter 1 A Letter to God Complete Solution की यह कहानी विश्वास, आशा और मानवता का गहरा संदेश देती है। “A Letter to God” में एक किसान Lencho की मार्मिक कहानी प्रस्तुत की गई है, जिसकी पूरी फसल भयंकर ओलावृष्टि से नष्ट हो जाती है। उसके सामने अपने परिवार को भूख से बचाने की गंभीर समस्या खड़ी हो जाती है।
Lencho का भगवान पर अटूट विश्वास था। उसे पूरा भरोसा था कि ईश्वर उसकी सहायता अवश्य करेंगे। इसी विश्वास के साथ वह भगवान को एक पत्र लिखता है और 100 pesos की मांग करता है। यह घटना UP Board Class 10 English Chapter 1 A Letter to God Question Answer का मुख्य आधार बनती है।
डाकघर के कर्मचारियों को जब यह पत्र मिलता है, तो वे पहले हँसते हैं, लेकिन बाद में किसान की आस्था देखकर भावुक हो जाते हैं। पोस्टमास्टर और उसके सहयोगी मिलकर पैसे इकट्ठा करते हैं और Lencho को भेजते हैं। यह कहानी हमें सिखाती है कि सच्चा विश्वास इंसान को उम्मीद देता है, और मानवता आज भी जीवित है।
हालाँकि जब Lencho को पूरे पैसे नहीं मिलते, तो वह सोचता है कि डाकघर के कर्मचारियों ने कुछ पैसे चुरा लिए होंगे। यहाँ कहानी एक गहरी विडम्बना प्रस्तुत करती है। Class 10th English Chapter 1 A Letter to God हमें यह समझाता है कि विश्वास शक्ति देता है, परंतु अंधविश्वास हमें सच्चाई से दूर भी कर सकता है।
यह अध्याय English Class 10 Chapter 1 Question Answer और बोर्ड परीक्षा की दृष्टि से अत्यंत महत्वपूर्ण है क्योंकि इसमें विश्वास (Faith), उम्मीद (Hope) और मानवता (Humanity) जैसे जीवन मूल्यों को दर्शाया गया है।
English Class 10 Chapter 1 A Letter to God Word Meaning
- Calamity – Crisis (संकट)
- Distress – Sufferings (दुःख, कष्ट)
- Dotted – Full of (भरे हुए)
- Promised – Made trusted (भरोसेमंद)
- Downpour – Heavy rain (मूसलाधार बरसात)
- Intimately – Closely (नजदीकी से)
- Predicted – Foretell (भविष्यवाणी करना)
- Approaching – Coming near (नजदीक आना)
- Draped – Covered (ढके हुए)
- Cornfield – Field of grain (अनाज का खेत)
- Soul – Spirit (आत्मा)
- Solitary – Lonely (अकेला)
- Upset – Ill at ease (दुःखी)
- Even Though – Although (यद्यपि)
- Instructed – Taught (सिखाया)
- Conscience – Inner soul (अंतरात्मा)
- An ox of a man – Hardworking man (मेहनती व्यक्ति)
- At daybreak – Morning (सुबह)
- Troubled – Concerned (दुविधा में)
- Mailbox – Letter box (पत्र डालने वाला बक्सा)
- Amiable – Friendly (दोस्ताना)
- Tapping – Patting (थपथपाना)
- Shake – Weaken (कमजोर पड़ना)
- Evident – Clear / Obvious (पता चलना)
- Resolution – Determination (पक्का इरादा)
- Experiencing – Feeling (अनुभव करते हुए)
- Contentment – Satisfaction (संतुष्टि)
- Confidence – Firm faith (पक्का विश्वास)
- Denied – Refused (इंकार किया)
- Affixed – Fixed / Attached (चिपकाना)
- Bunch – Group (टोला)
- Crooks – Cheaters (धोखेबाज)
These important word meanings from Class 10 UP Board English Prose Chapter 1 A Letter to God help students understand the chapter clearly and prepare better English Class 10 Chapter 1 Question Answer for the board examination.
UP Board Class 10 English Chapter 1 A Letter to God Short Question Answer
1. What did Lencho hope for?
लेंचो को क्या उम्मीद थी?
Ans. Lencho hoped for a good rainfall because his crop needed water for a successful harvest.
2. Why did Lencho say the raindrops were like ‘new coins’?
लेंचो ने वर्षा की बूंदों को ‘नये सिक्के’ क्यों कहा?
Ans. Lencho compared the raindrops to new coins because he believed that the rain would bring a rich harvest and earn him money.
3. How did the rain change? What happened to Lencho’s fields?
वर्षा कैसे बदली? लेंचो के खेतों का क्या हुआ?
Ans. The rain soon changed into a hailstorm. Large hailstones fell continuously and completely destroyed Lencho’s fields and crops.
4. What were Lencho’s feelings when the hail stopped?
ओलावृष्टि बंद होने पर लेंचो ने क्या अनुभव किया?
Ans. When the hail stopped, Lencho felt that it was a total loss. He believed that even a plague of locusts would have caused less damage. He became sad and worried that his family would go hungry.
5. Who or what did Lencho have faith in? What did he do?
लेंचो का विश्वास किस पर था? उसने क्या किया?
Ans. Lencho had firm faith in God. He wrote a letter to God asking for one hundred pesos to help him survive and sow his fields again.
6. Who read the letter?
पत्र को किसने पढ़ा?
Ans. The postmaster read Lencho’s letter addressed to God.
7. What did the postmaster do then?
फिर पोस्टमास्टर ने क्या किया?
Ans. The postmaster did not want to shake Lencho’s faith in God. Therefore, he collected money from his employees and sent it to Lencho in the name of God.
8. Was Lencho surprised to find a letter with money?
क्या लेंचो उस पत्र को पाकर हैरान था जिसमें पैसे थे?
Ans. No, Lencho was not surprised. He had complete confidence that God would help him.
9. What made Lencho angry?
उसे किस चीज़ ने नाराज कर दिया?
Ans. Lencho became angry when he counted the money and found only seventy pesos instead of one hundred. He believed that God could not make a mistake, so he suspected the post office employees of stealing the remaining amount.
These short answers from Class 10 UP Board English Prose Chapter 1 A Letter to God are important for preparing English Class 10 Chapter 1 Question Answer for the board examination.
Class 10 English Chapter 1 A Letter to God Long Question Answer
1. Who does Lencho have complete faith in? Which sentences in the story tell you this?
Ans. In Class 10 UP Board English Prose Chapter 1 A Letter to God, Lencho has complete faith in God. His strong belief is clearly shown in several sentences from the story. First, the narrator says, “But in the hearts of all who lived in that solitary house in the middle of the valley, there was a single hope: help from God.” This shows that Lencho fully trusted God for help. Secondly, he wrote ‘To God’ on the envelope, which proves that he believed God would actually receive and answer his letter. The postmaster also exclaimed, “What faith! I wish I had the faith of the man who wrote this letter.” Finally, even after receiving less money, Lencho wrote again to God asking for the remaining amount. All these incidents clearly show his deep and unquestioning faith in God.
2. Why does the postmaster send money to Lencho? Why does he sign the letter ‘God’?
Ans. The postmaster sends money to Lencho because he is deeply moved by the farmer’s strong faith in God. He does not want Lencho’s faith to be shaken. Although he initially laughs at the letter, he soon becomes serious and decides to help him. He collects money from his employees and contributes part of his own salary. However, he is able to gather only seventy pesos. He signs the letter as ‘God’ so that Lencho continues to believe that God Himself has helped him. His intention is noble — he wants to preserve Lencho’s hope and trust. This act highlights the theme of kindness and humanity in the story.
3. Did Lencho try to find out who had sent the money to him? Why or why not?
Ans. No, Lencho did not try to find out who had sent the money to him. He had immense faith in God and believed that only God could have sent the money. He did not show any surprise on receiving it. Instead, he became angry when he found that only seventy pesos had reached him. He believed that God could never make a mistake or deny his request. Therefore, he suspected the post office employees of stealing the remaining amount. His reaction shows his blind faith and strong confidence in God.
4. Who does Lencho think has taken the rest of the money? What is the irony in the situation?
Ans. Lencho thinks that the post office employees have taken the remaining thirty pesos. The irony of the situation is that the very people who helped him by collecting money for him are the ones he suspects of being thieves. He even calls them a “bunch of crooks.” This is ironic because instead of being thankful, he blames them. The situation is amusing and unexpected as it is the opposite of what one would normally expect. This irony highlights both Lencho’s blind faith and the misunderstanding between humans.
5. Are there people like Lencho in the real world? What kind of person is he?
Ans. People exactly like Lencho are rare in the real world. Lencho is a hardworking and simple farmer. He is naive and unquestioning in his faith. When his crops are destroyed by the hailstorm, he turns only to God for help. His deep belief shows his innocence and simplicity. However, he is also somewhat ungrateful because he fails to appreciate the kindness of the post office employees. He does not doubt God but doubts the humans who helped him. Thus, Lencho can be described as hardworking, innocent, and unquestioning in his faith.
6. How are the conflicts between humans and nature, and between humans themselves illustrated in the story?
Ans. In Class 10th English Chapter 1 A Letter to God, two main conflicts are shown. The first conflict is between humans and nature. Lencho works hard in his fields and hopes for rain for a good harvest. However, nature turns cruel when the rain changes into a destructive hailstorm. His entire crop is destroyed, showing how powerless humans are before nature. The second conflict is between humans themselves. Although the postmaster and his employees help Lencho by sending money, he accuses them of stealing it. Instead of trusting them, he calls them crooks. This shows misunderstanding and lack of trust among people. Both conflicts are beautifully presented in the story.
Class 10 English Chapter 1 A Letter to God Important MCQ
Important MCQs – Class 10 English Chapter 1 A Letter to God
-
Lencho was a __________.
(A) Postmaster
(B) Farmer
(C) Clerk
(D) Merchant
Answer: (B) Farmer -
Where was Lencho’s house situated?
(A) In the village
(B) On a hilltop
(C) Near the river
(D) In the forest
Answer: (B) On a hilltop -
What did Lencho hope for?
(A) Snow
(B) Sunshine
(C) Rain
(D) Wind
Answer: (C) Rain -
What destroyed Lencho’s crop?
(A) Flood
(B) Storm
(C) Hailstorm
(D) Drought
Answer: (C) Hailstorm -
Lencho compared the raindrops to __________.
(A) Pearls
(B) Silver coins
(C) Gold bars
(D) Diamonds
Answer: (B) Silver coins -
How much money did Lencho ask from God?
(A) 50 pesos
(B) 70 pesos
(C) 100 pesos
(D) 120 pesos
Answer: (C) 100 pesos -
Who first read Lencho’s letter?
(A) Clerk
(B) Postman
(C) Postmaster
(D) Teacher
Answer: (C) Postmaster -
How much money was collected for Lencho?
(A) 100 pesos
(B) 70 pesos
(C) 60 pesos
(D) 80 pesos
Answer: (B) 70 pesos -
Why did the postmaster help Lencho?
(A) He was rich
(B) He felt pity
(C) He wanted to preserve Lencho’s faith
(D) He was ordered
Answer: (C) He wanted to preserve Lencho’s faith -
What did Lencho think about the missing money?
(A) God made a mistake
(B) The post office employees stole it
(C) He miscounted
(D) The postmaster kept it
Answer: (B) The post office employees stole it -
What kind of person was Lencho?
(A) Greedy
(B) Faithful
(C) Dishonest
(D) Lazy
Answer: (B) Faithful -
The field looked white as if covered with __________.
(A) Snow
(B) Salt
(C) Dust
(D) Milk
Answer: (B) Salt -
What does the story mainly highlight?
(A) Greed
(B) Faith and irony
(C) War
(D) Wealth
Answer: (B) Faith and irony -
Lencho addressed his letter to __________.
(A) The Postmaster
(B) God
(C) Government
(D) Mayor
Answer: (B) God -
What was Lencho’s profession?
(A) Teacher
(B) Farmer
(C) Businessman
(D) Doctor
Answer: (B) Farmer -
How did the postmaster feel after helping Lencho?
(A) Angry
(B) Proud and satisfied
(C) Sad
(D) Afraid
Answer: (B) Proud and satisfied -
What literary device is used at the end of the story?
(A) Metaphor
(B) Simile
(C) Irony
(D) Personification
Answer: (C) Irony -
What did Lencho call the post office employees?
(A) Friends
(B) Helpers
(C) Crooks
(D) Kind people
Answer: (C) Crooks -
Why did Lencho write the second letter?
(A) To thank God
(B) To ask for remaining money
(C) To complain
(D) To apologise
Answer: (B) To ask for remaining money -
What is the moral of the story?
(A) Nature is powerful
(B) Faith gives strength
(C) Money is important
(D) Hard work always wins
Answer: (B) Faith gives strength
These top 20 MCQs are very important for UP Board Class 10 English Chapter 1 A Letter to God Question Answer preparation and help students practice objective-type questions for board exams.
Class 10th English Chapter 1 A Letter to God Extract Based Questions
Extract Based Questions – Class 10 English Chapter 1 A Letter to God
Extract 1:
“The house — the only one in the entire valley — sat on the crest of a low hill.”
(i) Where was Lencho’s house situated?
(ii) What could be seen from the hilltop?
(iii) Find the word from the passage which means ‘top’.
(iv) What does this line tell us about Lencho’s life?
Answers:
(i) On the crest of a low hill.
(ii) The river and ripe cornfields.
(iii) Crest
(iv) He lived in isolation, away from others.
Extract 2:
“Now we’re really going to get some water, woman.”
(i) Who said these words?
(ii) What was he expecting?
(iii) Why was rain important for him?
(iv) What does this show about his occupation?
Answers:
(i) Lencho
(ii) Rain
(iii) For a good harvest.
(iv) He was a farmer.
Extract 3:
“These aren’t raindrops falling from the sky, they are new coins.”
(i) Why did Lencho compare raindrops to coins?
(ii) What literary device is used here?
(iii) What did the big drops represent?
(iv) What does this show about Lencho’s expectations?
Answers:
(i) Because he believed rain would bring profit.
(ii) Metaphor
(iii) Ten-cent pieces.
(iv) He was hopeful and optimistic.
Extract 4:
“A plague of locusts would have left more than this.”
(i) Who said this line?
(ii) Why did he say so?
(iii) What had happened to the crop?
(iv) What feeling does this line express?
Answers:
(i) Lencho
(ii) Because the hailstorm destroyed everything.
(iii) It was completely destroyed.
(iv) Deep sorrow and frustration.
Extract 5:
“But in the hearts of all who lived in that solitary house… there was a single hope: help from God.”
(i) What was the only hope of the family?
(ii) Find a word meaning ‘lonely’.
(iii) What does this line reveal about Lencho?
(iv) What theme of the story is highlighted here?
Answers:
(i) Help from God.
(ii) Solitary
(iii) His strong faith in God.
(iv) Faith and hope.
Extract 6:
“He wrote ‘To God’ on the envelope.”
(i) Why did Lencho write this?
(ii) What does it show about his character?
(iii) Where did he post the letter?
(iv) Was he doubtful about God?
Answers:
(i) He believed God would read it.
(ii) His deep and unquestioning faith.
(iii) At the post office.
(iv) No, he had complete faith.
Extract 7:
“What faith! I wish I had the faith of the man who wrote this letter.”
(i) Who said this?
(ii) About whom was it said?
(iii) Why was the speaker impressed?
(iv) What quality of Lencho is highlighted?
Answers:
(i) The postmaster
(ii) Lencho
(iii) Because of Lencho’s strong belief in God.
(iv) Immense faith.
Extract 8:
“He became angry when he counted the money.”
(i) Why did he become angry?
(ii) How much money did he receive?
(iii) How much had he demanded?
(iv) What does this show about his belief?
Answers:
(i) Because he received less money.
(ii) Seventy pesos.
(iii) One hundred pesos.
(iv) He believed God could not make a mistake.
Extract 9:
“The post office employees are a bunch of crooks.”
(i) Who said this?
(ii) Why did he say this?
(iii) What is ironic in this statement?
(iv) What theme does it highlight?
Answers:
(i) Lencho
(ii) He thought they had stolen the money.
(iii) They were actually his helpers.
(iv) Irony and misunderstanding.
Extract 10:
“The field was white, as if covered with salt.”
(i) What had covered the field?
(ii) What figure of speech is used here?
(iii) What was the result of this event?
(iv) Which conflict of the story does this show?
Answers:
(i) Hailstones
(ii) Simile
(iii) The crop was destroyed.
(iv) Conflict between humans and nature.
Case Study Based Questions – Class 10 English Chapter 1 A Letter to God
Case Study 1:
“The only thing the earth needed was a downpour or at least a shower. Throughout the morning Lencho had done nothing else but see the sky towards the north-east.”
(i) Why was Lencho looking at the sky?
(A) He was afraid of storm
(B) He was expecting rain
(C) He saw birds
(D) He was worried about wind
Answer: (B) He was expecting rain
(ii) What does this show about Lencho’s occupation?
Answer: It shows that he was a farmer who depended completely on rainfall.
(iii) Identify the theme reflected in this extract.
Answer: Dependence of humans on nature.
(iv) Which word in the extract means ‘heavy rainfall’?
Answer: Downpour
(v) What kind of person does Lencho appear to be here?
Answer: Hopeful and hardworking.
Case Study 2:
“But suddenly a strong wind began to blow and along with the rain very large hailstones began to fall.”
(i) What happened to the rain?
(A) It stopped
(B) It turned into hailstorm
(C) It became snowfall
(D) It became light
Answer: (B) It turned into hailstorm
(ii) What was the effect of hailstones?
Answer: The hailstones destroyed Lencho’s entire crop.
(iii) Which conflict is highlighted here?
Answer: Conflict between humans and nature.
(iv) How did Lencho feel after this incident?
Answer: He felt sad and helpless.
(v) Find a word meaning ‘storm of ice balls’.
Answer: Hailstones
Case Study 3:
“He wrote ‘To God’ on the envelope, put the letter inside and went to town.”
(i) Why did Lencho write to God?
Answer: He needed financial help after his crop was destroyed.
(ii) What does this action reveal about Lencho’s character?
(A) Greedy
(B) Faithful
(C) Clever
(D) Proud
Answer: (B) Faithful
(iii) What was the amount he asked for?
Answer: One hundred pesos.
(iv) Which value is highlighted in this extract?
Answer: Faith and hope.
(v) Was Lencho doubtful about God’s help?
Answer: No, he had complete faith in God.
Case Study 4:
“What faith! I wish I had the faith of the man who wrote this letter.”
(i) Who said this line?
Answer: The postmaster.
(ii) Why was he impressed?
Answer: He was impressed by Lencho’s strong belief in God.
(iii) What did the postmaster decide to do?
(A) Throw the letter
(B) Laugh at it
(C) Help Lencho
(D) Ignore it
Answer: (C) Help Lencho
(iv) Which quality of the postmaster is shown here?
Answer: Kindness and humanity.
(v) What theme does this highlight?
Answer: Human compassion.
Case Study 5:
“God: Of the money that I asked for, only seventy pesos reached me… the post office employees are a bunch of crooks.”
(i) Why did Lencho write the second letter?
Answer: To ask God to send the remaining thirty pesos.
(ii) What made Lencho angry?
Answer: He received only seventy pesos instead of one hundred.
(iii) What is ironic in this situation?
Answer: The employees who helped him were suspected of theft.
(iv) Which literary device is mainly highlighted here?
(A) Simile
(B) Irony
(C) Metaphor
(D) Personification
Answer: (B) Irony
(v) What does this reveal about Lencho’s nature?
Answer: He had blind faith in God but mistrusted humans.
Assertion–Reason Questions – Class 10 English Chapter 1 A Letter to God
Directions: Read the Assertion (A) and Reason (R) carefully. Choose the correct option:
(A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
(B) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(C) A is true, but R is false.
(D) A is false, but R is true.
1.
Assertion (A): Lencho had complete faith in God.
Reason (R): He wrote a letter directly addressing God for help.
Answer: (A)
2.
Assertion (A): Lencho was surprised when he received the money.
Reason (R): He did not expect God to reply to his letter.
Answer: (D)
3.
Assertion (A): The postmaster decided to help Lencho.
Reason (R): He did not want Lencho’s faith in God to be shaken.
Answer: (A)
4.
Assertion (A): The story highlights the conflict between humans and nature.
Reason (R): The hailstorm destroyed Lencho’s entire crop.
Answer: (A)
5.
Assertion (A): Lencho accused the post office employees of stealing money.
Reason (R): He believed God could not make a mistake.
Answer: (A)
6.
Assertion (A): The postmaster laughed at Lencho’s letter.
Reason (R): He thought Lencho’s faith was foolish.
Answer: (C)
7.
Assertion (A): The field looked white as if covered with salt.
Reason (R): The field was covered with hailstones.
Answer: (A)
8.
Assertion (A): The story ends on an ironic note.
Reason (R): Lencho thanked the post office employees for their help.
Answer: (C)
9.
Assertion (A): Lencho was a hardworking farmer.
Reason (R): He depended entirely on his crop for survival.
Answer: (B)
10.
Assertion (A): The postmaster signed the letter as ‘God’.
Reason (R): He wanted Lencho to believe that God had sent the money.
Answer: (A)
2–3 Mark Very Short Answer Questions – A Letter to God
1. How did the hailstorm affect Lencho’s life?
Ans. The hailstorm completely destroyed Lencho’s crops. As a poor farmer, he depended entirely on his harvest for survival. The destruction left him worried about feeding his family. It turned his hope into despair and created a serious financial crisis for him.
2. Describe Lencho’s faith in God.
Ans. Lencho had immense and unquestioning faith in God. He believed that God could see everything and would surely help him in his difficult time. Without any doubt, he wrote a letter to God asking for financial support after his crop was destroyed.
3. Why did the postmaster decide to answer Lencho’s letter?
Ans. The postmaster was deeply moved by Lencho’s strong faith. Although he found the letter amusing at first, he did not want to shake Lencho’s belief in God. Therefore, he decided to collect money and send it to Lencho as an act of kindness.
4. Why is the story called ironic?
Ans. The story is ironic because Lencho accuses the post office employees of stealing the money, while in reality they were the ones who helped him. Instead of thanking them, he calls them crooks. This unexpected twist creates irony in the story.
5. What does the story teach us about human values?
Ans. The story teaches us about faith, hope, and kindness. It shows how faith can give strength in difficult times. At the same time, it highlights human compassion through the postmaster’s generosity and reminds us about misunderstandings among people.
6. How does the story show conflict between humans and nature?
Ans. The conflict between humans and nature is shown through the hailstorm. Lencho works hard and hopes for rain, but nature turns destructive and ruins his entire crop. This shows how powerless humans are before natural forces.
7. Why did Lencho become angry after receiving the money?
Ans. Lencho became angry because he received only seventy pesos instead of the one hundred he had asked for. He firmly believed that God could not make a mistake. Therefore, he suspected the post office employees of stealing the remaining amount.
8. What kind of person was Lencho?
Ans. Lencho was a hardworking, simple, and innocent farmer. He had blind faith in God and trusted Him completely. However, he lacked trust in other humans, which made him suspicious and somewhat ungrateful towards the post office employees.
5 Mark Analytical Questions – A Letter to God
1. Analyse the character of Lencho in the story.
Ans. Lencho is presented as a hardworking and simple farmer who lives in a lonely house on a hill. He depends completely on his crops for survival. When the hailstorm destroys his entire harvest, he feels helpless but does not lose hope. His strongest quality is his immense and unquestioning faith in God. He believes that God sees everything and will certainly help him in his time of need. However, his faith also makes him naive. When he receives less money than he had requested, he does not doubt God but suspects the post office employees. This shows his blind faith and lack of trust in human beings. Thus, Lencho is hardworking, innocent, faithful, but somewhat naive and unrealistic in his thinking.
2. Discuss the theme of faith and irony in “A Letter to God”.
Ans. The story beautifully highlights the theme of faith. Lencho’s unwavering belief in God gives him strength even after his crops are destroyed. His faith motivates him to write a letter directly to God asking for help. At the same time, the story ends with a powerful sense of irony. The postmaster and his employees collect money out of kindness and send it to Lencho. However, instead of being grateful, Lencho calls them “a bunch of crooks” because he believes God could not have made a mistake. This creates situational irony, as the very people who help him are accused of dishonesty. Through this irony, the story teaches that faith is powerful, but blind faith can lead to misunderstanding.
3. How does the story reflect the conflict between humans and nature?
Ans. The conflict between humans and nature is one of the central ideas of the story. Lencho works hard in his fields and hopes for rainfall to ensure a good harvest. Initially, the rain brings joy and hope. However, nature suddenly turns cruel when the rain changes into a destructive hailstorm. The entire crop is ruined, and the fields look white as if covered with salt. This sudden destruction shows how powerless humans are against natural forces. Despite all his hard work and expectations, Lencho cannot control nature. This conflict emphasizes that human life often depends on nature, and when nature becomes harsh, it can shatter all hopes and plans.
4. Evaluate the role of the postmaster in the story.
Ans. The postmaster plays a significant role in the story as a symbol of kindness and humanity. Initially, he laughs at Lencho’s letter, but soon he is moved by the farmer’s deep faith in God. He does not want to shake Lencho’s belief. Therefore, he collects money from his employees and contributes a part of his own salary. Though he cannot gather the full amount, he sends what he can in the name of God. His action shows compassion, generosity, and respect for another person’s faith. Ironically, despite his noble act, he is accused of theft by Lencho. Even then, the postmaster represents human goodness and selfless help.
5. Do you think Lencho’s faith was justified? Give reasons for your answer.
Ans. Lencho’s faith in God was strong and sincere. In difficult times, faith gave him hope and courage. Without his belief, he might have fallen into complete despair after losing his crop. However, his faith can also be considered blind because he trusted God completely but doubted the honesty of humans. When he received less money, he did not consider that someone might have helped him voluntarily. Instead, he blamed the post office employees. Therefore, while his faith gave him strength, it also made him unrealistic and suspicious. The story suggests that faith is important, but it should be balanced with understanding and trust in fellow human beings.
