This Footprints without Feet summary for Class 10 English gives you the full story, themes, characters, and word meanings in one place. Footprints without Feet is based on H.G. Wells's The Invisible Man, covered in line with the 2026-27 NCERT for quick board revision.

  • Board Weightage: This story feeds the Literature section, worth roughly 10 marks across extract, short-answer, and long-answer questions.
  • Most Tested Ideas: Griffin's invisibility, his crimes, and the misuse of science.
  • 2026-27 NCERT: The chapter is unchanged in the current Footprints Without Feet textbook.

These notes are prepared by Collegedunia's English subject experts, matched to the 2026-27 NCERT Footprints Without Feet textbook, and framed around the last five years of CBSE Board questions.

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Footprints without Feet Topic-wise Importance for CBSE Boards

Some parts of the story are asked more than others. This table shows where to spend your revision time.

TopicBoard Importance
The mystery of the footprintsHigh
How Griffin became invisibleHigh
Griffin's crimes at IpingHigh
Misuse of scienceMedium

Footprints without Feet Summary in Simple Words

This Footprints without Feet summary covers the story in three clear parts.

The Strange Footprints

The story opens with two boys in London who see fresh, muddy footprints forming on the steps, with no person in sight. They follow the prints in wonder until the marks grow fainter and vanish. These footprints belong to Griffin, a scientist who has made himself invisible and has stepped in mud.

Easy Tip: Remember that the title refers to the prints of an invisible man whose feet cannot be seen.

Griffin the Invisible Scientist

Griffin was a brilliant but lawless scientist. After long experiments, he found a way to make his body invisible by swallowing certain rare drugs. To escape his angry landlord, he set the house on fire and fled. Now unseen, he roamed the freezing winter streets of London without clothes, and stole food and money to survive.

Trouble at Iping

To rest and continue his work, Griffin took rooms at an inn in the village of Iping. He paid with stolen money, but his strange, bandaged looks and short temper made the villagers suspicious. When money went missing and odd things happened, the villagers tried to seize him. Griffin threw off his clothes, became invisible again, and escaped, leaving the village in fear and confusion.

Easy Tip: Note that Griffin's temper and crimes, not just his invisibility, cause the trouble at Iping.

Themes and Message of Footprints without Feet

The story carries two ideas that boards test.

  • Misuse of science: A great discovery becomes harmful in selfish hands.
  • Crime brings no peace: Griffin's power gives him no happiness, only a life on the run.
Remember: Griffin is a warning that brilliance without good values can be dangerous.

Footprints without Feet Word Meanings

These tough words from the chapter often appear in extract-based questions.

WordMeaning
TransparentClear enough to see through
MischiefNaughty or harmful behaviour
BewilderedVery confused
BlunderedMoved clumsily or made a mistake
VanishedDisappeared suddenly
LawlessNot obeying the law

Most Repeated Board Questions on Footprints without Feet

This Footprints without Feet summary ends with the questions you must practise. Each has appeared in CBSE-style papers.

  • How did the boys notice the footprints?
  • How did Griffin become invisible?
  • What happened at Iping?
  • Why is Griffin called a lawless scientist?

Full question answers: Footprints without Feet Class 10 English NCERT Solutions

Revised well, this Footprints without Feet summary from Collegedunia should let you attempt any board question on the chapter with confidence.

More Footprints without Feet English Class 10 Resources

Class 10 English Footprints Without Feet Notes: All Chapters

Open the notes for any other Footprints Without Feet chapter from this table.

Footprints without Feet Class 10 English Notes FAQs

Ques. Where can I download Footprints without Feet Class 10 English Notes PDF?

Ans. You can download the Footprints without Feet Class 10 English Notes PDF directly from this page. Both the Normal and HD versions are free.

Ques. What is the theme of Footprints without Feet?

Ans. The story warns against the misuse of science. Griffin's great discovery of invisibility is used only for crime and brings him no peace.

Ques. Who is Griffin?

Ans. Griffin is a brilliant but lawless scientist who makes himself invisible and then uses his power for theft and other crimes.

Ques. Are these notes aligned with the 2026-27 syllabus?

Ans. Yes. This chapter remains Chapter 5 of Footprints Without Feet in the current 2026-27 syllabus, so these notes are fully valid for the board exam.

Ques. Why do the footprints appear from nowhere for a 12th std style answer?

Ans. The prints belong to the invisible Griffin. After stepping in mud, his unseen feet leave visible marks, so the footprints seem to form on their own.