Get summaries, questions, answers, solutions, notes, extras, PDFs, and guides for the story The Face on the Wall: MBOSE Class 11 Alternative English textbook Imprints, written by EV Lucas, which is part of the syllabus for students studying under the board. These solutions, however, should only be treated as references and can be modified/changed.
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Summary
The story, “The Face on the Wall” by E.V. Lucas, revolves around a discussion about supernatural phenomena during a gathering at Dabney’s home. The group shares stories of strange occurrences, but the highlight comes from a peculiar guest—a pale, anxious-looking man. When asked to share his experience, he narrates an intriguing tale with remarkable twists.
The man recounts living in a damp house on Great Ormond Street, where a stain on his bedroom wall resembled a human face. Unlike other stains that shifted over time, this face remained constant and distinct, eventually becoming an obsession. Its unique features, particularly the shape of the nose and forehead, captivated him. This led him to believe that the face represented a real person he was destined to meet.
Consumed by this belief, he began searching the streets of London, scrutinizing faces in crowds and neglecting his daily life. One day, he spotted the man in a taxi on Piccadilly. Desperate to meet him, he followed the man to Charing Cross and eventually to a ship bound for France. After much effort, he obtained the man’s card, discovering his name was Ormond Wall, a millionaire from Pittsburgh, USA.
The story takes a mysterious turn when, shortly after, the face on the wall begins to fade. That same day, he learns from the newspapers that Ormond Wall was critically injured in a car accident in Italy. Later, the face vanishes completely, coinciding with the news of Wall’s death.
As the group expresses amazement at the story’s uncanny coincidences, the narrator reveals a shocking twist—he fabricated the entire tale moments earlier. This twist humorously challenges the boundary between reality and imagination, leaving the audience astonished and amused.
Video tutorial
Textbook solutions
Answer these questions briefly
1. What was the topic of conversation at Dabney’s?
Answer: The topic of conversation at Dabney’s was the supernatural.
2. Who brought the stranger to Dabney’s? What did the stranger look like?
Answer: Rudson-Wayte brought the stranger to Dabney’s. The stranger had an anxious white face.
3. Where did the ‘occurrence’ take place as described by the stranger?
Answer: The ‘occurrence’ described by the stranger took place in rooms in Great Ormond Street.
4. While there, what captivated the stranger’s attention?
Answer: While there, the stranger’s attention was captivated by a patch of discoloration on the wall that looked exactly like a human face.
5. What was the name of the man that the stranger tried to find?
Answer: The name of the man that the stranger tried to find was Mr. Ormond Wall.
6. Why did the stranger feel that he must meet that man?
Answer: The stranger felt that he must meet that man because he was convinced that they were in some way linked by fate.
7. Where and how did he search for the man? What did he realise while searching for the man?
Answer: He searched for the man in places where large numbers of men congregate, such as political meetings, football matches, and railway stations during peak hours. He realised how many different faces there are and yet how few, as all faces differ but can be classified into only a few groups.
8. How did he finally meet the man? What happened at the meeting?
Answer: He finally met the man in a taxi driving along Piccadilly. He followed the taxi to Charing Cross, then to the boat at Folkestone. Onboard, he approached the man and asked for his card, which revealed the man’s name and address as Mr. Ormond Wall from Pittsburgh, USA. The man thought him a lunatic but complied with his request.
9. What city in the USA was the man from? What else did the stranger find out about him?
Answer: The man was from Pittsburgh, USA. The stranger found out that Mr. Ormond Wall was a millionaire with English parents who had resided in London.
10. What startled the stranger after he woke up the day before the party?
Answer: The stranger was startled to see that the face on the wall, which had been clear the night before, was now only faintly visible.
11. Where was the ‘Pittsburgh Millionaire’ driving to at the time of the collision?
Answer: The ‘Pittsburgh Millionaire’ was driving from Spezzia to Pisa at the time of the collision.
12. What were the three remarkable things about the stranger’s story?
Answer: The three remarkable things were: (1) A discolouration on a wall in London formed the features of a gentleman in America and was intimately associated with his existence. (2) The gentleman’s name, Mr. Ormond Wall, bore a relation to the spot where his features appeared. (3) The stranger had made up the entire story just half an hour before.
Answer these questions in detail.
1. How does the writer cleverly weave a story that draws links between reality and imagination? Cite instances.
Answer: The writer cleverly links reality and imagination by crafting a tale where an ordinary discoloration on a wall takes the shape of a face that the protagonist believes to be real. The link is further deepened when the man identifies the face as belonging to a real person, Mr. Ormond Wall, whom he later discovers has a connection with the wall in his room. Instances include the detailed description of the discoloration resembling a human face and the subsequent discovery of a man who exactly matches it. The disappearance of the face on the wall coinciding with the man’s death adds a surreal connection between the real and the imagined.
2. Write a character sketch of the stranger at the party.
Answer: The stranger at the party is depicted as a little man with an anxious white face, who remains silent and attentive during the conversation. He is observant, deeply reflective, and has a strong sense of imagination, which he uses to craft a compelling and believable story. Despite his unassuming appearance, he demonstrates wit and intelligence, as evidenced by the twist at the end when he reveals that his entire tale was fabricated. This unexpected twist showcases his humor and ability to captivate an audience.
3. Would you say that the author is trying to establish the existence of ‘the supernatural’ in the story? Why or why not?
Answer: The author is not trying to establish the existence of ‘the supernatural’ in the story. Instead, the story plays with the theme of the supernatural to engage the audience. The twist at the end, where the stranger reveals that the entire story was made up, underscores this point. By doing so, the author highlights the allure of the supernatural while also emphasizing its fictional and entertaining nature. The narrative demonstrates how easily people can be drawn into believing in the supernatural through a well-told story.
Appreciating form and language
1. Have you heard of the expression a ‘twist in the tale’? It is usually used for describing a short story with a surprise or unexpected ending. Some of the features of this form are:
- Has a ‘twist’ or unexpected ending
- Builds up a feeling of suspense
- The storyline is believable
- Usually centred around or narrated by a ‘sensible’ character who is not credulous
- Unfolds at a rapid pace with few extraneous details or descriptions
How many of these features are demonstrated in the story you just read? Discuss with examples.
Answer: The story demonstrates all of the features of a “twist in the tale.” The most notable example is the unexpected ending, where the stranger reveals that the entire supernatural story was made up. This twist surprises both the characters in the story and the readers. The story builds suspense throughout, especially as the protagonist searches for the man whose face he saw on the wall, creating a feeling of intrigue. The storyline is believable because it is based on an ordinary setting, and the characters, including the protagonist, are grounded in reality. The narrator is sensible and not overly credulous, as he rationalizes his quest to meet the man and eventually questions the supernatural nature of his experience. The story unfolds quickly, with a direct focus on the central narrative without unnecessary details, maintaining a fast pace that leads to the surprising conclusion.
2. An idiom or an idiomatic phrase is an expression whose meaning is different from the meaning of the individual words. Writers use idioms to make their work more interesting.
Here are some idiomatic expressions from the lesson. What do they mean? Use them in sentences of your own.
- A man in a thousand
- It was but a ghost of itself
- It’s now or never
Answer:
- A man in a thousand: This expression means someone who is exceptionally unique or extraordinary.
Example: “John’s generosity and kindness make him a man in a thousand; there’s no one quite like him.” - It was but a ghost of itself: This means something has become a shadow or a much weaker version of what it once was.
Example: “After the storm, the once-beautiful tree was but a ghost of itself, with only a few leaves remaining.” - It’s now or never: This means that a particular opportunity must be taken immediately or it will be lost forever.
Example: “If you want to be part of the competition, it’s now or never—registration closes tomorrow.”
Writing
Write about an incident where something happened to you which was quite different from what you expected would happen.
Answer: Once, I planned a simple evening walk in the park near my home, expecting a quiet and uneventful time to clear my thoughts. However, as I strolled along the path, I noticed a small group of people gathered near a tree. Out of curiosity, I approached and discovered they were looking at an injured bird that had fallen from its nest.
Feeling a sense of responsibility, I volunteered to help. I carefully picked up the bird, which was trembling and unable to fly, and took it to a nearby animal rescue center. The staff commended my effort and assured me the bird would be cared for and rehabilitated.
What began as an ordinary walk turned into an opportunity to save a life. This unexpected event left me with a deep sense of fulfillment and a memorable experience that I hadn’t anticipated.
Discussion
1. Does the paranormal exist? Do you think there are many things happening all around us that are as yet unexplained by science? What are some possible explanations of paranormal phenomena?
Answer: Yes, I believe the paranormal may exist, as there are countless stories and experiences reported by people worldwide that science has yet to explain. Events like apparitions, unexplained sounds, or premonitions could be indicators of phenomena beyond our current understanding. Possible explanations might include psychological factors like heightened sensitivity or stress, environmental effects such as infrasound, or even the existence of dimensions or energies that remain undiscovered. While skepticism is healthy, the vast number of unexplained events suggests there may be truths we have yet to uncover.
2. ‘Truth, I always hold, is not only vastly stranger than fiction, but also vastly more interesting.’ Do you agree? Give reasons.
Answer: I agree with this statement because real-life events are not constrained by the logic or structure that fiction often demands. The randomness and intricacies of reality often lead to outcomes that no storyteller could predict. For instance, historical coincidences like the eerie connections between John F. Kennedy and Abraham Lincoln, or unexpected scientific breakthroughs like penicillin being discovered accidentally, show how truth can surpass the bounds of imagination. Truth’s raw unpredictability and the genuine emotions it evokes make it more compelling than fiction.
Extras
Additional questions and answers
1. What kind of illness did the stranger suffer from while staying in Great Ormond Street?
Answer: While staying in Great Ormond Street, the stranger had a very bad attack of influenza, with complications, which left him bedridden and gave him much time to read and meditate.
15. How did the group feel toward Rudson-Wayte after the stranger left?
Answer: After the stranger left, the group looked around for Rudson-Wayte, who had brought the stranger to the gathering. They were displeased, referring to the stranger as a “snake to bite our bosoms” and feeling betrayed by his trickery.
Additional fill in the blanks
1. The stranger at Dabney’s mentioned an occurrence that completed itself just ________. (This afternoon/yesterday)
Answer: This afternoon
20. The face on the wall disappeared completely the morning after the stranger read about the millionaire’s ________. (Condition/Death)
Answer: Death
Additional true and false
1. The conversation at Dabney’s was about supernatural phenomena.
Answer: True
19. The phrase “It was but a ghost of itself” implies that something lost its original strength.
Answer: True
Ron’e Dutta is a journalist, teacher, aspiring novelist, and blogger who manages Online Free Notes. An avid reader of Victorian literature, his favourite book is Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë. He dreams of travelling the world. You can connect with him on social media. He does personal writing on ronism.
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