A Letter to God Class 10 English Notes

Summary

Lencho's Hope and the Hailstorm

Lencho, a farmer, lives in a solitary house on a low hill. He and his family are anticipating a downpour for their ripe cornfield, which promises a good harvest. When rain begins, Lencho happily compares the drops to new coins, but the weather turns violent with large hailstones. For an hour, the hail destroys the entire crop, leaving the field white like salt and not a leaf on the trees. Lencho is filled with sadness, realizing they will have no food that year.

The Letter to God

Despite the total loss, Lencho and his family maintain hope in help from God. Lencho, described as an ox of a man who knows how to write, decides to write a letter to God. He asks for one hundred pesos to sow his field again and to live until the next crop. He mails the letter at the post office in town, addressed to "God."

The Postmaster's Reaction and Plan

An employee finds Lencho's letter to God and shows it to the postmaster. The postmaster is amazed by Lencho's faith and decides to answer the letter to avoid shaking his belief. He gathers money from his employees and friends, and contributes part of his salary. However, he can only collect a little more than half of the requested amount. He puts the money in an envelope addressed to Lencho and signs it "God."

Lencho's Second Letter and Disappointment

The following Sunday, Lencho returns to the post office. He receives the letter with the money but shows no surprise. Upon counting it, he becomes angry because he finds only seventy pesos, not the hundred he asked for. Confident that God could not make such a mistake, he immediately asks for paper and ink to write another letter.

Lencho's Accusation

Lencho writes a second letter to God, stating that he received only seventy pesos and urgently needs the remaining thirty pesos. He requests that the money not be sent through the mail this time, as he believes the post office employees are a bunch of crooks. He signs this letter again as "Lencho." The postmaster, reading this, is left contemplating Lencho's profound yet misplaced faith and his accusation against the very people who tried to help him.

Remember
The story highlights the theme of faith, but also explores the complexities of human nature, greed, and misunderstanding.

Exam-smart
An extract might focus on the description of the hailstorm, asking students to describe the impact on Lencho's farm or the farmer's feelings. Another extract could be Lencho's letters, prompting analysis of his character and his perception of God versus the post office staff.

Lencho

Lencho is a hardworking farmer who lives in a solitary house on the crest of a low hill.

Deeply connected to his farm: He knew his fields intimately and had done nothing but watch the sky towards the north-east, anticipating rain for his crops.
Faithful and hopeful: Despite the devastating hailstorm, his faith in God remains unshaken. He believes God sees everything, "even what is deep in one’s conscience."
Ox of a man: This metaphor highlights his immense physical strength and tireless work ethic in the fields.
Trusting and demanding: He writes a letter to God asking for 100 pesos, believing God will provide.
Ungrateful and short-sighted: After receiving the money, he becomes angry when the amount is less than requested and immediately writes another letter to God, calling the post office employees "a bunch of crooks." He fails to recognise the postmaster's kindness.

Lencho does not change significantly by the end of the story; his unquestioning faith and demanding nature persist.

Postmaster

The postmaster is a fat, amiable, and pleasant man who works at the post office.

Kind-hearted and empathetic: He is moved by Lencho's faith and decides to help him by replying to his letter.
Generous: He contributes a part of his salary and asks his employees and friends to donate for the sake of charity.
Appreciative of faith: He comments, "What faith! I wish I had the faith of the man who wrote this letter." He understands the importance of maintaining Lencho's faith in God.
Pragmatic: He realises that goodwill, ink, and paper are not enough to answer Lencho's plea and collects money.

The postmaster experiences the contentment of a man who has performed a good deed when Lencho receives the letter.

Other characters

Lencho's wife: She is the one preparing supper and exhibits faith by responding "Yes, God willing" to Lencho's prediction of rain.
Lencho's elder sons: They are working in the field.
Lencho's younger sons: They are playing near the house.
Postman: He is an employee at the post office who helps the postmaster. He finds Lencho's letter addressed to God and delivers Lencho's letter to him.
Post office employees: They are referred to as "a bunch of crooks" by Lencho in his second letter, an accusation that is ironic given their role in helping him.

Remember
Character analysis requires identifying traits and supporting them with specific actions or dialogue from the text. 🎯 Exam-smart: An extract might show Lencho's initial hope and later anger. You would need to analyze his character based on these contrasting reactions, citing the text for evidence of his faith, disappointment, and lack of gratitude.

Faith and Belief

The story explores the profound power of faith, even in the face of utter devastation. Lencho's unquestioning belief in God is so strong that he writes a letter to Him, expecting a direct response. This is shown when he writes, "God...if you don’t help me, my family and I will go hungry this year." His faith is further demonstrated by his immediate anger when he receives less money than he asked for, believing God wouldn't make a mistake. The title, "A Letter to God," directly highlights this central theme of faith.

Human Nature: Generosity and Greed/Ungratefulness

The story presents a duality in human nature. On one hand, the postmaster and his colleagues display generosity and charity by pooling money to help Lencho, demonstrating empathy and a desire to support someone in need. The postmaster's action to "answer the letter" and gather money "for an act of charity" shows this. Conversely, Lencho's reaction to the money reveals a sense of ungratefulness and naivete. Instead of being thankful, he becomes angry and accuses the postal employees of being "a bunch of crooks," highlighting the ironic twist that the very people who helped him are now suspected by him.

The Irony of the Situation

A significant theme is the irony woven throughout the narrative. The greatest irony lies in Lencho's accusation: he trusts God implicitly but distrusts the very human beings who acted as God's agents. He is so confident in God's omniscience that he cannot fathom God making an error in the amount sent, leading him to suspect the "bunch of crooks" at the post office. This stark contrast between Lencho's unwavering faith in a divine entity and his suspicion of fellow humans is a powerful commentary on how faith can sometimes blind individuals. The title itself becomes ironic, as the "letter to God" is actually answered by humans, and then misinterpreted by the very recipient.

Nature's Destructive Power and Human Resilience

The story vividly depicts the destructive force of nature through the hailstorm that decimates Lencho's crops. The description "The field was white, as if covered with salt. Not a leaf remained on the trees. The corn was totally destroyed" emphasizes nature's power to ruin livelihoods in an instant. However, it also touches upon human resilience. Despite the total loss, Lencho's family does not despair entirely; they have "a single hope: help from God." This shows their inherent ability to look for solutions and maintain hope even in the direst circumstances.

Tone and Mood

The initial tone is one of hopefulness and contentment, as Lencho anticipates rain. This quickly shifts to despair and sorrow after the hailstorm. The mood then transforms into one of irony and bitter humor with Lencho's second letter, highlighting the complexity of human reactions and the unexpected turns of fate.

The Message

The story conveys a multifaceted message. It underscores the importance of faith and hope, but also cautions against unquestioning belief that can lead to blindness and ungratefulness. It suggests that while we may seek divine intervention, human kindness and action often play a crucial role, and we should be careful not to misjudge those who help us. The story encourages readers to examine the nature of faith and the complexities of human behavior.

Remember
The story uses irony extensively to convey its message about faith and human nature. Lencho's ungratefulness towards the post office employees is a key element of this irony.

Exam-smart
A question might present an extract like: "Immediately, Lencho went up to the window to ask for paper and ink. On the public writing-table, he started to write, with much wrinkling of his brow, caused by the effort he had to make to express his ideas. When he finished, he went to the window to buy a stamp which he licked and then affixed to the envelope with a blow of his fist." You would be asked to analyze Lencho's emotions and beliefs based on this passage, linking it to themes of faith, anger, and his perception of God.

A Letter to God

Device	Exact Words from the Text	Effect
Metaphor	"The big drops are ten cent pieces and the little ones are fives."	Compares raindrops to coins, emphasizing their value and the farmer's hope for a good financial return from his crops.
Metaphor	"These truly did resemble new silver coins."	Compares hailstones to silver coins, highlighting their cold, hard nature and the destructive impact they have, contrasting with the promised value of raindrops.
Metaphor	"The field of ripe corn with its flowers, draped in a curtain of rain."	Compares the rain covering the field to a curtain, creating a visual image of the extent of the rainfall and its encompassing nature.
Metaphor	"Lencho was an ox of a man, working like an animal in the fields"	Compares Lencho to an ox, emphasizing his immense physical strength, hard work, and tireless dedication to his farming.
Simile	"The field was white, as if covered with salt."	Compares the white, hail-covered field to salt, vividly portraying the starkness and completeness of the destruction.
Personification	"the flowers that always promised a good harvest."	Attributes the human-like ability to "promise" to flowers, suggesting the certainty and expectation of a good yield before the hailstorm.
Personification	"God could not have made a mistake, nor could he have denied Lencho what he had requested."	Attributes human fallibility (making mistakes) and intention (denying) to God, reflecting Lencho's unwavering and absolute faith.
Irony	Lencho accuses the post office employees of being "a bunch of crooks" after they collected money to help him and signed the letter "God".	Creates a stark contrast between the charitable actions of the postmaster and employees and Lencho's unfounded accusation, highlighting his lack of gratitude and naivety.
Imagery	"big drops of rain began to fall. In the north-east huge mountains of clouds could be seen approaching. The air was fresh and sweet."	Appeals to the sense of sight (rain, clouds) and smell/touch (fresh, sweet air), creating a pleasant and hopeful atmosphere before the storm.
Imagery	"the field was white, as if covered with salt. Not a leaf remained on the trees. The corn was totally destroyed. The flowers were gone from the plants."	Appeals to the sense of sight, painting a bleak and desolate picture of the complete devastation caused by the hailstorm.
Repetition	"‘There’s no one who can help us.’ ‘We’ll all go hungry this year.’"	Repetition of these phrases emphasizes the depth of their despair and the perceived hopelessness of their situation after the crop loss.
Dialogue	"“God,” he wrote, “if you don’t help me, my family and I will go hungry this year. I need a hundred pesos..."	Provides direct insight into Lencho's thoughts and his desperate appeal to God, making the narrative more personal and immediate.
Contrast	The initial hope and beauty of the rain (compared to coins) versus the destructive nature of the hailstones (also compared to coins).	Highlights the sudden and devastating shift from blessing to curse, emphasizing the capricious nature of weather and its impact on the farmer's livelihood.
Contrast	Lencho's absolute faith in God versus the postmaster's practical and human intervention.	Underscores the different ways people approach problems – one through divine faith, the other through human action and charity.
Humour	The postmaster and his employees laughing heartily at Lencho's letter to God.	Creates a light-hearted moment before the seriousness of the situation sets in, showing the unusual nature of the request.
Foreshadowing	"“Don’t be so upset, even though this seems like a total loss. Remember, no one dies of hunger.” “That’s what they say: no one dies of hunger.”"	While intended to comfort, these lines subtly foreshadow Lencho's eventual reliance on a "help" that is not divine, and also hint at the ironic turn of events.

Style and Point of View

The story is narrated in the third-person omniscient point of view. This allows the narrator to access the thoughts and feelings of all characters, including Lencho and the postmaster. The tone is largely objective and sympathetic towards Lencho's plight, especially in the beginning, describing his hard work and his faith. However, as the story progresses, especially with Lencho's second letter, the tone shifts to one of ironic observation, highlighting the unexpected and ungrateful reaction of the protagonist. This narrative choice allows the author to present the events clearly, build suspense, and deliver the story's central message about faith, human nature, and the limitations of understanding. The descriptive language and use of metaphors create vivid imagery, immersing the reader in Lencho's world and his emotional journey.

Remember
Irony is a key device in this story. It’s crucial to identify where the expected outcome is subverted and understand why it’s ironic. 🎯 Exam-smart: An extract might show Lencho counting the money and becoming angry. You would be asked to explain the irony of his reaction, linking it to his unquestioning faith and the contrast with the post office employees' actions.

Vocabulary

Word or Phrase	Meaning in this context	Line from the text
crest	The top of a hill.	"Lencho's house—the only one in the entire valley—sat on the crest of a low hill."
intimately	Very closely and with a deep understanding.	"Throughout the morning Lencho—who knew his fields intimately—had done nothing else but see the sky towards the north-east."
blossoms	Flowers on a tree or plant.	"The field of ripe corn dotted with the flowers that always promised a good harvest."
downpour	A heavy fall of rain.	"The only thing the earth needed was a downpour or at least a shower."
exclaimed	Cried out suddenly in surprise, strong emotion, or pain.	"With a satisfied expression he regarded the field of ripe corn with its flowers, draped in a curtain of rain. 'These aren’t raindrops...'"
pleasure	Enjoyment or happiness.	"The man went out for no other reason than to have the pleasure of feeling the rain on his body..."
hailstones	Small balls of ice that fall like rain.	"...and along with the rain very large hailstones began to fall."
plague of locusts	A large swarm of insects that destroy crops.	"A plague of locusts would have left more than this. The hail has left nothing."
solitary	Alone; without others.	"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."
conscience	An inner feeling or voice viewed as acting as a guide to the rightness or wrongness of one's behavior.	"...whose eyes, as he had been instructed, see everything, even what is deep in one’s conscience."
ox of a man	A person who is very strong and hardworking, like an ox.	"Lencho was an ox of a man, working like an animal in the fields..."
daybreak	The time in the morning when light first appears in the sky before the sun rises.	"The following Sunday, at daybreak, he began to write a letter..."
pesos	The basic unit of money in many Latin American countries.	"...I need a hundred pesos in order to sow my field again and to live until the crop comes..."
affixed	Attached or fastened to something.	"When he finished, he went to the window to buy a stamp which he licked and then affixed to the envelope with a blow of his fist."
amiable	Friendly and pleasant.	"The postmaster—a fat, amiable fellow—also broke out laughing..."
resolution	A firm decision to do or not to do something.	"But he stuck to his resolution: he asked for money from his employees..."
contentment	A state of happiness and satisfaction.	"...while the postmaster, experiencing the contentment of a man who has performed a good deed, looked on from his office."
defrauded	Without the money that one expected or felt one had a right to.	"Lencho showed not the slightest surprise on seeing the money; such was his confidence—but he became angry when he counted the money."
ungrateful	Not showing or feeling appreciation for kindness.	(Implied by Lencho's reaction to the money received)
crooks	Dishonest people; thieves.	"...but don’t send it to me through the mail because the post office employees are a bunch of crooks."

Remember
Understanding the meaning of words in their specific context is crucial for interpreting the story accurately. 🎯 Exam-smart: Questions might ask you to explain the meaning of a given word from the text or to identify a word that describes a particular emotion or situation. For example, "What does the word 'solitary' suggest about Lencho's house?" or "Find a word from the text that means 'dishonest people'."

Questions and Answers

Textbook questions

A Letter to God

What did Lencho hope for? Lencho hoped for a downpour or at least a shower of rain, as his fields of ripe corn needed it for a good harvest.
Why did Lencho say the raindrops were like ‘new coins’? Lencho called the raindrops ‘new coins’ because they symbolized prosperity and a good harvest, which would bring financial gain. The big drops were ten cent pieces and the little ones were fives.
How did the rain change? What happened to Lencho’s fields? The rain turned into large hailstones falling from the sky. The hailstorm destroyed Lencho’s entire field of corn, leaving not a leaf on the trees, the flowers gone, and the field white, as if covered with salt.
What were Lencho’s feelings when the hail stopped? When the hail stopped, Lencho’s soul was filled with sadness. He stood in the middle of the field and spoke to his sons, saying that the hail had left nothing, and they would have no corn that year and would go hungry.
Who or what did Lencho have faith in? What did he do? Lencho had complete faith in God. When his crops were destroyed, he wrote a letter to God, asking for one hundred pesos to sow his field again and to live until the crop came.
Who read the letter? The postman found the letter addressed "To God" and showed it to the postmaster, who also read it.
What did the postmaster do then? Moved by Lencho's faith, the postmaster decided to answer the letter. He collected money from his employees and friends, and sent a little more than half of the demanded amount to Lencho in an envelope, signed "God".
Was Lencho surprised to find a letter for him with money in it? No, Lencho was not surprised to find a letter with money. His confidence in God was so immense that he expected it.
What made him angry? Lencho became angry when he counted the money because it was only seventy pesos, which was less than the hundred pesos he had asked for. He believed God could not have made such a mistake.
Who does Lencho have complete faith in? Which sentences in the story tell you this? Lencho has complete faith in God. This is evident from sentences like: "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." and "All through the night, Lencho thought only of his one hope: the help of God, whose eyes... see everything..."
Why does the postmaster send money to Lencho? Why does he sign the letter ‘God’? The postmaster sends money to Lencho to preserve the farmer's faith in God and not to shake his belief. He signs the letter ‘God’ to make Lencho believe that God himself has responded to his plea.
Did Lencho try to find out who had sent the money to him? Why/Why not? No, Lencho did not try to find out who had sent the money. He had unquestioning faith in God and believed that God had sent it, so there was no need to question the source.
Who does Lencho think has taken the rest of the money? What is the irony in the situation? Lencho thinks the post office employees have taken the rest of the money, calling them a "bunch of crooks". The irony is that the very people who helped Lencho by collecting the money are accused by him of stealing it.
Are there people like Lencho in the real world? What kind of a person would you say he is? Yes, there can be people like Lencho who have unquestioning faith. He could be described as naive, ungrateful, and possessing unquestioning faith.
There are two kinds of conflict in the story: between humans and nature, and between humans themselves. How are these conflicts illustrated? The conflict between humans and nature is shown by the destruction of Lencho's crops by the hailstorm. The conflict between humans themselves is illustrated by Lencho's suspicion of the post office employees, whom he calls "crooks," after they helped him.

I. Types of Storms

A violent tropical storm in which strong winds move in a circle: cyclone
An extremely strong wind: gale
A violent tropical storm with very strong winds: typhoon
A violent storm whose centre is a cloud in the shape of a funnel: tornado
A violent storm with very strong winds, especially in the western Atlantic Ocean: hurricane
A very strong wind that moves very fast in a spinning movement and causes a lot of damage: whirlwind

II. Meaning of 'Hope'

Will you get the subjects you want to study in college? I hope so. – wanting something to happen (and thinking it quite possible)
I hope you don’t mind my saying this, but I don’t like the way you are arguing. – showing concern that what you say should not offend or disturb the other person: a way of being polite
This discovery will give new hope to HIV/AIDS sufferers. – a feeling that something good will probably happen
We were hoping against hope that the judges would not notice our mistakes. – wishing for something to happen, although this is very unlikely
I called early in the hope of speaking to her before she went to school. – wishing for something to happen
Just when everybody had given up hope, the fishermen came back, seven days after the cyclone. – stopped believing that this good thing would happen

III. Relative Clauses

I often go to Mumbai, which is the commercial capital of India.
My mother, who cooks very well, is going to host a TV show on cooking.
These sportspersons, whose performance has been excellent, are going to meet the President.
Lencho prayed to God, whose eyes see into our minds.
This man, whom I trusted, cheated me.

IV. Using Negatives for Emphasis

Not a leaf remained on the trees. (Emphasizes complete destruction)
The letter was addressed to God himself. (Emphasizes the divine recipient)
Never in his career as a postman had he known that address. (Emphasizes the uniqueness of the address)

V. Metaphors

Object	Metaphor	Quality or Feature Compared
Cloud	Huge mountains	The mass or ‘hugeness’ of clouds of mountains
Raindrops	New coins	Value and potential prosperity
Hailstones	Silver coins	Resemblance in appearance and value
Cornfield	Covered with salt	Whiteness and complete destruction
Locusts	A plague	Widespread destruction and devastation
Lencho	An ox of a man	Hard work and diligence (like an animal)

Remember
Irony is crucial. The story’s ending is ironic because Lencho, who has immense faith in God, mistrusts and insults the very people who showed him kindness and helped him.

Exam-smart
You might get an extract about Lencho counting the money and his reaction. You'll be asked to identify his emotion and explain why he feels that way, referencing the irony. For instance: "Lencho showed not the slightest surprise on seeing the money; such was his confidence—but he became angry when he counted the money." Question: What does Lencho's reaction to the money reveal about his character? Answer: Lencho's lack of surprise shows his unquestioning faith in God. However, his anger upon counting the money reveals him to be naive and ungrateful, as he suspects the post office employees of theft, failing to recognize their charitable act.

Practice for the exam

Short Answer Questions (40-50 words each)

Describe Lencho's house and its location. Lencho's house was the only one in the entire valley, situated on the crest of a low hill. From its vantage point, one could see the river and a field of ripe corn dotted with flowers, indicating a promising harvest.
Explain the significance of the 'new coins' metaphor. Lencho uses the metaphor of 'new coins' for raindrops to express his joy and optimism. The big drops as ten cent pieces and little ones as fives signify that the rain, which is essential for his crops, will bring him financial prosperity and a good harvest.
Why did the postmaster decide to send Lencho a reply? The postmaster was deeply impressed by Lencho's unwavering faith in God. To preserve this faith and to ensure Lencho did not lose his belief when his prayer seemed unanswered, the postmaster decided to reply with money himself.

Long Answer Questions (100-120 words each)

Analyze the role of faith in the story "A Letter to God." How does Lencho's faith contrast with the actions of the postmaster and his employees? Lencho's absolute faith in God is the central pillar of the story. He believes God sees everything and will help him, even after a devastating hailstorm. This unquestioning faith drives him to write a letter to God asking for money. In contrast, the postmaster and his staff, though possibly religious, demonstrate their faith through acts of charity and compassion. They collect money to help Lencho, showing a practical, human-centric approach to faith, which is ironically misunderstood and insulted by Lencho himself, highlighting the story's complex exploration of faith.
Discuss the theme of irony in "A Letter to God." How does the ending of the story create an ironic situation? The story is rich with irony, particularly in its ending. The first irony is that Lencho's prayer is answered not by God directly, but by the post office employees, who are then unjustly accused by Lencho. The ultimate irony lies in Lencho's reaction: after receiving the money, he is not thankful but angry, demanding the rest and labelling his benefactors as "a bunch of crooks." This directly contradicts the expected gratitude and highlights the disconnect between Lencho's divine faith and human reality.

Extract-based Question

Extract: "God: Of the money that I asked for, only seventy pesos reached me. Send me the 70 rest, since I need it very much. But don’t send it to me through the mail because the post office employees are a bunch of crooks. Lencho."

Who is the writer of this note, and to whom is it addressed? The writer is Lencho, and it is addressed to God.
Why does the writer state that "only seventy pesos reached me"? Lencho received only seventy pesos, but he had asked for one hundred. He believes that God could not have made a mistake and thus infers that seventy pesos is what he actually received, implying the rest was lost or stolen.
What does the phrase "a bunch of crooks" reveal about Lencho's perception of the post office employees? What is ironic about this perception? The phrase reveals Lencho's deep suspicion and mistrust towards the post office employees. He believes they have stolen the remaining thirty pesos. The irony is that these very employees were the ones who kindly collected the money to help him, acting out of charity, and he is accusing them of theft.

A Letter to God — Notes

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