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    1.1 A Letter to God - Class 10 - First Flight

    Updated: Jul 27

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    Author: G.L. Fuentes Textbook: First Flight Genre: Short Story / Realism with Irony

    Mind Map (Click on the panel to expand)

    Listen to a quick Hindi audio summary below for better understanding.


    Summary


    The story revolves around Lencho, a poor but hardworking farmer who relies solely on rain for his crops. One day, while gazing at the sky, he predicts rain and welcomes it with joy. But what starts as a blessing soon turns into disaster, as a severe hailstorm destroys his entire crop. Devastated, Lencho’s only hope is divine help. Convinced that God will hear him, he writes a letter asking for 100 pesos.

    Moved by Lencho’s deep faith, the postmaster and the post office staff decide to help. They collect money out of kindness and manage to gather 70 pesos, which is sent to Lencho anonymously under the name “God.”

    To the postmaster’s surprise, Lencho is not grateful. Instead, he becomes angry on receiving only a part of the money. Firm in his belief that God would never shortchange him, he writes another letter — this time asking God not to send the money through the post office, as he suspects the postmen of stealing the remaining amount.

    The story ends with a touch of irony, highlighting both Lencho’s innocent faith and his ignorance.

    Character Sketch

    Lencho

    • A simple, hardworking farmer

    • Deeply religious and has unwavering faith in God

    • Emotionally strong yet naïve

    • Doesn’t thank the post office but blames them, showing blind belief

    The Postmaster

    • Kind-hearted, compassionate

    • Sensitive to Lencho’s faith and tries to preserve it

    • Uses his position and resources to help anonymously

    • Represents humanity's quiet goodness

    Themes

    Theme

    Description

    Faith in God

    Lencho’s belief in divine intervention is absolute.

    Human Kindness

    The postmaster and his staff quietly help without recognition.

    Irony

    Lencho doubts those who helped him, showing how faith and ignorance can coexist.

    Conflict between Belief and Reality

    Lencho’s simple worldview clashes with complex human actions.

    Nature’s Dual Role

    Nature provides, but it can also destroy.

    ✨ Literary Devices

    Device

    Example / Function

    Irony

    Lencho blames the very people who helped him.

    Metaphor

    “Raindrops like new coins” — shows value of rain to the farmer.

    Symbolism

    The letter represents faith; the post office symbolizes humanity.

    Hyperbole

    Lencho’s absolute belief that God would send money directly.

    Contrast

    Between Lencho’s innocence and the complexity of life.

    Title Justification

    The title “A Letter to God” is highly symbolic. It reflects the blind faith of Lencho, who believes in divine assistance so strongly that he literally writes a letter to God asking for financial help. The title also highlights the central event of the story and sets the tone for the ironic twist — that the letter is answered, not by God, but by kind-hearted humans.

    One-Mark Questions

    Q1. What destroyed Lencho’s crops?

    👉 A devastating hailstorm destroyed Lencho’s entire crop.


    Q2. How much money did Lencho ask from God?

    👉 Lencho asked God for 100 pesos.


    Q3. Who collected the money for Lencho?

    👉 The postmaster and other post office employees collected the money.


    Q4. How much money did Lencho receive?

    👉 Lencho received 70 pesos in an envelope signed “God.”


    Q5. Why was Lencho angry after receiving the money?

    👉 Lencho was angry because he believed someone from the post office had stolen part of the money God sent him.

    Three-Mark Questions (2–3 sentences each)


    Q1. What made Lencho write a letter to God?

    👉 After a hailstorm destroyed his crops, Lencho’s only hope was divine help. Believing that God sees everything, he wrote a letter asking for 100 pesos to survive until the next harvest.


    Q2. How did the postmaster react to Lencho’s letter?

    👉 The postmaster was amused at first but then moved by Lencho’s unwavering faith. To preserve that faith, he collected money from his staff and friends to send Lencho a partial amount anonymously.


    Q3. What is the irony in the story?

    👉 The irony lies in the fact that Lencho, who had immense faith in God, received help through human kindness. Yet, he suspects the very people who helped him of theft, calling them “a bunch of crooks.”

    Value-Based Question

    Q. What does the story “A Letter to God” teach us about faith and human nature?👉 The story teaches that faith can be powerful and inspiring, but it must also be accompanied by gratitude and understanding. It also shows that human kindness often works quietly and without recognition. While Lencho had immense belief in divine power, he failed to see the goodness of people around him.



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