6. On the Face of it (Susan Hill)
Main Points of the
chapter:
Ø This is a play about a young boy Derry and an old man, Mr. Lamb and Derry’s mother.
Ø The first and the last scene are placed in Mr. Lamb’s garden and second at Derry’s house.
Ø Mr. Lamb is an old man; he has lost one leg in war and has tin leg on its place.
Ø He lives alone in his house and kids call him lamely- Lamb.
Ø Derry is fourteen years old boy; his face got burnt by acid when he was a child.
Ø His face looks ugly and so people avoid him and hate him.
Ø He thinks that people are afraid of him as if he is a ghost.
Ø He wants to spend his time in lonely places where people would not stare at him.
Ø One day, he reaches the apples garden of Mr. Lamb, to think that there in no one.
Ø When he saw to Mr. Lamb, he wanted to run away from there.
Ø But Mr. Lamb welcomes him. He speaks words of love and hope.
Ø He also reminds Derry of the fairy tale about the beauty and the beast.
Ø Derry is impressed by the encouragement given to him by Mr. Lamb.
Ø Derry goes to tell his mother about Mr. Lamb.
Ø But when he comes back, he finds that Mr. Lamb is dead and his death makes him very sad.