About the Author
H.G. Wells was an English writer born on September 21, 1866, in Bromley, England. His full name was Herbert George Wells. He came from a poor family. His dad was a shopkeeper and cricket player, and his mom worked as a servant. When he was young, he broke his leg and had to stay in bed. There, he started reading lots of books.
Later, he did many jobs like shop helper and teacher. He studied science in college. Wells wrote many stories about science and future worlds. His famous books include The Time Machine and The War of the Worlds. He loved to show how science can change life, but also how it can cause problems if not used right. He died in 1946.
What’s the Story About?
This is a fun and scary story about a smart scientist named Griffin. He finds a magic formula that makes him invisible – you can't see him, but he can still touch things and walk around.
One cold day in London, two boys see muddy footprints on the steps of a house. The prints look fresh, like from bare feet, but no one is there! They follow the prints down the street. The marks get lighter and then vanish. It's Griffin walking without being seen.
Griffin steps in mud by mistake, so his feet leave marks. He is cold and has no clothes because he took them off to stay hidden. He runs into a big store to get warm. He takes some warm clothes and a hat from there.
Then, he goes to a small village called Iping. It's winter, and there's a big party at the inn. Griffin books a room and pays in advance. He stays wrapped in bandages and hides his face with big goggles. People think he is strange, but they take his money.
At night, Griffin gets hungry. He steals food and money from the inn. He even breaks into the vicar's house to take gold coins. The next day, the inn people find the empty rooms and missing things. They get angry and call the police.
Mrs. Hall, the inn owner's wife, goes to ask Griffin about it. He gets very mad and shouts. Then, he pulls off his bandages, hat, and nose cover. Everyone sees he has no head! He is invisible! He hits Mrs. Hall and runs away, breaking things.
The villagers chase him, but Griffin escapes. He takes off his clothes to become fully invisible again. Now, he is free but all alone in the snow. The story shows how being invisible sounds cool, but it makes Griffin do bad things and feel lonely.
Who’s Who in the Story
- Griffin – A clever but angry scientist. Finds a way to become invisible. Steals clothes, food, and money. Scares people in the village and finally runs away alone.
- Two Boys – Young kids in London. See the muddy footprints first and follow them in surprise.
- Mrs. Hall – Wife of the inn owner in Iping. Looks after the inn, tries to talk to Griffin, but gets frightened when he shows his invisible face.
- The Vicar – A church leader in the village. His house is robbed by Griffin for money.
- Villagers – People living in Iping. Attend a village party, get scared by strange thefts, and later chase Griffin when they realize he’s invisible.
Themes and Moral
Themes (Main Ideas)
- Misuse of Science – Great inventions can turn bad if used for wrong things like stealing.
- Power and Loneliness – Being invisible gives power, but it makes you feel alone and cut off from people.
- Fear of the Unknown – Strange things like footprints without a body scare everyone.
Moral (Lesson)
- Science needs good hearts – Don't use smart ideas to hurt others; use them to help.
- Power can make you selfish – Even hidden, bad actions catch up with you.
- Be kind, not scary – Treat people right, or you end up alone like Griffin.
Important Vocabulary and Phrases
- Invisible – Can’t be seen. Example: Griffin becomes invisible after drinking his formula.
- Footprints – Marks left by feet. Example: The boys see footprints in the mud with no one there.
- Bandages – Cloth wraps for wounds. Example: Griffin hides his face with bandages and goggles.
- Goggles – Big glasses for eyes. Example: He wears goggles to cover his eyes at the inn.
- Vicar – Church leader. Example: The vicar finds his money stolen from the desk.
- Petty – Small or not important. Example: Griffin does petty thefts like taking food.
- Intruder – Someone who enters without permission. Example: The villagers think Griffin is an intruder in the inn.
- Menace – Danger or threat. Example: The invisible man becomes a menace to the village.
- Faint – Weak or light. Example: The faint footprints fade away in the snow.
- Tempers – Bad moods or anger. Example: Griffin has quick tempers and shouts a lot.
Quick Tip for Students
Imagine if you could turn invisible for a day. What would you do? Would you help or play tricks? Think about Griffin's choices – it will help you see why the story warns us about power. Read the funny and scary parts out loud to feel the excitement!