Was Lencho Surprised To Find a Letter For Him With Money in It ?
This answer has been carefully reviewed by the Teachiki Editorial Team to ensure accuracy, conceptual clarity, and full alignment with NCERT, CBSE, and SEBA guidelines.
Answer in One Line
No, Lencho was not surprised to find the money because his unwavering faith made him absolutely certain that God would answer his plea for help.
Quick Revision
- Key Summary: Lencho’s absolute trust blinded him to the reality that humans, not God, sent the 70 pesos.
- Core Theme: The sheer power of blind, unquestioning faith versus practical reality.
- Character Trait: Extreme innocence and naivety.
- Textbook Reference: Chapter A Letter to God, Book First Flight, Class 10 English.
Detailed Answer: Why was Lencho not surprised to find money in the letter?
Let’s understand this simply. In the chapter A Letter to God from the Class 10 English textbook First Flight, the author G.L. Fuentes highlights the story of a hardworking farmer named Lencho. After his crops were completely destroyed by a hailstorm, Lencho had no food left for his family and was worried about their survival. Driven by absolute faith, he wrote a letter directly to God, asking for 100 pesos to sow his field again.
When the kind-hearted postmaster and his employees read the letter, they collected 70 pesos and sent it to him in an envelope signed “God” to keep the farmer’s faith alive.
However, when Lencho received the envelope, he was not surprised at all. The textbook beautifully captures this with the exact line: “Lencho showed not the slightest surprise on seeing the bills…” This clearly answers why he reacted the way he did. His faith in God was so profound and unwavering that he considered the money a guaranteed response, not a miracle. Doubt never entered his mind. For Lencho, receiving the money was certain, not unexpected.
Why This Question Matters?
This specific question is highly important for CBSE and SEBA board exams because it touches on several core aspects of the chapter:
- Highlights the Central Theme: It perfectly demonstrates author G.L. Fuentes’ core message about the unshakeable nature of true faith.
- Reveals Character Depth: It exposes Lencho’s extreme innocence; he expects a physical reply with money from God just as naturally as one would from a regular friend.
- Sets Up the Irony: His complete lack of surprise directly leads to the story’s ironic and famous ending, where he calls his actual saviors (the post office employees) a “bunch of crooks.”
- High-Frequency Exam Topic: Lencho’s reaction is a consistently tested concept for both 2-mark short answers and 5-mark character sketch questions.
Key Points for Exam Answers
- Unwavering Faith: Lencho’s absolute and unquestioning belief in God is the core reason he felt no surprise upon seeing the money.
- Complete Innocence: His reaction highlights his naivety; he practically views God as a regular pen pal who is obligated to reply.
- Expectation vs. Reality: While a normal person would consider receiving money from “God” a miracle, Lencho considered it a guaranteed transaction.
- The Author’s Message: G.L. Fuentes uses this lack of surprise to show how blind faith can sometimes make a person ungrateful to the actual human beings (the postmaster) who helped them.
Common Mistake Students Make
Many students think Lencho was surprised because he received money unexpectedly.
But actually, he was not surprised at all. He believed God would send help, so it felt normal.
More Important Board Questions from A Letter to God:
Related Questions
Why did Lencho write a letter to God?
Lencho wrote a letter to God because his entire corn harvest was completely destroyed by a devastating hailstorm. Facing a year of starvation for his family, he believed God was his only hope and asked for 100 pesos to sow his field again and survive until the next crop.
Who sent the money to Lencho?
The postmaster, moved by Lencho’s deep faith, decided to answer the letter. He collected money from his employees, gave a part of his own salary, and sent a total of 70 pesos to Lencho in an envelope simply signed “God” to ensure the farmer’s faith remained unshaken.
Why did Lencho call the post office employees crooks?
Lencho called them a “bunch of crooks” because he only received 70 pesos instead of the 100 pesos he asked for. Since he believed God could never make a mistake or deny his request, he immediately assumed the post office employees had stolen the missing 30 pesos.
Final Understanding
Lencho’s strong faith made him trust God completely.
That is why he did not feel surprised when he received the money.
NCERT Verified Answer with Expert Review (CBSE & SEBA Aligned)
This answer has been carefully prepared after studying the NCERT English textbook First Flight, Chapter A Letter to God, for Class 10, along with reliable academic sources. It has been reviewed by the Teachiki Editorial Team to ensure accuracy, conceptual clarity, and alignment with NCERT, CBSE, and SEBA guidelines.
