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Class X[First Flight]Chapter - 1: A Letter to God by G.L Fuentes

 Word Meaning

  1. crest: Top of a hill
  2. dotted: Full Of
  3. downpour: Heavy Rain
  4. intimately: Closely
  5. exclaimed– cry out suddenly in surprise, strong emotion, or pain.
  6. regarded– Consider Or Think Of In A Specified Way
  7. draped – Adorn, Cover, Or Wrap (Someone Or Something)
  8. hailstones – A Pellet Of Hail
  9. resemble– Have A Similar Appearance To Or Qualities In Common With (Someone Or Something); Look Or Seem Like.
  10. exposing – make (something) visible by uncovering it.; reveal
  11. plague– a destructively numerous inflow or multiplication of a harmful animal, infestation
  12. locusts- Insects which fly in big groups and destroy crops
  13. solitary:  Existing alone; lonely.
  14. conscience– an inner sense of right and wrong.
  15. ox of a man– hardworking
  16. daybreak– The time in the morning when daylight first appears
  17. Pesos– the basic monetary unit of Mexico, several other Latin American countries, and the Philippines
  18. amiable- Friendly And Pleasant
  19. correspondence– Communication by exchanging letters with someone.
  20. goodwill- friendly, helpful, or cooperative feelings or attitude
  21. resolution– a firm decision to do or not to do something.
  22. obliged– grateful
  23. contentment– Satisfaction

    24. Central Idea: The central idea of A Letter to God by G.L. Fuentes revolves around unwavering faith in God, hope, and the irony of human perception. The story highlights the unwavering faith of a poor farmer, Lencho, who completely trusts in God to help him during a crisis. After a storm destroys his crops, Lencho writes a letter to God asking for financial assistance. The postmaster, touched by Lencho’s faith, collects money to help him. However, when Lencho receives less than he asked for, he assumes that the post office employees stole the rest, showing both irony and human misunderstanding. The story emphasizes faith in divine power, the kindness of strangers, and the irony of human perception, making it a touching yet thought-provoking tale.
     Themes

1. Faith and Trust in God – Lencho’s unwavering belief that God will provide for him.

2. Human Kindness and Charity – The postmaster and his employees help Lencho out of goodwill.

3. Irony – Lencho unknowingly doubts the very people who helped him, believing they stole the money.

4. Hope and Optimism – Despite adversity, Lencho remains hopeful and takes action by writing to God.

5. Innocence and Ignorance – Lencho’s simple, unquestioning faith contrasts with his misjudgment of others.

Message:
  • Unwavering faith can inspire hope in difficult times.
  • Kindness exists in unexpected places.
  • Irony highlights human misinterpretations.
Underlying Message:
  • Blind faith can sometimes lead to misjudgment.
  • Acts of generosity are often unrecognized.
  • Trust in divinity should be complemented by trust in humanity.
Character Traits:

1. Lencho -

  • Faithful & Devout – He has an unshakable belief in God and trusts that his prayers will be answered.
  • Hardworking – A dedicated farmer who depends on his crops for survival.
  • Hopeful & Optimistic – Despite losing everything in the storm, he believes help will come.
  • Naïve & Innocent – He blindly assumes that only God could send him money and suspects the post office employees of theft.
  • Ungrateful & Mistrusting – Instead of appreciating the help, he doubts the very people who aided him.
2. Postmaster -

  • Kind & Generous – He takes the initiative to collect money for Lencho, wanting to keep his faith intact.
  • Empathetic & Understanding – He values Lencho’s belief and doesn’t want him to lose hope.
  • Compassionate & Helpful – Instead of laughing at Lencho’s letter, he chooses to act out of goodwill.
3. Post Office Employees -
  • Selfless & Charitable – They contribute their own money to help a stranger in need.
  • Supportive & Kind – They assist their boss in fulfilling Lencho’s request.
Literary Devices:

1. Irony – Lencho, who has absolute faith in God, distrusts the kind-hearted post office employees who helped him.

2. Symbolism –
The rain symbolizes blessings and hope.
The storm/hailstones symbolize destruction and hardships.

3. Personification – Nature is given human-like qualities, e.g., “It was during the meal that, as Lencho had predicted, big drops of rain began to fall. In the heart of the man who lived in that solitary house in the middle of the valley, there was a single hope: help from God.”

4. Foreshadowing – The description of the dark clouds hints at the upcoming disaster.

5. Imagery – The writer vividly describes the rain, hailstorm, and destruction of crops to make the scenes more powerful.

6. Metaphor – The hailstones are compared to "frozen pearls", showing how something that looks beautiful can cause destruction.

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