CBSE Class 10 English Notes: A Letter to God
Comprehensive, original and SEO-friendly notes for CBSE Class 10 English. This page contains a detailed summary, character analysis, key themes, literary devices, moral lessons and exam tips for “A Letter to God” by Gregorio López y Fuentes.
Quick Overview
- Title: A Letter to God
- Author: Gregorio López y Fuentes
- Genre: Short story — realistic fiction
- Context: Rural Mexico; life of a poor farmer
Detailed Plot Summary (Pointwise)
- Lencho is a simple, poor farmer who lives with his family in a house made of adobe and tile in a valley. He is honest, hardworking and deeply religious — his faith in God is central to his character (Lencho).
- His cornfields are the family’s only source of sustenance. Lencho watches the sky anxiously, praying for rain to help the crop grow.
- Dark, heavy clouds gather and a rainstorm begins. Initially Lencho feels relief and happiness, expecting a good harvest.
- The benevolent expectation turns into disaster when the rain changes into a severe hailstorm. The hailstones destroy the entire crop, leaving the field ruined.
- Lencho is devastated — without the crop, his family will have no food. Despite panic and despair, he retains faith. He decides to write a letter to God asking for one hundred pesos to tide his family over until the next harvest.
- Lencho addresses the envelope simply: God, and posts it at the village post office. His faith is pure and childlike; he truly expects a response from heaven.
- The postmaster reads the heartfelt letter and is moved by Lencho’s trust and sincerity. He and the postal staff decide to collect money among themselves to help.
- They manage to collect some money (less than the amount requested) and send it anonymously to Lencho, who receives the envelope with great joy.
- When Lencho counts the money he finds it is not the full hundred pesos. Rather than thanking the post office workers, he immediately writes another letter — this time to complain that some people at the post office must have stolen the money. Lencho’s faith in God remains intact, but he distrusts human nature.
Character Sketches
Lencho
- Lencho is the central figure — a poor farmer who depends entirely on his fields and on the mercy of nature.
- He is hardworking, simple and exhibits unwavering religious faith. He writes a letter directly to God — a gesture that underlines his innocence and devotion.
- Lencho’s final reaction (blaming the post office employees) shows a complex trait: faith in the divine combined with suspicion of humans. This irony is key to the story’s moral tension.
The Postmaster and Postal Employees
- They are sympathetic, humane and moved by Lencho’s letter. Their decision to help illustrates human kindness and solidarity.
- Their anonymous help contrasts with Lencho’s mistrust; the postmaster represents practical compassion while Lencho represents ideal faith.
Major Themes (SEO keywords highlighted)
- Faith in God — Lencho’s direct appeal to God demonstrates faith that is simple, blind and sincere.
- Human kindness — The postmaster and his colleagues act generously without seeking credit.
- Irony — Lencho trusts God but suspects humans of theft; situational irony intensifies the story’s impact.
- Rural hardship — The story highlights the vulnerability of farmers whose lives depend on unpredictable weather.
- Hope and resilience — Lencho’s hope, even after disaster, is illustrative of human resilience in adverse conditions.
Literary Devices & Language
- Imagery: Vivid description of the sky, hail and ruined crops creates strong sensory impressions.
- Irony: The core device — the helper is suspected, not the divine responder.
- Symbolism: The letter symbolizes hope and direct communion with the divine.
- Tone: Simple, warm and occasionally humorous; suited to the narrator’s compassionate voice.
Important Extracts & Their Meaning
“Lencho had a religion that consisted solely of praying to God.”
This line sums up Lencho’s faith: it is central to his identity. His religion is practical and hope-oriented rather than doctrinal.
“He looked at the sky — the sky was clear again.”
After the storm, the clear sky symbolizes the temporary calm; but more importantly it reveals the stark contrast between nature’s indifference and human expectations.
Moral Lessons (Key Phrases for SEO)
- Value of faith: Faith can sustain a person during crises.
- Power of human kindness: Small acts of generosity restore dignity and hope.
- Complexity of human nature: Even the grateful may distrust fellow humans, showing the nuanced relationship between belief and skepticism.
Exam Tips & How to Answer Questions
- When asked for summary, present the plot in 6–8 concise points emphasizing the hailstorm, Lencho’s letter, and the post office intervention.
- For character analysis, contrast Lencho’s faith with the postmaster’s human kindness; use textual references.
- To explain themes and irony, quote short lines and explain how faith and human behaviour create the story’s central conflict.
- Use the keywords like “Lencho”, “faith”, “postmaster”, and “A Letter to God” naturally in your answer to show familiarity with the text.
Short Summary for Quick Revision
Lencho, a poor Mexican farmer, writes a letter to God after a hailstorm destroys his crop. The postmaster and employees, moved by his faith, collect money and send it to him anonymously. Lencho receives the money but distrusts the postal staff, believing they stole some of it. The story poignantly explores faith, kindness and situational irony.