Letter to God

 

A Letter to God

The story, “A Letter to God” written by G.L Fuentes is all about an unquestionable faith of a simple and hardworking farmer called Lencho. Lencho, who is the protagonist of the story, needed a rainfall for his crops of corn that was standing on is field. However, his crops were destroyed due to a hailstorm. He knew that the family would not have anything to eat that year but he had deeply convinced that the God is going to help him and therefore he wrote a letter to his asking Him to send him100 pesos. The Postmaster was amazed the kind of faith he had in God and therefore he managed to give him 70 pesos in order to maintain his faith in God.

However, he doubted the honesty of post office employee on getting 70 pesos only and wrote a letter again to the God to send him rest of the money directly to him.

Character Sketch of Lencho

Lencho is a poor Mexican farmer who lives with his family in a small house on the top of a hill. Despite his poverty, he is a hardworking, honest, and deeply religious man. He depends entirely on his fields and the rain to feed his family.

Key Traits of Lencho:

 Hardworking

Lencho works tirelessly in his fields. He is used to working under the sun and has full faith in the fruit of his labor. His survival depends on his crops, which he has grown with great effort.

Deeply Faithful

Lencho has unshakable faith in God. When his crops are destroyed by a hailstorm, he doesn't lose hope. Instead, he writes a letter to God asking for 100 pesos to survive, truly believing that God will answer.

Innocent and Naive

His innocence is touching. He truly believes that God will receive his letter and send him money. Even when the postmaster and his employees collect money to help, Lencho doesn't realize it's from them. Instead, he thinks some of it was stolen by “those crooks at the post office.”

Loving and Responsible

Lencho loves his family deeply. His request to God is not for himself, but to ensure that his family can eat. This shows his sense of responsibility as the head of the household.

Themes

1. Unshakable Faith

The story highlights the power of absolute faith in a higher power. Lencho, the protagonist, represents unwavering belief. Despite losing his crops to a devastating hailstorm, he is confident that God will provide for him. This strong faith drives him to write a letter to God, requesting help. His belief is so pure and absolute that it compels him to take a step that may seem naïve to others.

2. Hope in the Face of Adversity

Lencho’s hope acts as a beacon during his crisis. Instead of giving up or despairing, he takes action, believing in divine intervention. His hope for salvation through God reflects the resilience of human beings when faced with hardships.

 

3. Irony

One of the most striking aspects of the story is its use of situational irony. Lencho’s faith in God is so strong that he fails to realize the help he receives comes from humans—the postal workers who are moved by his plight. Adding to the irony is Lencho’s accusation that they (the postal workers) have stolen a part of "God's" money, completely missing their generosity.

 

4. The Connection Between Humans and Nature

The story also subtly highlights the dependence of rural communities on nature. Lencho’s livelihood is tied to his crops, and the hailstorm devastates his only source of income. It underscores how natural calamities can deeply impact lives, making people vulnerable and reliant on external help.

 

5. Generosity and Compassion

The story beautifully showcases the compassion of the human spirit through the postal workers. Although they find Lencho’s letter amusing, they empathize with his situation and come together to help him by contributing money. Their actions reflect humanity’s innate kindness and willingness to help those in need.

 

Additional Questions

Q1. Who was Lencho? What was his reaction initially when it started raining?  

Q2. Lencho was an optimistic person. Give your opinion in support or against the statement.

Q3. What kind of person was the postmaster?  

Q4. Why did Lencho not want the money to be sent through mail?

Q5. Do you think that Lencho was right to call the post office employees a bunch of crooks? Why or why not?

Q6. Give a character-sketch of Lencho.

Q7. Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow.

When he finished, he went to the window to buy a stamp which he licked and then affixed to the envelope with a blow of his fist. The moment the letter fell into the mailbox the postmaster went to open it. It said: “God: Of the money that I asked for, only seventy pesos reached me. Send me the rest, since I need it very much. But don’t send it to me through the mail because the post office employees are a ‘bunch of crooks’.              

(a) What did Lencho do with the stamp?

(b) What did the postmaster do when the letter fell into the mailbox and why?

(c) Find out the word which has the similar meaning as ‘attached’ used in the passage.

(d) Which word in the passage denotes a dishonest person?

Q8. Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow.

“A plague of locusts would have left more than this. The hail has left nothing. This year we will have no corn.”

That night was a sorrowful one.

“All our work, for nothing.”

“There’s no one who can help us.”

We’ll all go hungry this year”

(a)  Who is the speaker? Where is the speaker now?

(b)  What do you mean by the term “A plague of locusts would have left more than this?”

(c)  “The night was a sorrowful one.”  Why that night was a sorrowful one?

(d)  “There’s no one who can help us.” Does the speaker really mean that there was no one to help them?

(e)   Explain the term “All our work, for nothing.”  Which work does the speaker mention here?

Board Examinations Questions:

2024

1.    What idea does the Postmaster come up with? What did he do to stick to his resolution?

Ans. The postmaster wanted to retain Lencho's faith in God. He decided to send him money by collecting contributions from his colleagues, eventually gathering 70 pesos to send anonymously.

2.    Explain the irony in the chapter, “A Letter to God”.

Ans. The irony lies in Lencho's belief that God sent him money, while he suspects the honest post office employees of theft, despite their efforts to help him.

3.    How far would you agree that one’s positivity can bring in a spark of brightness even in adverse circumstances?

Ans. Lencho's unwavering faith in God exemplifies how positivity can provide hope during challenging times, motivating him to seek help despite his losses.

4.    Grief or sadness is an emotion natural to all types of loss or significant change. You have been asked to present an analysis of the approaches of Lencho and Kisa Gotami in dealing with their respective losses.

Ans. Lencho maintained hope through faith in God after losing his crops, while Kisa Gotami, after losing her son, sought understanding of mortality, eventually accepting death as a natural part of life.

2023

Q1. Who read the letter sent by Lencho? What did he do then?

Ans. A postman read Lencho's letter and showed it to the postmaster, who decided to collect money to help Lencho anonymously.

Q2. What did Lencho hope for and why?

Ans. Lencho hoped for rain to ensure a good harvest for his corn crop.

Q3. In what way would writing a letter to God help Lencho tide over his crisis?

Ans. Writing to God reflected Lencho's deep faith, providing him emotional solace and hope for assistance during his hardship.

Q4. The postmaster had mixed emotions while opening the letter. Explain.

Ans. The postmaster felt anticipation and satisfaction, expecting gratitude from Lencho, but was shocked to read Lencho's accusation of theft.

Q5. Why did the night after the rains turn sorrowful for Lencho?

Ans. The hailstorm destroyed Lencho's crops, leading to despair over the impending hunger and loss.

Q6. What are the raindrops compared to and why?

Ans. Raindrops are likened to new coins, symbolizing the prosperity Lencho anticipated from a good harvest.

2020

What were Lencho’s feelings when the hail stopped?

Lencho was filled with sadness, realizing the hail had destroyed his crops, leaving his family with nothing to eat.

Why did Lencho’s happy mood change into concern?

Initially pleased with the rain, Lencho's mood shifted when a hailstorm ensued, devastating his crops.

Did the letter reach God? Why did the postmaster send a reply to Lencho?

The letter didn't reach God; the postmaster, moved by Lencho's faith, collected money to help him anonymously.

2019

Why did Lencho write a letter to God?

After a hailstorm destroyed his crops, Lencho wrote to God seeking 100 pesos to support his family and replant his field.

Why was Lencho angry on counting the money sent to him?

Lencho received only 70 pesos instead of the 100 he requested, leading him to believe the post office employees had stolen the rest.

2018

In the lesson ‘A Letter to God’, what moral values does the postmaster display in his behaviour?

The postmaster exhibits empathy, generosity, and a commitment to preserving Lencho's faith by organizing a collection to assist him.

2016

Why did Lencho not want the money to be sent through mail?

Lencho believed the post office employees were dishonest, suspecting them of stealing part of the money, and thus requested future funds not be sent via mail.

2015

Who was Lencho? What were his main problems?

Lencho was a poor farmer facing challenges like insufficient rainfall and threats to his crops, which were vital for his family's survival.