Class 9 English - CBSE
Prose: The Snake and the Mirror
The Snake and the Mirror by Vaikom Basheer is a humorous and thrilling Class 9 CBSE prose piece. It narrates a thrilling encounter between a young, vain homeopath doctor and a deadly snake that suddenly drops from the roof onto his shoulder. The story brilliantly highlights themes of vanity, self-admiration, and the unpredictable nature of human life when faced with mortal danger. For board exams, questions often focus on the irony, the doctor's humorous character flaws, and the dramatic turning points of the narrative, testing students' comprehension and character analysis skills.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
The Doctor's Vanity
At the beginning of the story, the young homeopath is overly proud of his medical profession, his single-room rented house, his appearance, and his decision to grow a thin mustache and keep smiling.
The Mirror and Self-Admiration
The large mirror in his room acts as a symbol of his narcissism, leading him to make silly vanity-driven resolutions about his appearance right before the snake appears.
The Climax and Sudden Fear
The tension peaks when a venomous snake wraps around the doctor's left arm above the elbow, paralyzing him with fear and stripping away all his vanity instantly.
The Snake and the Mirror Twist
In a brilliant stroke of humor, the snake unwraps itself, slithers towards the table, and looks into the mirror as if it too is admiring its own reflection.
Comic Relief and Irony
The story employs heavy irony and humor, showing how a proud man is humbled by a reptile, and how the doctor eventually flees into the night, losing all his belongings by morning.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In CBSE Class 9 English board and school exams, this chapter typically carries 4 to 6 marks. Common question types include short answer questions based on the doctor's character traits, extract-based questions testing comprehension, and long answer questions focusing on the central theme of humor and the irony of human vanity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the doctor look into the mirror repeatedly?
The doctor was newly married to his profession and felt he was handsome. He looked into the mirror to admire his looks, check his smile, and make decisions about keeping a mustache.
What were the doctor's thoughts when the snake coiled around his arm?
When the snake coiled around his arm, the doctor felt like a stone statue made of flesh. He stopped breathing, held his breath, and prayed to God, realizing he was close to death with no medicine in the room to save him.
Why did the snake leave the doctor's arm and look into the mirror?
The snake was attracted to its own reflection in the mirror or wanted to take a closer look at itself, which gave the doctor a lucky chance to silently escape.
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