Class 9 English - GUJARAT
Prose: The Snake and the Mirror
The Snake and the Mirror is a humorous and engaging story by Vaikom Basheer that explores themes of vanity, fear, and human foolishness. A young, unmarried homoeopathic doctor shares an incident where a deadly snake coils around his arm while he is admiring himself in front of a mirror. The narrative brilliantly contrasts the doctor's initial pride in his appearance and medical profession with his sheer terror and helplessness upon facing the serpent. For Gujarat (GSEB) board exams, this chapter is crucial for testing reading comprehension, vocabulary, and the ability to analyze humor and character traits in prose.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
Self-Admiration and Vanity
The doctor is full of pride about his looks, his profession, and his decision to grow a thin mustache and keep smiling.
The Unexpected Encounter
A rat-infested room leads to the dramatic drop of a fat snake from the roof directly onto the doctor's shoulder.
Transformation of Fear
Pride turns into utter paralysis and silence as the doctor sits like a stone statue, realizing his mortality.
Narcissism Redefined
When the snake looks into the mirror instead of striking him, the doctor realizes the snake was equally admiring its own reflection.
Humor and Irony
The author uses wit to mock human pride, showing how quickly a proud man can become helpless and foolish.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In the Gujarat (GSEB) Class 9 English exams, this chapter typically carries around 4 to 6 marks. Questions usually include short-answer questions, multiple-choice questions (MCQs) based on the text, and reference-to-context questions testing the understanding of the humor and ironic elements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the doctor look into the mirror so often?
The doctor was vain about his appearance and wanted to look handsome by growing a thin mustache and keeping a constant smile.
What made the doctor compare himself to a stone statue?
When the snake coiled around his left arm and spread its hood, the doctor was so terrified of being bitten that he held his breath and sat completely motionless, like a stone statue.
What did the snake do when it slithered off the doctor's arm?
The snake slithered onto the table, moved towards the mirror, and seemed to want to enjoy its reflection, giving the doctor a chance to quietly escape.
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