Class 9 English - MAHARASHTRA
Prose: The Snake and the Mirror
The Snake and the Mirror by Vaikom Basheer is a humorous and thrilling Class 9 Maharashtra State Board prose lesson. It narrates a true-like incident of a young, poor homoeopathic doctor who encounters a deadly snake in his rented room. The chapter masterfully blends fear with comic relief, highlighting human vanity, self-admiration, and the irony of fate. For board exams, students must focus on the plot's twists, the character's internal monologue, and comprehension questions. Understanding the author's subtle humor and descriptive language is crucial for scoring high in textual questions and vocabulary exercises.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
The Narrator's Vanity
The young doctor is newly married to his profession and is obsessed with his appearance, constantly gazing into the mirror and deciding to grow a thin mustache and keep smiling always.
The Sudden Encounter
While sitting in his dark, electricity-free room, the doctor hears a dull thud, and before he realizes what is happening, a fat snake wriggles over his shoulder and coils around his left arm.
The Irony of Fate
The doctor, who moments ago thought he was handsome and a great doctor, sits completely frozen, realizing he is poor, foolish, and stupid, facing imminent death without even basic medicines.
The Snake and the Mirror
In a surprising comedic twist, the snake uncoils from the doctor's arm, creeps towards the table, looks into the mirror, and seems to admire its own reflection, allowing the doctor to escape.
Comic Relief
The story ends with humor when the doctor returns the next day with friends only to find that all his meager belongings, including his vest, have been stolen by a thief.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In the Maharashtra (MSBSHSE) Class 9 English paper, this chapter typically carries around 4 to 6 marks. Common question types include factual comprehension, personal response questions based on the doctor's vanity or fear, vocabulary exercises (synonyms/antonyms from the text), and grammar items like direct-indirect speech or spotting errors.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the doctor thinking just before the snake appeared?
He was admiring his looks in the mirror, planning to shave daily, grow a thin mustache, and keep smiling to look more attractive.
Why did the snake release the doctor's arm?
The snake was attracted to its own reflection in the mirror on the table, so it uncoiled from the doctor's arm and slithered towards the glass.
What happened to the doctor's room when he returned with his friends?
Most of his things had been stolen by a thief, except for a dirty vest which the thief thankfully left behind.
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