Class 9 English - WEST-BENGAL
Prose: The Snake and the Mirror
The Snake and the Mirror by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer is a humorous and thrilling autobiographical story about a young, poor homoeopathic doctor. Set in a small, rented room shared with rats, the narrative takes a dramatic turn when a deadly cobra coils around the doctor's arm. As the snake stares into a mirror on the table, the terrified doctor sits motionless like a stone, realizing his own foolish vanity. For West Bengal Board (WBBSE) Class 9 students, this chapter is crucial for board exams as it tests reading comprehension, narrative analysis, humor appreciation, and vocabulary through textual and grammar questions.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
First-Person Narrative
The story is told by the protagonist himself using 'I', making the terrifying yet humorous incident feel deeply personal and engaging.
Irony and Humor
Basheer uses situational irony, contrasting the doctor's proud thoughts about his looks and profession with his helpless, freezing terror when faced with the snake.
Self-Realization
Staring death in the face makes the doctor realize his foolish vanity, pride, and inadequacy, leading to a humorous shift in his self-perception.
Descriptive Imagery
The author vividly describes the sounds of rats, the darkness of the room, the slippery movement of the snake, and the reflection in the mirror to build suspense.
Theme of Fear and Vulnerability
The chapter highlights how human arrogance vanishes instantly in the presence of mortal danger, reducing a proud man to a silent statue.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In the WBBSE Class 9 English examinations, this chapter typically carries around 8 to 12 marks. Common question types include multiple-choice questions (MCQs), short answer type questions (SAQs) testing details from the text, descriptive questions about the central theme or character sketch of the doctor, and grammar/vocabulary exercises derived from the prose passage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What were the doctor's thoughts before the snake appeared?
The doctor was admiring his own handsome appearance, planning to grow a thin mustache, and deciding to marry a wealthy, fat lady doctor.
Why did the snake leave the doctor's arm?
The snake turned its head towards the mirror on the table, uncoiled from the doctor's arm, and crept onto the table to admire its reflection.
What did the doctor find when he returned to his room the next morning?
When the doctor returned with his friends, he found that most of his belongings had been stolen by a thief, leaving behind only a dirty vest.
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