NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Chapter 5 The Snake and the Mirror

Author at PW

February 08, 2025

Class 9 English Chapter 5 The Snake and the Mirror -The Snake and the Mirror is an engaging short story by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer that masterfully blends humour and suspense. Featured in Class 9 English Chapter 5 of the Beehive textbook, the story revolves around a young, unmarried doctor who is overly concerned about his appearance. While admiring himself in the mirror, he is terrified by the sudden appearance of a snake that coils around his arm. This life-changing moment forces him to reconsider his vanity and priorities, reminding us how quickly circumstances can shift.

Basheer’s story is both entertaining and thought-provoking, encouraging readers to reflect on what truly matters in life. For students, the Class 9 Beehive Chapter 5 Question Answers provide a deeper understanding of the narrative and its themes. Explore the complete Class 9 The Snake and the Mirror Question Answers to grasp the story’s humour, suspense, and moral lessons. Check out the comprehensive solutions for The Snake and the Mirror Questions and Answers below.

If you're searching for Class 9 English Chapter 5 NCERT Solutions, The Snake and the Mirror, These are the detailed and well-structured answers. This fascinating story by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer combines humour and suspense, making it a memorable part of the Class 9 Beehive Chapter 5 Question Answers. Explore the complete solutions for Class 9 The Snake and the Mirror Question Answers below, designed as per CBSE guidelines.

Before attempting the exercises, it is advised to carefully read the story and examples. Understanding the doctor’s life-changing encounter with the snake will help you comprehend the moral lessons and themes of Snake and the Mirror more effectively. Go through the class 9 English chapter 5 question answer below:-

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NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Chapter 5 The Snake and the Mirror

Go through the class 9 English chapter 5 question answer below:-

Thinking about the Text

Question 1: “The sound was a familiar one.” What sound did the doctor hear? What did he think it was? How many times did he hear it? (Find the places in the text.) When and why did the sounds stop?

Answer: The doctor, upon entering his room, heard a noise coming from above. Initially, he thought it was the sound of rats, which was a common occurrence in his rented room. The sound was distinct and repetitive, echoing from the ceiling, leading him to believe that rats were scurrying about. He heard this noise a total of four times, each instance heightening his curiosity and slight irritation. The text mentions these instances with phrases like “Again, I heard that sound from above,” “Again, came that noise from above,” and “Suddenly there came a dull thud as if a rubber tube had fallen to the ground.” The sounds abruptly stopped when the doctor’s attention was drawn to the snake that appeared before him, silencing everything else around him due to the sheer terror of the moment.

Question 2: What two “important” and “earth-shaking” decisions did the doctor take while he was looking into the mirror?

Answer: While the doctor was examining himself in the mirror, he made two decisions that he considered to be of great significance. First, he resolved to enhance his appearance by growing a thin moustache, believing that it would make him look more distinguished and attractive. This decision reflects his vanity and desire to project a more polished image to the world. Second, he decided that he would shave daily to maintain this improved look, ensuring that his appearance remained neat and presentable at all times. These decisions were “earth-shaking” to him because they symbolized a commitment to self-improvement and a greater focus on his outward appearance, which he thought would boost his confidence and social standing.

Question 3: “I looked into the mirror and smiled,” says the doctor. A little later he says, “I forgot my danger and smiled feebly at myself.”

What is the doctor’s opinion about himself when: (i) he first smiles, and (ii) he smiles again? In what way do his thoughts change in between, and why?

Answer:

(i) When the doctor first looked into the mirror and smiled, he was filled with self-admiration. He believed that his smile was charming and attractive, and this boosted his confidence. The smile reflected his satisfaction with his appearance and his belief that he was indeed a handsome man. This self-assuredness came from his focus on superficial qualities, which he thought were important for his personal and professional success.

(ii) However, when the doctor smiled again later, the context had dramatically changed. With a snake coiled around his arm, his smile was no longer one of confidence but rather a weak, nervous expression. He realized the absurdity of his earlier thoughts about appearance when faced with the reality of life-threatening danger. His thoughts shifted from vanity to humility, recognizing how trivial his earlier concerns were in the face of true peril. The change in his thoughts illustrates how quickly one’s priorities can shift when confronted with a crisis, moving from superficial self-admiration to a more profound understanding of what truly matters.

Question 1: (i) The kind of person the doctor is (money, possessions)
(ii) The kind of person he wants to be (appearance, ambition)

Answer:

(i) The doctor was a person of modest means, living a simple life with limited financial resources. He occupied a small rented room and owned only a few basic possessions, including a black coat, a couple of shirts, and dhotis. His financial situation was precarious, as he had only sixty rupees to his name, reflecting his low income as a doctor. Despite these limitations, he seemed content with his life, accepting his circumstances without much complaint.

(ii) Despite his modest lifestyle, the doctor harboured ambitions to improve his appearance and social standing. He aspired to become more attractive by growing a thin moustache and shaving daily, believing that these changes would make him look more distinguished. This desire to enhance his appearance indicates that he wanted to be seen as a more successful and polished individual, perhaps to gain greater respect from others and to feel better about himself. His ambitions were not grand in terms of wealth or power, but rather focused on small changes that he believed would improve his life.

Question 2: (i) The person he wants to marry
(ii) The person he actually marries

Answer:

(i) The doctor had a clear idea of the type of woman he wanted to marry. He desired to marry a woman who was wealthy, reflecting his aspiration for financial security and social status. Additionally, he imagined her to be fat, possibly because he associated this with good health, prosperity, and a comfortable life. His ideal partner would also be a doctor, which would make her an equal in terms of profession, and someone who could understand and share in his ambitions and lifestyle.

(ii) Contrary to his expectations, the doctor ended up marrying a woman who was quite different from his ideal. She was thin, which went against his preference for a fat woman, and she did not possess the wealth he had hoped for. Additionally, her ability to run quickly suggests that she was more physically active or energetic than he had anticipated. This reality highlights the gap between his dreams and the actual circumstances of his life, showing that one’s aspirations do not always align with the outcomes they face.

Question 3: (i) His thoughts when he looks into the mirror
(ii) His thoughts when the snake is coiled around his arm

Write short paragraphs on each of these to get your answer.

Answer:

(i) When the doctor looks into the mirror, he is filled with a sense of satisfaction and pride. He admires his appearance, particularly his smile, which he finds attractive and pleasing. This moment of self-reflection leads him to make decisions about improving his appearance further, such as growing a thin moustache and shaving daily. He is focused on superficial qualities, believing that these small changes will enhance his looks and, by extension, his life. His thoughts are centred around vanity and self-admiration, revealing his desire to present himself as more handsome and refined.

(ii) The doctor’s thoughts undergo a drastic transformation when the snake coils around his arm. In that terrifying moment, all his previous concerns about appearance and vanity evaporate. He becomes acutely aware of his vulnerability and mortality, realizing that his life is in immediate danger. His thoughts shift from self-admiration to self-preservation, as he sits frozen in fear, trying to remain still and not provoke the snake. The presence of the snake strips away all pretense, leaving the doctor to confront the stark reality of his situation. He sees himself not as the confident, handsome man he once thought he was, but as a helpless, foolish individual who is at the mercy of a deadly creature.

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Thinking about Language

I. Here are some sentences from the text. Say which of them tells you that the author:
(a) was afraid of the snake,
(b) was proud of his appearance,
(c) had a sense of humour,
(d) was no longer afraid of the snake.

Answer:

(a) Was afraid of the snake: Sentences 1, 3, 4, 5.

"I was turned to stone" indicates that the doctor was paralyzed with fear when he saw the snake.
"The arm was beginning to be drained of strength" shows his fear as the snake’s grip tightened, sapping his physical strength.
"I tried in my imagination to write in bright letters outside my little heart the words, ‘O God’" reflects his desperation and fear as he silently prayed for safety.
"I didn’t tremble. I didn’t cry out" reveals that he was too frightened to move or make a sound, frozen in place by the snake’s presence.

(b) Was proud of his appearance: Sentences 6, 8.

"I looked into the mirror and smiled. It was an attractive smile" illustrates his pride in his own appearance, particularly his smile.
"I was after all a bachelor, and a doctor too on top of it!" shows that he took pride in his status as a doctor and a bachelor, viewing these as points of pride.

"The fellow had such a sense of cleanliness…! The rascal could have taken it and used it after washing it with soap and water" is a humorous reflection on the snake’s actions, indicating the doctor’s ability to find humour even in a tense situation.
"Was it trying to make an important decision about growing a moustache or using eye shadow and mascara or wearing a vermilion spot on its forehead" is a light-hearted thought about the snake, showing the doctor’s playful imagination and sense of humor.

(d) Was no longer afraid of the snake: Sentences 2, 7.

"I was no mere image cut in granite" suggests that the doctor had moved past his initial fear and was regaining his composure.
"I turned, took a look, and hurried out" indicates that he had overcome his fear enough to act, quickly leaving the room once the snake moved away.

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The Snake and the Mirror Summary

The Snake and the Mirror is a humorous and suspenseful short story by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer. It revolves around a young, self-absorbed doctor who is fascinated by his appearance. While admiring himself in the mirror, he is shocked to find a snake coiled around his arm. This terrifying encounter forces the doctor to confront his vanity and reflect on the fleeting nature of life. The story blends comedy with a deeper message about the unpredictability of life and the superficiality of appearance.

The Snake and the Mirror FAQs

Q1. What is the central theme of The Snake and the Mirror?

Ans. The central theme revolves around human vanity, the unpredictability of life, and how superficial concerns can be overshadowed by sudden, life-threatening events.

Q2. Who is the main character in the story?

Ans. The main character is a young, unmarried doctor who is deeply concerned with his appearance and somewhat vain.

Q3. What happens when the doctor is admiring himself in the mirror?

Ans. As the doctor admires himself, a snake suddenly drops onto his shoulder and coils around his arm, causing him to freeze in fear.

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