'The Snake and The Mirror ' is a humorous story about a homoeopath doctor . The homoeopath doctor , after having dinner at a restaurant , entered his rented room and heard a familiar sound probably of rats . It was a summer night and the room was not electrified and had no ceiling . He opened the windows, took off his coat , shirt and vest and lit his kerosene lamp on the table . He went to the veranda for a little air and then returned to his room. He took out his book - Materia Medica and sat in the chair. He was looking into the mirror and again heard the sound . As he was an admirer of beauty , he believed in making himself look handsome. He decided to shave daily , grow a thin moustache and to keep an attractive smile. He also thought that he would marry a fat woman doctor. Suddenly there was another sound of dull thud. A fat snake crawled on the back of the chair. Soon the snake coiled around the doctor's arm. The doctor remained in the chair like a stone image. He thought the presence of god. He felt that he was close to death.The snake moved to the table and looked into mirror . The doctor quietly moved out into the veranda and ran till he reached his Friend's house. Next morning he went back to his room with his friends. He did not find anything except a dirty vest, because everything was stolen .

Chapter 5 - The Snake and the Mirror (Summary)

The summary of Chapter 5 - The Snake and the Mirror from Class 9 English is as follows:

Summary:
The chapter revolves around an incident that takes place in the narrator's life. He is a doctor who has a small clinic in a crowded part of the city. One night, he falls asleep in his clinic after a tiring day. When he wakes up, he notices a snake coiled up on the mirror of his dressing table.

Doubts and Problems:
1. The narrator is puzzled and wonders how the snake entered the room without him noticing.
2. He contemplates whether to kill the snake or let it go, as he believes that killing it might bring bad luck.
3. The narrator tries to distract the snake by shining a torchlight on it, but it does not move.
4. He tries to scare the snake away by throwing a towel at it, but the snake remains still.
5. The narrator is unsure of what to do next and starts panicking as the snake continues to stay on the mirror.

Opinion:
The chapter portrays the narrator's fear and confusion upon encountering the snake in his clinic. It highlights the human tendency to be afraid of the unknown and how one's actions can be influenced by superstitions. The narrator's dilemma of whether to kill the snake or let it go reflects the ethical dilemma faced by individuals in many situations.

The story also emphasizes the idea that appearances can be deceiving. Despite the snake's menacing presence, it does not harm the narrator and remains still throughout the ordeal. This challenges the common perception that snakes are inherently dangerous and aggressive.

Overall, the chapter provides an interesting glimpse into the narrator's internal struggle and raises questions about human behavior and beliefs.

Content:
- Summary:
- Incident in the narrator's life.
- Snake found on the mirror of his dressing table.
- Doubts and Problems:
- How did the snake enter unnoticed?
- Should the snake be killed or let go?
- Failed attempts to scare the snake away.
- Panic as the snake remains on the mirror.
- Opinion:
- Portrayal of fear and confusion.
- Influence of superstitions.
- Ethical dilemma faced by the narrator.
- Challenge to common perceptions about snakes.
- Visually appealing format with identified headers and key points.