Q1: What sound did the doctor hear? What did he think it was?
Ans: The doctor heard a rustling, hissing sound made by a snake. At first he mistook it for the sound of rats because he was used to hearing rats in his house and thus found the noise familiar.
Q2: What two important and earth-shaking decisions did the doctor take while he was looking into the mirror?
Ans: While looking into the mirror he decided to shave daily and keep a thin moustache. He also resolved to wear an attractive smile more often so that he would appear more handsome and make a better impression.
Q3: How did the doctor react when he encountered the snake?
Ans: The snake landed on his shoulder and the doctor was frightened, yet he showed remarkable presence of mind. He sat very still, held his breath and did not scream or jump. His calm behaviour helped prevent sudden movement that might have provoked the snake.
Q4: Why did the doctor feel that he was quite near death?
Ans: The snake had coiled round his left arm and spread its hood, coming to within about four inches of his face. The doctor realised there was no anti-snakebite medicine available to him at that moment, so he felt his life was in immediate danger.
Q5: What did the doctor think of doing if the snake bit him?
Ans: He thought of using anti-snakebite medicine, but then realised he had none. He blamed himself for being unprepared and called himself foolish for not keeping such a medicine ready in his practice.
Q6: What did the doctor think when the snake was looking into the mirror?
Ans: When the snake left him and sat before the mirror, the doctor imagined, with a touch of humour, that the snake was admiring its own reflection. He joked that if it were male it might decide to grow a moustache, and if female it might try cosmetics like mascara or eyeshadow.
Q7: Why could the doctor not sleep in his room? What did he do then?
Ans: The doctor could not sleep in his room because it had no electricity and was very hot that summer night. He went out to the veranda hoping for cooler air and tried to read a book by the lamp, but rest continued to elude him.
Q8: Why did the doctor say that he had to make his presence felt?
Ans: As an unmarried man who admired beauty, he wanted to look attractive and confident. While looking into the mirror he adjusted his hair and decided to shave and keep a thin moustache so that his appearance would be noticed and remembered. He believed making a good impression was important for his self-esteem and social life.
Q9: What did the doctor think about his future wife?
Ans: He pictured his future wife as a successful lady doctor with a good practice and plenty of money. He also joked that he would prefer her to be plump so that she would be less likely to chase after him if he made a foolish mistake.
Q10: Did the doctor find his encounter with the snake humorous or frightening or both? What aspects of human nature are revealed here?
Ans: The incident is both frightening and humorous. It was frightening because the snake came very close to his face and there was no medicine available. It is humorous because the doctor's mind wandered to trivial and comic thoughts - such as imagining the snake admiring itself or thinking about a future wife who would not chase him. The episode reveals how people can keep their sense of humour and remain calm under fear, and how the mind sometimes resorts to light-hearted or absurd images to cope with danger.
Q11: Describe the reaction of the doctor when he confronted the snake. Patience and presence of mind are revealed from his behaviour. Discuss.
Ans: When the snake came upon him the doctor remained remarkably composed. He did not jump, cry or tremble; he sat perfectly still like a statue and even smiled faintly at himself. He offered a silent prayer and conserved his strength while the snake unwound itself. After the snake left, he quietly left the room and ran to a friend's house. His calmness and patience prevented panic and helped him escape without provoking the snake. This shows that keeping one's cool and thinking clearly in danger usually works better than panicking.
Q12: Was the doctor rich? What was his economic condition? Was he happy? Do you think wealth and happiness go together?
Ans: No, the doctor was not rich. He lived in a small rented room without electricity, owned only a few clothes, books and some money, and used a kerosene lamp for light. He earned a meagre income from his practice. Despite his poverty, he was not unhappy; he had a good sense of humour and hoped to improve his circumstances. In my view, wealth and happiness are not the same - happiness depends more on one's outlook and values than on money alone.
Q13: What was the final insult? Why did the doctor feel insulted? What should he have done to avoid the insult?
Ans: The final insult came when the doctor returned the next morning with help and discovered that a thief had completely cleared out his room. Only his soiled vest had been left behind, which added to the humiliation. He felt insulted because his possessions were stolen while even the thief seemed to care about cleanliness. To avoid this he should have secured his room and belongings before leaving in a hurry; better hygiene and care of his things would also have prevented the shame of finding only a discarded vest left behind.
Q14: Why did the doctor, according to you, keep on looking into the mirror? How important is appearance in your opinion? Should we spend time in making ourselves look handsome?
Ans: As a bachelor who admired beauty, the doctor kept looking into the mirror because he wanted to appear attractive and confident. Appearance does matter to some extent: being neat and presentable helps in social and professional life. However, one must not spend excessive time on looks or rely only on external appearance. Personal hygiene and grooming are important, but inner qualities and good character matter even more.
Q15: Do you think keeping a smile on the face makes a person more handsome? How?
Ans: Yes, a smile makes a person more attractive. A smiling face appears friendly and confident, and it creates a pleasant impression on others. Smiling sends positive signals, eases interactions and often wins people's goodwill, so wearing a sincere smile is one of the simplest and most effective ways to enhance one's appearance.
