Class 9 English Chapter 5 Important Question Answers - The Snake and the Mirror

Q1. What was the doctor thinking while he was seated before the mirror?

Ans: While seated before the mirror, the doctor was preoccupied with his appearance. He decided to shave daily, grow a thin moustache, and maintain an attractive smile to look more handsome, reflecting his vanity as an unmarried doctor.

Q2. Justify the title of the story ‘The Snake and the Mirror’.

Ans: The title "The Snake and the Mirror" fits the story perfectly, as it revolves on a key moment involving the doctor, a snake, and a mirror. The mirror shows the doctor’s pride as he admires himself, while the snake, symbolising danger and fate, coils around him, making him face death. When the snake gets distracted by its own reflection in the mirror, the doctor escapes. Both the snake and the mirror are central to the story’s themes of pride and survival, making the title apt. 

Q3. How did the doctor show presence of mind when he encountered the snake?

Ans: The doctor showed remarkable presence of mind when he encountered the snake. Instead of panicking, he stayed calm, sitting still in his chair and holding his breath. Although his body was motionless, his mind was highly alert as he assessed the situation. When the snake coiled around his arm, he did not react with fear; he simply observed its movements. This calmness allowed him to think clearly, and he quietly left the room, escaping to safety. This ability to remain composed in a moment of danger highlights his quick thinking and self-control.

Q4. How did the snake change the writer’s opinion about himself?

Ans: Initially proud of his profession and appearance, the doctor’s encounter with the snake humbled him. Facing death with the snake coiled around his arm, he recognised his vulnerability and lack of control, viewing himself as a “poor, foolish, and stupid doctor” rather than a proud professional.

Q5. While looking into the mirror, what important and earth-shaking decisions did the doctor make?

Ans: The doctor made two significant decisions while looking in the mirror. Firstly, he decided to shave daily and grow a thin moustache to enhance his appearance, believing it would make him look more handsome. Secondly, he resolved to always maintain an attractive smile on his face.

Q6. What did the doctor do on seeing the snake?

Ans: When the snake landed on his shoulder and coiled around his arm, the doctor remained still, holding his breath to avoid provoking it. Once the snake moved toward the mirror, he quietly got up, left the room, and ran to safety.

Q7. What type of woman did the doctor in the story “The Snake and the Mirror” want to get married to, and why?

Ans: The doctor, a bachelor with limited earnings, wished to marry a wealthy, fat lady doctor with a successful practice. He reasoned that if he ever needed to escape due to a mistake, her size would prevent her from chasing him.

Q8. Why did the snake leave the doctor’s arm?

Ans: The snake left the doctor’s arm because it saw its own reflection in the mirror. Fascinated by its appearance, the snake wanted to admire its beauty up close. This moment highlights the snake's curiosity and perhaps a sense of self-admiration.

Q9. Without a mirror, the story will lose its charm and reality. Justify.

Ans: The story would lose its charm and reality without the mirror because it captivates both the doctor and the snake. The doctor makes two significant decisions: he decides to shave daily and grow a thin moustache to enhance his looks, and he resolves to keep a smile on his face while admiring himself in the mirror. Meanwhile, the snake is drawn to its own reflection, leaving the doctor's arm to sit on the table in front of the mirror. This moment provides the doctor with a chance to escape and save himself. Therefore, the narrative is deeply intertwined with the mirror, making it an essential element of the story.

Q10. God has a lot of ways of controlling our lives. Discuss this in the light of the story ‘The Snake and the Mirror’?

Ans: Our life is undoubtedly in God's hands, who is the supreme power guiding our existence. Sometimes, like the young doctor in the story, we forget this truth. He mistakenly believed he was in control of his future while standing proudly before the mirror. The snake in the tale represents God's control over him, serving as a reminder of his mortality. It highlighted that he was closer to death than he realised, illustrating that he was not the true master of his life.