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

Q.1. What was the doctor’s opinion about himself? How did this opinion change after his encounter with the snake?
Or
How did the doctor lose his pride after the snake landed on his shoulder?
Ans. 
The doctor had a very high opinion of himself, both in terms of his appearance and his profession. He was highly conscious of his looks and constantly sought ways to appear more handsome. He frequently admired himself in the mirror, reveling in his attractiveness, especially as an eligible bachelor.

He also took great pride in being a doctor, which gave him a sense of superiority and arrogance. However, this pride was shattered after a brief yet terrifying encounter with a full-blooded cobra.

When the snake landed on his shoulder and coiled itself around his arm, the doctor’s sense of arrogance vanished. Face to face with death, he realized his vulnerability and was reminded of God’s power. In that moment, his vanity seemed foolish, and he acknowledged how helpless he truly was. The absence of any medicine to treat a snakebite further emphasized his weakness.

This encounter humbled the doctor, transforming him from a vain and arrogant man into a humble and God-fearing individual.

Q.2. What kind of room was the doctor living in and why did he decide to leave that room?
Ans. 
The doctor lived in a small, uncomfortable, and unhygienic room. Since his medical practice was not yet well-established, he didn’t earn enough to afford better accommodations. The room had no electricity, forcing him to rely on a kerosene lamp for lighting. It was located on the outer side of the house, with one wall opening into the yard. The roof was tiled, supported by long gables resting on a beam, and there was no ceiling, allowing rats to move freely above, constantly squeaking.

Although the doctor disliked living in such poor conditions, he had no choice at the time. It was only after the horrifying encounter with the snake that he decided to leave. The fear and danger he experienced convinced him to run to a friend’s house for safety. From that moment, he resolved not to live in the room any longer.

Q.3. What kind of woman did the doctor want to marry? What does it show about his character? What kind of a wife did he eventually get?
Ans. 

The doctor, being proud of his good looks and profession, wanted to marry a rich lady doctor with a successful medical practice. He humorously expressed a desire for his future wife to be fat, reasoning that if he ever made a mistake and needed to run away, a fat wife wouldn’t be able to catch him.

This wish reveals that the doctor was somewhat status-conscious and practical about wealth in marriage. His preference for a fat wife also showed his playful sense of humor and lighthearted approach to life.

However, the doctor’s actual wife was quite different from what he had imagined. While it is unclear whether she was a doctor, she was certainly thin and had the physique of a sprinter, the complete opposite of what he had envisioned.

Q.4. What are the similarities between the behaviour of the doctor and of the snake?
Or
Do you think both the doctor and the snake had some common qualities? Why/Why not?
Ans. 

The behavior of the doctor and the snake shared certain similarities. Both were captivated by their own reflections in the mirror. The doctor frequently admired his appearance, driven by vanity and the desire to look handsome. When the snake appeared, it too seemed mesmerized by its reflection in the mirror, pausing to stare at itself.

However, the doctor humorously speculated that the snake, like him, might be making “important” decisions about its appearance, such as growing a mustache or applying makeup. In reality, both the doctor and the snake displayed narcissistic tendencies. The doctor’s obsession with his looks put him in a dangerous situation, and similarly, the snake, seemingly taken with its own beauty, let go of the doctor and focused on its reflection. This parallel highlights their shared vanity.

Q.5. Why did the snake not strike the doctor although it was so near his face?
Or
Which qualities and values of the doctor saved his life?
Ans. 

The snake didn’t strike the doctor, even though it was dangerously close to his face, because the doctor remained absolutely still and calm. He displayed great presence of mind by not panicking, moving, or making any sudden movements that might have alarmed the snake. Snakes typically strike only in self-defense, and the doctor’s stillness assured the snake that it wasn’t in danger.

Although fear had gripped him, the doctor’s patience, self-control, and courage kept him from reacting rashly. He didn’t try to remove the snake or loosen its grip from his arm, which might have triggered an attack. Instead, he remained motionless, allowing the snake to lose interest and slither away. His composure saved his life in this life-threatening situation.

Q.6. Write a note on the element of humour in the story.
Or
This story about a frightening incident is narrated in a humorous way. What makes it humorous?
Ans. 

Though “The Snake and the Mirror” by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer revolves around a frightening incident, the story is narrated with a generous dose of humor. This humor arises primarily from the contrasts and self-deprecating remarks made by the doctor.

For instance, the doctor takes pride in his appearance and profession, yet his vanity is sharply contrasted by the helplessness he feels when faced with the snake. His earlier arrogance is replaced by humility as he realizes how foolish he has been. Similarly, his humorous desire to marry a fat, wealthy lady doctor is contrasted with the reality of his thin, agile wife, who is the complete opposite of what he imagined.

The doctor also adds humor by poking fun at himself, remarking that the thief who robbed his room left behind his dirty vest because “he had a sense of cleanliness.” Furthermore, the doctor’s witty observations about the snake, such as suggesting it might be contemplating growing a mustache, add lightheartedness to an otherwise dangerous situation. These humorous elements make the story engaging and entertaining despite the life-threatening incident.

Q.7. “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 he smiles first and then later? In what way do his thoughts change in between, and why?
Ans. 

When the doctor first looked into the mirror and smiled, he was filled with self-admiration. He thought highly of his good looks and believed he deserved to stay well-groomed. His initial smile reflected his vanity and confidence in his appearance.

However, his thoughts dramatically changed after his encounter with the snake. When he smiled feebly at himself later, it was a smile of humility and self-realization. He had come face-to-face with his own mortality, and the pride he once had in his appearance seemed trivial. He realized how foolish and vain he had been.

His smile at this point reflected acceptance of his own shortcomings. The realization that he didn’t even have medicines in his room for emergencies like a snakebite underscored how ill-prepared he was. The second smile indicated his newfound humility and acknowledgment of the frivolity that had governed his life until that point.