NCERT Solutions: Snake

TEXTBOOK QUESTIONS (SOLVED)

6. Answer the following questions briefly.

(a) Why does the poet decide to stand and wait till the snake has finished drinking water?
Ans: The poet respects the natural order of things: the snake arrived at the trough before him, so he feels it is proper to let it drink first. He is also moved by sympathy and does not wish to disturb the animal while it is thirsty and vulnerable.

(b) In stanza 2 and 3 the poet gives a vivid description of the snake by using suggestive expressions. What picture of the snake do you form on the basis of this description?
Ans: The snake appears long and earth-brown in colour. Its movements are slow and unhurried, almost calm like that of cattle. It drinks very leisurely, seeming to savour each drop as it laps the water. Overall it gives an impression of dignity, ease and harmlessness rather than menace.

(c) How does the poet describe the day and the atmosphere when he saw the snake?
Ans: It was an extremely hot July day in Sicily. The ground was parched and dry, and Mount Etna sent out fumes that made the air oppressive. The water-trough, however, stood under a fragrant carob tree, offering a small cool and scented shelter where the snake came to drink.

(d) What does the poet want to convey by saying that the snake emerges from the 'burning bowels of the earth'?
Ans: By this phrase the poet emphasises how the snake comes out from the hot, scorched interior of the earth. The image suggests the creature is suffering from the heat and has had to crawl out from a harsh, burning place to seek relief. This evokes the poet's sympathy and a desire to leave the snake undisturbed.

(e) Do you think the snake was conscious of the poet's presence? How do you know?
Ans: No. The snake does not seem fully aware of the poet. It looks about in a vague, unstartled way and continues drinking slowly. If it had noticed the poet as a threat, it would probably have hurried away instead of pausing between sips and taking its time at the trough.

(f) How do we know that the snake's thirst was satiated. Pick out the expression that conveys this. [C.B.S.E. 2012 (T-2)]
Ans: The poem shows the snake is satisfied by lines such as 'He drank enough' and 'He stopped and drank a little more'. The action of 'flickering his tongue' after drinking also suggests that the snake has had its fill.

(g) The poet had a dual attitude towards the snake? Why does he experience conflicting emotions on seeing the snake?
Ans: The poet feels two opposing emotions: fear or learned aversion, and admiration or sympathy. Social education has taught him that snakes are dangerous and should be killed, but his immediate natural response to the snake's calm, dignified behaviour is one of respect and fascination. These two voices - one of cultural fear and one of natural empathy - put him in conflict.

(h) The poet is filled with horror and protest when the snake prepared to retreat and bury itself in the 'horrid black' and 'dreadful hole'. In the light of this statement, bring out the irony of his act of throwing a log at the snake.
Ans: It is ironic because, though the poet feels protective and sorrowful as the snake prepares to return to the dark hole, he is the very person who attacks it. He had watched it drink without disturbing it, yet he suddenly throws a log and strikes the snake as it turns away. His action contradicts his expressed concern and exposes a mean, cowardly impulse.

(i) The poet seems to be full of admiration and respect for the snake. He almost regards him like a God. Pick out four expressions that reflect these emotions.
Ans: Expressions that show the poet's admiration include: 'and looked around like a god', 'seemed to me like a king', 'a king in exile', and 'due to be crowned again'. These phrases suggest honour, dignity and a royal presence.

(j) What is the difference between the snake's movement at the beginning of the poem and later when the poet strikes it with a log of wood?
Ans: At first the snake moves in a slack, leisurely way - it sips slowly and afterwards moves 'dreamily, as one who is drunk', showing calm and dignity. After the poet throws the log, the snake's movement becomes swift and undignified: it vanishes suddenly and quickly, as if startled and driven away.

(k) The poet experiences feelings of self-derision, guilt and regret after hitting the snake. Pick out expressions that suggest this. Why does he feel like this? [C.B.S.E. 2012 (T-2)]
Ans: The poet describes his own behaviour with words such as 'mean', 'vulgar', 'paltry' and 'petty'. He curses his social conditioning and feels ashamed because he struck a harmless, thirsty creature from behind without cause. The poet feels that the snake behaved in a dignified manner, whereas he behaved in a petty manner. He realises his act was cowardly and unworthy, so he is filled with regret and wishes to make amends.

(l) Why does the poet make on allusion to the 'Ancient Mariner' and the 'albatross'?
Ans: The reference to the Ancient Mariner, who killed a harmless albatross and later suffered for it, and here also the snake had proved to be harmless, yet the poet tried to kill it, draws a direct parallel. Both the mariner and the poet harm a harmless creature without reason and then feel remorse. The allusion underlines the poet's guilt and the need for expiation.

(m) "I have something to expiate." Explain.
Ans: By saying this the poet admits he has committed a wrong - he struck a harmless snake. He feels guilt and believes he must atone for his action. The phrase expresses his sense of responsibility and his intention to make some form of reparation for the deed.

Q.7. The encounter with the snake and the dual response of the poet to his presence at the water trough reflect a conflict between civilized social education and natural human instincts. The poet writes a diary entry highlighting how he was torn between the two voices. Write his diary.

Ans:

Dear Diary,

Today I met a yellow-brown snake at the water-trough outside my house. It had come to drink on a burning July day, and its slow, dignified manner held me spellbound. I stood with my empty pitcher and watched without disturbing it. The creature seemed exhausted by the heat and moved with a calm grace that I found oddly noble.

At the same time two voices argued in me. One was taught and sensible - it whispered that snakes are dangerous and must be killed. The other was simple and immediate - it asked me to respect the creature's need and leave it alone. For a moment I obeyed the softer voice. Then, because of habit or fear, I picked up a log and struck the snake as it turned away.

It vanished at once. What remained in me was not triumph but a sick, heavy shame. I called my action 'mean, vulgar, paltry, petty' in my mind. I know now that I acted from ignorance and cowardice, not from any right. I feel that I must make amends for what I have done, though I am uncertain how. I am left with the lesson that social prejudice can crush a tender, natural response unless I learn to question it.

D.H. Lawrence