NCERT Solutions Class 9, English, Beehive, Prose, Chapter- 5, The Snake and the Mirror.
Thinking about the Text
I. Discuss in pairs and answer each question below in a short paragraph (30–40 words).
1. “The sound was a familiar one.” What sound did the doctor hear? What did he think it was? How many times did he hear it? (Find the places in the text.) When and why did the sounds stop?
Solution:
The doctor heard the sound of rats. The sound was a familiar one. He heard this sound four times. The phrases are ‘Again I heard that sound from above’, ‘Again came that noise from above’, ‘Suddenly there came a dull thud as if a rubber tube has fallen’. The sounds stopped after the appearance of the snake.
2. What two “important” and “earth-shaking” decisions did the doctor take while he was looking into the mirror?
Solution:
The doctor took two "important" and "earth-shaking" while he was looking into the mirror First, he decided to shave daily and grow a thin moustache. Second, always to keep an attractive smile on his face.
3. “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:
(i) he first smiles, and
Solution:
When the doctor first smiles, he has an inflated opinion of himself, admiring his looks and profession.
(ii) he smiles again? In what way do his thoughts change in between, and why?
Solution:
In the second instance, the doctor smiles at his foolishness and helplessness.
His thoughts change after his encounter with the snake—from being a proud doctor he moves on to accept his stupidity.
II. This story about a frightening incident is narrated in a humorous way. What makes it humorous? (Think of the contrasts it presents between dreams and reality. Some of them are listed below.)
Write short paragraphs on each of these to get your answer.
1.
(i) The kind of person the doctor is (money, possessions)
Solution:
The doctor is a poor person. He has hardly any money. he lives in an unelectrified house. It is small rented room with plenty of rats living in it. He has just started his medical practice. So he is not a man of possessions or money.
(ii) The kind of person he wants to be (appearance, ambition)
Solution:
The Person wants to be rich. he also would like to have good appearance. That's why he decides to grow a thin moustache.
2.
(i) The person he wants to marry
Solution:
The doctor wants to marry a woman doctor with good medical practice and a lot of money. She would be fat as not to run after him and catch him.
(ii) The person he actually marries
Solution:
He marries a thin reedy woman who has a gift of sprinter.
3.
(i) His thoughts when he looks into the mirror
Solution:
His thoughts are full of joy and satisfaction. He decides to grow thin moustache and keep smiling always. He finds his smile attractive
(ii) His thoughts when the snake is coiled around his arm
Solution:
He turned to stone. He sat like stone image in the flesh. However, his mind was very active. He felt the great presence of creator. He decides to write the words 'O God' outside his little heart.
Thinking about Language
I. Here are some sentences from the text. Say which of them tell you, that the author: (a) was afraid of the snake, (b) was proud of his appearance, (c) had a sense of humour, (d) was no longer afraid of the snake.
1. I was turned to stone.
2. I was no mere image cut in granite.
3. The arm was beginning to be drained of strength.
4. I tried in my imagination to write in bright letters outside my little heart the words, ‘O God’.
5. I didn’t tremble. I didn’t cry out.
6. I looked into the mirror and smiled. It was an attractive smile.
7. I was suddenly a man of flesh and blood.
8. I was after all a bachelor, and a doctor too on top of it!
9. The fellow had such a sense of cleanliness...! The rascal could have taken it and used it after washing it with soap and water.
10. Was it trying to make an important decision about growing a moustache or using eye shadow and mascara or wearing a vermilion spot on its forehead.
Solution:
(a) was afraid of the snake |
(b) was proud of his appearance |
(c) had a sense of humour |
(d) was no longer afraid of the snake. |
1. I was turned to stone.
3. The arm was beginning to be drained of strength.
4. I tried in my imagination to write in bright letters outside my little heart the words, ‘O God’.
5. I didn’t tremble. I didn’t cry out. |
6. I looked into the mirror and smiled. It was an attractive smile.
8. I was after all a bachelor, and a doctor too on top of it!
|
9. The fellow had such a sense of cleanliness...! The rascal could have taken it and used it after washing it with soap and water.
10. Was it trying to make an important decision about growing a moustache or using eye shadow and mascara or wearing a vermilion spot on its forehead.
|
2. I was no mere image cut in granite.
7. I was suddenly a man of flesh and blood.
|