The Snake and the Mirror

 Thinking about the Text

(Page 60)

 

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?

Ans. 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, and ‘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?

Ans: The doctor took the following two ‘important’ and ‘earth shaking’ decisions. They are:

(a) He would shave daily and grow a thin moustache to look more handsome.

(b) He would always keep that 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

(ii) he smiles again? In what way do his thoughts change in between, and why?

Ans: The doctor thought that he had a good smile when he first smiled. But when he smiled a little later, he laughed at his destiny. His life was in danger. His thoughts got changed because of the snake. He was quite near to death.

 

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. The kind of person the doctor is (money, possessions)

2. The kind of person he wants to be (appearance, ambition)

Ans: The doctor is a poor man. He does not have much money. His house has no electricity. It is a small rented room which has many rats. He has about sixty rupees in his suitcase. Along with some shirts and dhotis, he also possesses a single black coat.

He wants to be a handsome person. So he decides to shave daily and grow a thin moustache. He also wishes to accumulate wealth.

 

3. The person he wants to marry

The person he actually marries

Ans: He intends to marry a woman doctor who has plenty of money and good medical practice. He wishes to have a fat wife so that she cannot run after him and catch him when he would make a mistake.

The person he actually marries is a thin reedy person with the gift of a sprinter.

 

4. His thoughts when he looks into the mirror

His thoughts when the snake is coiled around his arm

Ans: He thinks that he should look smart. So he decides to shave daily and maintain a mustache. He also wants to keep up his smile. He is happy and content when he looks into the mirror.

When the snake coiled around his left arm above the elbow, he kept sitting there holding his breath. He became motionless. He was afraid of the snake.