NCERT Solutions 09th English Chapter 5 The Snake and The Mirror

1. “The sound was 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?
Answer:
The doctor heard a familiar sound which he thought to be of rats. Actually, the room in which he lived was full of rats. There was a regular traffic of rats to and from the beam.
He heard the sound thrice.
The sounds stopped suddenly after the doctor heard a dull thud as if a rubber tube had fallen to the ground. It was a snake.
2. What two “important” and “earth-shaking” decisions did the doctor take while he was looking into the mirror?
Answer:
The doctor took two "important" and "earth-shaking" decisions while he was looking into the mirror. These were:
First, he decided to shave daily and grow a thin moustache.
Second, he would always 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 (ii) he smiles again? In what way do his thoughts change in between, and why?
Answer
(i) When the doctor first smiles, he admires his good looks and profession.
(ii) When he smiles again, he actually smiles at his stupidity and poor situation.
His thoughts changed after his encounter with the snake.
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.)
1. (i) The kind of person the doctor is (money, possessions)
(ii) The kind of person he wants to be (appearance, ambition)
2. (i) The person he wants to marry
(ii) The person he actually marries
3. (i) His thoughts when he looks into the mirror
(ii) His thoughts when the snake is coiled around his arm
Write short paragraphs on each of these to get your answer.
Answer:
The way in which the contrast between dreams and reality has been presented in the story makes it humorous. Some such contrasts are discussed below.
1. (i) We can clearly see the contrast between the lifestyle of the doctor and his high opinion of himself. His financial condition is not good. He lives in a small rented room with plenty of rats living in it. He has just started his medical practice. He had about sixty rupees in his suitcase. Along with some shirts and dhotis, he possessed one solitary black coat.
(ii) He wants to have an attractive appearance. He considers himself an eligible bachelor. He is full of appreciation for his looks and profession. The way he praises his looks, his smile and profession adds an element of humour in the story.
2. (i) The doctor wants to marry a woman with good medical practice and a lot of money. He wants her to be fat so that she would not be able to run after him and catch him when he will make any silly mistake.
(ii) He marries a thin reedy woman who could run like as sprinter.
3. (i) He is full of self-admiration when he looks into the mirror. He decides to grow thin moustache and keep smiling always as he finds his smile quite attractive.
(ii) When the snake coiled around his arm, he turned to a stone. He kept sitting there holding his breath. He smiled at his foolishness and stupidity, as he was a doctor but he did not have any medicines in his room to cure the snakebite.

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  • DOMALA SHIVA PRASAD
  • 2023-November-14 03:37:39
good service
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  • 2023-August-18 06:30:37
Want complete chapter
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  • 2023-August-10 12:18:12
Want answers...
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Nice
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7th class Soil
  • B
  • 2020-June-01 09:44:08
GOOD
  • Rajudutta
  • 2020-May-11 18:59:44
Excellent study material app
  • Ramu
  • 2020-May-05 16:04:06
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  • Ramu
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