NCERT Solutions Class 9 English Beehive Prose: Chapter 5 – The Snake and the Mirror
The Snake and the Mirror is a cool short story from Chapter 5 of the Class 9th English Beehive book. It's about a guy meeting a snake in a bathroom and how it messes with his head. The story "Snake and the Mirror" explores the mentioned themes like fear, human nature, and the blurring lines between imagination and reality.
These NCERT Solutions for Chapter 5 – The Snake and the Mirror are curated according to the latest NCERT syllabus and CBSE guidelines. These are designed to enhance student's understanding and provide in-depth knowledge about the chapter. The responses are concise, allowing students to grasp the essence of the story, its significance, and its literary qualities.
1.0Download NCERT Solutions Class 9 English Beehive [Prose] Chapter 5 – The Snake and the Mirror: Free PDF
The NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Chapter 5 PDF is available for free. Click the link below to download the PDF for free.
2.0Class 9 English Chapter 5 – The Snake and the Mirror: Brief Explanation
In the chapter The Snake and the Mirror, the narrator is sitting, looking at a snake nearby on the floor. Even though he's terrified, he tries to chill out and starts imagining he's a snake charmer. This shows his mixed-up feelings about fear and bravery – how much he can control them, and when fear takes over. The story also shows how our thoughts can trick us, so we have to be careful. It's about how people can get stuck inside their heads.
- Fear and Bravery: The story shows how fear affects what we do and how we can get over it.
- Human Mind: It looks at the narrator's mind through his thoughts as he uses his imagination to understand fear.
- Images and Symbols: The snake symbolises danger, while the mirror represents self-awareness.
- Real vs. Fake: Things may not be as they seem.
- The writing is easy to follow and keeps you interested, adding to the story's meaning.
Explore the Chapter : The Snake and The Mirror
3.0NCERT Class 9 English Chapter 5: Detailed Solutions
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?
Ans. The doctor lived in a room which was full of rats. He heard the sounds of the rats. There was a regular traffic of rats to and fro the beam. He heard the sound thrice. The sound stopped after the doctor heard a dull thud, because the snake had fallen on the ground.
2. What two "important" and "earth-shaking" decisions did the doctor take while he was looking into the mirror?
Ans. The doctor took two "important" and "earth-shaking" decisions 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 (ii) he smiles again? In what way do his thoughts change in between, and why?
Ans. (i) When the doctor first smiles, he has an inflated opinion of himself, admiring his looks and profession.
(ii) 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.
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)
Ans. (i) The doctor is a poor person. He has hardly any money. He lives in an unelectrified house. It is a 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 doctor wants to be rich. He would also like to have a good appearance. That's why he decides to grow a thin moustache.
2. (i) The person he wants to marry.; (ii) The person he actually marries.
Ans.
(i) 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) He marries a thin reedy woman who has a gift of sprinter.
3. (i) His thoughts when he looks into the mirror; (ii) His thoughts when the snake is coiled around his arm
Ans.
(i) His thoughts are full of joy and satisfaction. He decides to grow thin moustache and to keep smiling always. He finds his smile attractive.
(ii) He turns to stone. He sits like a stone image in the flesh. However, his mind is very active. He feels the great presence of creator of this world. He decides to write the words 'O God' outside his little heart.
4.0Key Features and Benefits of Class 9 English Chapter 5 The Snake and the Mirror
- Answers are accurate and according to the newest NCERT syllabus.
- Written simply, so students can easily get it.
- Breaks down themes, symbols, and the psychology behind things.
- Helps you think, understand, and figure things out so you're ready for exams.
- Gets students more comfortable answering questions about literature and helps them see new connections.