NCERT Solutions For Class 9 English Chapter 16 The Snake and the Mirror

1. I was turned to stone.

2. I sat there holding my breath.

3. In the light of the lamp I sat there like a stone image in the flesh.

While looking into the mirror the doctor took two 'important' and 'earthshaking' decisions. The first was to shave daily and to keep a narrow moustache. The second decision he had taken was to wear an attractive smile on his face to look handsome.

The doctor lived in a rented house which was infested with rats. He thought that the sound he heard was made by rats. There was a regular traffic of rats to and from the beam. He heard the sound thrice. The sound stopped suddenly as the rats saw a snake. Suddenly, there came a dull thud as if a rubber tube had fallen to the ground when the snake fell from the vault.

2. I got a fright when I realised how close I was to the cliff edge. (felt an intense fear due to something that happened suddenly)

3. He nearly jumped out of his skin when he saw the bull coming towards him. (extremely frightened)

4. You really gave me a fright when you crept up behind me like that. (frightened by something that happened suddenly)

5. Wait until I tell his story — it will make your hair stand on end. (to make someone very frightened)

6. Paralysed with fear, the boy faced his abductors. (too frightened to move)

7. The boy hid behind the door, not moving a muscle. (too frightened to move)

1. Meena asked her friend if she thought her teacher would come that day.
2. David asked his colleague where he would go that summer.
3. He asked the little boy why he was studying English.
4. She asked me when we were going to leave.
5. Pran asked me whether I had finished reading the newspaper.
6. Seema asked her how long she had lived there.
7. Sheila asked the children if they were ready to do the work.

• In column A, sentences are written in the past tense. On the contrary, in column B they are written in the present tense.
• In column B, short sentences are used. They are framed in the present tense.
• In Column B, the short sentences are simple and easily comprehensible.

I like the paragraph in column B. The sentences are framed in the present tense. They give a clear-cut idea. I can easily remember the facts expressed in present tense.

THE FAIREST OF THEM ALL

He sat looking at the broken mirror for a long time. “What is wrong with my friends? Why are they avoiding me like an ugly creature?” The mirror reflected his face. It was more handsome than the face of all other monkeys in his locality. Suddenly, a thought came up in his mind.

“If I shave off the stubble on my face I will become more handsome,” he thought. He had seen the photos of popular film stars. Invariably all of them had clean shaven faces. Those heroes were adored by their fans. “It is difficult to see a bearded young man these days,” he thought with a sigh. Holding the mirror tightly in his hands he took a solemn decision, “I will shave off my dirty stubble and look clean and handsome.”

The doctor returned to his rented house. The room was completely dark. Suddenly, he heard a frightening noise. He stood still and tried to light a kerosene lamp. He could hardly make out what made the noise in the dim light of the kerosene lamp.

He heard the noise again and thought it was made by rats. He looked at his own reflection on the mirror in the dim light of the lamp. He felt the pangs of fear gripping his heart. He heard the noise once again but it stopped suddenly. Then he heard a thud as if something had fallen down. He sat on his chair trying to read a book.

Suddenly, he found a snake wriggling at the back of his chair. It slowly slithered along his shoulder and coiled around his left arm. The hood was spread out and its head was hardly three inches from his face. The doctor was frightened. He was paralysed with fear. He could not move a muscle and he sat there holding his breath. The room was surrounded by darkness.

He felt as if a thick road of molten fire coiled around his arm. Suddenly, the snake turned its head, uncoiled itself slowly, slithered into his lap and crept on to the table nearby. The doctor stood from his chair. Holding his breath he quietly went out through the door into the veranda. From there he leapt into the yard and ran for his life.

To turn the original story just into a horrifying incident without humour, we should leave out the author's description about his beauty, his funny decisions and his fancies about his future wife. We should also leave out the part where the snake seems to be enjoying its own beauty in the mirror and the doctor’s remarks about the thief leaving back his dirty vest.

The Indian cobra is the common name for members of the family of venomous snakes, known for their intimidating looks and deadly bite. Cobras are recognised by the hoods that they flare when angry or disturbed; the hoods are created by the extension of the ribs behind the cobras’ heads. Obviously the best prevention is to avoid getting bitten. This is facilitated by the fact that humans are not the natural prey of any venomous snake. We are a bit large for them to swallow whole and they have no means of chopping us up into bite-size pieces. Nearly all snakebites in humans are the result of a snake defending itself when it feels threatened. In general, snakes are shy and will simply leave if you give them a chance.

(i) The first time he smiles proudly at himself admiring his handsome looks and his profession as a doctor.

(ii) The second smile is of helplessness. The doctor is in a helpless situation and he repents of his foolishness and carelessness.

His thoughts change completely from self-confidence to helplessness within a span of few minutes. From being a handsome doctor he moves on to accept his helplessness and stupidity. The change is brought about by the encounter with the snake that is coiled around his left arm.

The story is indeed of a terrifying incident but it is narrated in a humorous way. The story is made humorous by the way it is narrated and the witty comments and thoughts the author incorporates into the story. The story brings out a contrast between dreams and reality. Some instances are given below.

1. (i) The description of the rented house depicts doctor’s financial situation. He lives in a house infested with rats. The house is not electrified. His medical practice has just begun. His income seems to be meager.

(ii) On the other hand the doctor is extremely self-confident. He considers himself a handsome bachelor. He is proud of his looks and profession. He wants to be rich and good-looking. So he takes the decision to wear a thin moustache and beautiful smile to look more handsome.

2. (i) There is also contradiction between the kind of woman the doctor wants to marry and whom he marries at the end. He wants to get married to a woman doctor who has plenty of money and a good medical practice. He also wants his wife to be fat so as not to run after him and catch him in case he runs away from her.

(ii) In reality the doctor marries a woman who is very thin and a good sprinter.

3. (i) When the doctor looks into the mirror he is contented, confident of his looks and profession and full of admiration for himself. He thinks about ways to look more handsome and decides to wear a moustache and a beautiful smile on his face. He also thinks about marrying a woman doctor.

(ii) When the snake is coiled round his arm, he is petrified. He thinks about his stupidity and helplessness. He thinks about God. His strength is drained off. He comes to the reality and accepts the fact that he is a stupid and poor doctor. He smiles at himself in utter helplessness.