NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Chapter 5 The Snake and the Mirror
NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Beehive Chapter 5 The Snake and the Mirror covers the humorous story of a young homoeopathic doctor's encounter with a snake, the theme of vanity and fear, and important questions and answers.
Overview of Topics & Subtopics (Click to Jump)
1. Story Summary
Short Note:
• The narrator is a young, jobless homoeopathic doctor living in a rented room, who spends his time admiring his own good looks in a mirror.
• One night, a huge snake enters his room while he is lying in bed, and in his fear he keeps very still, watching it with growing terror.
• The snake accidentally knocks over a bottle of hair oil, mistakes its own reflection for another snake in the mirror, gets frightened, and finally leaves the room, much to the doctor's relief.
2. Character Sketch
Short Note:
• The Narrator (Young Doctor): A poor but proud man who is vain about his appearance yet turns out to be genuinely afraid when faced with real danger.
• The Snake: A large snake that enters the room by accident and is itself frightened by its own reflection, adding a humorous twist to the tense situation.
3. Theme & Message
Short Note:
• The story uses humour to explore how fear can override vanity, and how self-obsession is contrasted with a genuine life-threatening situation.
• It also gently mocks the narrator's excessive pride in his looks, showing that appearances matter little when survival is at stake.
Reading With Insight (Textbook Questions)
Extract-Based / Short Answer Questions
Read More & Chapter Resources
These short notes are designed for quick revision. Read the main points once, then use the related material below to practise the same chapter. Revising a concept and checking it with questions can make your preparation more focused.