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    9. The Snake and the Mirror- Class 9 - Beehive



    Author: Vaikom Muhammad Basheer

    Textbook: Beehive (Class IX)

    Genre: Short Story / Autobiographical Anecdote / Humour and Irony


    📝 Summary

    “The Snake and the Mirror” is a humorous and ironic tale narrated by a homeopathic doctor about a terrifying encounter he once had with a snake. Set in a modest, sparsely furnished room, the story captures how a moment of pride and self-admiration turns into one of terror and reflection.


    The narrator, alone in his room, begins admiring himself in the mirror, imagining his future fame, wealth, and even a romantic partner. However, his fantasy is interrupted when a snake lands on his shoulder. He is frozen in fear. Ironically, the snake is captivated not by him but by its own reflection in the mirror.


    Eventually, the snake slithers off, and the narrator escapes immediately, never to return. He ends the story with dry humour, pointing out how he lost all his possessions except his dirty vest.


    👤 Character Sketch: The Narrator (Doctor)

    • Proud and Vain – Admires his looks and dreams of marrying a rich, beautiful woman

    • Reflective and Witty – Looks back on the incident with humour and wisdom

    • Ordinary yet Relatable – Lives simply, shares universal fears and ambitions

    • Nervous and Vulnerable – Freezes when confronted by the snake

    • Humorous and Ironical – Retells the story in a light-hearted, self-deprecating manner


    📚 Themes

    Theme

    Description

    Vanity and Self-Obsession

    The narrator is obsessed with his looks and future dreams

    Fear and Helplessness

    The sudden arrival of the snake reveals how powerless he truly is

    Irony and Humour

    A terrifying moment is retold with irony and comic exaggeration

    Man vs. Nature

    A subtle reminder of human vulnerability in front of nature’s forces

    Illusion vs. Reality

    The narrator’s fantasies are shattered by a sudden dose of reality


    ✨ Literary Devices

    Device

    Example / Function

    Irony

    The narrator thinks he’s charming, but a snake ignores him for the mirror

    Humour

    Exaggerated self-praise followed by panic creates comic contrast

    Imagery

    “The room was full of darkness,” “a full-blooded cobra” – builds tension

    Personification

    The mirror and snake seem to have emotions or thoughts

    Contrast

    Vanity versus vulnerability; pride versus panic


    📖 Title Justification

    The title “The Snake and the Mirror” highlights the two main elements of the story — the sudden threat of the snake, and the mirror which symbolizes vanity. The contrast between the narrator and the snake’s reactions to the mirror reflects the deeper theme of self-obsession and the unexpected twists of life.

    ✅ One-Mark Questions (One-Sentence Answers)

    Q1. What was the narrator’s profession?

    👉 He was a homeopathic doctor.


    Q2. What did the narrator admire in the mirror?

    👉 He admired his looks, especially his smile.


    Q3. What interrupted the narrator’s admiration session?

    👉 A snake coiled itself on his shoulder.


    Q4. What did the snake seem interested in?

    👉 The snake appeared to be admiring its reflection in the mirror.


    Q5. What did the narrator lose when he ran away?

    👉 He lost his belongings except for his dirty vest.


    ✅ Three-Mark Questions

    Q1. How does the narrator’s attitude change from the beginning to the end of the story?

    👉 At first, the narrator is proud, imagining a glamorous future. But when the snake appears, he is overwhelmed with fear. By the end, he is humbled and looks back at the experience with humour and irony.


    Q2. Describe the irony in the story “The Snake and the Mirror.”

    👉 The narrator, lost in self-admiration, is completely ignored by the snake, which is instead fascinated by its own reflection. His dreams of romance and wealth turn into a panic-filled escape.


    Q3. What lesson does the story teach us?

    👉 The story teaches that vanity is fleeting, and we are often at the mercy of nature. It also shows the importance of humility and the unpredictability of life.


    🧠 Value-Based Question

    Q. What does the story teach us about human nature and self-perception?

    👉 It shows that people often live in illusions of self-importance, but real life can instantly reveal how fragile and helpless we are. The story encourages self-awareness, humility, and humour in the face of unexpected situations.




    END


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