Literature Chapter 5 - The Snake And The Mirror

This article will help NCERT Class 9 English students get good grades by providing them with NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Beehive Chapter 5 for their CBSE Examinations. A brief synopsis, the list of characters, literary devices used, and the themes of Chapter 5 English Class 9 Beehive are given below.

L5 – The Snake And The Mirror: Summary

The story, ‘The Snake and the Mirror’ is written by Valkom Muhamad Basheer. It is presented in the format of a narrative within a narrative. It follows the author learning about an exciting story from the homoeopathic doctor he went to visit. The doctor told him about an encounter he had with a King Cobra snake and how a mirror saved his life.

The doctor, after entering his room, post-dinner, heard a loud noise from the ceiling. After he lit his lamp and undressed his coat, he opened the windows to let fresh air in. Soon after, he made his bed and lay in it. The homoeopath was a bachelor in those days and therefore paid excellent attention to his looks. Hence, before sleeping, when he had a good look at himself in the mirror.

As the homoeopath rested in his chair, he heard a loud noise. Soon, there was a cobra skin coiled around his shoulder. As the snake was about to strike him, it turned its head and had a good look at itself in the mirror. The snake then diverted its attention from the homoeopath and gazed upon the mirror.

Seizing the opportunity, the homoeopath rushed outside the house. Upon returning the next morning, he realised that other than his dirty vest, all his belongings had been robbed.

L5 – The Snake And The Mirror: Characters

The characters of this story are:

• The author

• The homoeopath

• The snake

L5 – The Snake And The Mirror: Literary Devices

The narration within a narration literary device has been used in this story. This is because the author is narrating the story that has been told by another person – the homoeopath. Hence, this makes the entire story be narrated from the perspective of the homoeopath himself and not the author.

L5 – The Snake And The Mirror: Theme

The central theme of the story is arrogance and repentance. In this story, the homoeopath narrates his life-or-death experience with the snake. In his narration, this took place while he was still a bachelor, and was hoping to make himself attractive to please the ladies.

The homoeopath would always look into the mirror and exclaim about his appeal. This arrogance is said to be punished by the act of God when the snake was almost ready to take his life.

However, he believes that it was God’s grace that saved him at the end. He thinks it was the snake’s pride that saved him as it looked into the mirror instead of him.

To know more about this story, refer to NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Chapter 5.