The Snake and the Mirror
Author: Vaikom Muhammad Basheer
Summary (English)
"The Snake and the Mirror" is a humorous story narrated by a homoeopathic doctor. The doctor lived in a small rented room that contained very few possessions. One hot night, after having his meal, he sat in front of a mirror and admired his appearance.
While he was lost in dreams about his future and marriage, he suddenly heard a strange sound. A snake fell from the roof and landed on his shoulder. Soon it coiled around his left arm and rested there.
The doctor became terrified and remained motionless. He prayed silently and thought about death. Fortunately, the snake noticed its reflection in the mirror. Fascinated by its own image, it moved towards the mirror. The doctor seized the opportunity and escaped from the room.
When he returned later with friends, he found that a thief had stolen most of his belongings. The story combines fear, suspense and humour while teaching the importance of humility.
সাৰাংশ (Assamese)
"দ্য স্নেক এণ্ড দ্য মিৰৰ" হৈছে বৈকম মুহাম্মদ বশীৰৰ এটি হাস্যৰসাত্মক গল্প। এজন হোমিঅ'পেথিক ডাক্তৰে নিজৰ জীৱনৰ এটা ভয়ংকৰ অথচ মজাৰ অভিজ্ঞতা বৰ্ণনা কৰিছে।
এদিন ৰাতি তেওঁ নিজৰ সৰু ভাড়াঘৰত বহি আয়নাত নিজৰ চেহেৰা চাই আছিল আৰু ভৱিষ্যতৰ সপোন দেখিছিল। হঠাতে চালৰ পৰা এটা সাপ তেওঁৰ কান্ধত পৰিল আৰু পিছত বাহুত মেৰিয়াই ধৰিলে।
ডাক্তৰজন ভয়ত একেবাৰে স্থিৰ হৈ পৰিল। তেওঁ ঈশ্বৰক স্মৰণ কৰিলে আৰু মৃত্যুৰ কথা ভাবিবলৈ ধৰিলে। কিছু সময়ৰ পাছত সাপটোৱে আয়নাত নিজৰ প্ৰতিচ্ছবি দেখি তাৰ ফালে গ'ল।
সুযোগ পাই ডাক্তৰজন দৌৰি পলাই গ'ল। পিছত ঘূৰি আহি দেখে যে চোৰে তেওঁৰ অধিকাংশ সামগ্ৰী লৈ গৈছে। গল্পটোৱে ভয়, হাস্যৰস আৰু ব্যংগৰ এক সুন্দৰ সমন্বয় উপস্থাপন কৰিছে।
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning (Assamese) |
|---|---|
| Mirror | আয়না |
| Coiled | মেৰিয়াই ধৰা |
| Bachelor | অবিবাহিত ব্যক্তি |
| Frightened | ভয় খোৱা |
| Reflection | প্ৰতিফলন |
| Feebly | দুৰ্বলভাৱে |
| Motionless | নিষ্ক্ৰিয় / লৰচৰ নকৰা |
| Terrified | অত্যন্ত আতংকিত |
| Thief | চোৰ |
| Earth-shaking | অত্যন্ত গুৰুত্বপূৰ্ণ |
Thinking About the Text
I. Answer the Following Questions
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? When and why did the sounds stop?
Answer: The doctor heard the sound of a rat moving about in the room. He thought it was the same rat that often moved around his house. He heard the sound twice. The sounds stopped when the snake fell from the roof onto his shoulder and the room became completely silent.
2. What two “important” and “earth-shaking” decisions did the doctor take while he was looking into the mirror?
Answer: The doctor decided that he would shave daily and grow a thin moustache to look more handsome. He also decided to marry a rich doctor who had a good medical practice and was fat so that she would not be able to run after him and beat him.
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?
Answer: When the doctor first smiles, he feels proud of his appearance and considers himself handsome. Later, after the snake coils around his arm, he smiles feebly because he realizes how helpless and insignificant he is in front of death. His pride changes into humility and fear.
II. Humour in the Story
1. (i) The kind of person the doctor is
Answer: The doctor was poor and had very few possessions. He lived in a small rented room with little furniture and only sixty rupees in his possession.
(ii) The kind of person he wants to be
Answer: He wanted to look handsome and attractive. He admired himself in the mirror and dreamed of becoming more charming with a moustache and a better appearance.
2. (i) The person he wants to marry
Answer: He wanted to marry a rich woman doctor with a good medical practice.
(ii) The person he actually marries
Answer: In reality, he married a woman who was a good and sensible person, not necessarily the rich lady doctor of his imagination.
3. (i) His thoughts when he looks into the mirror
Answer: He thinks about his appearance, his future and his marriage plans. He is proud and full of confidence.
(ii) His thoughts when the snake is coiled around his arm
Answer: He becomes terrified and thinks only about saving his life. All his pride and dreams disappear instantly.
Humour: The story becomes humorous because of the contrast between the doctor's grand dreams and the frightening reality of the snake incident.
Thinking About Language
I. Match the Sentences
(a) Afraid of the snake: 1, 3, 4
(b) Proud of his appearance: 2, 6, 8
(c) Had a sense of humour: 9, 10
(d) No longer afraid of the snake: 5, 7
II. Expressions Used to Show Fear
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 a temple.
III. Match the Expressions with Their Meanings
1. Scared out of my wits – Very frightened
2. Got a fright – Frightened by something that happens suddenly
3. Jumped out of his skin – Very frightened
4. Gave me a fright – Makes another feel frightened
5. Make your hair stand on end – Very frightened
6. Paralysed with fear – Too scared to move
7. Not moving a muscle – Too scared to move
IV. Reported Questions
1. Meena asked her friend whether 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 whether they were ready to do the work.
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