Class 9 English Beehive Chapter 5 Notes – The Snake and the Mirror | Nextoper

Introduction

The Snake and the Mirror by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer is a humorous yet thought-provoking story told in the form of a first-person narrative. The story revolves around a young doctor who lives alone in a small, poorly furnished room. One night, as he admires himself in the mirror, a snake quietly enters and coils around his arm — teaching him a lesson in humility.

Through wit and irony, Basheer explores themes of vanity, fear, and self-realization, making the story both entertaining and meaningful. It is a perfect blend of humour, suspense, and moral insight.

About the Author – Vaikom Muhammad Basheer

• Born: 21 January 1908, Vaikom, Kerala
• Died: 5 July 1994
• Language: Malayalam
• Famous Works: Pathummayude Aadu (Pathumma’s Goat), Balyakalasakhi (Childhood Companion), Mathilukal (Walls)
• Style: Simple, humorous, realistic stories based on ordinary lives.

Basheer is known as the “Beypore Sultan” for his storytelling genius. His works mix satire, realism, and humour to convey deep moral truths.

Paragraph-Wise Summary of the Story

The Doctor and His Surroundings

The narrator, a young unmarried doctor, tells the story to his friends one evening. He lived in a small rented room with a thatched roof, infested with rats. The only furniture he owned was a table, a chair, a bed, and a mirror. On the table, he kept a lamp, a large mirror, and some medical books.

He describes himself as a doctor just starting his practice, struggling financially, and dreaming of success.

The Night of the Incident

One hot summer night, after dinner, he returned to his room and lit the kerosene lamp. He changed into a clean shirt and looked into the mirror. Admiring his youthful face, he began dreaming of his future — of becoming rich and marrying a fat lady doctor, so she wouldn’t escape easily if bitten by a snake!

He then sat in front of the mirror, brushing his hair and admiring his looks. The doctor’s vanity and foolishness are humorously portrayed in this scene.

The Snake Appears

Suddenly, he heard a familiar sound — the rats scurrying — but this time it was followed by a dull thud. Before he could react, a snake fell from the roof and landed right on his shoulder. It coiled itself around his left arm and spread its hood just inches from his face.

The doctor froze in terror. His heart nearly stopped, and his body turned rigid. He sat as motionless as a statue, fearing that even the slightest movement could invite death.

Basheer’s storytelling here mixes suspense with irony — moments earlier, the doctor was admiring his beauty, and now he is face-to-face with death.

The Mirror Saves Him

After a few moments, the snake slowly turned its head and looked into the mirror. It seemed captivated by its own reflection — just like the doctor earlier! Taking advantage of this moment, the doctor quietly got up and slipped out of the room, running for his life.

Escape and Realization

The doctor ran to a friend’s house, bathed to cleanse his fear and sweat, and spent the night there. When he returned the next morning with his friends, they found that the snake was gone, but his room had been completely looted.

Everything — clothes, utensils, even the dirty vest — had been stolen, except for one item: his dirty vest that even the thief refused to take!

Through this ending, Basheer adds humour and irony — the story of fear ends with laughter and humility.

Word Meanings

Character Sketch – The Doctor

• Profession: A young, poor doctor, unmarried, and just starting his practice.
• Personality:
  • Ambitious yet vain.
  • Dreamy and self-admiring.
  • Humorous and honest while narrating his past mistakes.
• Transformation:
  • From vanity to humility after the snake incident.
  • Learns to laugh at himself and appreciate life’s unpredictability.

Summary of his traits:

• Foolishly proud → Fear-stricken → Humble and wise.

Themes of the Story

• Vanity and Humility: The doctor’s pride turns into fear, teaching him humility.
• Irony: The snake repeats the doctor’s act of self-admiration before the mirror.
• Fear and Realization: True danger reveals human helplessness.
• Humour in Everyday Life: Basheer uses simple, funny incidents to express deeper truths.
• Fate and Chance: Life can change in a moment — from pride to peril.

Style and Tone

Basheer’s storytelling is simple yet powerful.

• Narrative Style: First-person narration creates intimacy and realism.
• Tone: Light-hearted with touches of suspense.
• Use of Humour: Everyday events become comical and meaningful.

His ability to find humour in fear makes this story timeless and memorable.

Moral of the Story

The story teaches us that vanity and pride are meaningless in front of nature and fate. True beauty lies in humility, not appearance. It also reminds us to stay calm in crisis and laugh at life’s absurdities.

Important Quotes

“One feels tempted to look into a mirror when it is near one.”
— shows the doctor’s vanity.

“The snake looked into the mirror… Perhaps it too wanted to admire its beauty.”
— ironic parallel between the man and the snake.

“The thief had left behind one thing — my dirty vest!”
— humorous ending revealing human foolishness and irony.

Exam-Oriented Question & Answers

Q1. Who was the narrator of the story?
The narrator was a young unmarried doctor who had recently started his medical practice.

Q2. What kind of house did the doctor live in?
He lived in a small, rented house with a thatched roof, infested with rats.

Q3. What was the doctor thinking when he looked into the mirror?
He was admiring his looks and dreaming of a bright future and a fat, rich wife.

Q4. Describe the snake’s behaviour after it fell on the doctor.
The snake coiled around the doctor’s arm, spread its hood near his face, and then became fascinated by its own reflection in the mirror.

Q5. What did the doctor do to escape?
When the snake turned its head toward the mirror, the doctor slowly got up and ran out of the house.

Q6. What did the doctor find when he returned the next morning?
His house had been looted; everything was stolen except his old, dirty vest.

Q7. What is the central theme of the story?
The story portrays human vanity and fear, using humour to teach humility.

Q8. What lesson did the doctor learn from this incident?
He learned that vanity is foolish and that life is unpredictable. The experience made him humble.

Analysis – Irony and Symbolism

• The Mirror: Symbol of vanity and self-obsession.
• The Snake: Symbol of danger and fate; teaches the doctor humility.
• The Rats: Represent disturbance and foreshadow chaos.
• Irony: The same mirror that fed the doctor’s pride becomes his saviour when the snake gets distracted by it.

Quick Revision Points

Conclusion

The Snake and the Mirror is a brilliant story of humour, irony, and self-realization. It begins with vanity and ends with humility, reminding readers that life can turn upside down in seconds.

Basheer uses a simple setting, everyday language, and light comedy to deliver a deep message — we must laugh at ourselves and stay grounded.

The story leaves a smile on the reader’s face and a lesson in the heart.

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These revision notes for Class 9 English Beehive Chapter 5 Notes are available for free in PDF format. To get them, simply send us an email mentioning the chapter you need along with your details, and we’ll provide the notes within 2 hours. If you want to stay updated with the latest educational news and resources, you can also join our WhatsApp community. These notes make it easy to revise the Regional Aspirations chapter before exams and score better marks. You can also explore other Class 9 English Notes for complete preparation.

Also read your other CBSE 9th Class Notes

Why choose our CBSE 9th Class English notes

There’s no need to sign up or register,
making it easy for you to access the materials you need. I genuinely hope these resources assist you in achieving excellent results in you exams!

Thank you for spending time on these notes! If you liked npotes or want to stay connected with me on my learning journey, do follow me on social media.

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Your suggestions and feedback are very valuable to me, so feel free to message me.

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