The Snake and the Mirror — Class 9 English NCERT Solutions (Free)
Free step-by-step NCERT solutions for Class 9 English chapter "The Snake and the Mirror" — 6 important questions with detailed answers for CBSE board exam preparation.
TL;DR: Free step-by-step NCERT solutions for Class 9 English chapter "The Snake and the Mirror" — 6 important questions with detailed answers for CBSE board…
By Syllab.in · Updated
Key Questions Covered:
- Who is the narrator and what is his profession?
- What is the narrator's greatest vanity or weakness?
- What happens when the narrator encounters the snake?
- What does the encounter with the snake teach the narrator?
- How does the narrator change after the encounter?
- What is the main message of the story?
Solutions Summary:
| Question | Status |
|---|---|
| Who is the narrator and what is his profession? | ✓ Solved |
| What is the narrator's greatest vanity or weakness? | ✓ Solved |
| What happens when the narrator encounters the snake? | ✓ Solved |
| What does the encounter with the snake teach the narrator? | ✓ Solved |
| How does the narrator change after the encounter? | ✓ Solved |
| What is the main message of the story? | ✓ Solved |
Showing 6 of 6 questions
Q1: Who is the narrator and what is his profession?
The narrator is a man who is a barber in a small town. He lives a humble, simple life and is content with his occupation. His profession becomes significant because it gives him the opportunity to see his reflection in the mirror and admire himself. His vanity and obsession with his appearance is a key theme in the story.
Q2: What is the narrator's greatest vanity or weakness?
The narrator's greatest weakness is his extreme vanity and obsession with his physical appearance. He spends considerable time looking at himself in the mirror and is very proud of his looks. He admires his curly hair and fair complexion. This vanity represents a shallow preoccupation with external beauty rather than inner qualities.
Q3: What happens when the narrator encounters the snake?
The narrator encounters a snake in his room one evening. Terrified and thinking it is a cobra, he freezes in fear. However, upon closer observation, he realizes it is a harmless snake. The encounter forces him to confront his fear and abandon his vanity for a moment as he struggles to escape the situation.
Q4: What does the encounter with the snake teach the narrator?
The encounter with the snake teaches the narrator that life is unpredictable and fragile. Faced with danger, his vanity and concern for his appearance become meaningless. The incident strips away his superficial preoccupations and makes him realize that physical beauty and personal vanity are not important in the face of real danger. It serves as a humbling experience.
Q5: How does the narrator change after the encounter?
After the encounter, the narrator becomes more humble and less obsessed with his appearance. He realizes the futility of his vanity and becomes more concerned with meaningful aspects of life. The frightening experience serves as a wake-up call, helping him prioritize what is truly important beyond superficial concerns.
Q6: What is the main message of the story?
The main message is that vanity and excessive self-obsession are hollow pursuits that distract from what is truly important in life. The story teaches that facing adversity can help us gain perspective and realize the insignificance of superficial concerns like physical appearance. It emphasizes the importance of developing inner qualities and appreciating life itself rather than being consumed by vanity.
Showing 6 of 6 questions. Visit the full page for complete solutions.