The narrator wanted to remove his things as he wanted to leave his house because of the fear. of the snake.
There was little to carry because thieves had stolen his things.
Foe.
Key Concepts Covered
This question tests your understanding of the following concepts from the chapter The Snake and the Mirror: Took, Friend, Others, Room, Move, Things. These are fundamental topics in English that students are expected to master as part of the CBSE Class 9 curriculum.
A thorough understanding of these concepts will help you answer similar questions confidently in your CBSE examinations. These topics are frequently tested in both objective and subjective sections of English papers. We recommend revising the relevant section of your textbook alongside practising these solved examples to build a strong foundation.
How to Approach This Question
Read the question carefully and identify what is being asked. Break down complex questions into smaller parts. Use the terminology and concepts discussed in this chapter. Structure your answer logically — begin with a definition or key statement, then provide supporting details. Review your answer to ensure it addresses all parts of the question completely.
Key Points to Remember
- Use quotations from the text to support your points.
- Analyse literary devices and their effects on the reader.
- Structure essays with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion.
- Proofread for grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
Practice more questions from The Snake and the Mirror — English, Class 9 CBSE
Overview: The Snake and the Mirror
A young homeopathic doctor, living alone in a small room, sits before a mirror one night admiring his appearance and making plans about his future wife. A cobra falls from the ceiling and coils around his arm. Terrified and frozen, he cannot move. The snake eventually slides off and moves towards the mirror, apparently admiring its own reflection. The doctor escapes. When he returns, his room has been robbed — everything taken except a dirty vest. The story uses self-deprecating humour to explore vanity and fear.
Key Points
- Narrator is a young, vain homeopathic doctor living alone
- Sits before a mirror admiring himself; plans to find a wife
- A full-blooded cobra falls from the ceiling onto his shoulder
- The snake coils around his arm — he freezes in terror
- He reflects on the irony: he was thinking about beauty while facing death
- The snake slides off and moves towards the mirror
- The snake appears to admire its own reflection — comic irony
- The doctor escapes; returns to find room robbed
- Only a dirty vest was left — thieves took everything else
- Themes: vanity, fear, humour in adversity, self-awareness
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the narrator doing when the snake appeared?
What is the significance of the mirror?
Common Mistakes
- Not reading the text carefully before attempting questions.
- Giving vague answers without specific textual references.
- Confusing characters, events, or themes from different chapters.
- Writing too much for short-answer questions (should be 30-40 words).
Scoring Tips
- For extract-based MCQs: read the passage carefully; eliminate wrong options systematically.
- For short answers: be concise (30-40 words), use key vocabulary from the text.
- For long answers: structure with introduction, body, conclusion. Quote from the text.
- Always identify the chapter/poem name and author when answering.