CBSE Class 9 English Beehive Chapter 5: 'The Snake and the Mirror' & 'A Legend of the Northland'

The Snake and the Mirror: A Humorous and Ironic Encounter

"The Snake and the Mirror" is a delightful and humorous story recounted by a homeopathic doctor about an extraordinary incident in his life. The narrative begins with the doctor living in a small, poorly-furnished rented room, where he has just settled down for the night. As he prepares to sleep, he hears a familiar sound – rats. He then decides to read a medical book and, feeling the heat, opens the window. He lights a kerosene lamp and sits before a mirror, admiring his reflection. Driven by vanity, he considers making significant changes to his appearance, like growing a moustache and always smiling. \n\nSuddenly, a snake falls from the ceiling and lands on his shoulder. Paralyzed by fear, the doctor doesn't move. The snake then uncoils itself and slithers onto the table, where it catches its reflection in the mirror. To the doctor's astonishment, the snake seems to be admiring its own beauty, just as he was moments before. This moment of shared vanity allows the doctor to escape while the snake is preoccupied. He flees for his life, returning later with friends only to find the snake gone, leaving behind only its discarded identity – its skin. The story cleverly uses humor and irony to explore themes of vanity, fear, and the unpredictability of life.

A Legend of the Northland: A Tale of Selfishness and Consequence

"A Legend of the Northland" is a ballad, a poem that tells a story, often passed down through generations. This particular legend originates from the 'Northland,' a region known for its harsh, cold climate and long winter nights. The poem narrates the story of an old woman, selfish and greedy, who lived in that land. \n\nOne day, Saint Peter, weary and hungry from preaching, arrived at her cottage and asked for a piece of cake. The woman, a skilled baker, made a very small cake for him. However, when she saw its size, she felt it was too large to give away. She then baked an even smaller one, but again, she couldn't bring herself to part with it. Finally, she baked a tiny, wafer-thin cake, which also seemed too big for her to give. Angered by her extreme selfishness and lack of charity, Saint Peter cursed her. He declared that she was unfit to live as a human and enjoy food and shelter, stating that she would become a woodpecker, doomed to bore hard, dry wood for meager food, always searching. The poem concludes by mentioning that even today, children in the Northland see her in the form of a woodpecker, a lasting symbol of the consequences of greed.

Analyzing Literary Devices and Themes

1. Irony in 'The Snake and the Mirror' — The story is rich in situational and dramatic irony. The doctor, a man of medicine, is more concerned with his appearance than his profession. The greatest irony occurs when the snake, a creature often feared, mirrors the doctor's vanity by admiring itself in the mirror, giving the doctor a chance to escape. The doctor's grand plans for marrying a 'fat, rich doctor' are ironically juxtaposed with his sudden realization of his own mortality when faced with the snake. This unexpected turn of events, where both man and beast are caught in a moment of self-admiration, creates a humorous and thought-provoking contrast.
2. Humor and Imagery in 'The Snake and the Mirror' — Basheer masterfully uses humor through the doctor's inner monologue and self-deprecating observations. For example, his detailed description of his poverty, his 'thin' earnings, and his vain thoughts about his appearance. Vivid imagery like 'the room was full of dark-smoked rings' and 'a fat, blood-filled snake' helps the reader visualise the scene and the creature, enhancing the impact of the story. The description of the snake coiling on his arm and then looking into the mirror is particularly memorable and humorous.
3. Moral and Symbolism in 'A Legend of the Northland' — The central theme of the poem is the importance of charity, compassion, and generosity, contrasting sharply with the destructive nature of selfishness and greed. Saint Peter symbolises divine justice and the consequences of moral failings. The old woman's transformation into a woodpecker is a powerful symbol of punishment, where her physical form reflects her inner avarice – endlessly pecking for small sustenance. The poem serves as a cautionary tale, teaching that unkindness and greed ultimately lead to suffering and isolation.
4. Poetic Devices in 'A Legend of the Northland' — As a ballad, the poem employs a simple, narrative structure with a clear rhyme scheme (often ABCB or AABB) and regular rhythm, making it easy to remember and recite. Repetition is used effectively, such as 'little' when describing the cakes, to emphasise the woman's miserliness. Alliteration (e.g., 'fast and fearful') and vivid imagery ('long, dark winter nights,' 'thin, tiny, like a wafer') contribute to the poem's atmosphere and impact, drawing the reader into the legendary tale.

How to Ace Chapter 5 Questions

When answering questions on 'The Snake and the Mirror,' focus on identifying instances of irony and humor. For character analysis of the doctor, highlight his vanity, fear, and eventual realisation. For 'A Legend of the Northland,' pay close attention to the moral message and how the poetic devices (like symbolism of the woodpecker) contribute to it. Remember to quote relevant lines or phrases from the text to support your answers. Practice writing character sketches and theme-based answers for both prose and poem. Always begin by stating your main point clearly, then elaborate with textual evidence. Avoid simply narrating the plot; instead, analyze it.

Practice Questions with Solutions

• Q: What specific human emotions and traits are highlighted through the doctor's encounter with the snake in 'The Snake and the Mirror'? How does the snake's behaviour mirror these traits? A: Step 1: Identify the doctor's initial emotions and traits. The doctor exhibits vanity, self-admiration (looking into the mirror, planning to grow a moustache), and later, intense fear and a sense of helplessness when the snake lands on him. Step 2: Explain how the snake's behaviour mirrors these traits. The snake, upon seeing its reflection, uncoils and seems to admire its own beauty, looking into the mirror intently. This action mirrors the doctor's earlier vanity, creating a moment of situational irony. Step 3: Conclude the combined effect. This mirroring highlights the shared vanity between humans and even animals, and underscores the absurdity of human self-obsession when faced with existential threat. Final answer: The story highlights human vanity, self-admiration, and fear. The snake's action of looking into the mirror and admiring its reflection directly mirrors the doctor's earlier vanity, ironically showcasing a shared trait between man and beast.
• Q: Describe the transformation of the old woman in 'A Legend of the Northland'. What message does this transformation convey? A: Step 1: Detail the old woman's actions leading to her transformation. The old woman was extremely selfish and greedy, refusing to give even a tiny piece of cake to Saint Peter, who was hungry and tired. Step 2: Describe the transformation itself. Angered by her lack of charity, Saint Peter curses her, transforming her into a woodpecker. Step 3: Explain the message conveyed. This transformation serves as a powerful cautionary tale against selfishness and greed, suggesting that those who are uncharitable will be condemned to a life of endless toil for meager sustenance, stripped of human comforts.
• Q: How does the author use humor in 'The Snake and the Mirror' to make the story engaging, despite the underlying element of fear? A: Step 1: Identify sources of humor. The humor primarily stems from the doctor's vain thoughts about his appearance (his desire to look more handsome, planning a thin moustache) and his self-deprecating observations about his poverty and circumstances. Step 2: Analyze the role of irony. The most significant humorous element is the irony of the snake getting distracted by its own reflection, allowing the terrified doctor to escape. This unexpected turn of events is both funny and relief-inducing. Step 3: Conclude on engagement. The blend of the doctor's internal monologues and the absurd situation of a snake admiring itself makes the story light-hearted and engaging, even with the presence of a life-threatening moment. Final answer: The author uses humor through the doctor's vain internal thoughts, his comical plans for his appearance, and the ultimate irony of the snake getting engrossed in its own reflection. This blend of self-deprecating humor and situational comedy keeps the reader entertained and lightens the tension created by the snake's presence.
• Q: Analyze the central moral message of 'A Legend of the Northland' and how it is effectively delivered through the narrative. A: Step 1: State the central moral message. The central moral message is the importance of generosity, charity, and compassion, and the severe consequences of selfishness and greed. Step 2: Explain how the narrative delivers this. The narrative presents a clear conflict between Saint Peter's need and the old woman's extreme refusal to share even the smallest morsel. Her repeated attempts to bake smaller cakes, only to deem them too large to give away, vividly illustrates her miserliness. Step 3: Discuss the symbolic punishment. Her transformation into a woodpecker is the ultimate symbolic consequence, where she is forced to work tirelessly for very little food, a direct result of her lack of giving. This direct cause-and-effect structure makes the moral undeniable. Final answer: The poem effectively delivers the moral message that extreme selfishness leads to harsh consequences. Through the simple narrative of Saint Peter's request and the old woman's repeated, deliberate refusal to share even a tiny cake, her greedy nature is exposed. Her subsequent transformation into a woodpecker serves as a powerful and direct punishment, vividly illustrating that a life devoid of charity will be one of perpetual hardship and scarcity.
• Q: What is the significance of the mirror in 'The Snake and the Mirror'? How does it act as a plot device and a thematic element? A: Step 1: Explain the mirror's role as a plot device. The mirror is crucial as it acts as the catalyst for the snake's distraction, directly leading to the doctor's escape. Without the mirror, the snake might not have left the doctor, changing the entire outcome of the story. Step 2: Explain its role as a thematic element. The mirror primarily symbolises vanity and self-reflection. Initially, it reflects the doctor's own vanity as he admires himself. Later, it ironically reflects the snake's 'vanity' (or at least its fascination with its own image), creating a humorous and profound moment. Step 3: Conclude on its overall significance. It serves to highlight the theme of self-obsession, common to both humans and perhaps animals, and underscores the unpredictable turns of life where even an inanimate object can play a pivotal role in one's survival. Final answer: The mirror is significant both as a plot device and a thematic element. As a plot device, it creates the critical distraction that allows the doctor to escape the snake. Thematically, it symbolises vanity and self-reflection, initially highlighting the doctor's own preoccupation with his appearance, and later ironically reflecting the snake's apparent self-admiration, thereby linking both man and beast through a shared, albeit humorous, trait.

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