The Snake and the Mirror – Summary (English)
The Snake and the Mirror is a short story by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer. It is about a man who becomes obsessed with his own looks. One day, he is shaving in front of a mirror when he notices a snake creeping behind him. The man becomes extremely scared and confused, thinking about what to do.
He realizes that he cannot escape easily, so he tries to control his fear. At the same time, he also worries about his appearance in the mirror. Eventually, he faces the snake boldly, using his courage and presence of mind. In the end, the story shows the human tendency to be self-centered and vain, even in dangerous situations.
Theme: Vanity, fear, and human behavior in unexpected situations.
Characters:
- The narrator (main character) – vain and curious about his looks.
- The snake – represents danger and fear.
Moral: The story highlights the importance of courage and presence of mind. It also shows how vanity can distract us even in serious situations.
साँप और आईना – सारांश (Hindi)
साँप और आईना वैकोम मुहम्मद बशीर की एक कहानी है। यह कहानी एक आदमी के अपने रूप–रंग में अति गर्व और आत्ममोह के बारे में है। एक दिन वह आईने के सामने शेविंग कर रहा होता है, तभी उसे पीछे से एक साँप दिखाई देता है। आदमी बहुत डर और भ्रमित हो जाता है।
वह समझता है कि वह आसानी से भाग नहीं सकता, इसलिए वह अपने डर को नियंत्रित करने की कोशिश करता है। साथ ही, वह अपने रूप और आईने में दिखाई देने वाले अपने चेहरे के बारे में भी चिंतित रहता है। अंततः, वह साहस और बुद्धिमानी का प्रयोग कर साँप का सामना करता है।
थीम: स्वाभिमान, डर, और अप्रत्याशित परिस्थितियों में मानव व्यवहार।
पात्र:
- कहानी का मुख्य पात्र – अपने रूप और दिखावे के प्रति आत्मकेंद्रित।
- साँप – खतरे और डर का प्रतीक।
संदेश: कहानी यह दिखाती है कि साहस और समझदारी की बहुत अहमियत है। साथ ही यह बताती है कि आत्ममोह गंभीर परिस्थितियों में भी ध्यान भटका सकता है।
The Snake and the Mirror – Questions & Answers (Easy English)
Q.1. Who is the main character of the story?
Ans: The main character is a man who is very proud of his looks and likes to see himself in the mirror.
Q.2. What does the main character see behind him one day?
Ans: One day, while shaving, he sees a snake behind him.
Q.3. How does he feel when he sees the snake?
Ans: He feels very scared and confused. He does not know what to do.
Q.4. What is the man thinking about besides the snake?
Ans: He is also thinking about his own face in the mirror and is worried about how he looks.
Q.5. How does the man face the snake?
Ans: He uses courage and his presence of mind to face the snake boldly.
Q.6. What does the snake represent in the story?
Ans: The snake represents danger and fear.
Q.7. What is the main theme of the story?
Ans: The main theme is vanity, fear, and human behavior in unexpected situations.
Q.8. What lesson do we learn from this story?
Ans: We learn that courage and presence of mind are important. Vanity or self-love can distract us even in dangerous situations.
Q.9. Why is the story called ‘The Snake and the Mirror’?
Ans: The story is called this because the snake creates danger, and the mirror shows the man’s vanity. Both together highlight fear and pride.
Q.10. Describe the character of the main man in one line.
Ans: He is curious, vain, and proud of his appearance but also clever and brave when needed.
The Snake and the Mirror – Questions & Answers (Easy English)
Q.1. Who is the main character of the story?
Ans: The main character is a man who is very proud of his looks and likes to see himself in the mirror.
Q.2. What does the main character see behind him one day?
Ans: One day, while shaving, he sees a snake behind him.
Q.3. How does he feel when he sees the snake?
Ans: He feels very scared and confused. He does not know what to do.
Q.4. What is the man thinking about besides the snake?
Ans: He is also thinking about his own face in the mirror and is worried about how he looks.
Q.5. How does the man face the snake?
Ans: He uses courage and his presence of mind to face the snake boldly.
Q.6. What does the snake represent in the story?
Ans: The snake represents danger and fear.
Q.7. What is the main theme of the story?
Ans: The main theme is vanity, fear, and human behavior in unexpected situations.
Q.8. What lesson do we learn from this story?
Ans: We learn that courage and presence of mind are important. Vanity or self-love can distract us even in dangerous situations.
Q.9. Why is the story called ‘The Snake and the Mirror’?
Ans: The story is called this because the snake creates danger, and the mirror shows the man’s vanity. Both together highlight fear and pride.
Q.10. Describe the character of the main man in one line.
Ans: He is curious, vain, and proud of his appearance but also clever and brave when needed.
Important Long Question Answers
Q1. Describe the main character of the story.
Ans: The main character of the story is a man who is very proud of his appearance. He likes to look at himself in the mirror and is very conscious about his looks. He is curious and enjoys observing his own expressions. However, he is also human and shows fear when he encounters danger, like the snake in the story. Despite being vain, he proves to be brave and clever when he faces the snake. His character shows both vanity and courage, which makes the story interesting.
Q2. What happens when the man sees the snake behind him?
Ans: One day, while shaving, the man sees a snake creeping behind him. He feels extreme fear and panic at first. He does not know what to do because the snake is dangerous, and he is alone. At the same time, he is also thinking about how he looks in the mirror, showing his vanity. Slowly, he tries to control his fear and thinks carefully. Finally, he faces the snake bravely and manages to escape from danger. This part of the story shows how humans react to fear and danger in real life.
Q3. What is the role of the mirror in the story?
Ans: The mirror in the story is very important. It shows the man’s own face, which he constantly admires. The mirror represents vanity and self-love. Even when the man sees the snake behind him, he is worried about his looks and expressions in the mirror. The mirror also reflects his courage and presence of mind at the moment of danger. In short, the mirror symbolizes how people are often more concerned about themselves than the world around them, even in serious situations.
Q4. What does the snake symbolize in the story?
Ans: The snake symbolizes danger, fear, and the unknown. Its sudden appearance creates panic in the man and tests his courage. The snake also brings out the man’s true nature — how he reacts when faced with real danger. At first, he is scared and confused, but then he becomes brave and uses his intelligence to face the situation. The snake, therefore, is not just a real danger but also a symbol of challenges and fears that humans encounter in life.
Q5. What is the main theme and moral of the story?
Ans: The main theme of the story is vanity, fear, and human behavior in difficult situations. It shows how people can be self-centered and proud, even when danger is near. The moral is that courage and presence of mind are very important in life. Being too proud of yourself or obsessed with appearance can distract you from important things. The story teaches that humans should face challenges bravely and not let fear or vanity control them.