I. Discuss in pairs and answer each question below in a short paragraph (30-40 words)
1) ”The sound was a familiar one.” What sound did the doctor hear? What did he think it was?
How many times did he hear it? (Find the places in the text) when and why did the sounds stop?
Ans: The doctor heard a noise from above when he returned to his room. He thought that it was the rat making sound as it was a familiar one. He heard the sound four times. We find it in these phrases ‘Again I heard that sound from above’, again came that noise from above’, ‘suddenly there came a dull thud as if a rubber tube has fallen’, the sound stopped after the appearance of the snake because it was the snake making the sound.
2) What two “important” and “earth shaking” decisions did the doctor take while he was looking into the mirror?
Ans: The doctor took two “important” and “earth shaking” decisions while he was looking into the mirror one- he would shave daily and grow a thin mustache to look more handsome and two- he would always keep that attractive smile on his face.
3)”I looked into the mirror and smiled,” says the doctor, A little later he says, “I forgot my danger and smiled feebly at myself”.
What is the doctor’s opinion about himself when: (i) he first smile, and (ii)he smiled again ? In what way do I thoughts change in between and why?
Ans: When the doctor first smiles, he admires his good look and profession. The second time he smiled feebly at his self thinking how poor and foolish and a stupid doctor he was. His thought changed after his encounter with the snake.
II)This story about a frightening incident is narrated in a humorous way. What makes it humorous?
(Think of the contrasts it present between dreams and reality. Some of them are listed below.)
1) (i) The kind of person the doctor is (money possessions)
(ii) The kind of person he wants to be (appearance ambition)
2)(i) The person he wants to marry.
(ii) The person he actually marries.
3)(i) His thoughts when he looks into the mirror.
(ii) His thoughts when the snake is coiled around his arms.
Ans: The way in which the contrast between dreams and the reality as presented in the story makes it humorous. Some such contrasts are discussed below:
1) (i) We can clearly see the contrast between the lifestyle of the doctor. He is poor. He lives in a small rented room with plenty of rats. He has just started his medical practice but he had about sixty rupees in his briefcase. He had few shirts and one black coat.
(ii) He wants to have attractive appearance. He appreciates his looks and profession. He aims to marry a woman doctor with plenty of money and good medical practice.
2) (i) The doctor wants to marry a fat woman so that she won’t be able to catch him when he makes a silly mistake. (ii) He marries a thin reedy woman who could run like a sprinter.
3) (i) He is full of admiration for his self when he looks into the mirror. He decides to shave always and keep smiling to look attractive.
(ii) When the snake coiled around his arm, he turned a stone. He smiled at his foolishness and stupidity, since he was a doctor and did not have any medicines to cure the snake bite.