The Snake and the Mirror
By Vaikom Muhammad Basheer (translated by V. Abdulla)
Page 60 – Comprehension Check
Q1. “The sound was a familiar one.” What sound did the doctor hear?
He heard the familiar sound of rats scurrying in the beam above the ceiling.
Q2. What two “important” and “earth-shaking” decisions did the doctor take while looking into the mirror?
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He decided to shave daily and grow a thin moustache.
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He decided to always keep an attractive smile on his face.
Q3. “I looked into the mirror and smiled,” says the doctor. What was the smile about?
The smile was about his own self-admiration and vanity, as he appreciated his looks and imagined marrying a rich, fat woman doctor.
✦ 📍 Page 64 – Comprehension Check
Q1. What did the doctor do when he encountered the snake?
He sat completely still, frozen with fear, because the snake had coiled itself around his arm with its hood spread close to his face.
Q2. How did the doctor show presence of mind when he faced danger?
He remained motionless and calm, understanding that any movement could provoke the snake to strike.
Q3. Where did the snake settle after uncoiling itself from the doctor’s arm?
The snake slithered down and coiled itself on the doctor’s dressing table in front of the mirror.
Q4. What did the doctor do then?
Taking the opportunity, the doctor quietly got up and ran out of the house.
Page 64–65 – Thinking about the Text
Q1. “I was but a poor, foolish, and stupid doctor.” Do you agree with the doctor’s assessment of himself? Why?
Yes, he admits his foolishness because he was vain about his looks and dreamed of marrying a rich woman for comfort. But he was also courageous and honest in acknowledging his flaws.
Q2. He was looking into the mirror and admiring himself. Which two important and earth-shaking decisions did he make?
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To shave daily and grow a thin moustache.
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To always keep a smile on his face.
Q3. “This story about a frightening incident is narrated in a humorous way.” What makes it humorous?
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The doctor’s exaggerated vanity before the snake appears.
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His comical dreams of marriage.
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His self-mockery in calling himself “foolish and stupid.”
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The final irony when the snake seems more interested in its reflection than in biting him.
Q4. What kind of a person do you think the doctor is?
He is vain and materialistic but also honest, self-aware, and humorous. He is able to laugh at his own follies, making him likeable.
Extra Questions – The Snake and the Mirror
Short Answer
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Why does the doctor call his house “not electrified”?
Because it had no electricity; he used a kerosene lamp for light. -
What kind of woman did the doctor want to marry?
He wanted to marry a rich, fat woman doctor so that she would not easily run after him if he made mistakes. -
What is the irony in the story?
The doctor is vain about his looks, but in front of the snake he is helpless. Also, while he admires himself in the mirror, the snake later seems to do the same.
Long Answer
Q. The story is a blend of humour and horror. Discuss.
Basheer’s The Snake and the Mirror combines humour with horror to create an engaging story. The horror element is clear when the snake coils around the doctor’s arm, its hood only inches from his face. The doctor’s fear, stillness, and escape add to the tension. Yet the story is told humorously. Before the snake appears, the doctor’s vanity and “earth-shaking decisions” about shaving and smiling create laughter. His fantasy about marrying a fat, rich lady doctor is another comic touch. Even in danger, humour appears when the snake, instead of attacking, gazes into the mirror as though admiring itself. The doctor’s later self-mockery — calling himself a poor, foolish doctor — further lightens the mood. The story shows how Basheer uses wit and irony to turn a terrifying event into a tale that amuses as much as it frightens.
Summary of The Snake and the Mirror
Vaikom Muhammad Basheer’s story The Snake and the Mirror is an autobiographical sketch told with humour and suspense. It narrates a frightening yet amusing incident in the life of a young doctor.
The doctor describes his modest house, which was not electrified. He lit a kerosene lamp and lived alone with only rats scurrying above the ceiling for company. One hot night, after dinner, he returned to his room and sat before a mirror. Admiring himself, he began to daydream. He decided to shave daily, grow a thin moustache, and always wear a smile. He also dreamed of marrying a rich, fat woman doctor, imagining that her size would prevent her from chasing him if he made mistakes.
Suddenly, a snake fell from the ceiling and coiled itself around his left arm. The hood was only inches from his face. Terrified, the doctor sat frozen, aware that even a slight movement could be fatal. He prayed silently and sat still.
Then, unexpectedly, the snake uncoiled from his arm and slithered onto the dressing table. There it coiled in front of the mirror, seeming to study its reflection. Taking advantage of this, the doctor slowly got up and ran out of the house.
The next morning, when he returned with some friends, he found his house ransacked. Thieves had stolen all his belongings except his dirty vest, which lay untouched.
The story blends fear with humour. The horror of the snake’s presence is balanced by the doctor’s vanity, his funny dreams, and his later self-mockery. Even the snake is given a comic role when it appears to admire itself in the mirror. The title reflects this irony — both the snake and the doctor are drawn to the mirror, each in their own way.
Through this incident, Basheer shows how even terrifying experiences can be retold with laughter, and how self-awareness makes one humble.
Biography – Vaikom Muhammad Basheer
Vaikom Muhammad Basheer (1908–1994) was one of the most celebrated writers of Malayalam literature, known for his simple style, humour, and humanistic themes.
He was born on 21 January 1908 in Thalayolaparambu, Kerala. Unlike many writers of his time, Basheer did not have formal higher education. Instead, he lived an adventurous life, travelling across India and abroad, working various jobs including cook, shepherd, and journalist. His experiences with ordinary people shaped his literary voice.
Basheer’s stories are marked by simplicity, humour, and compassion. He often wrote about the struggles of the poor, the absurdities of life, and the small joys of common people. His works broke away from formal, high-flown language, instead using conversational Malayalam, which made him immensely popular.
Some of his famous works include Pathummayude Aadu (Pathumma’s Goat), Balyakalasakhi (Childhood Companion), Mathilukal (Walls), and Anargha Nimisham (Invaluable Moment). His stories often blend humour with philosophy, as seen in The Snake and the Mirror, which narrates a terrifying incident in a humorous style.
Basheer was also a freedom fighter. He took part in India’s independence movement and was imprisoned by the British. His writings reflect values of equality, simplicity, and secularism.
He received several honours, including the Padma Shri in 1982 and the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award.
Basheer passed away on 5 July 1994, but his legacy continues. He is remembered as the Beypore Sultan for his literary reign and as a writer who gave voice to the everyday experiences of ordinary people with humour and warmth.
A Legend of the Northland
By Phoebe Cary
Page 67 – Thinking about the Poem
Q1. Which country or countries do you think “the Northland” refers to?
It refers to the cold northern regions of the world — such as the countries near the Arctic Circle (Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia, or Canada).
Q2. What did Saint Peter ask the old lady for? What was the lady’s reaction?
Saint Peter, tired and hungry from fasting, asked the lady for a piece of cake. She grudgingly made cakes but each time found them too big to give away, so she refused him.
Q3. How did he punish her?
Angered by her selfishness, Saint Peter cursed her to become a woodpecker. She had to live in the forest, boring into hard, dry wood for food.
Q4. How does the poet describe the old lady after she was turned into a woodpecker? Do you think this is a true story? Why or why not?
The poet describes her as wearing the same scarlet cap and black dress, now transformed into bird’s feathers. She still lives in the forest pecking at wood. No, it is not a true story — it is a legend with a moral, using imagination and symbolism.
Q5. What is the moral of the story? (Think of what the old lady’s selfishness meant to Saint Peter.)
The moral is that selfishness and greed are punished, while kindness and generosity are rewarded. We should think beyond ourselves and share with others.
Extra Questions – A Legend of the Northland
Short Answer
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Why was Saint Peter travelling?
He was preaching the message of Christ and fasting, which made him weak and hungry. -
What lesson does the story teach us?
It teaches the values of generosity, selflessness, and compassion. -
Why does the poet call it a legend?
Because it is an old story passed down traditionally, with a moral lesson, not a factual account.
Long Answer
Q. How does the poem show the consequences of greed?
The poem narrates a tale where a miserly woman refuses food to a saint despite his hunger. She makes cakes but, each time, finds them too large to part with. Her selfishness angers Saint Peter, who curses her to become a bird condemned to peck for food forever. The legend symbolises how greed dehumanises us. Even when she had enough, the woman could not share a small piece. The punishment — turning into a woodpecker — reflects the idea that selfishness traps one into endless labour and dissatisfaction. Through this story, the poet teaches that greed leads to suffering, while generosity brings peace.
Summary of A Legend of the Northland
Phoebe Cary’s poem A Legend of the Northland tells a moral story set in the cold northern regions. The poem begins with a description of the harsh climate of the Northland, where people wear warm clothes, use sledges, and face very short days and long nights. Against this backdrop, the poet narrates a legend associated with Saint Peter.
Saint Peter, while travelling and preaching, once became very tired and hungry because of fasting. He asked a woman baking cakes for a small piece of food. The woman, though she had plenty, was extremely greedy. She made cakes, but each time she thought they were too large to give away. She made smaller and smaller ones, but even then could not part with any. Finally, she refused to give him anything.
Angered by her selfishness, Saint Peter cursed her. He declared that if she was too greedy to share food, she did not deserve human form. She was transformed into a woodpecker. Her scarlet cap and black dress became the bird’s feathers. From then on, she had to live in the forest, pecking wood in search of food.
The poem ends by telling us that even today, woodpeckers can be seen tapping on trees, a reminder of the punishment of greed.
The story is not meant to be factual but symbolic. It conveys a clear moral lesson: selfishness and greed bring punishment, while generosity is a virtue. Through a simple narrative, Cary shows the importance of kindness and sharing, especially with those in need.
Biography – Phoebe Cary
Phoebe Cary (1824–1871) was an American poet and social activist, best remembered for her simple yet thoughtful verse.
She was born on 4 September 1824 in Mount Healthy, near Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. Her family was poor, and she grew up with limited formal education. Despite hardships, Phoebe and her elder sister Alice Cary developed a love for literature and began writing poetry at a young age.
The sisters became well-known for their joint collection Poems of Alice and Phoebe Cary (1850), which received positive recognition. While Alice was considered the more serious poet, Phoebe’s writings were lighter, often filled with humour, wit, and moral lessons. She also wrote hymns, several of which are still sung in Christian worship today.
Phoebe Cary was also active in social reform movements of the 19th century. She supported women’s rights and worked with activists for equality and justice. After Alice’s death in 1871, Phoebe took on the task of editing and publishing her sister’s remaining works, but she herself passed away only a few months later on 31 July 1871, at the age of 46.
Though her literary career was brief, Phoebe Cary’s poetry left a mark for its simplicity, accessibility, and moral depth. Poems like A Legend of the Northland continue to be remembered, especially in schools, for their strong messages against greed and selfishness.
She is remembered as a voice of compassion and moral teaching in 19th-century American literature.