Q2 of 18 Page 60

This story about a frightening incident is narrated in a humorous way. What makes it humorous? (Think of the contrasts it presents 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 arm


write short paragraphs on each of these to get your answer.

The doctor narrated the story in a humorous way.

He lived in a small rented, un-electrified room which was full of rats.


He could never resist looking himself into the mirror, and dream of various ways by which he could look more handsome like he wanted to grow a moustache and thought he had an attractive smile.


He dreamed of marrying a rich-fat woman, who would not be able to chase him if he leaves but instead ends up with a thin-reedy woman who has a gift of a sprinter.


When he encountered the snake, he sat like a stone with flesh and started feeling the presence of god. He even tried in his imagination to write ‘O God’ outside his heart, which makes the frightening incident humorous.


More from this chapter

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1

Discuss in pairs and answer each question below in a short paragraph (30 − 40 words).

What two “important” and “earth-shaking” decisions did the doctor take while he was looking into the mirror?

 1

Discuss in pairs and answer each question below in a short paragraph (30 − 40 words).

“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 smiles, and


(ii) he smiles again? In what way do his thoughts change in between, and why?

 1

Here are some sentences from the text. Say which of them tell you, that the author:

(a) was afraid of the snake, (b) was proud of his appearance, (c) had a sense of humour, (d) was no longer afraid of the snake.


1. I was turned to stone.


2. I was no mere image cut in granite.


3. The arm was beginning to be drained of strength.


4. I tried in my imagination to write in bright letters outside my little heart the words, ‘O God’.


5. I didn’t tremble. I didn’t cry out.


6. I looked into the mirror and smiled. It was an attractive smile.


7. I was suddenly a man of flesh and blood.


8. I was after all a bachelor, and a doctor too on top of it!


9. The fellow had such a sense of cleanliness…! The rascal could have taken it and used it after washing it with soap and water.


10. Was it trying to make an important decision about growing a moustache or using eye shadow and mascara or wearing a vermilion spot on its forehead?

 2

Expressions used to show fear

Can you find the expressions in the story that tell you that the author was frightened? Read the story and complete the following sentences.


1. I was turned ______.


2. I sat there holding ______.


3. In the light of the lamp I sat there like ______.