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 the familiar sound of the rats. He thought it was the regular traffic of rats to and from the beam. He heard the sound thrice. The sound stopped when the doctor resumed his seat in the chair with many thoughts passing through his mind. The sound stopped because the rats might have seen the snake.

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

Ans: While looking into the mirror, the doctor took two “important” and “earth-shaking” decisions: first, to shave daily and grow a thin moustache; second, to always keep an 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 opinion  about himself when: (i) he first smiles & (ii) he smiles again? In what way do his thoughts change in between and why?

Ans: (i) When the doctor first smiles, he feels proud, thinking he is handsome and intelligent.
(ii) When he smiles again, it is weak and nervous because he is terrified.

II. This story is about a frightening incident narrated in a humorous way. What makes it humorous? (Think of the contrasts it presents between dreams and reality. Some of them are between)

1. (i) The kind of person the doctor is (money, possessions) 

Ans: The doctor is a poor man. He does not have much money. His house has no electricity. It is a small rented room which has many rats. He has about sixty rupees in his suitcase. Along with some shirts and dhotis, he also possesses one solitary black coat.

(ii) The kind of person he wants to be (appearance, ambition)

Ans:  He wants to be a handsome person. So he decides to shave daily and grow a thin moustache. He also wishes to accumulate wealth.

2. (i) The person he wants to marry

Ans: He intends to marry a woman doctor who has plenty of money and a good medical practice. He wishes to have a fat wife so that she cannot run after him and catch him when he would make a mistake.

(ii) The person he actually marries 

Ans: The person he actually marries is a thin reedy person with the gift of a sprinter.

3. (i) His thoughts when he looks into the mirror

Ans: His thoughts are full of joy and satisfaction. He decides to grow thin moustache and keep smiling always. He finds his smile attractive.

(ii) His thoughts when the snake is crawled around his arm.

Ans: When the snake coiled around his left arm above the elbow, he kept sitting there holding his breath. He became motionless. He was afraid of the snake.

Updated on: 01-05-2025