CBSE Class 9 English Beehive Notes The Snake And The Mirror

The Snake And The Mirror Summary highlights human fears, ego, and the consequences of imagination and superstition.

CBSE Class 9 syllabus for English Beehive Notes Chapter 5 revolves around a woman left alone in her house at night, who becomes terrified after seeing a snake and reflects on her life and thoughts.

Through this story, students learn about human psychology, irrational fears, and the role of ego in our lives.

The chapter is a suspenseful narrative as well as teaches lessons about self-awareness, humility, and the consequences of overconfidence or vanity.

The Snake And The Mirror Summary​

Summary of The Snake And The Mirror​ as well as about the author is given here. It gives a brief about the chapter:

The Snake And The Mirror Author​:

The story is written by V.S. Seth, a celebrated Indian author known for his psychological narratives and vivid portrayal of human emotions. Seth captures the inner thoughts and fears of ordinary people. This makes students reflect on human nature.

Summary of The Snake And The Mirror:

The story begins with a woman living alone in her house at night. She looks into a mirror and starts thinking about herself and her beauty. Suddenly, she notices a snake outside her window, and fear takes over her mind. Her thoughts jump between panic, vanity, and self-reflection.

Her imagination grows intense, and she begins to contemplate the snake’s motives and her own safety. In a twist of irony, the snake never attacks her, and much of the tension is built through her own fear and imagination. The story ends with the woman reflecting on her fears and the power of ego and imagination, leaving students with a psychological and moral lesson.

The Snake And The Mirror Conclusion

The Snake and the Mirror teaches students that fear is often more dangerous than reality, and that ego and vanity can cloud judgment. By observing her own reactions, the woman realizes that much of her fear is self-generated. The story highlights the importance of self-awareness, humility, and rational thinking in facing challenges.

It also demonstrates how human psychology works under stress, showing students that imagination and ego can amplify ordinary situations into extraordinary fears.

Character Sketch of The Snake And The Mirror

The Snake And The Mirror includes characters that show how human thoughts and feelings work, especially fear, pride, and imagination, and how they can make situations seem bigger than they really are:

1. The Woman:
The central character of the story is the woman living alone in her house. She is egoistic and proud, admiring herself in the mirror, which highlights her vanity. She is also vulnerable and fearful; when she sees the snake, her imagination amplifies the danger, showing how fear can control human behavior.

Her character is psychologically complex: she shifts between vanity, fear, and introspection. By the end of the story, the woman reflects on her own reactions and recognizes that her ego and imagination made the situation seem worse than it was. This shows that she is capable of self-awareness and learning from her experiences, making her a relatable and realistic character for students studying human psychology.

2. The Snake:
The snake is not just a physical threat but a symbol of fear, danger, and the unknown. Its presence triggers the woman’s inner thoughts and exposes her vulnerabilities. The snake’s role highlights how humans often perceive ordinary situations as threatening when influenced by fear and ego.

3. Supporting Elements (Mirror and Setting):

• The mirror symbolizes vanity, ego, and self-reflection. It is the tool that allows the woman to observe herself and also shows how her vanity impacts her thoughts.

• The house and nighttime setting amplify suspense and fear. It illustrates how the environment can influence human psychology, especially when alone.

The Snake And The Mirror Themes

The Snake And The Mirror Themes help students answer questions about fear, ego, and human nature in exams:

1. Fear and Imagination:
The story shows that fear is often magnified by imagination. The woman’s thoughts about the snake grow more intense than the actual threat, teaching students that panic often arises from perception rather than reality.

2. Ego and Vanity:
The mirror in the story represents her ego and concern for beauty. Her vanity distracts her from reality, showing how pride can cloud judgment. Students learn that self-awareness and humility are important qualities.

3. Self-Reflection and Awareness:
By observing her reactions, the woman experiences introspection. The story teaches students that reflecting on one’s behavior can help control fears and manage emotions effectively.

4. Human Psychology and Vulnerability:
The chapter provides insight into how humans react under stress. Loneliness, fear, and overconfidence can distort perception. This theme helps students understand the connection between mind, emotion, and behavior.

5. Reality vs Perception:
A key lesson is that humans often perceive threats more frightening than they are in reality. Students can relate this to everyday situations where overthinking or ego exaggerates problems.

The Snake And The Mirror PDF Notes

CBSE Class 9 The Snake And The Mirror PDF helps students revise effectively. Students can understand the characters’ traits, psychology, and symbolism, which is important for exams. It helps students analyze and answer theme-based questions.

It is structured with bullet points and subheadings. This makes it easy to revise before exams. Students can quickly find answers for character, theme, and moral questions. Below is the PDF of the notes:

The Snake And The Mirror PDF Notes