1. Prepare the character sketch of the homeopath in the story'The snake and the mirror'.

Homeopath : The dreamer

Homeopath is the central character of the short story written by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer.  In this story,  Basheer portrays the homeopath as an admirer of beauty. He is very proud of himself for being a young handsome bachelor and a doctor by profession. He had just started his medical practice and his earnings were meagre. He lives in a rented room that was not electrified. In order to look more handsome , he decides to shave daily, keep an attractive smile always on his face and grow a thin moustache.  He would also wish to marry a woman doctor who has plenty of money and a good medical practice. She should be fat so that even if he made any mistakes, she wouldn’t be able to run after him. But, the phrase " Man proposes, God disposes " is very much apt for the doctor's life. On the contrary to his plan, God willed something different! His wife is a thin reedy person with the gift of a sprinter.! 

Homeopath is a satirical character who often delivers some silly jokes himself. He mentions comically that he and the rats share the rented room. His conceptions about his fiancée also reveals his sense of humor. At the end of the story the doctor feels shame himself as the thief left his dirty vest. He presents the matter comically by saying that "The fellow had such a sense of cleanliness . . .! The rascal could have taken it and used it after washing it with soap and water." When the cobra coiled around his arm, he admits that he was a stupid doctor because he had forgot to keep any medicines with him. In short, the doctor is a simple but a humorous character.

 2.  The story 'The Snake and the Mirror' by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer portrays a frightening incident in the life of ahomeopath in a humorous way. Prepare a write up on the use of contrasts in the story to bring out the humour.

 The Snake And The Mirror

 'The Snake and the Mirror' is an interesting story by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer portraying a frightening incident about an encounter with a cobra took place in the life of a homeopath in a humorous way. The homeopath is a bachelor who lived in a rented room which was not electrified. He had recently set up his medical practice and his earnings were meagre . 

One summer night, after having his dinner from a restaurant, homeopath reached his room around ten 'O clock. After removing his clothes, he made his bed to go to sleep. But it was too hot inside. So, he couldn't get sleep.  He went to the veranda to get some air. But didn't get!  He came back into the room and sat on the chair beside the table. At that time, he was tempted by a mirror.  He was a great admirer of beauty and also a bachelor. In order to look more handsome , he decided to shave daily, keep an attractive smile always on his face and grow a thin moustache.  He would also wish to marry a woman doctor who has plenty of money and a good medical practice. She should be fat so that even if he made any mistakes, she wouldn’t be able to run after him. On the contrary to his plan, God willed in a different sense ! his wife was a thin person like a sprinter!

With such lovely thoughts, he sat on the chair. Suddenly he heard a dull thud behind him. Before he could do anything, a fat snake coiled his arm. He sat still like a stone image. If he tried to move slightly, the snake would bite him. His real fear was that he had no medicine with him at that time. So, he admitted himself that he was a stupid and foolish doctor. As the snake turned its head it saw its reflection in the mirror! To his surprise, the snake unwound itself and moved closer to the mirror on the table. 

 At that moment, the homeopath escaped from the room and reached one of his friends' house. The next day he went to his room with his friends to remove his belongings from there. When they reached there they found that some thief had stolen all the things except his dirty vest. On seeing that the doctor said "The fellow had such a sense of cleanliness . . .! The rascal could have taken it and used it after washing it with soap and water."

 3. The doctor in the story 'The Snake and the Mirror' ran out of the house after his encounter with the snake. Reaching his friend’s house,  he jotted down his experience in his diary. Prepare the likely diary entry.

20 May 2023

Sunday

What an unforgettable day it was! How can I forget today? Thank God. I thought it would be the last day in my life..... As usual, reached my rented room after having dinner.  It was too hot inside to sleep. I was tempted by the mirror. I decided to shave daily, grow a thin moustache and always to keep an attractive smile on my face to look more handsome. I also wished to marry a woman doctor with plenty of money and practices. I think, the God didn't like my arrogance. All of a sudden, I heard a dull thud from behind. Before I could do anything, a cobra coiled my arm. I sat still like a stone image. If I tried to move slightly, the snake would bite me. My real fear was that I had no medicine with me at that time. How stupid and foolish I am. Soon,  the snake just turned its head and saw its reflection in the mirror. To my surprise, the snake unwound itself and moved closer to the mirror on the table. Without wasting a second, I escaped from the room and reached my friend’s house .Oh God! I will never forget this incident. God appeared before me in the form of a mirror to save my life.