Class 9- English -Beehive – Chapter 5
Chapter-5
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?
It was the sound of a snake. The doctor thought it was the sound of rats. He heard it three times. The sounds stopped when the snake fell on the back of the chair.
2. What two “important” and “earth-shaking” decisions did the doctor take while he was looking into the mirror?
The doctor took two “important” and “earth-shaking” while he was looking into the mirror
(i) he decided to shave daily and grow a thin moustache.
(ii) Second, always to 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’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?
When the doctor looks into the mirror he smiles because he thinks he is an attractive bachelor and doctor. The next time he smiles at himself because he feels he is a poor, foolish and stupid doctor. His vanity changes into humility.
II. 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)
(i) The doctor is a poor person. He has hardly any money. he lives in an unelectrified house. It is small rented room with plenty of rats living in it. He has just
started his medical practice. So he is not a man of possessions or money.
(ii) The Person wants to be rich. he also would like to have good appearance. That’s why he decides to grow a thin moustache.
2. (i) The person he wants to marry
(ii) The person he actually marries
(i) The doctor wants to marry a woman doctor with good medical practice and a lot of money. She would be fat as not to run after him and catch him.
(ii) He marries a thin reedy woman who j has a gift of sprinter.
3. (i) His thoughts when he looks into the mirror
(ii) His thoughts when the snake is coiled around his arm
(i) His thoughts are full of joy and satisfaction. He decides to grow thin moustache and keep smiling always. He finds his smile attractive.
(ii) He turned to stone. He sat like stone image in the flesh. However, his mind was very active. He felt the great presence of creator. He decides to write the
words ‘O God’ outside his little heart.