Short Questions with Answers
1. Why did the cyclist ring the bell at the gate?
Answer : He saw a cobra crossing the compound gate and wanted to warn the family.
2. Who were the members of the family?
Answer : The family consisted of a mother and her four sons.
3. What was Dasa doing when the family called him?
Answer : Dasa, the old servant, was sleeping in the shed.
4. Why did Dasa deny the presence of the cobra?
Answer : Dasa claimed there was no cobra to avoid taking responsibility.
5. What tools did the family use to search for the snake?
Answer : They used bamboo sticks, knives, and crowbars.
6. What did the college boy say about snake bites?
Answer : He said that 30,000 people die of snake bites yearly.
7. Why did the mother scream?
Answer : The statistics of snake deaths frightened her.
8. What did the old beggar woman believe about the snake?
Answer : She believed the cobra was a form of God Subramanya.
9. What was the snake charmer’s response when asked to catch the cobra?
Answer : He said he needed to see the snake to catch it.
10. What did the family do to the garden during the hunt?
Answer : They cut down bushes, grass, and creepers to remove hiding spots.
11. What did Dasa claim to have done at the end?
Answer : He claimed to have caught the cobra in a water pot.
12. Why did the family reward Dasa?
Answer : They believed he had captured the cobra.
13. What happened after Dasa left with the pot?
Answer : The real cobra emerged from a hole in the wall and disappeared.
14. What did the mother wish she had done for the snake?
Answer : She wished she had placed milk in the pot as a religious offering.
15. What does ‘desultorily poking’ mean in the story?
Answer : It means poking without any real effort or direction.
16. Why did the family accuse Dasa of negligence?
Answer : They blamed him for not keeping the garden clean, which attracted the snake.
17. What did the college boy regret at the end?
Answer : He regretted not knocking the water pot from Dasa’s hand to check its contents.
18. What does the story reveal about human behavior in danger?
Answer : It shows panic, superstition, and a tendency to shift blame.
19. How does irony appear in the story?
Answer : The family thought they had solved the problem, but the snake was still there.
20. What lesson does the story teach about superstitions?
Answer : It highlights how superstitions can cloud rational judgment.
Medium Questions with Answers
1. Why did the family accuse Dasa of negligence?
Answer : The family blamed Dasa for not keeping the garden clean, which allowed the cobra to enter. They said his laziness created the problem. Dasa defended himself by saying he needed a grass-cutter to maintain the garden.
2. What did the college boy say about the dangers of snakes?
Answer : The college boy stated that 30,000 people die from snake bites annually, which equals 83 deaths a day. He emphasized the seriousness of the situation and made the family more anxious.
3. What did the mother think about the cobra after the beggar spoke?
Answer : The mother believed the cobra might be a divine visitor, as the beggar linked it to God Subramanya. She felt it was a reminder to fulfill her religious duty.
4. How did the neighbors contribute to the situation?
Answers : The neighbors criticized Dasa for his laziness and gave suggestions about maintaining the garden. They also participated in the snake hunt but debated topics unrelated to the cobra.
5. What role did the snake charmer play in the story?
Answer : The snake charmer explained his skill in catching snakes but admitted he could only act if the cobra was spotted. He left after leaving his contact details, contributing little to the solution.
6. How did the family search for the cobra?
Answer : The family, along with neighbors, destroyed much of the garden using tools like sticks and knives. They cut grass, shrubs, and creepers, but failed to find the snake.
7. What was Dasa’s claim about catching the snake?
Answer : Dasa triumphantly announced that he had caught the snake in a water pot. He described how he sealed it and promised to hand it over to the snake charmer.
8. What did the family decide to do after the snake hunt?
Answer : After exhausting all efforts, the family planned measures to avoid future snake problems. They praised Dasa for supposedly catching the snake and decided to reward him.
9. How does the story reflect superstition?
Answer : The mother believed the cobra was divine after the beggar’s statement. She even regretted not offering milk to the snake as a religious gesture.
10. What was ironic about the ending of the story?
Answer : While the family praised Dasa for catching the snake, the real cobra emerged and left the compound. This irony questions Dasa’s honesty and highlights human gullibility.
11. What reaction did the family have to seeing the cobra?
Answer : They were shocked and panicked when the cobra emerged from the wall. Their fear and disbelief grew as they watched it escape.
12. What is the significance of the setting in the story?
Answer : The garden, full of shrubs and grass, created an ideal hiding place for the snake. Its overgrown state symbolized neglect and served as the central problem.
13. How did the cobra’s escape create confusion?
Answer : The cobra’s reappearance made the family doubt Dasa’s claim. They wondered if there were two snakes or if Dasa had lied about catching one.
14. What qualities of Dasa are revealed in the story?
Answer : Dasa is portrayed as lazy, cunning, and opportunistic. Despite his initial denial, he cleverly pretended to catch the snake to save his job.
15. What lesson does the story teach about human behavior?
Answer : The story highlights panic, superstition, and misplaced trust. It shows how people react irrationally under fear and often fail to verify facts.
Long Questions with Answers
1. Describe the family’s and neighbors’ attempts to find the snake.
Answer : The family and neighbors joined forces, armed with sticks, knives, and crowbars. They cut down grass, shrubs, and creepers, leaving the garden bare. The heated discussion among the neighbors shifted to unrelated topics like wartime prices and black markets. Despite their hard work, they failed to locate the snake. Their efforts highlight both fear and inefficiency in handling the situation.
2. How does the story portray the role of superstition in people’s lives?
Answer : Superstition plays a significant role, especially through the mother and the beggar. The beggar linked the cobra to God Subramanya, and the mother immediately believed it. She regretted not performing religious rituals, showing how fear amplified her beliefs. The neighbors also seemed to rely on traditional solutions like calling a snake charmer. This theme reveals the deep influence of superstition in Indian society.
3. What impression do you get of Dasa’s character?
Answer : Dasa appears lazy and reluctant, avoiding work by denying the presence of the snake. However, he cleverly turns the situation in his favor by pretending to catch the cobra in a pot. His opportunistic behavior wins him praise and a reward from the family. Despite his cunning, his actions are revealed as deceitful when the real snake reappears. This mix of traits makes him a complex and amusing character.
4. Explain the irony in Dasa’s claim of catching the cobra.
Answer : Dasa proudly claimed he caught the snake and sealed it in a pot, gaining admiration and trust. However, the real cobra emerged after he left, exposing his lie. The family was fooled by his confidence and failed to verify his claim. This ironic twist highlights human gullibility and Dasa’s cunning nature. It also adds humor and a moral lesson to the story.
5. What does the cobra symbolize in the story?
Answer : The cobra symbolizes fear, chaos, and superstition. Its presence disrupts the household, causing panic and irrational behavior. For the mother, it represents divine intervention, while for others, it signifies danger. The snake’s mysterious disappearance and reappearance amplify the story’s tension. Ultimately, it serves as a tool to reveal human flaws and societal beliefs.
6. How does R.K. Narayan use humor in the story?
Answer : Humor is woven through irony, exaggerated reactions, and Dasa’s clever manipulation. The family’s chaotic search, the college boy’s statistics, and the snake charmer’s helplessness create amusing moments. Dasa’s false heroism and the cobra’s dramatic escape add a comic twist to the serious situation. Narayan’s humor softens the tension and makes the story engaging.
7. What lessons can be learned from the neighbors’ reaction to the cobra?
Answer : The neighbors’ involvement showcases human tendencies to criticize and shift blame. They reprimand Dasa for the garden’s state but fail to offer practical help. Their irrelevant debates on prices and wartime shortages show how people lose focus during crises. The incident teaches the importance of collective responsibility and calmness. It also reflects societal dynamics during emergencies.
8. How does the story reflect human fear of the unknown?
Answer : The cobra, unseen for most of the story, incites terror and irrational actions. The family and neighbors panic, destroy the garden, and rely on unreliable methods like a snake charmer. The fear of the snake becomes more overwhelming than the snake itself. This fear amplifies superstitions and highlights how people often fear what they cannot see or control.
9. What does the ending of the story reveal about human nature?
Answer : The ending, where the real cobra appears, exposes human error and gullibility. The family’s praise of Dasa without verifying his claim shows their readiness to believe a convenient lie. The incident reflects how people often prioritize appearances over facts. It also emphasizes the importance of skepticism and critical thinking in crisis situations.
10. How does R.K. Narayan address societal themes in the story?
Answer : Narayan highlights themes like superstition, fear, and human behavior under pressure. The family’s reaction to the cobra reveals their dependence on traditional beliefs and external help. The neighbors’ behavior reflects societal dynamics of blame and gossip during crises. Through humor and irony, Narayan critiques these tendencies while making the story relatable and engaging.
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