Class 9, Poem 9: The Snake Trying

NCERT solutions for Poem 9, "The Snake Trying," by W.W.E. Ross, from the Beehive textbook for Class 9.

**Thinking about the Poem**

**I.**

**1. What is the snake trying to escape from?**

**Answer:** The snake is trying to escape from the "pursuing stick," which represents a person (likely with a stick) trying to hit or kill it.

**2. Is it a harmful snake? What is its colour?**

**Answer:**

* No, it is not a harmful snake. The poet explicitly states, "O let him go / over the water / into the reeds to hide / **without hurt. Small and green / he is harmless even to children**."

* Its colour is **green**.

**3. The poet finds the snake beautiful. Find the words he uses to convey its beauty.**

**Answer:** The words and phrases the poet uses to convey the snake's beauty are:

    * "beautiful"

    * "graceful"

    * "glides"

    * "thin long body"

    * "curvings of thin long body" (suggesting elegance in movement)

    * "Small and green" (while descriptive, "green" often evokes natural beauty)

**4. What does the poet wish for the snake?**

**Answer:** The poet wishes for the snake to:

    * Escape unharmed from the person pursuing it.

    * Be allowed to go "over the water / into the reeds to hide."

    * Not be hurt because it is small, green, and harmless.

**5. Where was the snake before anyone saw it and chased it away? Where does the snake disappear?**

**Answer:**

* **Before anyone saw it:** The snake was "lying along the sand" before it was seen and chased.

* **Where it disappears:** The snake disappears "in the ripples among the green slim reeds."

**II.**

**1. Find out as much as you can about different kinds of snakes (from books in the library or from the Internet). Are they all poisonous? Find out the names of some poisonous snakes.**

**Answer:**

    *(This requires individual research. Here's a general template for the answer):*

    There are over 3,000 species of snakes in the world, found in various habitats except Antarctica, Iceland, Ireland, Greenland, and New Zealand. They vary greatly in size, colour, and behaviour.

    **No, not all snakes are poisonous.** In fact, the majority of snake species are non-venomous. Poisonous (or more accurately, venomous) snakes produce venom, a specialized saliva containing toxins, which they use to subdue prey or for defense.

    **Some common misconceptions:**

    * Many people fear all snakes, but most are harmless and play an important role in the ecosystem, such as controlling rodent populations.

    * A snake's head shape (e.g., triangular) is not always a reliable indicator of whether it's venomous.

    **Names of some poisonous (venomous) snakes include:**

    * **Cobra (e.g., Indian Cobra, King Cobra):** Known for their hooding display.

    * **Krait (e.g., Common Krait, Banded Krait):** Highly venomous, often nocturnal.

    * **Viper (e.g., Russell's Viper, Saw-scaled Viper, Pit Vipers like Rattlesnakes, Copperheads, Water Moccasins):** Many have hemotoxic venom that affects blood and tissues.

    * **Rattlesnake:** Known for the rattle on their tail.

    * **Mamba (e.g., Black Mamba, Green Mamba):** Fast-moving and highly venomous.

    * **Taipan (e.g., Inland Taipan):** Considered to have one of the most toxic venoms.

    * **Coral Snake:** Brightly coloured, with neurotoxic venom.

    It's important to learn to identify local snake species and to treat all unidentified snakes with caution.

**2. Look for the word ‘glide’ in a dictionary. Think of some other words that have a similar meaning and use all these words in sentences of your own.**

**Answer:**

    **Glide (from dictionary):** To move smoothly and continuously along, as if without effort or friction.

    **Other words with similar meaning:**

    * **Slide:** To move smoothly along a surface while maintaining continuous contact with it.

    * **Slip:** To slide unintentionally for a short distance, typically losing one's balance or footing.

    * **Slither:** To move with a smooth, sliding, or twisting motion (often used for snakes).

    * **Flow:** To move along or out steadily and continuously in a current or stream.

    * **Drift:** To be carried slowly by a current of air or water.

    * **Coast:** To move easily without using power.

    **Sentences:**

    * The skater seemed to **glide** effortlessly across the ice.

    * Children love to **slide** down the grassy hill.

    * He began to **slip** on the wet, polished floor.

    * The snake began to **slither** silently through the undergrowth.

    * The river continued to **flow** peacefully towards the sea.

    * The empty boat began to **drift** out with the tide.

    * She turned off the engine and let the car **coast** down the hill.