Chapter 1: Snake Bite


About the Story

  • Author: Shankar (from Life with Grandfather)

  • Narrator: Raja (first-person narration)

  • Type of Story: Short story

  • Setting: Raja's house, garden, paddy fields, and the medicine man's house.

Characters

Raja

  • A young, innocent and adventurous boy.

  • Curious about animals and insects.

  • Tries to catch both a snake and a bee.

  • Knows the truth but remains silent when everyone mistakes the bee sting for a snake bite.

  • His silence leads to unnecessary panic.

Character Traits

  • Curious

  • Adventurous

  • Innocent

  • Obedient

  • Calm

  • Honest (he wanted to tell the truth)

Grandmother

  • Loves Raja deeply and is very protective.

  • Gets frightened easily.

  • Believes Raja has been bitten by a snake.

  • Calls Grandfather immediately for help.

Character Traits

  • Caring

  • Affectionate

  • Loving

  • Worried

  • Superstitious

Grandfather

  • Protective and deeply concerned about Raja.

  • Acts quickly without asking questions.

  • Carries Raja across the fields to the medicine man.

  • Believes completely in the medicine man's powers.

Character Traits

  • Caring

  • Protective

  • Concerned

  • Superstitious

  • Gullible

The Medicine Man

  • An old man believed to cure snake bites.

  • Performs rituals instead of giving real treatment.

  • Makes everyone believe Raja had a poisonous snake bite.

  • Accepts gifts after claiming he saved Raja.

Character Traits

  • Clever

  • Shrewd

  • Pretender

  • Dishonest

  • Manipulative

Story Summary

Beginning

  • Raja notices a small snake crawling in his compound.

  • The snake becomes frightened after seeing Raja and hides inside a coconut shell.

  • Raja quietly closes the shell with a stone and proudly carries it to his grandmother.

  • Grandmother screams in fear and calls Grandfather.

  • Grandfather immediately throws the shell away.

  • The snake escapes into the bushes.

  • Grandfather warns Raja never to play with snakes because they are dangerous.

Middle

  • Later that evening Raja tries to catch a bee.

  • The bee stings his finger.

  • Raja runs to his grandmother because the sting is painful.

  • Since Raja says he has been "bitten," Grandmother assumes it is a snake bite.

  • She remembers the snake Raja had caught earlier.

  • Grandfather notices the blue mark on Raja's finger.

  • Believing it to be a poisonous snake bite, he immediately carries Raja across the garden and paddy fields to a medicine man.

Climax

  • The medicine man examines Raja.

  • He tells Raja to remain still.

  • He takes water in a brass vessel.

  • He begins chanting mantras.

  • Raja wants to explain that a bee had stung him.

  • Grandfather holds him tightly and does not allow him to speak.

  • Everyone watches silently because they think Raja's life is in danger.

Ending

  • After some time, the pain naturally disappears.

  • The medicine man washes Raja's finger and gives him water.

  • He falsely announces that Raja has been saved from a poisonous snake bite.

  • Raja's grandparents believe him completely.

  • Grandfather thanks him and later sends him gifts.

  • Raja knows that the medicine man did nothing to cure him because he never had a snake bite.

Important Events in Order

  1. Raja sees a snake.

  2. The snake hides in a coconut shell.

  3. Raja traps the snake.

  4. Grandmother becomes frightened.

  5. Grandfather throws away the shell.

  6. Raja later tries to catch a bee.

  7. The bee stings Raja.

  8. Grandmother mistakes the sting for a snake bite.

  9. Grandfather carries Raja to the medicine man.

  10. The medicine man performs rituals.

  11. Raja cannot explain the truth.

  12. The bee sting stops hurting naturally.

  13. The medicine man claims to have cured Raja.

  14. Grandfather rewards the medicine man.

Themes

1. Dangers of Superstition

  • Raja's grandparents blindly trust the medicine man.

  • They never verify what actually happened.

  • The story shows why blind faith can be dangerous.

2. Importance of Communication

  • Raja wanted to explain that he was stung by a bee.

  • Nobody allowed him to speak.

  • The misunderstanding could have been avoided if someone had listened to him.

3. Acting Without Understanding

  • Grandmother and Grandfather reacted out of fear.

  • They assumed the worst without asking questions.

  • The story teaches us to understand a situation before acting.

4. Fear Can Lead to Wrong Decisions

  • Fear made everyone believe the medicine man without thinking logically.

  • Panic prevented them from finding the real cause.

5. Scientific Thinking vs Blind Faith

  • Proper medical treatment should always be preferred over untrained healers.

  • The story encourages rational thinking instead of superstition.

Moral of the Story

  • Do not believe in superstitions blindly.

  • Always find out the truth before reacting.

  • Good communication prevents misunderstandings.

  • Seek treatment from trained doctors during emergencies.

  • Fear should never replace logical thinking.

Why the Story is Called Snake Bite

The title is ironic because Raja is never bitten by a snake. The entire confusion begins because everyone wrongly believes he has suffered a snake bite when, in reality, he has only been stung by a bee. The title highlights the misunderstanding that drives the story.

Message of the Story

The story teaches that:

  • Panic often leads people to make wrong decisions.

  • Blind faith in untrained medicine men can be harmful.

  • Listening carefully before acting is important.

  • Clear communication and scientific thinking can prevent unnecessary fear and confusion.