Question

Read the description given below this sketch from a photograph in a newspaper I (Times of India, 4 September 1999). Make up a story about what the monkey is thinking, or why it is looking Into a mirror. Write a paragraph about it.

A monkey preens itself using a piece of mirror; in the Delhi ridge.

(‘To preen oneself’ means to spend a lot of time making oneself look attractive, and then admiring one’s appearance. The word, is used in disapproval.)

Answer 1

Closely looking at the picture, it seems that the monkey is greatly confused. He is not ready to take the reflection as his own. He must be thinking that it is the other monkey staring at him. Now his efforts start to verify how dangerous the other one is to him. First he raises his eyebrow and the same is found with the other monkey. Then he starts grinning and the other one starts doing the same to him. The monkey looking into the mirror-piece is not only curious but bewildered too. He makes different facial gestures and the same is reflected to him. Then he takes the mirror-piece a little away and besides his face, his body is also seen. Then getting greatly frightened at this estranged reaction of the monkey in the- mirror, the monkey threw away the piece of mirror and jumped away.

(Note: It is not thinkable that the monkey looking into the mirror takes the reflection in the mirror as his own and being enchanted, starts preening himself.)