Grandfather and the Python – Ruskin Bond

Summary:

In this humorous short story, the narrator recounts the comic events that
unfold when Grandfather brings home a young python, bought from a
snake charmer for six rupees. Grandmother, who cannot tolerate reptiles,
is horrified. Despite her protests, Grandfather tries to keep the python in
the bathroom, but it escapes through the window.

The story takes a hilarious turn when the python begins making
unexpected appearances around the house and garden, terrifying the
highly strung Aunt Mabel. From hiding under cushions to gazing lovingly
at itself in the mirror, the python’s antics create chaos and laughter.
Eventually, Grandfather devises a clever trap using a mirror, knowing the
python has grown vain. Once caught, it is released into the jungle—still
enchanted by its own reflection.

Themes:

1. Man and Nature:

The story explores the curious relationship humans have with
animals, especially unconventional pets.
2. Generational Differences & Domestic Comedy:
The tolerant, adventurous Grandfather contrasts with the cautious
Grandmother and hysterical Aunt Mabel, adding to the comic
tension.
3. Vanity and Self-Love:
The python becomes enamoured of its reflection, humorously
mirroring human traits of vanity.
4. Imagination and Eccentricity:
The narrative celebrates eccentric characters and their love for the
unusual and exotic.
5. Fear vs Fascination:
Reactions to the python range from horror (Grandmother, Aunt
Mabel) to fascination and affection (Grandfather, the narrator).

Notes on Language:

 Simple and Conversational Tone:

Bond uses everyday English with an informal, anecdotal style,
making it accessible to young readers.
 Descriptive Yet Unpretentious:
Imagery is used sparingly and humorously—e.g., “the python curled
round Grandfather’s throat,” or “admiring himself in the mirror.”
 Dialogue-Driven:
Much of the story’s humour and characterisation come from lively,
natural-sounding dialogue.
  Childlike Perspective:
The story is told through the eyes of a young narrator, lending it
innocence and curiosity.

Use of Humour:

1. Situational Humour:
o Aunt Mabel’s panic when she spots the snake in the guava
tree.
o The python turning up unexpectedly under a cushion or on the
dressing table.
2. Irony:
o The python is expected to be dangerous, but ends up being a
narcissist!
o Grandfather speaks of “killing” the snake while taking only an
umbrella.
3. Understatement & Sarcasm:
o “If you can imagine a python smiling…”
o Grandfather’s deadpan responses to Grandmother’s outrage.
4. Exaggeration for Comic Effect:
o Aunt Mabel calls it a “boa constrictor” twenty feet long.
o The mirror trap designed for a vain snake is both clever and
absurd.

✨ Phrase-Based Analytical Questions

1. “Grandmother was tolerant of most birds and animals, but

she drew the line at reptiles.”
➤ What does the phrase “drew the line” suggest about her attitude?
➤ Why do you think reptiles evoke such a strong reaction compared
to other animals?
2. “He must have felt hungry.” (After the python vanishes from the
bathroom)
➤ How does this line reflect Grandfather’s casual attitude?
➤ Is there humour in this understatement? Explain.
3. “The python began to make a series of appearances, often
in the most unexpected places.”
➤ How does this phrase build suspense and humour at the same
time?
➤ What does it reveal about the python's role in the household?
4. “Evidently, he had become enamoured of his own
reflection.”
➤ What does “enamoured” mean here?
➤ What makes this behaviour comical when applied to a snake?
 5. “If you can imagine a python smiling…”
➤ Why does the author use this phrase?
➤ How does it reflect the narrator’s tone and style?
6. “It’s the first time I’ve seen a snake fall in love.”
➤ What kind of humour is used here?
➤ How does this line reinforce the light-hearted tone of the story?

Would you like a printable worksheet version of these questions next,

or perhaps an answer key for teachers?

You said:

Significance of Humour in Grandfather and the Python and Its

Impact on the Reader

Ruskin Bond’s use of humour in “Grandfather and the Python” plays a

central role in shaping the story's tone, characters, and message. Here’s
an analysis of how the humour affects the reader:

1. Makes the Story Engaging and Relatable

 Humour draws readers in and makes even an unusual subject—

keeping a python as a pet—feel entertaining rather than alarming.
 The comical family reactions, especially Grandmother’s sternness
and Aunt Mabel’s hysterics, are exaggerated in a way that makes
readers laugh and connect with the absurdity of domestic life.

Example: Aunt Mabel claims the python was “twenty feet long” and
“looked at her in such a queer way”—a clear exaggeration that tickles the
reader.

2. Softens the Fear Factor

 Snakes usually evoke fear, but here the python becomes almost
endearing through its vanity and harmless mischief.
 This unexpected portrayal invites the reader to reconsider
prejudices against reptiles.

Example: The python “in raptures over his handsome reflection” creates
a picture of a creature so obsessed with its own image that it forgets to be
dangerous.

3. Reveals Character Traits

 The humour highlights Grandfather’s eccentricity, Grandmother’s

strictness, and the narrator’s playful perspective.
  It subtly shows the warmth and complexity of family life without
being sentimental.

Example: Grandfather wanting to show the python to Mabel “as soon as

she arrives” reveals his mischievous dislike of her visits.

4. Delivers Gentle Satire

 Bond uses humour to poke fun at social conventions—fear of

reptiles, fussiness of guests, and even human vanity—without being
cruel or critical.
 It invites the reader to laugh with the characters rather than at
them.

5. Leaves a Lasting Impression

 A humorous story like this lingers in the reader’s memory, not just
for the events but for the emotions it evokes—surprise, amusement,
affection.
 It encourages a more open-minded and light-hearted way of looking
at life.

Conclusion:

Humour in “Grandfather and the Python” does more than entertain—it

humanises the characters, subverts expectations, and makes a bizarre
situation delightful. For the reader, it offers both laughter and warmth,
encouraging empathy for both the people and the python.

1.

“Grandmother was tolerant of most birds and animals, but she

drew the line at reptiles.”

What does the phrase “drew the line” suggest about her
attitude?
The phrase “drew the line” implies a clear and immovable boundary in
Grandmother’s tolerance. While she may have accepted a variety of pets,
her patience and acceptance did not extend to reptiles, which she found
deeply unsettling. It reflects her firm, uncompromising stance on a matter
that evoked strong discomfort.

Why do you think reptiles evoke such a strong reaction compared

to other animals?
Reptiles, particularly snakes, often trigger primal fear and revulsion in
humans due to their silent, slithering movement and cultural associations
with danger. Unlike birds and mammals, reptiles lack expressions that
might evoke empathy, making them appear cold and menacing to the
average person, particularly someone as orderly and domestic as
Grandmother.

2.

“He must have felt hungry.” (After the python vanishes from the
bathroom)

How does this line reflect Grandfather’s casual attitude?

Grandfather’s remark is laced with nonchalance and understatement.
Rather than expressing alarm at the python’s disappearance, he treats it
as a mundane occurrence, suggesting hunger as the most natural reason
for the escape. It underscores his calm, eccentric personality and his
comfort with the unconventional.

Is there humour in this understatement? Explain.

Yes, the humour lies in the absurd contrast between the seriousness of a
missing python and Grandfather’s matter-of-fact explanation. The
understatement is delightfully comic because it reduces a potentially
dangerous or alarming situation to a basic, almost comical, biological
need—hunger.

3.

“The python began to make a series of appearances, often in the

most unexpected places.”

How does this phrase build suspense and humour at the same
time?
This line cleverly balances suspense and comedy. The phrase “series of
appearances” gives the python the aura of a mischievous celebrity, while
“most unexpected places” injects unpredictability. Readers are left in
amused anticipation of where it might turn up next, mirroring the
characters’ nervous humour and uncertainty.

What does it reveal about the python's role in the household?

It suggests that the python has become an uninvited yet central figure in
the household, causing disruption and hilarity. No longer merely a pet, it
assumes the role of an unpredictable intruder whose movements govern
the household’s mood and routines.

4.“Evidently, he had become enamoured of his own reflection.”

What does “enamoured” mean here?

“Enamoured” means deeply in love or charmed by something. In this
 context, it implies that the python has fallen under the spell of its own
reflection, displaying a peculiar fondness for what it sees in the mirror.

What makes this behaviour comical when applied to a snake?

The very idea of a snake—a creature not known for vanity or self-
awareness—being entranced by its own image is comically
anthropomorphic. It endows the animal with a human-like trait of
narcissism, heightening the absurdity and charm of the narrative.

5.“If you can imagine a python smiling…”

Why does the author use this phrase?

This phrase is a gentle nudge to the reader's imagination. Ruskin Bond
uses it to inject whimsical humour, acknowledging the implausibility of
such an image while playfully inviting readers to suspend disbelief and
share in the narrator’s amusement.

How does it reflect the narrator’s tone and style?

It reflects a tone that is light-hearted, observant, and tinged with
affection. The narrator speaks with warmth and understated wit, making
the improbable feel oddly believable. It also highlights the story’s charm
in blurring the lines between reality and imagination.

6.“It’s the first time I’ve seen a snake fall in love.”

What kind of humour is used here?

This is an example of dry, situational humour with a touch of irony. The
statement treats a highly improbable scenario—a snake falling in love—
with perfect seriousness, which creates a comic contrast between tone
and content.

How does this line reinforce the light-hearted tone of the story?
The line captures the essence of the story’s whimsical and non-
threatening portrayal of the python. By attributing such tender human
emotion to a cold-blooded reptile, the narrative transforms fear into
fondness and reinforces the story’s warm, delightful absurdity.

1. Why do you think Grandfather was not worried about bringing

home a python, even though he knew Grandmother disliked
reptiles?
What does this suggest about his personality or his relationship
with Grandmother?

Grandfather’s lack of concern suggests a nonchalant, whimsical nature

and a tendency to prioritise curiosity over convention. His decision to
 bring home a reptile—despite knowing Grandmother’s aversion—indicates
either a mischievous streak or a confident familiarity with her
temperament. It reflects a comfortable domestic relationship where such
eccentricities are tolerated, if not welcomed, and subtly implies that
Grandfather often acts according to his own instincts, trusting that
Grandmother will eventually come to terms with his decisions.

2. What can we infer about Aunt Mabel from the way she reacts to
the python’s appearances?
How does her reaction add to the comic tone of the story?

Aunt Mabel’s reactions—marked by dramatic screaming and exaggerated

descriptions of the python—suggest that she is highly strung, easily
alarmed, and perhaps prone to overreaction. Her hyperbolic response
(claiming the snake was “twenty feet long”) provides a stark contrast to
the calm detachment of Grandfather and the quiet amusement of the
narrator. Her behaviour injects slapstick humour into the narrative, and
her repeated hysteria serves as a foil to the absurd normality with which
the household regards the python.

3. Why do you think the python kept returning to the dressing table
mirror instead of escaping outdoors?
What human-like trait does the python’s behaviour reflect?

The python’s repeated return to the mirror suggests a deep fascination

with its own reflection, a behaviour that anthropomorphically mirrors
human vanity. Rather than seeking freedom, the python is captivated by
its appearance, much like a person admiring themselves in a mirror. This
self-absorption is both amusing and oddly endearing, as it assigns a
distinctly human quality—narcissism—to a creature typically viewed as
emotionless and menacing.

4. Why does Grandfather set the python free with the mirror still in
the cage?
What does this tell us about his character and feelings towards
the animal?

Grandfather’s decision to leave the mirror with the python is a tender,

almost poetic gesture. It demonstrates empathy and a gentle regard for
the snake’s peculiar attachment. Rather than viewing it as a mere
creature to be discarded, he acknowledges its emotional idiosyncrasies.
This act reveals Grandfather as a compassionate and eccentric character,
capable of affection and respect even for an unconventional pet, and
reinforces the story’s celebration of the quirky and the kind-hearted.
5. Why is the narrator punished for saying the python is trying to
impress Aunt Mabel?
What does this moment reveal about the family dynamics and
tone of the story?

The narrator’s remark, though humorous, is perceived as cheeky and

inappropriate—especially in the presence of elders. Grandmother’s swift
rebuke shows her stern authority within the household and upholds a
standard of decorum. However, the narrator’s humorous comment and
Grandfather’s stifled amusement reflect an underlying playfulness in the
family dynamics. This moment highlights the affectionate chaos of the
household, where discipline coexists with laughter, and reinforces the
light-hearted, comically domestic tone of the story.