Eng HW Narrative analysis:
Page 98-99
Type of Narrative
This is a true story from Roald Dahl’s life, making it an autobiographical narrative. It describes an
intense real-life experience with a dangerous green mamba snake, turning it into an exciting and
suspenseful story.
Story Structure (Freytag’s Pyramid Analysis)
1. Exposition (Beginning)

The story is set inside a house in Tanzania, Africa.

The danger: A poisonous green mamba has entered the house.

The characters:
o
The narrator (Roald Dahl) – watching from outside.
o
The snake-man – a professional snake catcher.
o
The house owner – also watching.
o
The dog – lying under the coffee table, unaware of the danger.
This part introduces us to the situation, setting, and characters, helping us understand the tension.
2. Rising Action (Build-up of Tension)

The snake-man moves slowly and carefully into the house.

The narrator watches, unable to see the snake at first, creating suspense.

The snake-man waits motionless, showing patience and skill.

The narrator finally spots the snake, lying along the skirting of the wall.
This part builds anticipation—everyone is waiting for something to happen.
3. Climax (The Most Intense Moment)

Suddenly, the snake attacks the snake-man’s leg!

It moves so fast that it almost seems invisible.

The snake-man’s thick boots save him from being bitten.

Instead of panicking, the snake-man stays calm, using his tool to pin the snake.
This is the most dangerous moment in the story, where the reader fears for the snake-man’s life.
4. Falling Action (After the Danger)

The snake-man slowly moves the tool along the snake’s body, controlling it.

He pins the snake’s head down so it can’t bite.

Then, he grabs the snake by its neck and lifts it into a sack.
The tension begins to fade as the snake-man gains control.
5. Resolution (End of the Story)

The snake is securely trapped in the sack.

The snake-man becomes completely relaxed, showing his experience.

He casually picks up his pole and makes a final remark about the dog, which has died
unnoticed.
The ending is sudden and realistic—it reminds us that real-life stories don’t always have happy
endings.
Other Narrative features:
Bravery vs. Fear

The snake-man is fearless, even though he is facing one of the most dangerous snakes in the
world.

He moves slowly, speaks softly, and doesn’t panic, even when the snake strikes at him.

On the other hand, the narrator and the house owner are scared and watching from
outside, afraid to go near the snake.
This theme shows the difference between someone trained and experienced (the snake-man) and
ordinary people (the narrator and the house owner), who react with fear.
2. Man vs. Nature

The snake is wild and unpredictable—it moves suddenly, strikes fast, and fights back.

The snake-man represents human intelligence and skill—he doesn’t try to kill the snake but
captures it carefully.

Nature (the snake) is strong and dangerous, but humans use knowledge and patience to
deal with it.
This theme highlights how humans and nature sometimes come into conflict and how humans try to
control dangerous situations.
3. Patience and Skill

The snake-man waits without moving for several minutes before he takes action.

He doesn’t rush—he uses careful, small movements to pin down the snake.

Even when the snake thrashes around, he slowly moves the pole inch by inch until he has
full control.
This shows that staying calm, thinking carefully, and acting with precision are more powerful than
fear or rushing into danger.
4. Death and Reality

The story doesn’t have a happy ending—the dog dies while everyone is focused on the
snake.

The snake-man’s final words about the dog show that death is just a part of life, especially in
dangerous places.

This reminds us that real life isn’t always fair or perfect, unlike fictional stories where
everything works out happily.
This theme adds realism to the story, making it feel like something that truly happened rather than
an exaggerated adventure.
Characters and Setting Analysis
Characters
1. The Snake-Man
o
He is the central figure in the story.
o
He is calm, skilled, and fearless—he never panics, even when the deadly green
mamba strikes at him.
o
His movements are slow and controlled, showing his experience and expertise in
handling snakes.
o
He treats the snake with respect rather than aggression, speaking to it softly instead
of attacking it.
o
His final words about the dog show that he is practical and used to danger, rather
than emotional.
→ He represents human intelligence, patience, and bravery.
2. The Narrator (Roald Dahl as a Young Man)
o
He is an observer—watching everything unfold from a safe place.
o
He is curious and interested in the snake-man’s actions, but also nervous and
fearful.
o
He lacks the experience and confidence of the snake-man, showing how regular
people react differently to danger.
→ He represents the average person who admires bravery but doesn’t have the same courage.
3. Fuller (House Owner)
o
He is another observer, like the narrator, and seems to be as fearful as the narrator.
o
He points out where the snake is but doesn’t take any action.
o
His only spoken contribution in the story is whispering "Pssst!" to alert the snakeman.
→ He plays a minor role but represents how most people stay passive in dangerous situations.
4. The Green Mamba (The Snake)
o
It is a symbol of nature’s danger and unpredictability.
o
It is fast, aggressive, and highly venomous—when it strikes, it does so within a
fraction of a second.
o
It fights fiercely to survive, thrashing around even after being trapped.
o
Its actions are purely instinctive, unlike humans who plan and strategize.
→ It represents the raw power of nature and the challenge humans face in controlling it.
5. The Dog
o
The dog is mentioned only briefly, but its death is important.
o
It was lying still while the snake was being caught, but the narrator later realizes it
was actually dead.
o
Its death is sudden and unexpected, showing that even innocent creatures can
suffer in dangerous situations.
→ It represents the harsh realities of life, where not everyone survives in a dangerous
environment.
Setting
The story takes place in Tanzania, Africa, in a simple living room of a house.
1. The Living Room
o
Described as ordinary with a coconut matting floor, sofa, coffee table, and chairs.
o
The furniture gives hiding places for the snake, making the capture more difficult.
o
The dog is lying on the floor, creating a false sense of calm before we realize it is
actually dead.
o
The window becomes an important element, as the narrator and Fuller are
watching from outside.
2. The Atmosphere (Mood & Tone)
o
Tense and suspenseful—the narrator watches every small movement of the snakeman and the snake, waiting for something to happen.
o
Silent and slow-paced—there are long moments where nothing happens, making
the suspense even stronger.
o
Realistic and detailed—Roald Dahl uses precise descriptions of movement, making
the scene feel like a real-life event.
o
Shocking ending—the dog’s unnoticed death reminds us how unpredictable and
dangerous life in Africa can be.