Author: shivamlohiya

TEXTBOOK QUESTIONS (SOLVED)

Q.1. Given below is a list of words related to ghost and ghost stories with their jumbled up meanings against
them. Match the words/expressions with their correct meanings:
Ans.

5. Answer the  following  questions
   • What genre of stories does Jenkins want the narrator to  write? Why?

Ans. The narrator is requested by Jenkins to write ghost stories with supernatural elements. The public de- manded such horrors and thrills and these kind of stories were a sure hit with the    people.

• Does the narrator like writing ghost stories? Support your answer with evidence from the text.

Ans. The writer did not specialise in ghost stories. In fact he was surprised how the plot and other details occurred to him. The first story he had ever written had been a ghost story and it made him popular. So he starts liking the idea of writing ghost stories and says, ‘‘This writing business is  delightful.’’

• What makes Helen, the ghost and other co- ghosts organize, ‘The Writers’ Inspiration Bureau’?

Ans. Helen had been a writer in her other life. In  her present state, she had been working as a reader on a magazine. When she became a ghost, she found others,  like her, who had suffered and they formed a Writers’ Inspiration Burea. Now they searched for a writer who was without ideas with a mind susceptible enough to accept these ideas.

• Why had Helen, the ghost been helping the narrator write ghost stories? Why was she going on strike? What condition she places for providing continued help?

[C.B.S.E. 2012 (T-2)]

Ans. Helen had helped the narrator because he was keen to write ghost stories but had no ideas and his mind was impressionable. But now the ghosts were fed up of being called too often from their beds. They had given up haunting and had taken up answering questions on the Ouija board but people had started pestering them too of- ten. Helen promised to help the narrator if he would get  his friends and acquaintances to stop using the Ouija  board.

• How does the ghost undermine the narrator’s faith in his ability to write ghost    stories?

Ans. The narrator refused to  believe  that  Helen had helped him to write all the earlier stories. He protested and said that he had never summoned her. But Helen said that she had come on her own, sat on his shoulder when   he was thinking hard and provided him good    plots.

• Why does John want the ghost to disappear before his wife appears on the scene? What impression of his wife’s character do you form from his words? [C.B.S.E. 2012  (T-2)]

Ans. Lavinia, John’s wife, is a jealous lady. John does not want Helen to be seen by his wife for fear of complications in his married life. His wife is over sensitive and the sight of a ghost in her house will affect her badly. Lavinia is basically a lady, who is a spendthrift and social- ite, spending her time in parties and    friends.

• Why does the narrator hesitate to be a part- ner to Laura Hinkle during Ouija Board party? [C.B.S.E. 2012 (T-2)]

Ans. Helen, the ghost, had asked the narrator to exert his influence in getting all his friends to stop using the Ouija board. Helen had told the narrator that all the ghosts were fed up of being summoned by the Ouija board players, at all hours and now they were going on strike. Helen had promised to help the narrator in his story, if he did the needful. So he was reluctant to get involved in something which he had been strongly forbidden to do.

• What message does the ghost convey to the group that had assembled in the narrator’s house? What is their reaction to the message?

Ans. The ghost conveys to Miss Hinkle that Mr Hallock is a traitor and a woman by the name of Helen was calling for him. Immediately all the women along with the narrator’s wife gather around him and start staring at him accusingly. They behave as if he has been very sly, keeping relations with another woman, behind his wife’s    back.

• Do you agree with narrator calling the assembly of women ‘manipulators’. Give

Ans. The narrator’s state of mind, or his problem, was not known to either his wife or the other women. So psychologically he felt that they were trying to trap him or malign him needlessly. What the women were saying had been indicated on the Ouija board, they were just finding the connection so the narrator is not justified in calling them ‘manipulators’ for they were not doing it deliber- ately. It is intrinsic to women’s nature to see more than what really exists so they cannot be blamed  for    this.

• Why is John’s wife angry? What does she decide to do? [C.B.S.E. 2012 (T-2)]

Ans. John’s wife blames her husband of infidelity, carrying on with Helen behind her back. She decides to leave him and go to back to her grand mother. Rest of the details will be chalked out by the    lawyer.

• Why does John wish he were  dead?

Ans.  John’s  marital life had reached a dead end.  He hated being accused of deceiving his wife, whereas no such thing had ever happened. His wife had threatened to quit and he hated all the accusations that had been hurled  at him.

• When confronted by Lavinia about his flirta- tions over the Ouija Board, John insists that ‘‘The affair was quite over-board, I assure ’’ Bring out the pun in this   statement.

Ans. John’s answer was quite intelligent and double-edged, the real meaning only he knew. His affair was rightly over-board, since it was over the Ouija Board all the problem had begun. Helen, the ghost had forced  him to influence his friends to do away with the boards  and she was the one who had maligned him in front of his wife  and  her friends.

• John’s apprehensions about his wife’s reac- tion to her encounter with the ghost are un- founded.

Ans. John believed that his wife was a sensitive little woman who was too scared of even a mouse. A real heart attack would happen to her if she saw a ghost in her living room. But his doubts were unfounded. Lavinia did not tremble for a moment and patiently observed and lis- tened to Helen, the ghost. She never swooned and there was a satisfied smile on her face    instead.

6.             Answer  the  following  questions  in  detail :

• After her reconciliation with her husband, John Hallock, Lavinia writes a letter to her friend expressing how her relationship with him had almost been on the verge of breaking and what saved it. Write her   

Ans.  Post Street

10 September, 20 xx Dear Anne,

I am extremely sorry for not responding earlier. My life had taken a strong turn and I was left grappling with some apprehensions. Believe me, you were uppermost in my mind but I wanted to sort out my domestic problems and then write to you with a clear frame of mind.

Last month I underwent a very bad phase of my life. You know how proud I am of John and his creative abilities. I have always appreciated his skill in churning  out excellent stories along with being a considerate husband. He has always supported me in my endeavours, but  sometimes  even  honesty  is  also  put  to  test.    Once

during the Book Club game with my friends, the Ouija board hinted that John was having an affair with someone called Helen. I was dumb founded and I threatened to quit. You know, I am impatient I can never tolerate infidelity. I had packed my suitcase and was on the verge of deserting John, when I discovered to my surprise, it was an apparition, a ghost, named Helen who was haunting him. Who would believe that ghosts are found in today’s world? Nevertheless I’m happy that I discovered the truth eventually. Now all is well and there is no reason to worry.

However, I blame myself for all this ruckus. I never gave him chance to explain, nor did I show faith in him. I should have remained unflinching in my trust. So  the famous quote proved true in my case ‘‘Jealousy, thy name is woman’’. I have learnt my lesson    now.

Please write to me about yourself also. Your friend,

Lavinia.

• Discuss the significance of the title of the lesson, ‘‘A  Shady ’’

Ans. The title ‘A Shady Plot’ is most appropriate because most of the situations and characters remain unclear and foggy. At first instance the writer is plagued by doubts regarding the plot of the story. He tries really hard and it appears he is chasing the shadows in search of a ghost story. The appearance of the ghost is open to interpretation. Is it there, or is it not there? There is doubt regarding the existence of Helen, she is spooky and gives rise to apprehensions. The existence of Helen is questionable, no one else will believe it, it is beyond the realm of reality. Moreover, doubts are cast over John’s character, his honesty is questioned, his relationship with Helen is hidden, concealed and he alone knows it. The appearance of Helen upsets John’s life. His wife and cook threaten to quit and shadows of divorce looms large over his relationship with his wife. The plot for a new story remained ‘‘unclear’’ for a long time. It is only in the end, that John can visualise an excellent plot in its perfection. Moreover, the ghost and apparitions are always believed to remain concealed, relegated to shady and dark areas. The appearance of Helen from darkness and retreat to darkness highlights the relevance of the   title.

7.                The narrator and his wife reveal something about their character in their words and actions. We also learn about them from what other people say. Can you pick out the words that describe them from the box given below? Also, pick out lines and instances from the story to illustrate your choice.

Ans.

8. Gladolia, the narrator’s cook, is an The language she speaks is different from that of the others. This is known as Dialect. A dialect consists of words or phrases that reflect the regional variety of a language. An author often uses a regional dialect to make the dialogue more authentic. Initially a dialogue may seem a little difficult to understand. However, as you continue reading, the language will become more comprehensible.

Working in groups, write what Gladolia’s words mean as shown.

Ans.

9. Now complete the following story by using the appropriate phrases in the blanks given below:

Ans.   I was alone in a place that bore a deserted look   like that of a graveyard. I increased the pace of my foot- steps as I walked through the dark forest. I felt someone walking behind me. I turned immediately and spotted the contour of a figure in the form of a spirit. It smiled at me wickedly. I started shaking with fear and perspiring pro- fusely when I felt its skeletal hand upon my neck. I woke up with a start, relieved that it was only nightmare.

This was not the first time I had one. It had all started when I watched the horrendous horror film with a eerie ghost character that had a scary ghost of a smile on  its face. It had been almost a month. The strange thing was that I saw a similar face at the station the next morning. That was uncanny.

I was to attend a dinner at my friend’s at Northanger Abbey that night. I had decided to narrate my experience to the group that would assemble there al- though I knew there was no proof so that they would be convinced.

After everyone had finished pouring their drinks to themselves, I cleared my throat and started narrating my

spooky experience. However, every one of the group started accusing me of being horrifying and held me responsible for spoiling the spirit of revelry. I gave up the ghost and sat quietly waiting for the party to be over. Back at home, the fears returned. I knew I had to talk about my experience to somebody to feel better. I have now decided to write and publish my experience under pseudonym. Only then can I breathe  in  peace.

11. Do you think a story has an atmosphere? Com- plete the following blanks to make up your ghost story by choosing the correct   options.

A Ghost Story

She opened the cemetery-gate (secret door/ spaceship’s hatch/ door of the cottage/ cemetery gate/ door of the castle/ cockpit) silently (brashly/ loudly/ silently/ stupidly/ fearfully/ joyously). Standing in front of her was a terrifying (terrifying/ handsome/smelly/ anonymous/ tiny/ huge/ bossy) apparition (policeman/ spy) apparition/ which/ prince/ wizard) with a rod (wand/ rose/ rod/ knife/ scythe/ coded message) in his/ her (its) her ghoulish (ghoulish/ bony/ beautiful/ fair/ manly/ gloved/ magical) hand.

WORD–MEANINGS
l Proposition : proposal l uncanny : strange l pestering : forcing l sarcastically : in a hurting manner l imbecility : weak intellect l plaid : long woollen cloth l gaping : staring l purgatory : a place of spiritual cleansing l paradise : heaven
l patronisingly : in a protective manner l demobilise : send away l evaporate : disappear l vestige : remainder l affliction : trouble l hysterics : uncontrollable emotions l Napoleon : Emperor of France, whose military endeavour and sheer personality dominated Europe for a long time l Helen of Troy : She was the daughter of Zeus, wife of Menelaus, her abduction by Paris led to the Trojan war. l huffily : irritably l churning : moving l flirtatious : behave in an enticing manner l tugging : pulling, moving l plagued : troubled l twitch : quiver l spasm : sudden muscle contraction l elapsed : passed l semblance : resemblance, look like l gurgled : made a sound like water l prickle : like thorns l gait :walk l protruding : stick out l unaccustomed : not used to l agility : active movement l phantom : ghost l contraptions : strange machine l lithely : flexibly l apparition : ghost, spirit l fervently : impassionately

सारांश
श्री हैलौक को उसवेफ अध्किारी ने एक प्रेतात्मा की कहानी लिखने को कहा। उन्होंने हैलौक को एक बहुत ही डरावनी, अलौकिक घटनाओं से भरपूर कहानी लिखने को कहा क्योंकि जनता को ऐसी ही कहानियाँ अच्छी लगती हैं। लेखक ऐसी कहानी लिखने को तैयार हो गया क्योंकि कोई और पत्रिका उनकी कहानियाँ नहीं छापती थी। लेखक को आश्चर्य हो रहा था कि उस भूतों की कहानियाँ पहले वैफसे लिखी क्योंकि उसे इस विषय में कहानी लिखने का अभ्यास नहीं था। जब भी वह भूत या प्रेतात्मा की कहानी लिखने बैठता, कहानी का कथानक अपने आप कहीं से प्रकट हो जाता था।
लेखक जब लिखने बैठा, तो कोई भी योजना उसे समझ में न
आई। वास्तव में उसका दिमाग पत्नी की खरीदारी और खर्चों वेफ पीछे घूम रहा था, भूत-प्रेतों वेफ साथ नहीं। लेखक ने स्वयं से शोर से कहा, ‘यह लेखन क्रिया प्रसन्नता देने वाली है, है न?’ और एक चैंकानेवाली आवाश कमरे वेफ दूसरे छोर से उस तक आई, ‘‘हाँ, है!’’ आश्चर्यचकित लेखक ने एक लम्बी, दुबली-पतली बड़ी मछली जैसी आँखों वाली, ऐनक पहने महिला को ध्ीरे-ध्ीरे अपने सामने प्रकट होते देखा। वह महिला, लेखक वेफ सामने आकर खड़ी हो गई। लेखक ने यह जानने की इच्छा प्रकट की कि वह क्यों आई हैं। महिला ने एक अजीब उत्तर दिया कि लेखक वेफ बुलाने पर ही वह आई है, कहानी लिखने में उसकी सहायता करने वेफ लिए। उस महिला ने यह भी कहा कि सारी प्रेतात्माएँ तंग आकर हड़ताल पर जाने वाली हैं, इसलिए कहानी वेफ कथानक वेफ लिए लेखक उनको परेशान न करें। महिला ने यह भी जोर देकर कहा कि अब तक जितनी भूतों की कहानियाँ सपफल हुई हैं वह सब उसने लिखाई हैं। इस महिला भूत ने लेखक को बताया कि अपने पूर्व जन्म में वह एक लेखक थीं और और अब उन्होंने एक ‘लेखकों को प्रेरणा देने वाला’ कार्यालय खोला है। अब जिन लेखकों वेफ पास कोई मूल विचार नहीं होते वह उनकी सहायता करती हैं। लेखक ने उसकी बात का खंडन करते हुए कहा कि जब वह उससे कभी पहले नहीं मिला तो वह उसको प्रेरणा वैफसे दे सकती हैं। महिला ने कहा कि वह सदैव लेखक वेफ वंफध्े पर बैठी रहती थी और उनको नया कथानक देती थी। पर अब सब प्रेतात्माएँ तंग आ चुकी हैं क्योंकि उन्हें समय-असमय जगाया जाता हैऋ इसलिए अब वे सब हड़ताल करने वाली हंै। महिला ने लेखक से कहा कि वह अपने सभी मित्रों को पफोन करे और कहे कि उनमें से कोई अब वीजा बोर्ड प्रयोग नहीं करें।
जब लेखक प्रेतात्मा से बात कर रहा था तभी लेखक की पत्नी वहाँ आई और यह देखकर हैरान रह गई कि लेखक अँध्ेरे में बैठे हुए अपने आप से शोर-शोर से बातें कर रहा है। पर इस समय, पत्नी का ध्यान एक नई खरीदारी पर था और वह उसवेफ ऊपर लट्टू थी। लेखक वेफ पूछने पर उसने बताया कि वह एक वीजा वीजे बोर्ड है जो लेखक को कहानी लिखने में सहायता करेगा। वह अपने पति का कहानी लिखना एक आसान कार्य बनाना चाहती हैं। लेखक वेफ बहुत मना करने पर भी वह बोर्ड ले आती हैं और अपने पति की बात नहीं मानती! पति ने सोचा कि वह बाद में अपनी पत्नी को मना लेगा।
दूसरे दिन लेखक अपने काम वेफ लिए निकल गया। वह एक
लकड़ी की कम्पनी में मुनीम था। वह यह काम इसलिए करता था क्योंकि वह कहानी लिख कर अपना खर्चा नहीं चला सकता था। दूसरा काम करना अनिवार्य था। जब वह काम से घर लौटा तो उसे जल्दी से कपड़े बदलकर नीचे आने को कहा गया। उसकी पत्नी ने वुफछ मेहमान बुलाये थे। जब वह नीचे आया तो वह हैरान रह गया, उसका घर उसकी पत्नी वेफ ‘‘महिला क्लब’’ की महिलाओं से भरा हुआ था। वहाँ दो-दो महिलाएँ एक वीजा वीजे बोर्ड बीच में रखकर बैठी हुई थीं। उसकी पत्नी ने उसे श्रीमती हिन्कल का पार्टनर बनने को कहा क्योंकि उनवेफ साथ कोई दूसरी महिला नहीं थीं।
श्रीमती हिन्कल ने लेखक की उँगली पकड़ी और उसे वीजा वीजे बोर्ड पर घुमाना शरू किया। बोर्ड पर ‘‘विश्वासघाती’’ शब्द लिखकर आया। श्रीमती हिन्कल ने पूछा µ कौन विश्वासघाती है? वीजा वीजे बोर्ड ने लेखक हैलौक का नाम लिखा। जब यह पूछा गया कि लिखने वाला कौन है तो बोर्ड ने लिखा µ हेलेन।
सारे कमरे में शोर मच गया। लेखक की पत्नी सहित सभी
महिलाओं ने लेखक को घेर लिया और उसको दोषी व्यक्ति की तरह देखने लगी। इस समय सबवेफ सब वीजा वीजे बोर्ड लेखक को अपराधी बता रहे थे। लेखक को कोई उत्तर नहीं सूझा और वह वहाँ से भाग निकला और जाकर सो गया। जब वह सुबह उठा तो उसे अपनी पत्नी का संदेश मिला कि वह उसे हमेशा वेफ लिए छोड़ रही है और अब वह अपने वकील वेफ द्वारा ही उससे बात करेगी। लेखक इस नई घटना से पूर्णतः अचंभित रह गया। उसी समय, हेलेन की प्रेतात्मा उसवेफ सामने आयी और उसने लेखक से कहा कि वह यह देखने आई है कि उसकी पत्नी ने वीजा वीजे बोर्ड पेंफक दे। लेखक ने क्रोध्ति होकर कहा कि प्रेतात्मा वेफ कारण उसने अपनी पत्नी, अपना घर, अपनी खुशी सब खो दी है।
उसी समय उसकी पत्नी लवीनिया आई और लेखक से कहा कि
वह घर छोड़कर जा रही है। लेखक हेलेन को छुपाने की कोशिश करस्पजमतंजनतम क् दृ 35 रहा था जब उसकी पत्नी ने कहा कि वह बहुत ही अजीब व्यवहार कर रहे हैं। इतने में, उनकी वुफक ;खाना बनाने वालीद्ध ध्ड़ध्ड़ाती हुई आई और कहा कि वह कि वह ऐसे घर में काम नहीं करेगी जहाँ वीजा वीजे बोर्ड प्रयोग में लाए जाते हैं और प्रेतात्माओं को बुलाया जाता है। लवीनिया भी मानने को तैयार नही थी। उसने लपककर यह देखने की कोशिश की कि कौन उसवेफ पति वेफ पीछे खड़ा है? हेलेन इस बार अन्तध्र्यान नहीं हुई और उसने निडर होकर लवीनिया को बताया कि वह वास्तव में हेलन है। लवीनिया बहुत दुखी होती है कि उसने इतना बड़ा हंगामा किया और अपने पति को दाम्पत्य जीवन में विश्वासघाती कहा। लेखक इस घटना से बहुत ही प्रेरित होता हैं और उसे यह अनुभूति होती है कि एक अति सुन्दर भूतों की कहानी का कथानक उसे मिल गया।

SUMMARY

The writer, Mr Hallock, was told by his employer Mr Jenkins to write a ghost story. He told Mr Hallock to write a very horrifying story with supernatural elements because the public liked this kind of stories. The writer agreed to this proposal for no one else printed his stuff. He was surprised how he could have written the earlier ghost stories for he was not a specialist in this genre. Whenever he had decided to write a ghost story, surprisingly the plot had appeared from nowhere.

The writer sat down to pen the story, though no idea occurred to him. In fact his mind was wandering towards his wife’s shopping trips and other unghostly things. The writer loudly said, ‘‘This writing business is  delightful, isn’t it?” and to his surprise a voice at the other end of the room said, “Yes it is.” The writer was surprised to see a figure taking shape gradually. It was a woman, tall and angular, with enormous fishy eyes, wearing  spectacles. She came and stood before the writer. The writer wished  to know why that woman had come. She gave a very surprising answer that the writer had only called her to help him in writing a story. Moreover she said that the ghosts were going on strike so the writer should stop bothering her for another plot. She elaborated that all the other stories that had been a hit had come from her only. The ghost explained that she had been a writer in  the earlier birth but now she had collected other ghosts like her and set up a ‘Writers’ Inspiration Bureau’. Now they extended help to a writer who had no ideas. The writer disagreed with the ghost’s views for he had never seen her before so how could she have inspired him. She explained that she had sat on the writer’s shoulder and had given   him the plots. But now they were all fed up for being pulled out of beds at all times and had decided to go on strike. The ghost wanted the writer to call all his friends and stop using the Ouija board. The conversation of the writer and the ghostly figure was interrupted by the arrival of the writer’s wife who is surprised to see her husband sitting in the dark and talking loudly to himself. However, she was going gaga over a recent purchase she had made. On the writer’s query she revealed that she had bought a Ouija board to help the writer to write the stories. She said that she wanted to make story writing easy for the writer from now onwards. The writer tried his best to dissuade  his wife from keeping the ouija board but she refused to listen. The writer thought that he would reason with his wife later.

Next day the writer set out for his job. He worked   as an accountant for a lumber company and could not give up his job and take to full-time story-writing due to finan- cial problems. On reaching back home he was told by his cook to get ready and come down as his wife had invited some guests. When he came down eventually, he was sur- prised to see that their parlour was full of women belong- ing to his wife’s book club. They were sitting in two’s and between two friends there was a Ouija board. Immediately his wife appeared and she wanted the writer to be a part- ner of Mrs Hinkle, who was without any other friend.

Miss Hinkle took the writer’s fingers and started moving them on the Ouija board. Surprisingly the words spelt on the board were ‘TRAITOR.’ Mrs. Hinkle wanted the board to clarify as to who was a traitor. The Ouija board spelled out that it was Mr Hallock. On enquiring what was the identity of the speaker, the board revealed that it was someone with the name of Helen.

This fact created a furore in the entire room and the ladies along with the writer’s wife gathered around the writer and looked at him accusingly. All the Ouija boards signalled towards the writer. The writer could not answer. He fled the scene and went to sleep. Next morning, he noticed a slip of paper with the message that his wife was leaving him for good and her lawyer would communicate with him. The writer was shocked and surprised at this development. Meanwhile Helen, the ghost,  reappeared  and told the writer that she had been sent to ensure that his wife was going to get rid of that Ouija board. The writer was very angry and he retorted that the ghost had made   the writer lose his wife, his home and his happiness. The writer’s wife Lavinia entered and told the writer that she was moving out. The writer was trying to shield and cover Helen, when his wife remarked that he was behaving very strangely. The Cook barged in and announced that she was not going to serve in a place where there were Ouija boards and activities relating to curses and charms. Lavinia was in no mood to be pacified. She sprang quickly to see who was standing behind her husband. Helen did not disappear this time and boldly announced to Lavinia that she indeed was Helen. Lavinia felt very miserable to create such a ruckus and accuse her husband of infidelity. The writer felt inspired and realized that he had indeed hit upon an excellent plot for a ghost story.