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EXPLANATION OF SOME EXPRESSIONS

1. Croaked away in Bingle Bog……… (line  2)

Explanation …

Bog is a wet and marshy land. The poet has deliberately used ‘Bingle’ for  alliteration.

2. He croaked awn and awn and awn……… (line  4)

Explanation …

It means ‘on and on’. These words are phonetically selected and also rhyme with    dawn.

3. And the crass cacophony………  (line 7)

Explanation …

‘Crass’ means meaningless and cacophony is a very loud and unpleasant noise. Here it is used to refer to the unpleasant voice of the   frog.

 

4. To display his heart’s  elation……… (line  14)

Explanation …

Elation means happiness. In this context, it means that the frog sang to express the happiness of his heart.

5. Stared toward the sumac, rapt……… (line  21)

Explanation …

Sumac is a tree with cane-shaped fruits. When the nightingale sat on a sumac tree and sang her melodious song, all the creatures of the bog were mesmerised and were curious to know who the singer    was.

6. For my splendid baritone……… (line  44)

Explanation …

The frog gets a complex after hearing the nightingale and the praise she has got. But he is very boastful and calls his unpleasant voice as ‘baritone’, which is good for male  singers.

7. The technique was  fine  of course.

But it lacked a certain force……… (line    50)

Explanation …

The frog is jealous so he gives a negative complement in a very tactful manner. He cannot find any fault, so admits that the ‘technique’ is flawless but the  song is not full of   passion.

8. I don’t think the song’s   divine

But -oh-well-at least it’s  mine……… (lines   55-56)

Explanation …

The nightingale is trying to be very modest since the creatures of the bog had already declared her song to  be ‘too divine’. She is overawed by a great critic like frog, so she says in a timid manner that she is proud of the originality of her song. Ironically, she is chastised in the end for not being   original.

9. Breathed: “This is a fairy tale   –

And you’re Mozart in disguise” (lines   64-65)

Explanation …

The nightingale cannot believe her luck, since dreams only materialise in fairytales. Moreover, she is too impressed and overawed by the frog’s offer to train her. So she compares him to the famous German musician Mozart.

10. Flushed with confidence, and  fired

with both art and adoration (lines    70-71)

Explanation …

The nightingale is greatly inspired. She has already received praise and appreciation from the creatures of the bog, so she is full of confidence and is ready to create ripples in the world of    art.

11. Journeyed up and down the scale ……… (line    84)

Explanation …

The frog persuades the nightingale to sing in rainy weather, which is not suitable to her. He makes her practise at various pitch-levels, tries many musical notes, and as a result the nightingale is too tired.

12. Owl of Sandwich, Duck of Kent…….. Mallard and  Milady Trent

Martin Cardinal Mephisto

And the Coot of Monte  Cristo………  (lines  90-94)

Explanation …

The poet wishes to create humour so this refers to the titled crowd, which are authentic royal    titles.

Earl  of  Sandwich,  Duke  of  Kent My  lord  and  Milady  of Trent Martin and Cardinal from Mephisto Count of Monte  Cristo.

 

13. “We must aim for better  billings

You  still owe me sixty shillings”……… (line   109-110)

Explanation …

The frog’s greed is insatiable. He coaxes the nightingale to sing more passionately, so that more creatures come to hear her and he can mint more money. Moreover, he exploits her further by charging her for giving music training.

14. And, my dear, “lay on more   trills,

Audiences enjoy such frills………” (lines   105-106)

Explanation …

The frog wants to tire the nightingale, so he asks her to sing very fast-paced musical notes, repetitively, which will prove to be very exhausting. He gives the logic that the audience prefer very fast, sensational embellishments in a  song.

15. Night on night her tired  song

Zipped and trilled and bounced along……… (lines 113-114)

Explanation …

The nightingale is thoroughly exhausted; her voice has lost its freshness and magic. The melody of her voice has been replaced by musical notes that are repetitive but not pleasant to hear. The songs just appear to drag on. So the creatures of the bog lose    interest.

16. “Use your wits and follow  fashion

Puff your lungs out with passion”…….. (lines 125-126)

Explanation …

This piece of advice from the frog proves to be the nightingale’s undoing. She tries to perform as instructed by the callous frog and tries to infuse more energy and force in her song. Unfortunately, this results in bursting a vein and the nightingale succumbs to her death under   pressure.

17. But she was a stupid creature  –

…..Far too prone to influence……… (lines   132-134)

Explanation …

These lines reveal how malicious and hard-hearted the frog is. He starts criticising the nightingale the moment she dies. Instead of a worthy tribute, he calls her stupid, vulnerable and too nervous. Basically he wants to be rid of any blame that may be heaped on him, for her death. He    is right in calling the nightingale ‘too prone to influence’ because it was her vulnerability that led to her death.

18. “That your song must be your own that’s why I sing with  panache”

Explanation …

Nightingale was proud of her originality and the frog had earlier also criticised her that it was not enough reason to boast about. He continues in his conceited manner, telling everyone that no one could imitate his confident and elegant  style.

 

 

WORD–MEANINGS

l dusk : late evenings l blared : loud & irritable sound l stilled : reduced l dumbstruck : as if under a spell l waded : came through water l twitched : moved, shook l wield : use l Mozart : a great musician from Austria l twittering : talking with great excitement l mid-flight : In the middle of changing notes l frills : embellished musical compositions l precision : accuracy l bounced : just went on l addicted : used to, become habitual l prone : used to

 

LITERARY DEVICES

SYMBOLS

• The Frog :symbolises opportunistic and cunning people who exploit others for their own benefits
• The Nightingale : represents naturally talented artists who fail to achieve fame due to their

 

METAPHORS

• a solitary loon Ÿ Mozart in disguise Ÿ Foghorn

ALLITERATION

• Bingle Bog Ÿ dawn, awn

सारांश
¯बगल नामक एक दलदल में एक मेढक रहता था जिसे गाने का उन्माद था वह सायंकाल से उषाकाल तक गाता ही रहता था। सभी जीव- जंतुओं को जो उस दलदल में रहते थे, उसका गाना अप्रिय लगता था। वे उसे पीटने और उसका अपमान करने का प्रयत्न करते परंतु मेढक बहुत ही संवेदनहीन और बड़बोला था। वह भावावेश में गाता ही रहता।

क्त ठल टपातंउ ैमजी
दिल वेफ उद्गार और उल्लास व्यक्त करने का उसवेफ पास यही एक विकल्प था।
एक दिन दलदल वासियों ने एक मध्ुर और सुरीला गीत सुना जो
एक कोयल गा रही थी। गीत सुनकर मेढक को गहरे सदमे और द्वेष का अनुभव हुआ। वह दलदल का अवेफला और अविवादित गायक बना रहना चाहता था। बुलबुल वेफ गीत ने एक हलचल मचा दी थी। दल-दल वेफ सभी प्राणी बढ़-चढ़कर उसकी प्रशंसा कर रहे थे।
मेढक बहुत चालाक था। उसने कोयल को अपना परिचय उस वृक्ष वेफ मालिक वेफ रूप में दिया, जिस वृक्ष पर बैठकर बुलबुल गाती थी। उसने शेखी बघारी कि वह एक संगीत आलोचक है जो ‘‘दलदल तुरही’’ वेफ लिए गीत लिखता है।
बुलबुल अत्यंत प्रभावित हुई कि मोजार्ट जैसा प्रतिभाशाली संगीतज्ञ इसमे रूचि ले रहा है। जब मेढक ने बहुत ही साधरण पफीस वेफ बदले उसे संगीत प्रशिक्षण देने का प्रस्ताव रखा तो बुलबुल को लगा उसवेफ सपने साकार होने जा रहे हैं और बुलबुल का शोषण शुरू हो गया। मेढक ने संगीत समारोह आयोजित करने शुरू कर दिए। खराब मौसम में भी वह बुलबुल को गाने वेफ लिए बाध्य करता। वह उसे भावमग्न होकर गाने को कहता क्योंकि जनता को यही पसन्द था। आरम्भ में वुफछ जीव-जंतु सुनने को जमा हुए परन्तु ध्ीरे-ध्ीरे भीड़ कम होती गई क्योंकि बुलबुल का गीत नित्यक्रम बन कर रह गया था जिसमें कोई रस न था और उसकी आवाश भी थकी सी हो गई थी। मेढक उसे डाँटता और अपमानित करता। एक दिन अत्यंत दबाव व तनाव में बुलबुल की नस पफट गई और उसकी मृत्यु हो गई।
मेढक ने बुलबुल को मूर्ख और उत्तेजना का शिकार बताया और कहा उसवेफ पास मौलिकता नहीं थी। उसका अहंभाव शांत हो गया था और वह दोबारा दलदल का बेजोड़ गायक बन गया था।

In Image

 

SUMMARY

In a bog, which was called Bingle Bog, there lived a frog, who was crazy about his singing and incessantly sang from the evening to the morning light. All the creatures living in the bog found his songs to be most unpleasant and they tried to beat and insult him, but the frog was very insensitive and boastful. The frog kept singing with extreme passion because this was his way of expressing his heart-felt elation.
One day the creatures of the bog were pleasantly surprised to hear a very melodious and soothing song sung by a nightingale. The frog was shocked and felt jealous. He wanted to be the undisputed singer of the bog. The nightingale’s song created a sensation and all the creatures praised it tremendously.
The frog was very cunning and he introduced himself as the owner of the tree, on which the nightingale sang. He also boasted that he was a music critic, who wrote for ‘Bog Trumpet’. The nightingale was impressed that a musician like Mozart was taking interest in her. When the frog offered to train her for a modest fee, the nightingale felt that her dream had come true. The exploitation of the nightingale began. The frog would organise musical concerts and mint money. He would make the nightingale practise even in adverse weather. He instructed her to sing passionately and with full force, since that was what the public wanted. Initially a number of creatures flocked to listen to her, but later the crowd dwindled because the nightingale’s songs became routine, lustreless and her voice was tired. The frog would scold and humiliate her for no reason. One day, out of sheer stress and fatigue, the nightingale’s vein burst and she died.
The frog called the nightingale ‘stupid’, ‘nervous’ and ‘without originality’. His ego was satisfied and he again became the ‘unrivalled singer’ of the bog.

BEFORE YOU READ
What exactly is a OUIJA BOARD?
It is pronounced as wee-ja, wee-je. It is known as spirit board or a talking board. It is a eat board marked with letters, numbers and other symbols supposedly used to communicate with spirits. It uses a movable indicator to indicate the spirits’ message by spelling it out on the board. It is a very popular game among some sections because it gives an imaginary thrill of communicating with spirits.

Content’s

• Summary of A Shady Plot.
• Hindi Summary of A Shady Plot Class 10th English Chapter 4.
• Word Meanings of A Shady Plot Class 10th English Chapter 4.
• Textbook Question of A Shady Plot Class 10th English Chapter 4.
• Multiple Choice Questions of A Shady Plot Class 10th English Chapter 4.
• Non-Multiple Choice Questions of A Shady Plot Class 10th English Chapter 4.
• Short Answer Questions of A Shady Plot Class 10th English Chapter 4.
• Long Answer Questions of A Shady Plot Class 10th English Chapter 4.

1.  John had become a nervous wreck. It had been a hard journey back to normalcy and marital bliss. He writes a diary entry expressing these feelings. Write  this  for him.

Ans  :    Dear Diary,

What a harrowing and emotional nightmare I have gone through! On God! These days will always remain permanently etched in my memory. Imagine a ghost helping you with the stories and thus causing your marriage to break. How I was saved at the last minute, is a marvel. Those days, when Helen had threatened me and then Lavinia refused to give up the Ouija board; I was accused of infidelity, I could neither sleep nor walk out. I wish I had confided in my wife before. Thank God! Everything  is now as normal as before. But this traumatic period of time, I  will  never  forget.  All  is  well  that  ends well.

John  Hallock.

2.  John’s new ghost story is a hit and proves to be a best seller. Jenkins throws a party in his honour and John is asked to give a speech re- garding the success of his work and the inspira- tion behind it. Prepare the speech of    him.

Ans  :    Dear friends,

I am deeply obliged for your best wishes and support for my success. Believe me friends, I am not an expert      in ghost stories but somehow a good plot occurs out of    the blue and becomes the solid ground of my stories. I know,  you find my stories very fascinating and thrilling  as most ghost stories are. Well, stories can only work if there is someone to inspire or guide you. Even I have       an angel sitting on my shoulders to steer the course of     my  stories.  I  hope  it  continues  this way.

Thanks.

3.  Helen, the ghost had close encounters with hu- man beings like John. She goes back to her world and mulls over this experience she had  on earth. She writes a diary entry regarding the behaviour of human beings and the fickleness  of their relationships. Write this diary entry for her.

Ans  :    Dear Diary,

This was my first opportunity to have close encounters with human beings for a long stretch of time. Basically we stay out of bounds but now I was forced        to materialise in person and threaten John, as there was    no other option. I know John is basically a good guy, vulnerable and kind but his wife is too dominating. He      is so scared of her and she started doubting her husband    at the mention of a mere word ‘Helen’. John was trying     to hide me, not to distress her but, look how she behaved. These human beings have fickle relationships, despite all.   I think we are better off for we keep our relationships  intact

Helen

 

4.  Do you believe ‘A Shady Plot’ qualifies as a good  ghost story?

Ans : Yes, this is a very good story with the most interesting storyline and plot. The plot has been inspired from a real life experience which makes it authentic. It has suspense, it is scary with ghosts walking in and out, but the best part is the humour. The story is not the stereotype one, it is funny and hilarious. It is very interesting to know that even ghosts get fed up of haunting and they are dragged  out of their beds at all hours. This story is full of surprises and that is t

1.  Why was the writer getting over confident about his ability of writing ghost   stories?

Ans : Mr Hallock, the writer had always managed to write good ghost stories, though he was not a specialist in these kind of stories. Such stories were greatly in public demand. He was confident that somehow or the other, a good plot always appeared from somewhere and he was able to write a good   story.

2.  Watching the ghost taking shape was ‘Like watching of the moving picture cartoons put together.’ how?

Ans : Helen, the ghost, appeared in parts. First, a hand took shape, then some other body part, so on and so forth. The process in which the final apparition appeared in the end, was a matter of surprise. The ghost always took shape in bits and pieces like a cartoon in a moving picture.

3.  What surprising revelation is made by the ghost? Why did the writer not  believe   her?

Ans : The writer was greatly surprised to discover that all the good plots of ghost stories had been supplied to him by the ghost Helen. The writer disbelieved her because he had never really seen her before. But the ghost said that she had sat on his shoulders and suggested the plots for his stories.

4.  Why is the ghost fed up of the Ouija Board fanatics?

Ans : The ghosts are now fed up of being called again and again for answers and queries. They were pulled out  of beds at odd times, so they were very tired. The Ouija Board crazy fans would keep asking questions, so this irritated the ghosts and proved to be tiresome and troublesome.

5.  What reasons are given by Lavinia for not getting rid of the Ouija   Board?

Ans : Lavinia felt that the Ouija board was procured at bargain price. Moreover, she felt that it would help her husband in writing ghost stories. It would also provide an interesting activity for her book-club   meetings.

6.  Why was the narrator shocked to see the activities of his wife’s Book   Club?

Ans : The narrator was in for a great shock to see that  all the ladies of his wife’s book-club were sitting near a Ouija Board. Helen, the ghost, had threatened the narrator that he must exert all his force to dissuade people from using the Ouija Board and keep calling ghosts now and then for their problems. So to see so many ladies using the board was a painful sight for    him.

7.  What controversy or furore was caused in the parlour by the name of   ‘Helen’?

Ans : The narrator was forced to be a partner in the Ouija board game and to his horror he discovered that he was called a ‘traitor’ by the ghost. When Miss Hinkle wished to know the details, it was revealed on the Ouija Board that the person, who had called the narrator, a trai- tor, was someone with the name ‘Helen.’ This name cre- ated controversy since the narrator’s wife did not know anyone with that  name.

8.  Helen the ghost says, ‘‘I’m too tired to materialise.’’ What does she imply by the above statement?

Ans : Helen was too tired because she had to work overtime the earlier night answering all the questions of Lavinia’s friends. She took longer than before to appear  in

her full shape because she couldn’t be expected to retain  all her faculties after answering all the Ouija Board fanat- ics of Lavinia’s  book-club, all the  night.

9.  Why did Helen pay a visit to the narrator again?

Ans :  Helen paid a visit to the narrator because she   had been sent to ensure that the narrator’s wife should get rid of the Ouija Board. She had come to threaten the writer and if he did not pay any heed then she would not help the narrator and suggest new plots for his    stories.

10.   Lavinia entered the narrator’s room with a solid finality. What was her   purpose?

Ans : Lavinia had become suspicious of the narrator  that he was involved with some woman called ‘Helen’. So she had come to tell her husband that she was leaving him and moving out. She could not tolerate the infidelity of her husband.

11.   Why was the narrator unable to conceal Helen behind his back before  his  wife?

Ans : Lavinia refused to stand on one side, she jumped quickly to see who was standing behind her husband. She was already suspicious and noticed that her husband was trying to conceal someone behind his back. Even Helen  did not disappear so both the women confronted  each  other for first  time.

12.   How did  Lavinia  react  after facing Helen?

Ans : The writer had always thought that Lavinia was weak-hearted and she might faint at the sight of the ghost. But nothing like this happened. The interaction proved positive and Lavinia stood boldly and confidently before the ghost.

13.   Why did the narrator have a strong urge to pen down his new  story?

Ans :  The narrator had undergone a great experience.  It was scary, interesting, revealing and an excellent plot for any ghost story. A ghost story based on this kind of story was going to be a sure    hit.

14.   How did narrator react to the appearance of  the ghost?  [C.B.S.E. 2012 (T-2)]

Ans : One day the narrator was asked by his employer  to write a horrifying ghost story with supernatural ele- ments because the public liked such stories. As he  sat down to pen down the story, he started muttering questions to himself and surprisingly someone in the room answered them. The writer was greatly surprised to see a figure tak- ing shape gradually. It was a woman, tall and angular, with

fishy eyes, wearing spectacles. The writer was dumbstruck on seeing a ghost standing before his    eyes.

15.   Why did Lavinia decide to leave her husband and what made her change her   mind?

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

Ans  :  The  narrator  had  become  suspicious  of  her husband, and believed he was involved with some woman, called Helen. Unable to tolerate the infidelity of her husband, she decided to leave him. But when she confronted Helen and came to know that she was only a ghost, Lavinia felt miserable to have created such a ruckus accusing her husband of infidelity. All this made Lavinia change her mind.

Read the following extracts and answer the questions.Read the following extracts and answer the questions.
1. ‘‘It was like watching one of these moving picture cartoons being put together. ”
(a) Explain ‘It’.
Ans. The apparition taking shape is referred to as ‘It’.
(b) What is like watching a cartoon movie? Ans. The figure of the ghost taking full shape.
(c) What effect does it have on the ‘narrator’? Ans. The narrator is shocked and surprised.
2. ‘‘We’re been called out of beds a little too often in recent years and now we’re through.”
(a) Who have been called constantly?
Ans. The ghosts like Helen.
(b) What is unnatural about their being called? Ans. People generally do not summon ghosts, so it is
unnatural.
(c) What is the person’s complaint?
Ans. The ghost is fed up of being troubled at all odd hours.
3. “It’s …. so cheap! I got it at a bargain sale.”
(a) What has been bought cheap?
Ans. The Ouija board.
(b) Do you think the narrator would be happy with this news? Why/Why not?
Ans. He was shocked and got worried at the news.
(c) Who had asked the narrator to avoid its use? Ans. The ghost Helen had threatened the narrrator not
to use the Ouija board.
4. ‘‘Someone has been trying to communicate with
John through……….. Ouija……… someone with the name
of Helen.”
(a) Who is Helen? What was her relation withJohn?
Ans. Helen is the ghost and she had helped John with good plots for his stories.
(b) What is Ouija Board? What is its purpose? Ans. A Ouija Board is a talking board in which the
ghosts answer the questions asked by people.
(c) How can one communicate through the Ouija? Ans. The people ask questions and the ghosts answer
them.
5. “John, there is not a bit of use trying to deceive me. What is it you are trying to conceal from me?”
(a) Why was John trying to deceive the speaker? Ans. John did not wish to frighten his wife by letting
her see the ghost.
(b) Whom was he trying to conceal?
Ans. He was trying to hide Helen, the ghost.
(c) What was John afraid of?
Ans. John thought that his wife would faint at the sight of the ghost.
6. “I sat staring at it and presently noticed something just taking shape. It was exactly like watching one of these moving picture cartoons being put together. ”
[C.B.S.E. 2012 (T-2)]
(a) What was the narrator staring it?
Ans. The narrator was staring at the woman standing before him.
(b) How was the figure talking shape?
Ans. The figure was taking shape gradually.
(c) Who was gradually taking a definite shape part by part?
Ans. A ghost, called Helen, was gradually taking a definite shape.

Read the following extracts and choose the correct option.Read the following extracts and choose the correct option.
1. “Curious how that idea for a plot had come to me out of nowhere after I had closed inspiration for months! ”
(i) The writer believed that he was
(a) a good story writer
(b) lacked imagination needed for ghost stories
(c) was not a good ghost story-writer
(d) lacked the ability to write stories
(ii) The writer found it ‘curious’ that
(a) his stories were published
(b) no one read his stories
(c) the plot would suddenly appear out of nowhere
(d) why he was not writing stories full time.
(iii) The writer kept choosing plots because
(a) he was not given any encouragement(b) he was paid less so he lost the desire
(c) writing ghost stories was not instinctive
(d) he had no interest in such stories
Answers : (i) (b) (ii) (c) (iii) (c)
2. ‘‘I just come to tell you to stop bothering us for assistance, we’re going on strike.”
(i) Identify ‘I’.
(a) The writer (b) Miss Hinkle
(c) His wife (d) The ghost, Helen
(ii) The speaker is fed up because
(a) people mocked them
(b) people called them at all times for help
(c) people maltreated them
(d) people screamed at seeing them
(iii) The speaker threatened to go on strike because now they had decided
(a) to sit at one place and answer questions
(b) to haunt

(c) to frighten more people(c) to frighten more people
(d) to appear at all times
Answers : (i) (d) (ii) (b) (iii) (a)
3. ‘‘You’re to exert your influence …… then we’ll
start helping you to write.”
(i) Identify the speaker.
(a) Helen the ghost (b) the writer
(c) the wife (d) the cook
(ii) The listener was expected to persuade people not to
(a) call the ghosts
(b) use the Ouija board
(c) trouble the ghosts
(d) chant magic spells
(iii) The promise made by the speakers is
(a) not to haunt
(b) not to frighten his wife
(c) not to appear in the writer’s house
(d) help him write the stories
Answers : (i) (a) (ii) (b) (iii) (d)
4. ‘‘Lavinia dear, do you know anyone with the name of Helen?’’
(i) Who is Lavinia?
(a) writer’s friend (b) his wife
(c) cook (d) a neighbour
(ii) The above incident takes place at the writer’s
(a) wife’s kitty parties
(b) in his garden
(c) wife’s card parties
(d) wife’s Book Club meetings
(iii) The above reveals_of the speaker
(a) mockery (b) appreciation
(c) suspicion (d) dislike
Answers : (i) (b) (ii) (d) (iii) (c)
5. ‘‘So I went home and sat down before my desk and sucked at the end of my pencil and waited, but nothing happened. Pretty soon my mind began to wander off on other things.”
[C.B.S.E. 2012 (T-2)]
(i) The author was coming back(a) from office
(b) from an official meet
(c) from a party
(d) after a meeting with Jenkins
(ii) What was the author waiting for to happen?
(a) for an encounter with God
(b) for the result of his magic mantra
(c) for the result of invocation to ghosts
(d) for an idea of a plot to write a ghost story
(iii) Where did the author’s mind began to wander?
(a) to think about his new job
(b) to think about his last story
(c) about the new house he had bought
(d) on the material things like his wife’s shopping and how he was going to cure her alarming tendency to take every new fad that came along.
Answers : (i) (d) (ii) (d) (iii) (d)
6. ‘’But what have I got to do with this?’ She gave
me a pitying look and rose. “You’re to exert your
influence. Get all your friends and acqaintances to stop using the Ouija board, and then we’ll start helping you to write.” [C.B.S.E. 2012 (T-2)]
(i) Who is ‘she’ in the above passage?
(a) Helen
(b) Lavinia
(c) Gladolia
(d) Mrs William Augustus
(ii) ‘You are to exert your influence for
(a) co-operating with her
(b) providing all help to her
(c) helping the ghosts to fight their problem
(d) stopping the use of Ouija board
(iii) Before disintegrating, the narrator was told
(a) not to forget the strike
(b) to help them
(c) to stop talking to a ghost
(d) to exert his influence to help them
Answers : (i) (a) (ii) (d) (iii) (d)

 

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.

Apparition	a supernatural appearance of a person or thing, a ghost, spectre or phantom.
Poltergeist	German word, meaning ‘‘noisy ghost’’— a troublesome spirit that announces its presence with unexplainable sounds and the creation of disorder.
Clairvoyance	the supposed power to see objects or events that cannot be perceived by the senses.
Crystal Ball	a globe of quartz crystal in which images, believed to portend the future, are supposedly visible to fortune tellers
Eerie	so mysterious, strange, or unexpected as to send a chill up the spine
Medium	a person through whom the spirits of the dead are alleged to be able to contact the living
Transmigration	to pass into another body after death: going from one state of existence or place to another.
Psychic	capable of extraordinary mental processes, such as extrasensory perception and mental telepathy
Ouija Board	a spelling board device intended to communicate with and through the spirit world, obtaining answers to questions
Exorcist	a conjurer who expels evil spirits by conjuration
Premonition	a feeling of anticipation of or anxiety over a future event
Paranormal	beyond the range of normal experience or scientific explanation
Tarot Card	a set of 22 playing cards bearing allegorical representations, used for fortune telling
Vampire	a reanimated corpse that is believed to rise from the grave at night to suck the blood of sleeping people

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.

 

shy	arrogant	loyal	clever	over-confident	manipulative
protective	self-disparaging	suspicious	sceptical	jealous          fearless
firm	shrewd	strong	gullible	sly	creative

Ans.

 

Person	Extract  from story	What it tells  us about  the character
John Hallock	1.     … in the end things had always come my       way   ….. somehow I’d always been able to dig one (plot) up for him, so I’d begun    to get     a  bit cocky as to my ability (to write   stories).	over-confident
	2.     ‘‘But  my ghosts aren’t a bit like you    ——’’.	sceptical
	3.     ‘‘We  scout around until we find a writer    without ideas and with a mind soft enough to accept    impression.’’	gullible
	4.     ‘‘I’ve  got the bulliest plot for a ghost    story	creative
	5.     Why,  that sensitive little woman couldn’t   bear to have mouse say boo at her and what would she  say to a ghost in her own living room	protective
Lavinia Hallock	1.     ‘‘I  bought the loveliest things  this afternoon. Everybody’s wild over  them’’	loves novelty and thrills
	2.     She had the alarming tendency to    take every new fad that came along and work it to death.	Spendthrift
	3.     John, you are hiding somebody in here who it is ?	suspicious
	4.     ‘‘It  is bad enough to have you first over    the Ouija board  with  that hussy’’	jealous
	5.     Buys the Ouija Board but says it is for John’s research	manipulative
	6.     Does not flinch when she meets the    ghost but talks to her  casually.	strong

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.

 

Column A Column B Ÿ Misto Hallock Ÿ de Missus Ÿ shot’inks  you’s lost! Ÿ she done ‘phone you dis   mawnin’ Ÿ fo’de lawd’s sake Ÿ not to stop to argify   now Ÿ I’s  gwinet’ quit. Ÿ I don’t like no  hoodoos. Ÿ I’se  done  ef’ displace Ÿ I is Ÿ Mister Hallock Ÿ The  Mrs (Mistress) Ÿ She thinks you are  lost Ÿ She did phone you this   morning Ÿ For the Lords’  sake Ÿ Not to stop to argue   now Ÿ I am going to  quit Ÿ I don’t like  hoodoos Ÿ I’d have left this   place Ÿ I am

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.