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प्रश्न
Based on your reading of the story answer the following question by ticking the correct option.
John wants the ghost to disappear before his wife enters the room and waves his arms
at the ghost with something of the motion of a beginner when learning to swim. His
movement shows his ………………………
पर्याय
fear
amusement
desperation
anxiety
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उत्तर
desperation
APPEARS IN
संबंधित प्रश्न
John Hallock could never displease Jenkins. Why?
The title of the story is A Shady Plot. The dictionary defines the words as:
shady adjective
- Full of shade; shaded.
- Casting shade: a shady grove.
- Quiet, dark, or concealed; hidden.
- Of dubious character or of questionable honesty.
plot noun
- i) a small piece of ground, generally used for a specific purpose: a garden plot.
ii) a measured area of land - a ground plan, as for a building; a diagram.
- storyline- the plan, scheme, or main story of a literary or dramatic work, as a play, novel, or short story
- a secret plan to accomplish a hostile or illegal purpose; a scheme.
Based on the definitions above, can you predict what the story is about? Make a brief note of your prediction in your notebook.
Based on your reading of the story answer the following question by ticking the correct option.
What made the writer overconfident about his ability to write ghost stories?
Based on your reading of the story answer the following question by ticking the correct option.
When the narrator says his wife is never so pretty as when she's doing something she
knows he disapproves of, his tone is …………………….
Based on your reading of the story answer the following question by ticking the correct option.
The ghost says "It's all your fault.'It' here refers to ………………………
Based on your reading of the story answer the following question by ticking the correct option.
Gladolia wishes to leave the narrator's house as ………………….
Answer the following question briefly.
Does the narrator like writing ghost stories? Support your answer with evidence
from the story.
Answer the following question briefly.
Why had Helen, the ghost, been helping the narrator write ghost stories? Why was she going on strike? What condition did she place for providing continued help?
Answer the following question briefly.
Do you agree with the narrator calling the assembly of women "manipulators?" Give reasons.
Answer the following question briefly.
When confronted by Lavinia about his flirtations over the Ouija Board, John insists that 'the affair was quite above-board, I assure you, my love'. Bring out the pun in John's statement.
Answer the following question briefly.
John's apprehensions about his wife's reaction to her encounter with the ghost are
unfounded. Justify.
The narrator and his wife reveal something about their character through 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 overconfident manipulative protective self- disparaging suspicious sceptical jealous fearless firm shrewd strong gullible sly creative loves novelty and thrills |
| 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). | 1. ____________ |
| 2. "But my ghosts aren't a bit like you----". | 2. sceptical | |
| 3. We scout around until we find a writer without ideas and with a mind soft enough to accept impression. | 3. gullible | |
| 4. .................................................................. | 4. creative | |
| 5. ................................................................... | 5. protective | |
| LaviniaHallock | 1. .................................................................... | 1. loves novelty and thrills |
| 2..................................................................... | 2. spendthrift | |
| 3. ..................................................................... | 3. suspicious | |
| 4. ....................................................................... | 4. jealous | |
| 5. Buys the Ouija board but says it is for John's research. | 5. manipulative | |
| 6. Does not flinch when she meets the ghost but talks to her casually. | 6. strong |
Now that you have shared a ghost story/anecdote as well as completed a guided story in the class, create your own ghost story on the basis of the starters given below:
a) Stephen knew he would never sleep. The noises, those horrid sounds, would keep him awake...
b) Tap, tap, tap. Was it the branches of the nearby tree, or fingernails against the window?
c) People often say, 'There's no such thing as ghosts....
You are familiar with the key elements of a short story viz setting, plot, conflict, character and point of view. Given below are specifics to be kept in mind while writing a ghost story. Also make use of the vocabulary that you have learnt from the story ‘A
Shady Plot’.
• Colours, sounds, feeling words
• Strong definite characters
• Creating suspense
• Setting the scene and the atmosphere
• Describing the weather
• Clear opening line
• Personal feelings
• Clear ending
• Describing the sounds
• Adding a dramatic element
• Mystery
Answer the following questions :
The Ghost loved the stormy weather because ….(Complete the statement by
ticking the correct option)
Answer the following question:
The Ghost was particularly angry with Washington and wished to frighten him
because…. ...................................................................(Complete the statement)
Answer the following question.
The Ghost did not wish to frighten Virginia because ….(Complete the statement)
Why did Lavinia decide to leave her husband, John ?
Comment on Elsie Brown’s writing style in the story, The Shady Plot.
