Question

Read the extract given below and answer the following questions.

“Martin’s father worked at home. He wanted to know why Martin was out of breath. “Why didn’t you take the elevator?” he asked, frowning at Martin.

1. How old was Martin? On which floor did he live? What word would you use to describe Martin? (Recall and Analysis)
2. Why was Martin scared of using the elevator? (Recall)
3. Martin disliked using the staircase. Why? (Recall)
4. Martin met a strange person in the elevator one day. What did she do that scared Martin? What happened to Martin when he ran away after seeing her? (Recall)
5. Comment on the ending of the story, The Elevator. Identify any two elements of horror in the story. (Analysis)

Answer 1

1. Martin was a twelve-year-old boy who lived on the seventeenth floor of the building. He was skinny, weak, timid, and not good at sports. He was also very sensitive and had a strong fear of enclosed spaces, especially elevators.
2. Martin was afraid that the elevator might fall or that he might become trapped inside it. The elevator was poorly lit, had dirty walls, and its door closed quickly. These features increased his fear and made him uncomfortable.
3. Martin disliked using the staircase because he lived on the seventeenth floor. Climbing so many flights of stairs was tiring and exhausting, especially for a skinny and physically weak boy. Therefore, despite his fear, he had to use the elevator.
4. Martin met a large, strange-looking woman in the elevator. She silently watched him and breathed loudly, which made him feel frightened and trapped. When the elevator reached the first floor, Martin ran out and hurried nearly all the way to school. His fear and panic left him gasping for breath.
5. The ending of the story is mysterious and unsettling. Martin’s intense fear, combined with the strange behaviour and unexplained presence of the fat lady, leaves the reader wondering whether the danger was real or partly the result of Martin’s imagination. The ending keeps the suspense alive.
   Two elements of horror are:
   
   1. The poorly lit, cramped elevator with dirty walls creates a frightening atmosphere.
   2. The mysterious fat lady’s silent staring and unexplained behaviour create a sense of threat and suspense.