English

Do You Think a Story Has an Atmosphere? Complete the Following Blanks to Make up Your Ghost Story by Choosing the Correct Options.

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Question

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

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

  •  cemetery gate
  •  fearfully
  • terrifying
  •  apparition
  •  scythe
  •  bony
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A Shady Plot
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Chapter 4: A Shady Plot - Exercises [Page 52]

APPEARS IN

CBSE English Literature Reader [English] Class 10
Chapter 4 A Shady Plot
Exercises | Q 11.1 | Page 52

RELATED QUESTIONS

I only waved denial and gurgled in my throat. She went on “It’s bad enough to have you flirt over the Ouija board with that hussy ----.”
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Read the extract given below and answer briefly the questions that follow:

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John Hallock reflects upon his experience with Helen's ghost and in retrospect he finds it quite amusing. All the same he is relieved that he is no longer plagued by it. Ironically, the same ghost inspires his creativity and he writes a diary entry reflecting upon the comical aspect of his experience. Write his diary entry


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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
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6. Does not flinch when she meets the ghost but talks to her casually. 6. strong

 


Gladolia, the narrator's cook, is an African. 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 dialect to make the dialogue more authentic. Initially, a dialogue may seem a little difficult to understand. However, as you continue reading, the language becomes more comprehensible.
Working in groups, write what Gladolia's words mean as shown.

Column A Column B
• Misto Hallock • Mister Hallock
• de Missus  
• sho t'inks you's lost!  
• she done 'phone you dis mawnin'  
• fo' de lawd's sake  
• not to stop to argify now  
• I's gwine t' quit.  
• I don't like no hoodoos.  
• I'se done lef' dis place  
• I is  

Ghosts and haunting have fascinated the public for centuries. Although many doubt the existence of ghosts or other paranormal entities, many people dedicate their lives to searching and recording paranormal activity. Ghost tours, support groups and research societies, to name just a few, permeate our society and seek to answer questions about paranormal activity.   Interview your friends, relatives and people in your neighbourhood about whether they believe in the existence of ghosts. Ask them to tell you of any specific experiences they might have had in this context. In your groups, identify the most fascinating anecdote you have gathered on the basis of your interactions. Narrate it to the class


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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


While conventional Ghost stories are scary and gruesome, several modern versions are humorous. The Canterville Ghost, by Oscar Wilde, is one of the best ghost stories written in the vein of comic satire. The story that you just read is another example in case. Humour arises out of the narrator's ability to laugh at himself, clever use of language as well as comic situations. Discuss within your groups what makes the story, A Shady Plot humorous. Share your views during a class discussion.


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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 ? 


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