English

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.

Advertisements
Advertisements

Question

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

 

Answer in Brief
Advertisements

Solution

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. over confident, self disparaging
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.  I sat down to write a ghost story. 4. creative
5. His magazine was only one to print my stuff. 5. protective
LaviniaHallock 1. Such as my wife’s shopping 1. loves novelty and thrills 
2. Cure her of her tendency to take everv new fad  2. spendthrift
3. John, whv are vou sitting in the dark? 3. suspicious
4. Looking as if I were some peculiar insect 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
shaalaa.com
A Shady Plot
  Is there an error in this question or solution?
Chapter 4: A Shady Plot - Exercises [Page 53]

APPEARS IN

CBSE English Literature Reader Class 10
Chapter 4 A Shady Plot
Exercises | Q 8. | Page 53

RELATED QUESTIONS

John Hallock could never displease Jenkins. Why?


Read the extract given below and answer briefly the questions that follow:

"I hadn't the shade of an idea, but at the time that didn't worry me in the least. You see, I had often been like that before...."

(i) Who is 'I' ? What did he not have an idea about?
(ii) Why was he not worried?
(iii) What had actually happened earlier to make things right for him?


How does the lesson, 'A Shady Plot' remind us that man has no right to invoke supernatural powers through Ouija boards, Tarot cards etc to solve his problems and that one should face life boldly and overcome difficulties using wit and intelligence. Write in 80−100 words.


The title of the story is A Shady Plot. The dictionary defines the words as:
plot noun.


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.

The ghost wanted John to …………………………………………..


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 ………………………


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 …………………….


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.

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


Answer the following question briefly.

Why does the narrator hesitate to be a partner to Laura Hinkle during the Ouija Board Party?


Answer the following question briefly.

Do you agree with the narrator calling the assembly of women "manipulators?" Give reasons.


Answer the following question briefly.

Why is John's wife angry? What does she decide to do?


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.


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  

Write two striking qualities of the Ghost as revealed in this extract.
a) _____________________
b) _____________________


Comment on Elsie Brown’s writing style in the story, The Shady Plot.


Share
Notifications

Englishहिंदीमराठी


      Forgot password?
Use app×