CHAPTER 04 - A SHADY PLOT NCERT SOLUTIONS

CHAPTER 04 - A SHADY PLOT
PAGE 33
Question 1:
Given below is a list of words related to
ghosts and ghost stories with their jumbled
up meanings against them. Match the words/
expressions with their correct meanings:
Apparition
a feeling of anticipation of or anxiety over a
future event
Poltergeist
a reanimated corpse that is believed to rise
from the grave at night to suck the blood of
sleeping people
Clairvoyance
a conjurer who expels evil spirits by
conjuration
Crystal Ball
a spelling board device intended to
communicate with and through the spirit
world, obtaining answers to questions
Eerie
beyond the range of normal experience or
scientific explanation
Medium
any of a set of 22 playing cards bearing
allegorical representations, used for fortune
telling
Transmigration
a supernatural appearance of a person or
thing, a ghost, spectre or phantom
Psychic
so mysterious, strange, or unexpected as to
send a chill up the spine
Ouija Board
the supposed power to see objects or events
that cannot be perceived by the senseS
Exorcist
a person through whom the spirits of the
dead are alleged to
be able to contact the living
Premonition
a globe of quartz crystal in which images,
believed to portend the future, are
supposedly visible to fortune tellers
Paranormal
to pass into another body after death: going
from one state of existence or place to
another
Tarot Card
capable of extraordinary mental processes,
such as extrasensory perception and mental
telepathy
Vampire
German word, meaning "noisy ghost"-a
troublesome spirit
that announces its presence with
unexplainable sounds and
the creation of disorder
Answer :
Match the words/expressions with their
correct meanings:
Apparition
a supernatural appearance of a person or
thing, a ghost, a spectre or phantom
Poltergeist
German word, meaning “noisy ghost”−a
troublesome spirit that announces it’s
presences 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
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.
xorcist
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
any of 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
PAGE 34
Question 2:
The title of the story is A Shady Plot. The
dictionary defines the words as:
Shady adjective
(a) Full of shade; shaded.
(b) Casting shade: a shady grove.
(c) Quiet, dark, or concealed; hidden.
(d) Of dubious character or of questionable
honesty.
Plot noun
(a)
(i) a small piece of ground, generally used for
a specific purpose: a garden plot.
(ii) a measured area of land
(b) a ground plan, as for a building; a
diagram
(c) storyline- the plan, scheme, or main story
of a literary or dramatic work, as a play,
novel, or short story
(d) a secret plan to accomplish a hostile or
illegal purpose; a scheme.
Answer :
Note: This question is to be answered on the
basis of your own understanding, experience
and thoughts. It is strongly recommended
that you prepare the solution on your own.
However, one sample solution has been
provided for your reference.
The story probably will be surrounding
something that is concealed and hidden,
possibly about a place that is dubious, like a
thick forest. It might be about a vague or
unclear exploration.
PAGE 46
Question 4-(1):
The narrator earns his living by
………………………….
(a) writing ghost stories
(b) working as a reader for a magazine
(c) working as a stenographer
(d) working as an accountant in a lumber
company
Answer :
(d) working as an accountant in a lumber
company
Question 4-(2):
The writer was overconfident about his ability
to write ghost stories because ……
(a) whenever magazines wanted a ghost story,
they got in touch with him
(b) he was always able to write a ghost story
whenever he had to write one
(c) the readers appreciated his ghost stories
(d) he knew the ghost lady would help him
write a good ghost story
Answer :
(b) he was always able to write a ghost story
whenever he had to write one.
Question 4-(3):
The sight of the ghost materialising in his
room filled the narrator with ………
(a) fear
(b) excitement
(c) joy
(d) anticipation
Answer :
(a) fear
Question 4-(4):
The ghost wanted John to
…………………………………………..
(a) stop his wife from using the Ouija board
(b) stop using the Ouija board himself
(c) stop his guests from using the Ouija board
(d) stop people from using the Ouija board
Answer :
(d) stop people from using the Ouija board
Question 4-(5):
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 ………………………
(a) fear
(b) amusement
(c) desperation
(d) anxiety
Answer :
(d) anxiety
Question 4-(6):
When the narrator says his wife is never so
pretty as when she's doing something she
knows he disapproves of, his tone is
…………………….
(a) amused
(b) ironic
(c) angry
(d) irritated
Answer :
(b) ironic
Question 4-(7):
The ghost says "It's all your fault.'It' here
refers to ………………………
(a) the narrator’s wife’s anger
(b) the ghost's anger
(c) the narrator's wife leaving him
(d) the ghost materialising in sections.
Answer :
(d) the ghost materialising in sections.
Question 4-(8):
Gladolia wishes to leave the narrator's house
as ………………….
(a) she does not like the Ouija boards
(b) she is afraid of the ghost
(c) she is afraid of magic and hoodoo
(d) she likes Ouija boards and hoodoo
Answer :
(c) she is afraid of magic and hoodoo
PAGE 48
Question 5-(a):
What genre of stories does Jenkins want the
narrator to write? Why?
Answer :
Jenkins had always called upon Hallock
whenever he wanted a ghost story to be
published in his magazine. John’s ghosts were
live propositions as Jenkins called them. This
time again Jenkins wanted Hallock to come up
with another supernatural thriller, which
would give the readers horrors and that is
what the public wanted too.
Question 5-(b):
Does the narrator like writing ghost stories?
Support your answer with evidence from the
story.
Answer :
The narrator lacked the self confidence as he
himself talked of how he didn’t specialise in
ghost stories; instead, he said that the ghost
stories specialised in him. His first story had
been a ghost fiction too; however, for that
also he had to chase inspiration in vain for
months. This all shows that the narrator was,
though natural, an accidental ghost fiction
writer.
Question 5-(c):
What makes Helen, the ghost, and her other
co-ghosts organize The Writer's Inspiration
Bureau?
Answer :
Helen and other co-ghosts organised The
Writer’s Insipiration Bureau because they felt
there were many writers without ideas,
however, with a vulnerable mind who were
looking for an inspiration to write ghost
stories. The bureau would assign a ghost to
such a writer so that he/she could write good
ghost stories.
Question 5-(d):
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 :
Helen provided inspiration to the narrator to
write ghost stories. She and co-ghosts were
going on a strike because they were tired of
answering questions of Ouija board fanatics.
They felt they were disturbed too often to
answer silly questions. She urged the narrator
to influence his friends and acquaintances to
stop using the Ouija board. It was on this
condition she promised to help the narrator
to write stories.
Question 5-(e):
How does the ghost undermine the narrator's
faith in his ability to write ghost stories?
Answer :
Helen tells the narrator that she had helped
him write his ghost stories. She tells the
narrator of the many times when she had
leaned on the narrator’s shoulder and had
given him ideas, when he was thinking hard
while writing a ghost story. Helen tries to tell
the narrator that had she not been there for
him as a muse, he would not have been able
to write good ghost stories.
Question 5-(g):
Why does the narrator hesitate to be a
partner to Laura Hinkle during the Ouija
Board Party?
Answer :
Helen, the ghost, had asked the narrator to
influence his friends to stop using the Ouija
board. It was only on this condition that
Helen promised to help the narrator to write
ghost stories. If Helen sees him now himself
trying to communicate ghosts through Ouija
board, he fears how and what she would do
to him. That is why the narrator was reluctant
to be a partner to Laura Hinkle during the
Ouija Board party.
Question 5-(f):
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?
Answer :
Lavina is a sensitive woman and is subject to
hysterics. If she sees John talking to a ghost
she would lose it all. Lavinia is crazy about
every new fashion and fad, so much feminine
in nature that John fears the thought of how
she would react in such a situation.
Question 5-(h):
What message does the ghost convey to the
group that had assembled in the narrator's
house? What is their reaction to the message?
Answer :
Helen called John a traitor as he bluffs her.
He had promised Helen that he would
convince his friends to stop contacting
ghosts; rather here he himself was doing the
same. She is annoyed and filled with anguish
and so goes to everyone’s Ouija board one by
one and tells that Mr. Hallock is a traitor.
After this revelation everybody suspected
John of cheating upon his wife, later John
clarified to his wife and she even understood.
Question 5-(i):
Do you agree with the narrator calling the
assembly of women "manipulators?" Give
reasons.
Answer :
The narrator felt that everybody in the room
was looking at him suspiciously. That is why
he called the assembly of women
“manipulators”. The women were not
manipulating things. However, they were just
reporting what was happening at their Ouija
Board.
Question 5-(j):
Why is John's wife angry? What does she
decide to do?
Answer :
John’s wife is angry because she, like other
women, believed what the spirit said through
the Ouija board, about her husband. A
woman even reported that Helen has called
John a traitor. Lavinia thought that her
husband was cheating on her. She decided to
go to her grandmother’s house. She also
decided to separate from her husband.
Question 5-(k):
Why does John wish he were dead?
Answer :
John wished he was dead because a brief
meeting with a ghost had created such
situations that he was about to lose his wife,
whom he loved dearly; it destroyed his
happiness and home.
Question 5-(l):
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 :
John assures his wife that his flirtations with
Helen the ghost are above board. He tries to
tell her that whatever that has happened
between him and Helen is over the board of
Ouija and there was nothing that he wished to
hide from his wife; in fact there was nothing
to tell.
Question 5-(m):
John's apprehensions about his wife's reaction
to her encounter with the ghost are
unfounded. Justify.
Answer :
John thought that his wife would become
hysterical if she saw the ghost Helen;
however, when the encounter happened, she
confidently spoke to the ghost and was not at
all scared of it.
PAGE 49
Question 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
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
Hallock 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
Lavinia Hallock
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 :
Person
Extract from story
What it tells us about the character
John Hallock
1. …in the end things had always come my
Hallock 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. Overconfident, 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. A ghost story had been the first fiction I
had written. Curious how that idea for a plot
had come to me out of nowhere after I had
chased inspiration in vain for months! Even
now whenever Jenkins wanted a ghost, he
called on me.
4. creative
5. I threw a protecting husbandly arm about
her to catch her when she should faint.
5. protective
Lavinia Hallock
1. …and how on earth I was going to cure her
of her alarming tendency to take every new
fad that came along and work it to death.
1. loves novelty and thrills
2. You know I bought the loveliest thing this
afternoon.
2. Spendthrift
3. Lavinia stopped and began to look at me
through narrowed lids much as she had done
in the library the evening before.
3. suspicious
4. She went on, “It is bad enough to have you
flirt over the Ouija board with that hussy…..
She thrust me back with sudden muscle. “I
will see who’s behind you! Where is that
Helen?”
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
PAGE 50
Question 8:
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 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
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
Answer :
Column A
Column B
Misto Hallock
Mister Hallock
de Missus
the Mrs.
sho t'inks you's lost!
she thinks you are lost
she done 'phone you dis mawnin'
she called you this morning
fo' de lawd's sake
for the Lord’s sake
not to stop to argify now
don’t stop to argue now
I's gwine t' quit.
I am going to quit
I don't like no hoodoos.
I don’t like voodoo magic
I'se done lef' dis place
I am done with this place and I am going to
leave this place.
I is
I am
Question 9:
Read and understand the following ghost
phrases and expressions:
(a) To give up the ghost-- to die or to stop
trying
(b) A ghost of a chance-- a poor chance, not
likely to happen
(c) The ghost at the feast-- something or
someone that spoils your enjoyment by
reminding you of something unpleasant
(d) Ghost town-- a town where most people
have left-abandoned and deserted
(e) Ghost-write- to write for someone else
(f) Lay the ghost of something/somebody (to
rest)-- to finally stop being worried or upset
by something or someone that has worried or
upset you for a long time
(g) Ghost image -- secondary image, esp. one
appearing on a television screen as a white
shadow, caused by poor or double reception
or by a defect in the receiver
(h) the ghost of a smile - faint trace of a
smile
(i) As white as a ghost- very pale or white in
the face
Now complete the following story by using
the appropriate phrases in the blanks given
below:
I was alone in a place that bore a deserted
look like that of a ________________. I increased
the pace of my footsteps 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
___________________ .
It smiled at me wickedly .I started shaking
with fear and perspiring profusely when I felt
its skeletal hand upon my neck. I woke up
with a start, relieved that it was only a
nightmare.
This was not the first time I had had one. It
had all started when I had 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 although I knew there
was _________________________ 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 _______________________
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 ______________
and publish my experience under a
pseudonym. Only then can I
____________________.
Answer :
I was alone in a place that bore a deserted
look like that of a ghost town.
I increased the pace of my footsteps 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 ghost image .
It smiled at me wickedly .I started shaking
with fear and perspiring profusely when I felt
its skeletal hand upon my neck. I woke up
with a start, relieved that it was only a
nightmare.
This was not the first time I had had one. It
had all started when I had 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 although I knew there
was a ghost of a chance 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 the ghost at the feast
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 ghost write and
publish my experience under a pseudonym.
Only then can I lay the ghost .
PAGE 52
Question 11:
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.
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....
Answer :
A Ghost Story
She opened the secret door silently.
Standing in front of her was a huge
apparition with a rose in his/ her (its) gloved
hand.
Note: This question is to be answered on the
basis of your own understanding, experience
and thoughts. It is strongly recommended
that you prepare the solution on your own.
However, one sample solution has been
provided for your reference.
M G road was unusually lonely and deserted.
It generally is crowded at the time. It was
only half past six in the evening. Maybe the
unusual downpour had forced people to leave
their offices early. Darkness had descended
earlier than the usual. Stephen had to stop
and wait for the storm to halt. He had to
break his journey that night. The weather did
not seem to favour him. He spotted a motel
and pulled in. He turned the car into their
driveway. His room was on the top floor.
Stephen knew he would never sleep; new
places always unsettled him. As he tossed and
turned in the bed, he heard strange noises.
The noises died down after sometime, they
returned again. Those horrid sounds were
keeping him awake. He decided to investigate.
Suddenly, he heard tap, tap on the window
pane. Was
it the branches of the nearby tree, or
fingernails against the window? Stephen could
not see anything. Maybe it was just a figment
of his imagination. He tried going back to
sleep; however, the incessant tapping on the
window pane kept him awake. Maybe it was a
ghost.
The storm seemed to abate a little. Stephen
decided to go for a walk. The motel was all
quiet except for a faint light at the reception.
Stephen saw a frail figure bent over a book,
probably trying to read something in that
faint light. Stephen was happy. He had
company now. He approached the reception.
The old man’s back was against him. Stephen
cleared his throat to get his attention. As the
old man turned around to face
Stephen…….Stephen screamed in horror….he
had no face….there were just balls of fire in
his eye sockets. Stephen ran out of the motel
and sped away in his car.
And they say, ‘There is no such thing as
ghosts’.
Question 12:
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 laughing 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 Shady Plot humorous.
Share your views during a whole class
discussion.
Answer :
Note: This question is to be answered on the
basis of your own understanding, experience
and thoughts. It is strongly recommended
that you prepare the solution on your own.
However, a few pointers for discussion have
been provided for your reference.
The author has a distinctive style of writing.
The ghost story instead of being spooky,
exciting and gripping is rather amusing.
All the characters have a lighter side to them.
The narrator and his preoccupation with
ghost stories is mocked in a subtle way. He is
not scared of the ghost in his room, rather he
is worried how is his wife going to react if
she sees the ghost.
Lavinia and her spendthrift ways. Her
obsession to try out new trends and fashions.
Helen threatens the narrator that if he did
not agree to her conditions she will stop
inspiring him.
The Ouija board party instead of being
thrilling resulted in a misunderstanding
between Mr. and Mrs. Hallock.
Gladolia the narrator’s cook, who wants leave
her job for a trivial reason, is scared of
Voodoo and black magic and does not want to
work in their house.