A SHADY PLOT

Answer the following questions briefly.

1. What genre of stories does Jenkins want the narrator to write? Why?
A: Jenkins wants the narrator, John Hallock to write ghost stories as his
stories are live propositions which horrify the readers and they want more
such stories.
2. Does the narrator like writing ghost stories? Support your answer
with evidence from the story.
A: No, he is not fond of writing ghost stories. He says “I didn’t specialize in
ghost stories, they seemed to specialize in me.• He never had any idea for
such a story and didn’t know how or why he was able to write it.
3. What makes Helen, the ghost, and her other co-ghosts organize The
Writer’s Inspiration Bureau?
A: Helen, the ghost had been a writer in her life, one without ideas for a
story. Her life was hell as she did not have ideas for stories. So, along with
similar ghosts, she formed a bureau to help writers without ideas but with
an impressionable mind willing to accept ideas. They would pass on their
ideas to the writers secretly. They were providing a social service to their
mortal counterparts.
4. 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?
A: Helen, the ghost had been helping the narrator as he did not have ideas
to write ghost stories and she could understand his misery as a writer.

She along with all the members of the bureau were going on a strike as a
mark of protest against the indiscriminate use of the Ouija board by the
people. They called the ghosts often and asked many questions. This left the
ghosts with no time for haunting people for fun.
She wanted the narrator to stop his acquaintances from using the Ouija
board if he wanted their help in writing ghost stories.
5. How does the ghost undermine the narrator’s faith in his ability to
write ghost stories?
A: The narrator was overconfident of his abilities as a ghost story writer as
they were liked by the readers and the publisher Jenkins urged him to write
more such stories.
Helen, the ghost tells him that it was she who would help him with ideas for
a story, leaning over his shoulder many times.
She tells him that many times when he was desperately thinking of a new
plot, she would lean on his shoulder in order to give him a new ghost story.
Thus, the ghost makes him realize that he wrote such good stories because
of the help given by it.
6. 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?
A: John wants the ghost to disappear because as it is a female ghost, his
wife could get jealous and this would affect his married life.
Also, the sight of a ghost in her house would make her mad.
The narrator’s wife is a nagging, suspicious and jealous woman.
7. Why does the narrator hesitate to be a partner to Laura Hinkle
during the Ouija Board Party?
A: John had been instructed by the ghost to stop his acquaintances from
using the Ouija board as only then would they help him in writing ghost
stories. He is scared of it and so is hesitant to take part in the Ouija Board
party.
8. What message does the ghost convey to the group that had
assembled in the narrator’s house? What is their reaction to the
message?
A: The ghost calls out for John. All the five Ouija boards in the room ask for
John and introduce themselves as Helen. They call him a traitor. As John’s
wife does not know anyone by that name, all the ladies in the party suspect
John of cheating on her.
9. Do you agree with the narrator calling the assembly of women
“manipulators?” Give reasons.
A: I agree with the narrator’s perception. He considered the women as
manipulators as they controlled the ghosts through the Ouija boards and
forced them to answer all their questions.
10. Why is John’s wife angry? What does she decide to do?
A: John’s wife is angry at her husband as a ghost by the name Helen called
out for him and she thought that he had cheated her.
She decides to go to her grandmother’s home and get separated from John
11. Why does John wish he were dead?
A: John wished he was dead because the misunderstanding created due to
the female ghost had almost ruined his life. His married life was about to
end and it would destroy his home and happiness.
12. 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.
A. When confronted by Lavinia about his flirtations over the Ouija Board,
John insists that ‘the affair was quite above-board which means it is being
honest and legal.

Pick out the words that describe the narrator and his wife from those
given below

shy arrogant loyal clever

overconfident manipulative self- disparaging fearless

suspicious firm skeptical jealous

shrewd strong gullible sly

Creative protective loves novelty and thrills

PERSON Extract from story What it tells us
about the
character
John in the end things had always come my way Overconfident
Hallock 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).
John A ghost creative
Hallock story had been the first fiction I had written.
John I threw a protecting protective
Hallock husbandly arm about her to catch her when
she should faint.
Lavinia and how on earth I was going to cure her of loves novelty
Hallock her alarming tendency to take every new fad and thrills
that came along and work it to death.
Lavinia You know I bought the loveliest thing this Spendthrift
Hallock afternoon.
Lavinia Lavinia stopped and began to look at me suspicious
Hallock through narrowed lids much as she had done
in the library the evening before.
Lavinia She went on, “It is bad enough to have you jealous
Hallock 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?•“
Lavinia Buys the Ouija board but says it is for manipulative
Hallock John’s research
Lavinia Does not flinch when she meets the ghost but strong
Hallock talks to her casually.

Gladolia, the narrator’s cook, is an African. She has a dialect, write

what Gladolia’s words mean

COLUMN A COLUMN B
Misto Hallock Mister Hallock
de Missus The missus
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, going to leave this place.
I is I am

Read and understand the following ghost phrases and expressions

To give up the ghost to die or to stop trying

A ghost of a chance a poor chance, not likely to happen
The ghost at the feast something or someone that spoils your
enjoyment by reminding you of something
unpleasant
Ghost town a town where most people have left –
abandoned and deserted
Ghost write to write for someone else
Lay the ghost of to finally stop being worried or upset by
something/somebody (to something or someone that has worried or
rest) upset you for a long time

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
the ghost of a smile faint trace of a smile
As white as a ghost very pale or white in the face

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 (sweat)
profusely (excessively) 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 ___________ 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 ______________ 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 (sweat)
profusely (excessively) 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 all started when I watched a
horrendous horror film with an 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, everyone in 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 to rest.