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CLASS X

CHAPTER NAME A Shady Plot


PREREQUISITE KNOWLEDGE:
(1) The teacher will ask the students following questions.
(a) Match the list of words related to ghosts and ghost stories with their jumbled up meanings
against them.
(b) Do you beliee in ghosts!
(c) "hat are the things which scare you! "hy !
(d) #ow do you think we can conquer our fears !
(e) Deduce the meaning of the title $ % &hady 'lot $.

REAL LIFE APPLICATION
Seek always for the answers within.
Be not influenced by those around you -
by their thoughts or their words.
IMPORTANT POINTS
DETAILED NOTES
&hady 'lot( a short story by )lsie *rown( is in first person narratie describing a
ghost story writer. The writer is urged by his friend to write a new ghost story for his
maga+ine. The author is ery disturbed and can ,t figure out a proper storyline. "hile
he contemplates on the plot of his story it turns dark. #e starts talking to himself
when suddenly he hears the ghost #elen ,s oice. #e is startled and unable to
comprehend anything. #e gaped helplessly when the ghost bursts into frustration-
."hat are you gaping at!/ #ere is when we know the reason to why the ghost is
enraged. &he reminisces on her past life as a human and how angry she was with
people then. &he speaks on behalf of all the people who hae turned ghosts to stop
humans from calling them often. &he says they are through and are all going to call
for a strike. This strike refers to not to appear or proide ideas to people for writing
ghost stories. Thus( #elen commands the author not to inole in any actiity as
such which would mean calling the spirits. %t noon( while he is still trying to work on
a story( his wife 0aina brings a 1uija *oard home and announces her party with the
women from her *ook 2lub. The writer( drowned in consternation by her declaration(
tries to conince 0aina( his wife( to drop the idea. #oweer( his wife makes him a
partner of 0aura #inkle( one of the women from the *ook 2lub who is quiet fond of
Mr. #allock (the author)( to work on one of the 1uija boards. Though he tries to
resist( his wife pays no heed. "hen the spirit descends( 0aura asks it to tell
something( the pointer started moing towards the letters to point out the word
,T3%4T13 ,. *ewildered( the writer has nothing to say so his partner asks the spirit to
e5plain itself more fully. 4n response( the spirit spells ,%&6 #4M ,. This is when the
author realises that it is actually #elen who is trying to interact with them. 7nable to
e5plain( the author feels miserable and his wife 0aina( who already goes ballistic(
threatens to walk out on him. The scene then shifts back to his room when he is in a
mournful state and #elen re8appears and asks him of when his wife would get rid of
the 1uija *oard. #oweer( 0aina enters to bid him bye. &he feels the queerness
about him and demands like a boss what he is trying to conceal behind him and
thrusts him aside only to see the ghost lady #elen. &he is flabbergasted( and then
she realises that she had speculated all wrongs that her husband had been possibly
flirting with #elen of troy oer the 1uija *oard. 9inally the ghost departs and 0aina
apologises to her husband.
TEACHING IDEAS
Discussion on -
(a)&uperstitions :a *lot on our &ociety
(b) 7seful words and phrases to consider while writing a ghost story
(c !ear is the "ain source of su#erstition$ and one of the "ain sources of cruelty. %o
con&uer fear is the beginning of wisdo".'
(d Science is the great antidote to the #oison of enthusias" and su#erstition.'
(e (u"orous ghost stories
ANIMATION AND VIDEOS
http-;;www.youtube.com;watch!<ebia=bs=q>%
ACTIVITIES
1. &urf the internet and collect information about a few famous haunted places in the world.
?."hether ghosts do e5ist and whether the supernatural things do happen andwhether spirits
like #elen control our lies
@. Match the phrases with their e5pressions and on the basis of it complete the story.(To be
done in the te5tbook)
>."rite down the biosketch of )lsie *rown and paste his picture.
WORKSHEET/ PRACTICE TEST
1.The foundaton of an! "on#$"a%tn# &e"aton%h' % t&u%t. Co((ent on th%
%tate(ent )th &efe&en*e to the *ha&a*te& of La+na f&o( the %to&! A Shady
Plot.
Va"ue Pont%
Mutual trust key to a healthy relationship
#elps preent suspicion and discord
4mproes understanding
&trengthens the bond
2. Traitor, traitor. Why she says its you, Mr. Hallock. What does she ea!"
#.. $a%i!ia sto&&ed a!d 'e(a! to look at e throu(h !arro)ed lids.
Do you think 0ainia is justified in basing her suspicions on the 1uija *oard! Aie
reasons for your answer.
Va"ue Pont%
&uperstitions are irrational and misleading
Bo concrete eidence
3elationships based on trust and faith 8 need to be deeloped and nurtured
Talk things out face to face to clarify matters
Ahost not referring to Cohn and 0ainia( but to his using the 1uija *oard when he
had promised to dissuade others from using them
Ve&! %ho&t an%)e& t!'e ,ue%ton%
-Wo&d ."(t/01$21 )o&d%3
D1. ."ell( you neednEt be( because 4 just came to tell you to stop bothering us for
assistance(you ainEt going to get it. "eEre going on strike F/
(a) "ho is the speaker here !
(b) #ow was the author bothering the speaker !
(c) "hy are $theyE going on strike!
D?. $4E e got the bulliest plaot for a storyF #ow did the author get the plot !
Sho&t An%)e& t!'e 4ue%ton%/
-Wo&d ."(t/51 )o&d%3
D1."hy did the ghosts organi+e $The "riterEs 4nspiration *ureauE! "hat was their
mode of working !
D?."hat made the ghost really angry and how did she want the author to help her !
D@."hy did Cenkins want the author to write ghost stories !
D>. Describe how the ghost appeared and how did she look like!
HOTS 4ue%ton% to 6e d%*u%%ed / ("ord limit - 1?G81=G words)
D1.The story is not a spine8chilling and scary ghost story.4t is full of humour and pun. )5plain
with reference to conte5t.
D?. "rite a detailed note on the element of supernaturalism in the story .% shady 'lot./
D@."rite a detailed note on the element of irony in the story .% &hady 'lot/
D>.4magine you are the ghost of #elen. Describe your encounter with the author.

MIND MAP

*irth- Can. ?( 1HIG( 7&%
Death- Bo. 11( 1JK=
1klahoma( 7&%
)lsie *rown was born Canuary ?( 1HIG. &he died in 1klahoma Boember 11( 1JK=. &he is
buried at 9ort 2offee 2emetery in &piro( 1klahoma.
S7MMAR8
Cohn #allock( a successful writer of short stories( is asked by his publisher( Cenkins(
to write a new story. %s #allock sits waiting for inspiration the ghost of a woman
appears and tells him that she has been inspiring him so far but is now goin on strike
as she is sick of people with 1uija boards calling her all the time. %s he tries to
appease her( his wife 0ainia comes in to announce that she has bought an 1uija
board and is initing friends to call up spirits. #e is aghast( when at the party he has
to sit with a woman and the spirit who comes up is the same ghost ( of #elen ) who
accuses him of being a traitor. This creates suspicion in his wife ,s mind about his
faithfulnee to her and she threatens to leae him. )en the cook ; maid( Aladolia
wants to leae as she does not like 1uija boards and spirits. The ghost reappears
and tells him that his wife must get rid of the 1uija board. %s he is trying to argue
with the ghost( his wife comes in and when told by the ghost that she is not the
#elen of Troy( but another #elen( an ordinary woman of Bew Lork ( now dead )(
0ainia forgies her husband and promises to get rid of the 1uija board which makes
eeryone happy8 the ghost of #elen( the maid( and( of course( the author.
ASSIGNMENT
D1.%fter her reconciliation with her husband( Cohn #allock( 0ainia writes a letter to her friend
e5pressing how her relationship with him had almost been on the erge of breaking and what
saed it. "rite her letter.
D?. CohnEs apprehensions about his wifeEs reaction to her encounter with the ghost are
unfounded. Custify.
GLOSSAR8
Dunned - persisitently ask for something that is oerdue
2ocky - oerconfident
&hirtwaist - a womanEs blouse shaped like a manEs shirt
Drielling - speak nonsense
Aaping - looking with open mouth
Bodded - &hook head
Draped - sat in an indolent manner
3eminiscent- with oneEs mind full of memories
1uija board - a board on which are marked the letters of the alphabet
*rogans - a heay ankle8high work boot with laces
%ffection - (here) conditionM state of being affected.
'remonitory - a foreboding
*ookkeeper - accountant
%rgify - (here) argue
2oyly - flirtatious but pretending to be shy or modest
4ne5orable - unstoppable
&impered - smile in a silly
#oodoos - placing curses and charms
*rassily - rudely- insolently
&taccatoed - spoke in an abrupt( detached manner
&keered - scared
2oon - (here) the one doing a menial job
"aspishly - in an irritated manner
*ulliest - bestM e5cellent
WE9LINKS
1.))).e:t&a(a&;%.*o(<"te&atu&e f*ton<A Shad! P"ot
2.www.authorstream.com/Presentation/iFalcon-1241257-a-shady-plot
ASSESSME*T
4t will be done through i8online test
The(e8 The story is woen round the theme of conjuring up the spirits of dead people in
order to know the unknown. The atmosphere of mystery( suspense and fear is heightened
with the 1uija *oard 'arty where the narraties of the $unrealE and the $realE are ju5taposed.
Lfe S;"" Lea&nn#/ 1ne should hae a rational and scientific outlook rather than relying on
myths and superstitions.

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