WELCOME

A Shady Plot.... .... by Elsie

Brown

What’s in the Title?“Shady” may mean –

Full of shade; shaded.

Casting shade.

Quiet, dark or concealed.

Of dubious character or of questionable honesty.

“Plot” may mean –

A small piece of ground.

A ground plan.

Storyline – the plan, scheme or main story.

A secret plan for something illegal.

Part 1 : John Hallock’s Assignment

Precisely!

Hallock, Give us another on the

supernatural this time. Something to give them the

horrors!

How am I going to cure her of her alarming tendency to take up

every new fad?

This writing business is delightful, isn’t it?

Yes… I should say it is!

Recap…• Why was Hallock getting cocky/arrogant?

• What was Hallock’s specialization?

So, I had said, “Precisely!” in the deepest voice I was capable of, …(Hallock)

• Why does Hallock use his ‘deepest voice’? What does it signify?

• Whose voice do you think it is (the one at the end)?

Part 2 : Conversation with the Ghost

Nothing. Absolutely nothing, my dear lady. I was merely

waiting for you to tell me why you had

come.

What are you gaping at?

The Writer’s Inspiration Bureau

Recap…

Was Hallock really a specialist in ghost stories?

Why were the ghosts going on a strike?

In place of Ouija boards, what other means can be used to ‘communicate’ with ghosts?

From her description, do you think the ghost was beautiful or ugly? Substantiate your answer

Part 3 : Conversation with Wife

It… it isn’t…

You Know I bought the

loveliest thing this afternoon.

You’d never guess in the world. It’s the

duckiest, darlingest Ouija Board, and so cheap! I got it at a

bargain sale.

Recap… What was John Hallock’s affliction?

Why had Lavinia bought the Ouija Board?

Why couldn’t she return it?

“…or William the Conqueror, or Helen of Troy--well, maybe not Helen—anyhow…”

• Why not Helen of Troy? What does this show about the nature of Lavinia?

Part 4 : The Next Day

Recap…

Why didn’t Hallock become a full time writer?

Why do you think the house was brightly illuminated?

A little extra …Gladolia, the narrator’s cook, is an African. The language/her

pronunciation is different from others. This is known as Dialect. A dialect consists of words and phrases that reflect the regional variety of a language.

Part 5 : The Ouija Party

John! John, dear, I know you will help us out. Poor Laura Hinkle is without a partner. Laura can’t work a Ouija by

herself, and she’ll have a bad time unless you…Me! Me! I

won’t……

Part 6 : The Trouble Begins

T R A I T O R

Ouija, dear, won't you tell us something?

Ouija, dear, won't you explain yourselfmore fully?

A S K H I M

Ask who, Ouija

J O H N H A L L O C K

Ouija, won‘t you tell us who is talking?

H E L E N

Recap…

Who do you think ‘Helen’ is?

Why was John reluctant to join Laura in the party?

Why was Helen calling John a traitor?

How did John’s affliction worsen the situation?

A Little Grammar…

“…and lay there in the burning dark while the…”, “I stared at them in a sort of dreadful fascination.”

• What figure of speech is being used in the above sentences?

• What do you mean by sarcasm?

• 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.

Part 7 : The Final Day

Dear John,I am going back to my

grandmother. My lawyer will communicate with you later.

I have come to tell you I am leaving.Oh, yes, yes!

That’s fine…great!

So you want me to go away, do you?Sure, yes… right

away! Change of air will do you

good. I’ll join you presently.

Recap…

Why didn’t John want his wife to see the ghost?

Why was Lavinia leaving the house?

What does Lavinia mean when she says that her ‘Lawyer will communicate’ with John?

Recap… As soon as she saw who the ghost was, why did she forgive

John?

“I've got the bulliest plot for a ghost story!” What do you think the plot was?

“In the end, all the main characters of the story had a happy ending” Substantiate the statement.

Now, does your understanding of the Title change?

Thank-You..!!!!

Deepanshu Sharma10th‘B’

K. V. No.4, Jaipur