CLASS X A SHADY PLOT

 Q1. Which genre of stories does Jenkins want the narrator to write? Why?

Jenkins wanted the narrator to write a ghost story for his magazine. He wanted the narrator to give the readers a story based on the supernatural. He wanted him to give his readers really 'horror' stories. 

Q2. Does the narrator like writing ghost stories? Support your answer with evidence from the story.

The narrator likes writing ghost stories because this was the type of fiction he wrote the first time. The narrator was struggling for an idea and the idea for a ghost story came out of nowhere. Whenever Jenkins wanted the narrator to write a story, he could produce a perfect ghost story without much effort.

Q3. What makes Helen, the ghost and her other co-ghosts organise The Writer's Inspiration Bureau?

Helen and other co-ghosts organised The Writer's Insipiration Bureau because they felt there were many writers who were struggling to come with a good plot for a story and they didnt want these writers to suffer their same fate. So they decided to find minds who were soft enough to accept impressions and inspire them to write ghost stories.

Q4. 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?

Helen and other ghosts were going on strike because of Ouija Board fanatics. They kept them busy with their questions. She put a condition that he was to make his friends and acquaintances stop using the Ouija board for her to continue helping him in writing ghost stories.

Q5. How does the ghost undermine the narrator's faith in his ability to write ghost stories?

Helen, the ghost reveals the truth that the ideas and plots that the narrator was thinking to be his creative genius was actually a favour bestowed by the Writer's Inspiration Bureau which was setup by the ghost to assist the struggling and vulnerable writers. Now, she threatens him this assistance will not be further provided if Hallock doesn't do his part in preventing his friends and relatives from using the Ouija Board.

Q6. 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?

John wants Helen the ghost to disappear before his wife, Lavinia, appears because he's afraid of the problems she might cause. John's words about his wife indicate that she's suspicious, jealous, and sensitive.

Q7. Why does the narrator hesitate to be a partner to Laura Hinkle during the Ouija Board Party?

The narrator had been fore-warned by Helen, the ghost that he should dissuade his friends and relatives from using the Ouija Board. Further, he knew that Laura Hinkle was a flirtatious crocodile and he wanted to avoid her company. Due to these reasons, he did not want to have anything to do with the Ouija Board party.

Q8. What message does the ghost convey to the group assembled in the narrator's house? What is their reaction to the message?

In the story, Helen, the ghost, conveys the message that she is Helen and that Mr. Hallock is a traitor to the group of women assembled in the narrator's house. The group of ladies assembled for Ouija Board Party at his home, suspects that John is cheating on his wife with the lady named Helen. They find it amusing and food for gossip.

Q9. Do you agree with the narrator calling the assembly of women "manipulators?" Give reasons.

Use the answer from 8th+ The narrator is right in calling these women as manipulators because they twist the whole scenario against John Hallock, so that they can have fun and gossip about his extra marital affair with Helen, the ghost. 

Q10. 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.

John’s statement, "the affair was quite above-board, I assure you, my love," plays on a clever pun involving the Ouija board. The term above-board typically means something honest or straightforward, implying that the affair was innocent and not deceptive. Further, it also implies that the affair was not related to any human being alive but the ghosts who was trying to communicate through the Ouija Board i.e., the affair was not connected to the real world. Here, it also indicates towards the Ouija board in the literal sense too.

Q11. John's apprehensions about his wife's reaction to her encounter with the ghost are unfounded. Justify.

John believed that his wife was a sensitive little woman who was too scared of even a mouse. A real heart attack would happen to her if she saw a ghost in her living room. But his doubts were unfounded as Lavinia did not tremble for even a moment and patiently observed and listened to Helen, the ghost. She never swooned as her husband had expected and there was a satisfied smile on her face instead because she realised that her husband was not having an affair with Helen of Troy.