Class 10 English Literature A shady plot question and answers
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Institution
This is the question and answer of A shady plot from Class 10 English Communicative Literature.This document is verified.(Got 100 in English in Class 10)
(a) What genre of stories does Jenkins want the narrator to write? Why?
Ans. Jenkins, the narrator's publisher, wants him to write ghost stories as his ghost stories are
entertaining and were liked by the public. This ensured that his magazine's sale was high and
he earned a lot of money.
(b) Does the narrator like writing ghost stories? Support your answer with evidence from the
story.
Ans. No, the narrator did not like writing ghost stories. His first fiction story was a ghost
story and since then he had wanted to write a story of another genre, but had been forced by
his publisher to write ghost stories as they were liked by the public. All his popularity was
because of the ghost stories he churned out.
(c) What makes Helen, the ghost, and her other co-ghosts organise "The Writer's Inspiration
Bureau'?
Ans. Helen, the ghost, had been a writer, but then became a reader for a magazine in her
previous life. She suffered so much then, that she sought out other ghosts, who had suffered
like her, and together they formed 'The Writer's Inspiration Bureau and started looking for
writers lacking inspiration and ideas, but who had soft and easily impressionable minds. They
started helping them write stories to prevent them from suffering the troubles they themselves
had suffered.
(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?
Ans. Helen, the ghost, had been helping the narrator write ghost stories as she had been
assigned to him by the Bureau and she had helped him write many ghost stories. However,
she was now going on strike because the new trend of using Ouija boards had left the spirits
exhausted and exasperated. People were involving the spirits and then asking the stupidest of
questions, which they were forced to answer. She agreed to continue helping the narrator,
only if he convinced his friends and acquaintances to stop using the Ouija boards and leave
the spirits alone.
(e) How does the ghost undermine the narrator's faith in his ability to write ghost stories?
Ans. The narrator all along thought it was he who had the ability to write interesting ghost
stories. He was overconfident and 'cocky' about it. His stories were very well made and
, appreciated by the readers. But the ghost of Helen, when appeared, told him it was she who
used to put all the ideas into his soft and impressionable mind.
(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?
Ans. John does not want the ghost to be there in front of his wife. He knew she was sensitive
and given to hysterics. She would start shouting and shrieking. This shows she was
suspicious and doubtful, given to jealousy.
(g) Why does the narrator hesitate to be a partner to Laura Hinkle during the Ouija Board
Party?
Ans. Laura Hinkle was without a partner, so Lavinia requested John, the narrator, to be her
partner for the game. John was reluctant as Laura was a flirtatious crocodile. She even leaned
forward and took John's hands in her own, seemingly in a coy manner and John felt
uncomfortable.
(k) What message does the ghost convey to the group assembled in the narrator's house?
What is their reaction to the message?
Ans. The words t-r-a-i-t-o-r and H-e-l-e-n were spelt out on the board where the narrator and
Laura Hinkle were seated. The message appeared on two other boards as well. This conveyed
that John was flirting with another woman named Helen. Through the Ouija board, it became
an open secret.
(i) Do you agree with the narrator calling the assembly of women "manipulators"?
Ans. John felt all the women gathered there were manipulators for they were operating the
Ouija boards and Laura Hinkle and her likes could made the situation look like the way they
felt, to get what they wanted. They were flirtatious and manipulative.
(j) Why does John wish himself to be dead? Also, explain Helen's role in resolving that phase
in his life.
Ans. Thanks to the ladies of the 'Book Club', John was in a very awkward situation, as his
wife now suspected him of flirting with Helen. She looked at him disdainfully. That night,
she slept in the guest-room. Next morning, she packed up to go to her grandmother. She also
threatened him that her lawyer would communicate with him later. John's life was in a
complete mess. He felt he had lost his wife, his home and his happiness, so he wished he
were dead. When Lavinia walks into his room to bid goodbye, she pushes John aside to see
the person behind him. She notices that it was an apparition, a ghost who was once upon a
time Helen of Troy, and not a living human being. Helen moves out of the house and helps
resolve the problem between the couple.
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