English: A Shady Plot

a) What genre of stories does Jenkins want the narrator to write? Why?

Answer: Jenkins wants the narrator to write ghost stories because his stories were popular among people and his ghosts were live propositions.

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

Answer: No, I don't think the narrator like writing ghost stories. It was not out of interest that he wrote ghost stories. Jenkins asks him to write stories when he was in need of money. Thus, it was out of helplessness that he wrote ghost stories. Moreover, he never easily gets a plot for a ghost story.

c) What makes Helen, the ghost, and her other co-ghosts organize The Writer's Inspiration Bureau?

Answer: When Helen was alive she also used to write but could not continue writing due to economic problem. So, when she died she thought of doing something in that field. She organised The Writer's Inspiration Bureau with the help of other co-ghost to help the writers who had no idea of stories.

d) Why had Helen, the ghost been helping the narrator write ghost stories? Why was she going on a strike? What condition did she place for providing continued help?

Answer: Helen the ghost had been helping the narrator write ghost stories because the narrator never had any idea of a story whenever he is asked to write one and his mind was always ready to accept impression. She was going on strike because the Ouija Board fanatics used to keep them awake all night and asked them silly questions. She placed a condition of exerting his influence on his friends and acquaintances to stop using Ouija Board.

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

Answer: The ghost undermines the narrator's faith in his ability to write ghost stories by disclosing the truth that it is not the narrator himself but the ghost who help him write ghost stories which the narrator was overconfident of.

f) Why does John want the ghost to disappear before his wife appear on the scene? What impression of his wife's character do you form from his words?

Answer: John want the ghost to disappear from the scene because he thinks that his wife is a sensitive woman and will not be able to bear the sight of a ghost in her house. From narrator's word we can conclude that his wife is a very weak and oversensitive lady and fears ghosts or any other supernatural thing alike other women.

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

Answer: The narrator hesitate to be a partner during the Ouija Board Party because the ghost has ask him to use his influence on his friend and acquaintances to stop using Ouija Board. So, he cannot gather the strength to take part in Ouija Board Party.

h) What message does the ghost convey to the group that had assembled in the narrator's house? What is their reaction to the message?

Answer: The ghost coveys that John is a traitor and she wants to talk to John. The women reacted very curiously to this. They started making a fuss and suspect John of having an affair with the ghost named Helen.

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

Answer: Yes, I agree. The narrator calls the assembly of women "manipulators" as they are manipulating the situation by suspecting John having an affair with Helen the ghost and extracting a lot much useless information from the Ouija Board.

j) Why is John's wife angry? What does she decide to do?

Answer: John's wife is angry because she doubts her having husband having relationship with Helen the ghost. She decides to leave John and to go to her grandmother's house. Finally she wants to give divorce to her husband.

k) Why does John wish he were dead?

Answer: John wishes he were dead because Lavinia his wife is going to leave him forever on a false suspicion of John having an affair with a ghost named Helen.

l) When confronted by Lavinia about his flirtation 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.

Answer: The pun in John's statement is that his affair did not start on the Ouija Board as he had already met Helen before the party itself but the statement gives another meaning that he had an affair with Helen which started long before The Ouija Board Party.

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

Answer: John's apprehension to her encounter with the ghost are unfounded. John doubts that his wife will not be able to tolerate the presence of ghost in her house and will turn mad. But his wife seeing the ghost start smiling and does not faint.