RIME OF THE ANCIENT MARINER

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

SUMMARY

In the poem's first line, we meet its protagonist,(main character) "an ancient Mariner." He stops one of three people on their way to a wedding celebration. The leader of the group, the Wedding Guest, tries to resist being stopped by the strange old man with the "long grey beard and glittering eye." He explains that he is on his way to enjoy the wedding merriment; he is the closest living relative to the groom, and the festivities have already begun. Still, the Ancient Mariner takes his hand and begins his story. The Wedding Guest has no choice but to sit down on a rock to listen.

The Ancient Mariner explains that one clear and bright day, he set out sail on a ship full of happy seamen. They sailed along smoothly until they reached the equator. Suddenly, the sounds of the wedding interrupt the Ancient Mariner's story. The Wedding Guest beats his chest impatiently as the blushing bride enters the reception hall and music plays. However, he is compelled to continue listening to the Ancient Mariner, who goes on with his tale. As soon as the ship reached the equator, a terrible storm hit and forced the ship southwards. The wind blew with such force that the ship pitched down in the surf as though it were fleeing an enemy. Then the sailors reached a calm patch of sea that was "wondrous cold", full of snow and glistening green icebergs as tall as the ship's mast. The sailors were the only living things in this frightening, enclosed world where the ice made terrible groaning sounds that echoed all around. Finally, an Albatross emerged from the mist, and the sailors revered it as a sign of good luck, as though it were a "Christian soul" sent by God to save them. No sooner than the sailors fed the Albatross did the ice break apart, allowing the captain to steer out of the freezing world. The wind picked up again, and continued for nine days. All the while, the Albatross followed the ship, ate the food the sailors gave it, and played with them. At this point, the Wedding Guest notices that the Ancient Mariner looks at once grave and crazed. He exclaims: "God save thee, ancient Mariner! / From the fiends that plague thee thus!- / Why lookst thou so?" The Ancient Mariner responds that he shot the Albatross with his crossbow.

Part-2

The ship sailed northward into the Pacific Ocean, and although the sun shone during the day and the wind remained strong, the mist held fast. The other sailors were angry with the Ancient Mariner for killing the Albatross, which they believed had saved them from the icy world by summoning the wind: "Ah wretch! Said they, the bird to slay / That made the breeze to blow!" Then the mist disappeared and the sun shone particularly brightly, "like God's own head." The sailors suddenly changed their opinion. They decided that the Albatross must have brought the mist, and praised the Ancient Mariner for having killed it and rid them of the mist: "Twas right, said they, such birds to slay, / That bring the fog and mist."

The ship sailed along merrily until it entered an uncharted part of the ocean, and the wind disappeared. The ship could not move, and sat "As idle as a painted ship / Upon a painted ocean." Then the sun became unbearably hot just as the sailors ran out of water, leading up to the most famous lines in the poem: "Water, water, every where, / And all the boards did shrink; / Water, water, every where, / Nor any drop to drink." The ocean became a horrifying place; the water churned with "slimy" creatures, and at night, eerie fires seemed to burn on the ocean's surface. Some of the sailors dreamed that an evil spirit had followed them from the icy world, and they all suffered from a thirst so terrible that they could not speak. To brand the Ancient Mariner for his crime and place the guilt on him and him alone, the sailors hung the Albatross's dead carcass around his neck.

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Questions and Answer - part -I

Answer the following questions briefly

Question: 1 - How did the ancient mariner stop the wedding guest?

Answer: The ancient mariner used the hypnotic effect of his gleaming eyes to stop the wedding guest.

Question: 2 - Was the wedding guest happy to be stopped? Give reasons for your answer.

Answer: The wedding guest was not happy to be stopped. He has come to attend the wedding ceremony where his presence is necessary as he is closely related to the bridegroom.

Question: 3 - Describe the ancient mariner.

Answer: The Ancient Mariner is an old man. He is quite thin and frail. He has a long grey beard and there is a magnetic effect in the glitter in his eyes.

Question: 4 - How does the mariner describe the movement of the ship as it sails away from the land?

Answer: The mariner describes that the ship was waved off on harbor among loud cheers.. All the sailors were in high spirits. The ship left the harbor leaving behind the church, the hill and the lighthouse.

Question: 5 - What kind of weather did the sailors enjoy at the beginning of their journey? How has it been expressed in the poem?

Answer: The weather was pleasant and sunny. The sun seemed to rise out of the sea and set into the sea. The sun was bright during the initial phase of the journey.

Question: 6 - How did the sailors reach the land of mist and snow?

Answer: The fierce storm forced the ship to drift towards the south and reach the land of mist and snow.

Question: 7 - How does the mariner express the fact that the ship was completely surrounded by icebergs?

Answer: The mariner describes how emerald coloured blocks of ice as high as the mast of the ship floated around the ship blocking all view.The repetition of ‘ the ice was here, the ice was there, the ice was all around’ makes the description very vivid.

Question: 8 - How do we know that the albatross was not afraid of the humans? Why did the sailors hail it in God’s name?

Answer: The way albatross came to eat the food offered by thesailors and played with them shows that it was not afraid of the humans. The sailors hailed it in God’s name asthey were pleased with this diversion that took away their gloom and depression.

Question: 9 - What was the terrible deed done by the Mariner? Why do you think he did it?

Answer The ancient Mariner killed the albatross with his crossbow. It was a thoughtless act, as the mariner had no reason to kill it. Later on he was remorseful about his action and had to pay a heavy price for his foolish action

The Rhyme of  theAncient Mariner -II

Q.11) Answer the following questions :
Q.1 - In which direction did the ship start moving? How can you say?
Answer: The ship began to move towards north because the sun now rose’upon the right’ and set on the left.

Question: 2 - Why does the mariner say that ‘no sweet bird did follow’?
Answer: The mariner sounds remorseful as he makes this statement.He means to saythat as he had killed the albatross,it did not follow the ship any longer

.Question: 3 - How did the other mariners behave towards the Ancient Mariner at first? How many times did they change their mind about the Ancient Mariner? What does this tell us about their character?
Answer: The other mariners changed their opinions as per the changing weather. When the weather was favourable, they hailed the Ancient Mariner for killing the albatross. But when the weather was not favourable, they cursed the Ancient Mariner. This shows that the other mariners were fickle-minded.

.Question: 4 - How did the sailing conditions change after the ship had moved out of the land of mist and snow? What or who did the mariners blame for this change?
Answer: Once the ship came out of the land of mist and snow, it had to withstand a condition of complete lull. The wind was still and the ship could not move an inch. The mariners blamed the killing of the albatross for this change.

Question: 5 - What is indicated by the line ‘The bloody sun, at noon, /Right up above the mast did stand, /No bigger than the moon’?
Answer: The sun was blazing red and scorchingly hot.The sailors think that the hot weather is the result of the ‘sin’ of killing the Albatross

Question: 6 - How does the mariner describe the fact that they were completely motionless in the middle of the sea?
Answer: The ship was so still that it appeared as a painted ship on the painted ocean. This sentence aptly describes the motionless ship in the middle of the sea.
Question: 7 - What is the irony in the ninth stanza? Explain it in your own words.
Answer: The biggest irony is that inspite of being in the midst of the ocean of water, the sailors don’t have a single drop to drink. We know that saline water is not fit for human consumption. Hence, if a person is caught in the middle of the sea and he does not have drinking water; only God can save his life.

Question: 8 - What is the narrator trying to convey through the description of the situation in the tenth and eleventh stanza?
Answer: The narrator conveys through this dismal description that the wrongful killing of the Albatross subjected them all to a state of uncertainty where they all helplessly awaited their impending death.

Question: 9 - What or who did the mariners feel was responsible for their suffering?
Answer: The mariners felt that the ancient Mariner was responsible for their misfortune and suffering .They felt that the wrongful killing of the Albatross subjected them to such an agony.

Question: 10 - Describe the condition of the mariners as expressed in the thirteenth stanza.
Answer: With not a single drop of drinking water to quench their thirst, all the sailors yearned for water. The mariners were unable to speak as their tongues were parched due to acute thirst.

Question: 11 - Why did the mariners hang the albatross around the neckAnswer:The mariners hung the Albatross around the neck is used in the proverbial sense as if a heavy burden is thrust upon you. The mariners probably tied the albatross around the neck of the Ancient Mariner to symbolize the burden of guilt because of killing the albatross

Virtuallly true- By Paul Stewart

Virtuallly true- By Paul Stewart

virtually true

Virtually true – By Paul Stewart

Textual Questions

1. According to the newspaper, what had happened to Sebastian Shultz?

Sebastian Shultz was badly injured in a car accident. His condition was described by doctors ascritical but stable. In spite of doctors’ efforts Sebastian could not regain consciousness. He went into coma.

2. 'Dad's nutty about computers.' What evidence is there to support this statement?

Michael’s dad was crazy about computers. He had bought the latest computer which could doanything: paint, play music, create displays. He also bought many latest psycho-drive games anda virtual reality visor and glove. In fact, he was so obsessed that he couldn’t resist buying anynew gadgets and gizmos that came on the market.

3. In what way did the second game seem very real?

There are various instances in the chapter to describe that the second game seemed very real,such as “As I lowered myself down I felt the dragon's fiery breath”, “And the whole time I could hear and feel and even smell the evil dragon following in close pursuit”, etc.

4. The last game has tanks, jeeps, helicopters, guns and headings would you put this and the other games under?

Warzone can be categorised under simulation games. Wildwest is a strategy game. Dragonquest is a fantasy role-playing game and Jailbreak is an action game.

5. What was Michael's theory about how Sebastian had entered the games?

According to Michael, Sebastian was probably playing those games when he banged his head in the accident. The computer had saved his memory into its own. Michael bought a lot of games at the fair. Some of them were the stolen ones of Sebastian. When Michael was playing those games, the computer was trying to retrieve Sebastian’s memory.

'That was my idea' said Sebastian excitedly.' If only it would go a big faster’.

i. Where was Sebastian when he spoke these words?

Sebastian had just broken a jail with help of Michael and was on the rooftop.

ii. What was his idea, and what was he referring to?

Sebastian was referring to be rescued by a helicopter from the jail, before the guards catch upon him.

iii. Was the idea a good one and did it eventually succeed? How?

The idea was a good one, yet did not succeed because the jail guards and their dogs catch up on them,while Sebastian slips and falls down.

1. Why did the news of the 'miracle recovery' shock Michael?

The news article mentioned that a fourteen-year-old boy called Sebastian Shultz, who had gone into a coma following the accident, had miraculously recovered. Michael was shocked to read this. When he saw the picture of Sebastian, he realised that he was the same person whom he  had met in the virtual world and was trying to rescue him. Michael couldn’t understand that how he could meet Sebastian if he was in coma.

2. Michael's meeting with Sebastian Shultz had been a chance meeting. Where had it taken place and how?

Michael’s chance meeting with Sebastian had taken place in the virtual world. He had met

Sebastian for the first time in a game called Wildwest.

3. What kind of computers fascinated Michael and his dad? Why?

Michael and his dad had recently bought a Pentium 150 MHz processor, with 256 of RAM, a 1.2 GB hard disk drive and 16 speed CD ROM, complete with speakers, printer, modem and scanner.This computer could do anything: paint, play music, create displays and even make rubbish homework look fantastic.

4. Describe the first place where Michael was virtually transported.

The first place Michael was transported was the time period between the American Civil war and end of the 19th century. (mid 1830’s-1920). Geographically, it was west America. Michael was playing a game called Wildwest where he was a Sheriff caught in a gun fight in a saloon.

5. What help did Sebastian Shultz ask Michael for? How did he convey this message?

Sebastian Shultz was in the virtual world when his accident took place. As a result he got stuck there. He encountered Michael in this virtual world. He wanted Michael to rescue him. He sent a message to Michael which appeared on his printer.

6. Why did Michael fail in rescuing Sebastian Shultz the first time?

Michael couldn’t rescue Sebastian the first time because before he could save him, he was shot by gunmen.

7. The second attempt to rescue Sebastian Shultz too was disastrous. Give reasons.

Sebastian chopped the princess’s long plaits and tied them together to form a rope and

managed to flee from the tower. He and Michael headed towards the dungeons. However, the dragon followed them. As they were going down the steps, the dragon appeared and caught Sebastian. Michael tried to kill the dragon but he had already taken Sebastian. Thus, the second attempt to save Sebastian failed as well.l

8. Narrate the accident that injured Sebastian Shultz.

Sebastian Shultz was badly injured in a car accident. He had banged his head. When he was brought to the hospital, the doctors described his condition critical but stable. Despite doctors’efforts Sebastian could not regain consciousness. He had gone into coma.

9. How had Sebastian Shultz entered the games?

At the time of the accident, Sebastian was using his laptop to play one of the psycho-drive

games. He was plugged on to the computer when his head banged in the accident. The

computer had saved his memory in its own. Thus, Sebastian had entered the games but could not come out of it.

10. How was Sebastian Shultz's memory stored on Michael's disk? Did Michael discover that?

At the time of the accident, Sebastian was plugged on to the computer. The computer had saved his memory in its own. When Sebastian’s family was in the hospital, somebody stole their whole lot of games. Some of them ended up at Computer Fair, where they were bought by Michael.Michael discovered this when he read an article on the internet about Sebastian’s miraculous discovery.

Sebastian Shultz had a close brush with death. After he recovers, he returns to school

and narrates his experience to his classmates. As Sebastian Shultz, narrate your

experience.

Hi friends, great to see you all. I had almost lost hope to meet you all again ever. Six weeks ago, I was on my way out of town with some friends for a weekend. I had my laptop with me. It was a four-hour journey to our destination. So, to engage myself, I logged on to one of my psycho-drive games. After an hour of driving on the highway, the car suddenly screeched to a halt. Since we were driving at a great speed, the driver lost control of the car and car somersaulted before falling into a ditch. As the car fell into the ditch, my head hit against the roof of the car and everything blacked out. I don’t remember what happened to me after that.

I was told that I had slipped into coma and only a miracle had brought me back. Another miraculous

thing happened to me. At the time of the accident, I was in the midst of a game. Although, I entered it I couldn’t come out of it. Somebody stole my lot of games while I was in the hospital. Some of those were bought by a person called Michael, who rescued me and got me out. So, indirectly he is my saviour. I am planning to meet him soon. It is great to be back friends! I have had a harrowing time, VIRTUALLY!!

Write an article entitled 'Virtual games are a reality.

Virtual world or cyberspace is an environment using computer technology to create a simulated, three dimensionalworld that a user can manipulate and explore while feeling as if he were in that world. In a virtual reality environment, the user experiences the feeling of being inside and a part of that world. He is also able to interact with his environment in meaningful ways. Virtually real environment has

benefited the health care industry. The doctors use virtual reality products to treat phobias, addictionsand other mental health needs.

However, some psychologists are concerned that virtual reality games could psychologically affect aplayer. They suggest that these games place a player in violent situations, particularly as the perpetuator of violence and could result in the user becoming desensitised. Some psychologists also believe that these games can lead to cyber addiction. There have been several news stories of gamers neglecting their real lives for their online, in-game presence.

Another rising concern is about criminal acts. In a virtual game, defining a criminal act has beenproblematic. At what point can authorities charge a person with a real crime for actions within a virtual game? Studies indicate that people can have real physical and emotional reactions to stimuli within a virtual game. Thus, it’s quite possible that a victim of a virtual attack could feel real emotional trauma.

Can the attacker be punished for causing real-life distress? We don’t have answers to these questions yet.

A Shady Plot

Summary of the Chapter

The writer, Mr Hallock, was told by his employer Mr Jenkins to write a ghost story. He told Mr Hallock to write a very horrifying story with supernatural elements because the public liked these kind of stories. The writer agreed to this proposal for no one else printed his stuff. He was surprised how he could have written the earlier ghost stories for he was not a specialist in this genre. Whenever he had decided to write a ghost story, surprisingly the plot had appeared from nowhere.

The writer sat down to pen the story, though no idea occurred to him. In fact his mind was wandering towards his wife’s shopping trips and other unghostly things. The writer loudly said, ‘‘This writing business is delightful, isn’t it?” and to his surprise a voice at the other end of the room said, “Yes it is.” The writer was surprised to see a figure taking shape gradually. It was a woman, tall and angular, with enormous fishy eyes, wearing spectacles. She came and stood before the writer. The writer wished to know why that woman had come. She gave a very surprising answer that the writer had only called her to help him in writing a story. Moreover she said that the ghosts were going on strike so the writer should stop bothering her for another plot. She elaborated that all the other stories that had been a hit had come from her only.

The ghost explained that she had been a writer in the earlier birth but now she had collected other ghosts like her and set up a ‘Writers’ Inspiration Bureau’. Now they extended help to a writer who had no ideas. The writer disagreed with the ghost’s views for he had never seen her before so how could she have inspired him. She explained that she had sat on the writer’s shoulder and had given him the plots. But now they were all fed up for being pulled out of beds at all times and had decided to go on strike. The ghost wanted the writer to call all his friends and stop using the Ouija board. The conversation of the writer and the ghostly figure was interrupted by the arrival of the writer’s wife who is surprised to see her husband sitting in the dark and talking loudly to himself. However, she was going gaga over a recent purchase she had made. On the writer’s query she revealed that she had bought Ouija board to help the writer to write the stories. She said that she wanted to make story writing easy for the writer from now onwards. The writer tried his best to dissuade his wife from keeping the ouija board but she refused to listen. The writer thought that he would reason with his wife later.

Next day the writer set out for his job. He worked as an accountant for a lumber company and could not give up his job and take to full-time story-writing due to financial problems. On reaching back home he was told by his cook to get ready and come down as his wife had invited some guests. When he came down eventually, he was surprised to see that their parlour was full of women belong- ing to his wife’s book club. They were sitting in two’s and between two friends there was a Ouija board. Immediately his wife appeared and she wanted the writer to be a partner of Mrs Hinkle, who was without any other friend.

Miss Hinkle took the writer’s fingers and started moving them on the Ouija board. Surprisingly the words spelt on the board were ‘TRAITOR.’ Mrs. Hinkle wanted the board to clarify as to who was a traitor. The Ouija board spelled out that it was Mr Hallock. On enquiring what the identity of the speaker was, the board revealed that it was someone with the name of Helen.

This fact created a furore in the entire room and the ladies along with the writer’s wife gathered around the writer and looked at him accusingly. All the Ouija boards signalled towards the writer. The writer could not answer. He fled the scene and went to sleep. Next morning, he noticed a slip of paper with the message that his wife was leaving him for good and her lawyer would communicate with him. The writer was shocked and surprised at this development. Meanwhile Helen, the ghost, reappeared and told the writer that she had been sent to ensure that his wife was going to get rid of that Ouija board. The writer was very angry and he retorted that the ghost had made the writer lose his wife, his home and his happiness. The writer’s wife Lavinia entered and told the writer that she was moving out. The writer was trying to shield and cover Helen, when his wife remarked that he was behaving very strangely. The Cook barged in and announced that she was not going to serve in a place where there were Ouija boards and activities relating to curses and charms. Lavinia was in no mood to be pacified. She sprang quickly to see who was standing behind her husband.

Helen did not disappear this time and boldly announced to Lavinia that she indeed was Helen. Lavinia felt very miserable to create such a ruckus and accuse her husband of infidelity. The writer felt inspired and realised that he had indeed hit upon an excellent plot for a ghost story.

5 )Answer the following questions briefly.
(a) What genre of stories does Jenkins want the narrator to write? Why?
Ans. Jenkins wanted the narrator to write ghost stories. He wanted supernatural theme which gave horror and thrill to the public as  ghosts were live propositions.

(b) Does the narrator like writing ghost stories? Support your answer with evidence from the story.
Ans. No, the writer does not like writing ghost stories. He himself says 'I didn't specialize in ghost stories.' Whenever he sat down to write a ghost story, he hadn't the shade of an idea. He had chased the inspiration in vain for months when he started writing ghost fiction for the first time. This all shows that the narrator was, though natural, an accidental ghost fiction writer.

(c) What makes Helen, the ghost, and her other co-ghosts organize The Writer's Inspiration Bureau?
Ans. In her previous life Helen had been an author and had often struggled for ideas. So when she became a ghost Helen and other co-ghosts organised The Writer’s Inspiration Bureau because they felt there were many writers without ideas and a vulnerable mind who were looking for an inspiration to write ghost stories. The bureau would assign a ghost to such a writer so that they could write good ghost stories.

(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 had been helping the narrator because he was keen to write ghost stories but had no ideas and his mind was impressionable. But now the ghosts were fed up of being called too often from their beds. They had given up haunting and had taken up answering questions on the Ouija board but people had started pestering them too often. Helen promised to help the narrator if he would get his friends and acquaintances to stop using the Ouija board.

(e) How does the ghost undermine the narrator's faith in his ability to write ghost stories?
Ans The narrator is sure that ghost stories specialize in him.Whenever Jenkins asked for a ghost story,he had always been able to dig up one for him. So he had started feeling overconfident at his ability.The lady ghost tells him that he always called her to help him in writing a ghost story. Many a time she has leaned on his shoulder to give him ideas. Now, he will not get any more ideas or plots of ghost stories from her . In this way, the lady ghost undermines the narrator's ability to write ghost stories.

(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. Lavinia, John’s wife, is a jealous lady. John does not want Helen to be seen by his wife for fear of complications in his married life. His wife is over sensitive and the sight of a ghost in her house will affect her badly. Lavinia is a nagging, suspicious and a jealous lady.

(g) Why does the narrator hesitate to be a partner to Laura Hinkle during the Ouija Board Party?
Ans. The narrator hesitates to be a partner to Laura Hinkle as he had promised Helen, the ghost, that he would influence his friends to stop using the Ouija board. It was only on this condition that Helen promised to help the narrator to write ghost stories. Secondly, he found Laura to be very flirtatious, which quite unnerved him.

(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?
Ans. Through John and Laura’s Ouija Board , Helen called John a ‘traitor’ and then revealed that her name was ‘Helen’. The same message was echoed by all other boards in the room arousing everyone’s suspicion. After this revelation everybody suspected John of cheating upon his wife.

(i) Do you agree with the narrator calling the assembly of women "manipulators?" Give reasons.
Ans. Assembly of Women were rightly called 'manipulators' by narrator as they very successfully and craftily manipulated the spirits to answer their questions. They extracted the message from the board so that they could gossip about it.

(j) Why is John's wife angry? What does she decide to do?
Ans. John’s wife is angry because she, like other women, believed what the spirit said through the Ouija board, that her husband, John was a traitor and had been communicating with somebody named Helen. Lavinia thought that her husband was cheating on her. She decided to go to her grandmother’s house. She also decided to separate from her husband.

(k) Why does John wish he were dead?
Ans. John wished he was dead because the ghost Helen had created such situations that he was about to lose his wife, whom he loved dearly, it destroyed his happiness and home. This situation made him feel so helpless, embarrassed and humiliated.

(l) 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.

Ans. One of the meaning of the expression ‘above board’ is being honest and legal. John assures his wife that his flirtations with Helen the ghost are above board. He tries to tell her that whatever that has happened between him and Helen is over the board of Ouija and there was nothing that he wished to hide from his wife; in fact there was nothing to tell.

(m) John's apprehensions about his wife's reaction to her encounter with the ghost are unfounded. Justify.
Ans John thought that his wife would become hysterical if she saw the ghost Helen; however, when the encounter happened, she confidently spoke to the ghost and was not at all scared of it.

Read these answers (you don’t have to do in the notebook)
6. Answer the following questions in detail :
(a) After her reconciliation with her husband, John Hallock, Lavinia writes a letter to her friend expressing how her relationship with him had almost been on the verge of breaking and what saved it. Write her letter.

Examination Hall

New Delhi
30^th October.

Dear Friend,

How are you? Hope you are doing fine. Sorry about delaying in replying to your letter. I was caught in some personal problems. 

I wished to share a life-changing experience with you, my dear. About a month ago I, along with the women in my group, was fascinated with Ouija boards and we organised a party at my home. We were all excited and John had to substitute for someone. The party progressed and you wouldn't believe what happened next. A ghost named Helen tried to communicate with John through all the five boards and called him a traitor. John looked uncomfortable and guilty. I was angry and jealous. I could not believe it and spent the while night crying. By moving I had packed and decided to file a divorce. I went to inform John and was shocked when he tried to hide someone in the room from me. I thrust him aside was greeted with a ghost! Can you believe it? She looked like phantom and I understood later that she had been providing John with inspiration for his stories. She was somewhat annoyed with him because she wanted him to convince people to stop using Ouija boards. I am so glad that my marriage did not break up. A ghost saved it, literally!

John and I share a wonderful life now. I hope you enjoyed reading about my encounter with a ghost.
So much for now.
Look forward to your reply.Love
Yours truly
Lavinia

(b) John Hallock reflects upon his experience with Helen's ghost and in retrospect he finds it quite amusing. All the same he is relieved that he is no longer plagued by it. Ironically, the self same ghost inspires his creativity and he writes a diary entry reflecting upon the comical aspect of his experience. Write his diary entry.

Answer

30 November
Dear Diary

The past few days have been a roller coaster ride for me. I was sitting in my study trying to write a ghost story and suddenly a ghost appeared. At first I could not believe it, however, slowly I got talking to it. She declared that she and other ghosts were going on a strike. Imagine ghosts going on a strike! Apparently, she had helped me write all my earlier ghost stories, as what she claimed. She then appeared in the Ouija board session that my wife had organised for her friends. She called me a traitor openly in front of all my folks. My wife and her friends almost believed that I was cheating on my wife. Lavinia threatened to leave me. Here I was caught between a ghost who threatened to go on a strike and a wife who was on the verge of leaving me. Phew!!
Thankfully Lavinia, got a chance to meet and speak to Helen and her misunderstanding was cleared. One good thing came out of these encounters with Helen, I now have got an idea for my next story. This one is going to be my best story so far.John

Page No: 49

7. The narrator and his wife reveal something about their character in their words and actions. We also learn about them from what other people say. Can you pick out the words that describe them from the box given below? Also, pick out lines and instances from the story to illustrate your choice.

shy	arrogant	loyal	clever	overconfident	Manipulative
protective	self-disparaging	suspicious	sceptical	jealous fearless	Firm
shrewd	strong	gullible	sly	creative	Loves novelty and thrills

Answer Person	Extract from story	What it tells us about the character
John Hallock	1. …in the end things had always come my Hallock way….. somehow I'd always been able to dig one (plot) up for him, so I'd begun to get a bit cocky as to my ability (to write stories).	1. Overconfident, self-disparaging
	2. "But my ghosts aren't a bit like you----".	2. sceptical
	3. We scout around until we find a writer without ideas and with a mind soft enough to accept impression.	3. gullible
	4. A ghost story had been the first fiction I had written. Curious how that idea for a plot had come to me out of nowhere after I had chased inspiration in vain for months! Even now whenever Jenkins wanted a ghost, he called on me.	4. creative
	5. I threw a protecting husbandly arm about her to catch her when she should faint.	5. protective
Lavinia Hallock	1. …and how on earth I was going to cure her of her alarming tendency to take every new fad that came along and work it to death.	1. loves novelty and thrills
	2. You know I bought the loveliest thing this afternoon.	2. Spendthrift
	3. Lavinia stopped and began to look at me through narrowed lids much as she had done in the library the evening before.	3. suspicious
	4. She went on, “It is bad enough to have you flirt over the Ouija board with that hussy….. She thrust me back with sudden muscle. “I will see who’s behind you! Where is that Helen?”	4. jealous
	5. Buys the Ouija board but says it is for John's research	5. manipulative
	6. Does not flinch when she meets the ghost but talks to her casually.	6. strong

Page No: 50

8. Gladolia, the narrator's cook, is an African. The language she speaks is different from that of the others. This is known as Dialect. A dialect consists of words or phrases that reflect the regional variety of a language. An author often uses a regional dialect to make the dialogue more authentic. Initially a dialogue may seem a little difficult to understand. However, as you continue reading, the language will become more comprehensible.
Working in groups, write what Gladolia's words mean as shown.

Answer

Column A	Column B
·         Misto Hallock	·         Mister Hallock
·         de Missus	·         the Mrs.
·         sho t'inks you's lost!	·         she thinks you are lost
·         she done 'phone you dis mawnin'	·         she called you this morning
·         fo' de lawd's sake	·         for the Lord’s sake
·         not to stop to argify now	·         don’t stop to argue now
·         I's gwine t' quit.	·         I am going to quit
·         I don't like no hoodoos.	·         I don’t like voodoo magic
·         I'se done lef' dis place	·         I am done with this place and I am going to leave this place.
·         I is	·         I am

9. Read and understand the following ghost phrases and expressions:

(a) To give up the ghost-- to die or to stop trying
(b) A ghost of a chance-- a poor chance, not likely to happen
(c) The ghost at the feast-- something or someone that spoils your enjoyment by reminding you of something unpleasant
(d) Ghost town-- a town where most people have left-abandoned and deserted
(e) Ghost-write- to write for someone else
(f) Lay the ghost of something/somebody (to rest)-- to finally stop being worried or upset by something or someone that has worried or upset you for a long time
(g) Ghost image -- secondary image, esp. one appearing on a television screen as a white shadow, caused by poor or double reception or by a defect in the receiver
(h) the ghost of a smile - faint trace of a smile
(i) As white as a ghost- very pale or white in the face

Now complete the following story by using the appropriate phrases in the blanks given below:
I was alone in a place that bore a deserted look like that of a ghost town.

I increased the pace of my footsteps as I walked through the dark forest. I felt someone walking behind me. I turned immediately and spotted the contour of a figure in the form of a ghost image .

It smiled at me wickedly .I started shaking with fear and perspiring profusely when I felt its skeletal hand upon my neck. I woke up with a start, relieved that it was only a nightmare.

This was not the first time I had had one. It had all started when I had watched the horrendous horror film with a eerie ghost character that had a scary ghost of a smile on its face.It had been almost a month. The strange thing was that I saw a similar face at the station the next morning. That was uncanny.

I was to attend a dinner at my friend's at Northanger Abbey that night. I had decided to narrate my experience to the group that would assemble there although I knew there was a ghost of a chance that they would be convinced.

After everyone had finished pouring their drinks to themselves, I cleared my throat and started narrating my spooky experience.

However, every one of the group started accusing me of being the ghost at the feast and held me responsible for spoiling the spirit of revelry. I gave up the ghost and sat quietly waiting for the party to be over. Back at home, the fears returned .I knew I had to talk about my experience to somebody to feel better. I have now decided to ghost write and publish my experience under a pseudonym. Only then can I lay the ghost .

Page No: 52

Writing

11. Do you think a story has an atmosphere? Complete the following blanks to make up your ghost story by choosing the correct options.

A Ghost Story

She opened the _________________ (secret door/ spaceship's hatch/ door of the cottage/ cemetery gate/ door of the castle/ cockpit) _________________ (brashly/ loudly/ silently/ stupidly/ fearfully/ joyously).

Standing in front of her was a ________________ (terrifying/ handsome/ smelly/ anonymous/ tiny/ huge/ bossy) ___________ (policeman/ spy/ apparition/ witch/ prince/ wizard) with a _________________ (wand/ rose/ rod/ knife/ scythe/ coded message) in his/ her (its) _________________ (ghoulish/ bony/ beautiful/ fair/ manly/ gloved/ magical) hand.

Now that you have shared a ghost story/anecdote as well as completed a guided story in the class, create your own Ghost story on the basis of the starters given below:

(a) Stephen knew he would never sleep. The noises, those horrid sounds, would keep him awake...

(b) Tap, tap, tap. Was it the branches of the nearby tree, or fingernails against the window?

(c) People often say, 'There's no such thing as ghosts....

Answer
 A Ghost Story

She opened the cemetery gate silently. 

Standing in front of her was a huge apparition with a scythe in his bony hand.
M G road was unusually lonely and deserted. It generally is crowded at the time. It was only half past six in the evening. Maybe the unusual downpour had forced people to leave their offices early. Darkness had descended earlier than the usual. Stephen had to stop and wait for the storm to halt. He had to break his journey that night. The weather did not seem to favour him. He spotted a motel and pulled in. He turned the car into their driveway. His room was on the top floor. Stephen knew he would never sleep; new places always unsettled him. As he tossed and turned in the bed, he heard strange noises. The noises died down after sometime, they returned again. Those horrid sounds were keeping him awake. He decided to investigate. Suddenly, he heard tap, tap on the window pane. Was it the branches of the nearby tree, or fingernails against the window? Stephen could not see anything. Maybe it was just a figment of his imagination. He tried going back to sleep; however, the incessant tapping on the window pane kept him awake. Maybe it was a ghost.
The storm seemed to abate a little. Stephen decided to go for a walk. The motel was all quiet except for a faint light at the reception. Stephen saw a frail figure bent over a book, probably trying to read something in that faint light. Stephen was happy. He had company now. He approached the reception. The old man’s back was against him. Stephen cleared his throat to get his attention. As the old man turned around to face Stephen…….Stephen screamed in horror….he had no face….there were just balls of fire in his eye sockets. Stephen ran out of the motel and sped away in his car. And they say, ‘There is no such thing as ghosts’.