CBSE Class 9

Here we are providing Not Marble, Nor the Gilded Monuments Extra Questions and Answers Class 10 English Literature Reader, Extra Questions for Class 10 English was designed by subject expert teachers.

Not Marble, Nor the Gilded Monuments Extra Questions and Answers Class 10 English Literature

Not Marble, Nor the Gilded Monuments Extra Questions and Answers Short Answer Type

Question 1.
How does time affect powerful rulers?
Answer:
Powerful rulers get monuments and statues built in marble and gold to be remembered by posterity but Time destroys their efforts by annihilating their creations.

Question 2.
In what way is the poet stronger than powerful rulers?
Answer:
The creations of powerful rulers like statues and monuments are destroyed by Time but the poet is more powerful than these rulers because Time cannot destroy his creation.

Question 3.
What is ‘the ending doom’ and ‘the judgement’?
Answer:
In traditional religions, Doomsday or judgment day is the point at which all souls, even those that have been dead for a long time will ‘arise’ to be judged by God.

Question 4.
What is the theme of Shakespeare’s sonnet, Not Marble nor the Gilded Monuments?
Answer:
This sonnet is a poem about time and immortalisation. The speaker claims that his poem will immortalise the beloved. The young man will survive all of these things through the verses of the speaker.

Not Marble, Nor the Gilded Monuments Extra Questions and Answers Long Answer Type

Question 1.
Compare and contrast the ravages of Time as shown in Not Marble, nor the Gilded Monuments and Ozymandias.
Answer:
In Not Marble, nor the Gilded Monuments, the powerful rulers get monuments and statues built but Time destroys them. Time is more powerful than these man-made creations. The poet paints a destructive image of time, but explores the immortality of the subjects of poetry through the power of verse. In Ozymandias, the main theme is the inevitable decline of all leaders and of the empires they build, however mighty in their own time.

Question 2.
Comment on the immortality of poetry to withstand the forces of decay over time with reference to Not Marble, Nor Gilded Monuments.
Answer:
Not Marble, Nor Gilded Monuments, one of Shakespeare’s most famous verses, asserts the immortality of the poet’s sonnets to withstand the forces of decay over time. While monuments that princes build will be destroyed and their creators forgotten, the poet’s friend will Continue to shine brightly through verse. The value that can be derived from this instance is that stone monuments may crumble to dust, blackened by time and devastating war, but neither the God of War nor his quick-burning fires shall destroy poetry.

Not Marble, Nor the Gilded Monuments Extra Questions and Answers Reference to Context

Read the extracts below and answer the questions that follow. Write the answers in one or two lines only.

Question 1.
Not marble, nor the gilded monuments
Of princes, shall outlive this powerful rhyme;

(a) What does the poet mean by marble?
Answer:
The poet refers to statues and monuments made of marble.

(b) Who are the people who get gilded monuments made?
Answer:
Princes/kings/important statesmen get gilded monuments made.

(c) What will happen to ‘marble’ and ‘gilded monuments’?
Answer:
They will be destroyed by the passage of time or by the ravages of war.

Question 2.
Not marble, nor the gilded monuments
Of princes, shall outlive this powerful rhyme;

(a) Explain‘gilded monuments’.
Answer:
Monuments that are covered with gold or are gold-plated.

(b) What is more powerful than ‘marble’ and ‘gilded monuments’? Why?
Answer:
The poet’s rhyme is more powerful as it will outlive marble statues and gold-plated monuments.

(c) Name a poetic device used in the above lines.
Answer:
Alliteration: ‘Not marble, nor the gilded monuments
Of princes, shall outlive this powerful rhyme;’

Question 3.
When wasteful war shall statues overturn,
And broils root out the work of masonry,
Nor Mars his sword nor war’s quick fire shall bum
The living record of your memory.

(a) What are the works of masonry?
Answer:
Statues and monuments built by masons are being referred to here.

(b) Who is Mars?
Answer:
Mars is the god of War.

(c) What can Mars not destroy?
Answer:
Mars cannot destroy the memory of the person enshrined in the poem.

Question 4.
Gainst death, and all oblivious enmity
Shall you pace forth; your praise shall still find room
Even in the eyes of all posterity
That wear this world out to the ending doom.

(a) What are the things that may destroy a person’s memory?
Answer:
Death and decay caused by the passage of time may destroy a person’s memory.

(b) How will ‘he’ live on in people’s memory?
Answer:
He will live on in people’s memory because he has been immortalised in the poet’s rhyme.

(c) Explain ‘that wear this world out to the ending doom’.
Answer:
This line refers to all that will survive until the end of humanity.

Question 5.
So, till the judgment that yourself arise,
You live in this, and dwell in lovers’ eyes.

(a) Who is ‘you’?
Answer:
The person to whom the sonnet is addressed is being referred to, in these lines.

(b) How will he‘live’on?
Answer:
He will live on in the poet’s poetic creation.

(c) Explain ‘judgement’.
Answer:
The Day of Judgement or Doomsday is being referred to here.

Here we are providing Mirror Extra Questions and Answers Class 10 English Literature Reader, Extra Questions for Class 10 English was designed by subject expert teachers.

Mirror Extra Questions and Answers Class 10 English Literature

Mirror Extra Questions and Answers Long Answer Type

Question 1.
Why does the woman not like the mirror?
Answer:
This poem explores the relationship that we have with truth, and particularly the truth about ourselves. The mirror doesn’t tell lies—it, in fact, tells the truth. It is objective—‘exact’ and without ‘preconceptions’, swallowing whatever it sees without a second thought, ‘unmisted by love or dislike’. The mirror is, ‘not cruel, only truthful’ but Plath suggests that truth itself is cruel for human beings, and we turn away from it, presenting only our backs to those mirrors that offer to show it to us. The woman does not like the blemishes which the mirror shows her and turns away to ‘those liars, the candles or the moon.’

Question 2.
Why is the woman bending over the lake?
Answer:
The lake is something else into which humans have traditionally gazed, in search of their own reflection. The lake is not as exact as the mirror and hence the person who looks into it will get a flattering view of himself or herself as the reflection in the lake can be distorted by the ripples in the water. Though some of her imperfections are hidden by the water, here too the woman moves away as the depth of the lake reflects her repressed mind. She turns to more flattering devices like the candles and the moon.

Question 3.
In the poem, The Mirror, the poet underlines the misery of an ageing woman when she sees her reflection in a mirror. What makes her hate the mirror?
Answer:
The woman looks into the mirror to see her reflection. But the mirror being objective shows her an image that she does not like. It shows her the flaws which have appeared on her face as she is ageing. Though the mirror is being ‘not cruel, only truthful’ but truth itself is cruel and the woman turns away from it, presenting her back to that unbiased truth. What value we can derive from these lines is that is that it takes courage to face the truth. The woman cannot live without knowing the reality even if it upsets her and so each morning the woman is back, even though it is only to cry and wring her hands at what she sees.

Question 4.
The mirror plays a significant role in the life of the woman. Discuss.
Answer:
The mirror is an object the woman has always turned to in search of truth, from childhood to the present, when she is ageing. It is objective and without ‘preconceptions’, swallowing whatever it sees without a second thought. The mirror in presenting reality is being ‘not cruel, only truthful’.

The value that can be derived from this is that truth itself is cruel for the woman who is agitated by the truth and turns away from it, presenting her back to the mirror. It does not intend to hurt the woman but truth is sometimes unintentionally cruel.

Question 5.
The poem is tragic, sad and moody and does not offer a positive solution to an individual’s problems.
Answer:
In the light of this statement discuss the theme of the poem. The theme of the poem is tragic, sad and moody because it does not offer a positive solution to an individual’s desire to estimate the worth of one’s self. What she sees in the mirror is still a projection of her self—the ‘terrible fish’ that rises from under the objective surface. This inability to come to terms with a clear, objective point of view ‘unmisted’ by projections and preconceptions is really the central theme of the poem.

Mirror Extra Questions and Answers Reference to Context

Read the extracts below and answer the questions that follow. Write the answers in one or two lines only.

Question 1.
“I am silver and exact. I have no preconceptions.
Whatever I see I swallow immediately
Just as it is, unmisted by love or dislike.”

(a) Who does ‘I’ refer to in these lines?
Answer:
I refers to the mirror.

(b) When the poet says that the mirror has no preconceptions what does he mean?
(i) it reflects back your image objectively.
(ii) it gives a biased view of the person. ,
(iii) it is emotionally involved with the person whose image it reflects.
Answer:
(i) it reflects back your image objectively.

(c) Why has the mirror been described as being ‘unmisted’?*What is the image it is trying to convey about the nature of the mirror?
Answer:
It shows that the mirror is unbiased and lacks sensitivity.

Question 2.
“I am silver and exact.
I have no preconceptions.
Whatever I see I swallow immediately
Just as it is, unmisted by love or dislike.”

(a) How does the mirror swallow?
Answer:
The mirror absorbs all the images that are reflected on it. The images seem to disappear into the mirror.

(b) What is the poetic device used in the second line?
Answer:
The poetic device used is personification.

(c) List the qualities of the mirror mentioned in the above extract.
Answer:
The qualities of the mirror are silver, exact and unmisted.

Question 3.
“I am not cruel, only truthful—
The eye of a little god, four-cornered.
Most of the time
I meditate on the opposite wall.”

(a) Why does the mirror say ‘I am not cruel’?
Answer:
The mirror does not reflect the truth to hurt the viewer. It only reflects what it sees.

(b) Why has the mirror been called ‘a four-cornered god’?
Answer:
Like god, the mirror watches a person in an unbiased and fair manner and from all angles.

(c) How does the mirror spend its time?
Answer:
It meditates on the opposite wall and on the people who come to check their appearance in the mirror.

Question 4.
“It is pink, with speckles. I have looked at it so long
I think it is a part of my heart. But it flickers.
Faces and darkness separate us over and over.”

(a) What does the mirror reflect on when it is not looking at the woman?
Answer:
The mirror then reflects on the opposite wall.

(b) What disturbs its contemplation of the opposite wall?
Answer:
People who come to check their appearance in the mirror disturbs its contemplation.

(c) What does the phrase ‘pink speckles’ refer to?
Answer:
It refers to the opposite wall that is pink with speckles.

Question 5.
“Now I am a lake. A woman bends over me,
Searching my reaches foi; what she really is.
Then she turns to those liars, the candles or the moon.”

(a) In the second stanza, the mirror is compared to another object. What is it? Why do you think this comparison has been made?
Answer:
The mirror is compared to a lake. The lake is not as exact as the mirror, the image is distorted by the ripples in the water and hence the person who looks into it will get a flattering view of herself or himself.

(b) What is the woman searching for in the depths of the lake?
Answer:
The woman is upset with the signs of ageing reflected by the mirror and she is trying to find her lost looks in the water of the lake.

(c) Is she satisfied with what she observes? Give reasons for your answer.
Answer:
No, because the woman starts crying at the signs of growing old that are reflected back.

Question 6.
“Now I am a lake. A woman bends over me,
Searching my reaches for what she really is.
Then she turns to those liars, the candles or the moon.” 

(a) What is the woman bending over?
Answer:
The woman is bending over the lake.

(b) Why does the woman bend over?
Answer:
The woman bends over because the lake is spread out before her feet and to look closely at her reflection.

(c) Why have the candles and the moon been called ‘liars’?
Answer:
The candles and the moon have been called ‘liars’ because they create a flattering image of the person by hiding their blemishes.

Question 7.
“I see her back, and reflect it faithfully.
She rewards me with tears and an agitation of hands.
I am important to her. She comes and goes.”

(a) What does the phrase ‘agitation of the hands’ mean?
Answer:
It means that the woman is very upset.

(b) Why does the woman start crying?
Answer:
The woman starts crying as she is upset at the signs of her ageing as reflected by the mirror. The woman rewards the mirror with tears for she does not like the truth.

(c) What does this reveal of her character?
Answer:
The woman is unable to face the truth about herself.

Question 8.
“Each morning it is her face that replaces the darkness.
In me she has drowned a young girl, and in me an old woman
Rises toward her day after day like a terrible fish.”

(a) How has the poet changed over the years?
Answer:
The woman has aged. She has changed from a young girl to an old woman.

(b) Why does the poet refer to the fish in the last line? Why does she describe it as being ‘terrible’?
Answer:
The thought and the fact that she is growing old is the terrible fish that comes to haunt the woman. She sees herself as a sad, angered and emotionless woman.

(c) What does the mention of the ‘fish’ symbolise?
Answer:
The fish reminds the woman that she is no longer beautiful and that tells her that she is cold and incapable of love.

Here we are providing The Frog and the Nightingale Extra Questions and Answers Class 10 English Literature Reader, Extra Questions for Class 10 English was designed by subject expert teachers.

The Frog and the Nightingale Extra Questions and Answers Class 10 English Literature

The Frog and the Nightingale Extra Questions and Answers Short Answer Type

Question 1.
Bring out the irony in the frog’s statement—“Your song must be your own.”
Answer:
The irony in the statement is that the frog was the one who tried to teach the nightingale to sing differently. He did not let her song be her own.

Question 2.
Do you think the end is justified?
Answer:
Yes, the nightingale met a fitting end as she was truly brainless. She believed the frog and came under his influence even though the other creatures appreciated her song and came to hear her sing in large numbers. Moreover, she had no proof of the frog’s talent except for what he himself said.

Question 3.
Do you think the nightingale is ‘brainless’? Give reasons for your answer.
Answer:
The nightingale was fooled by the frog. She took the frog at his word and followed him blindly and changed her song. She did not realise she had an appreciative audience even before the frog began to train her. She did not have the brains to realise the extent of her own talent.

Question 4.
In spite of having a melodious voice and being a crowd puller, the nightingale turns out to be a loser and dies. How far is she responsible for her own downfall?
Answer:
The nightingale was fooled by the frog because she did not realise she had an appreciative audience even before the frog began to train her. She did not have the brains to realise the enormity of her talent even when the audience stopped coming to hear her sing. In fact, she was so under the frog’s influence that she lost her life.

Question 5.
Do you agree with the frog’s inference of the nightingale’s character? Give reasons for your answer.
Answer:
Yes, she asks the frog (who claims to be a music critic) his opinion of her song despite having an appreciative audience the previous night; does not show much faith in her own ability. She is gullible and easily influenced.

The Frog and the Nightingale Extra Questions and Answers Long Answer Type

Question 1.
Bring out the character of the frog.
Answer:
He is thick-skinned and impervious to insults. In spite of the creatures throwing stones, sticks and bricks at him, begging him to stop singing, insulting him and complaining about him, he refuses to comply. He is jealous of the nightingale and plots to get rid of her. He is presumptuous and offers to give training to the nightingale. He is possessive and territorial and proclaims that he owns the sumac tree. He is greedy and he exploits the nightingale. He is dismissive and condescending and treats the nightingale as a stupid creature.

Question 2.
Bring out the character of the nightingale.
Answer:
She is nervous as she asks the frog (who claims to be a music critic) his opinion of her song despite having an appreciative audience. She is modest and does not consider her song to be of much merit despite the applause. She lacks in confidence. Despite having an appreciative audience she listens blindly to the frog and does not show much faith in her own ability. She is easily influenced and listens to the frog and believes him despite having no proof of his talent.

Question 3.
To some extent the nightingale was herself responsible for her downfall and death. Comment.
Answer:
She is carried away by appreciation and could not understand that she was being fooled by the frog’s greed to gain recognition and fame. She left herself open to exploitation. She felt honoured to be singled out by the frog for appreciation and recognition. She did not see to through him. Despite having an appreciative audience, she did not have much faith in her ability and did not have the brains to realise the enojmity of her talent even when the audience stopped coming.

Question 4.
What is the moral of the poem?
Answer:
We learn that one should exercise one’s individuality and reasoning without letting others lead one blindly. One should realise one’s limitations and capabilities and not leave oneself open for exploitation.

Question 5.
“Far too nervous, far too tense,
Far too prone to influence.
Well, poor bird—she should have known
That your song must be your own.”
Do you agree with the frog’s statement? Justify your answer.
Answer:
The nightingale came under the influence of the frog despite having an appreciative audience. She was completely controlled by him and did not have much faith in her ability and did not have the brains to realise the enormity of her talent. She was carried away by the dream of fame that the frog held out. She could not guess that she was being fooled by his greed to gain recognition and fame. This left her open to exploitation as she felt honoured to be singled out by the frog who was a music critic. She practised day and night in all sorts of weather and lost her melody, thereby losing her audience and eventually she died.

The Frog and the Nightingale Extra Questions and Answers Reference to Context

Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow. Write the answers in one or two lines only.

Question 1.
Once upon a time a frog
Croaked away in Bingle Bog.
Every night from dusk to dawn
He croaked awn and awn and awn.

(a) What did the frog do all night?
Answer:
The frog croaked all night.

(b) How did the other creatures react to his voice?
Answer:
The other creatures hated the frog’s voice. They threw stones, sticks and bricks at him, begged him to stop singing, insulted him, and complained about him, but in vain.

(c) Find a word in the above lines which the poet has made up? Why has he done so?
Answer:
The word is‘Awn’. The poet has done so to create a rhyme scheme with dawn.

Question 2.
Other creatures loathed his voice,
But, alas, they had no choice,
And the crass cacophony
Blared put from the sumac tree
At whose foot the frog each night
Minstrelled on till morning light.

(a) Where did the frog live?
Answer:
The frog lived under the sumac tree in Bingle Bog.

(b) What did the other creatures not have any choice in? Why?
Answer:
The other creatures were forced to listen to the frog’s song all night. All their efforts to make him stop singing were in vain

(c) Explain‘crass cacophony’.
Answer:
The phrase means a very loud and unpleasant noise.

Question 3.
Neither stones nor prayers nor sticks,
Insults or complaints or bricks
Stilled the frog’s determination
To display his heart’s elation.

(a) How did the other creatures try to quieten the frog?
Answer:
The other creatures threw stones, sticks and bricks at the frog, begged him to stop singing, insulted him, and complained about him.

(b) Did they succeed in their efforts?
Answer:
No, they did not succeed in their efforts. The frog continued to sing despite their efforts.

(c) What feature of the frog’s personality is brought out in the above lines?
Answer:
The frog was thick-skinned and impervious to insults. He was determined and stubborn.

Question 4.
But one night a nightingale
In the moonlight cold and pale
Perched upon the sumac tree
Casting forth her melody.

(a) Whose songs had echoed in the bog all night earlier?
Answer:
The frog’s song had echoed in the bog earlier all night.

(b) What did the nightingale do?
Answer:
The nightingale sat on the sumac tree singing her melodious song.

(c) How was the nightingale’s song different from the frog’s?
Answer:
The nightingale’s song was melodious while the frog’s song was crass cacophony. His voice sounded like a foghorn.

Question 5.
Dumbstruck sat the gaping frog,
And the whole admiring Bog
Stared towards the sumac, rapt,
And, when she had ended, clapped.

(a) Explain the phrase ‘whole admiring Bog’.
Answer:
All the creatures of the Bog were struck with admiration for the nightingale’s song.

(b) How did the frog react to the nightingale’s song?
Answer:
The frog was dumbstruck by the beauty of her voice.

(c) What had been the frog’s experience at the sumac tree?
Answer:
When the frog sang, the other creatures threw stones, sticks and bricks at him, begged him to stop singing, insulted him and complained.

Question 6.
Ducks had swum and herons waded
To her as she serenaded,
And a solitary loon
Wept, beneath the summer moon.

(a) Who is ‘she’ in the above lines? Why did the ducks and herons come towards her?
Answer:
The nightingale, is being referred to in these lines. The ducks and herons came to hear her song.

(b) Who was the solitary loon? How was his behaviour different from that of the others?
Answer:
Loons are water birds. A single loon came to listen to the nightingale’s song. He was so overcome by emotions that he wept on hearing her beautiful song.

Question 7.
Toads and teals and tiddlers, captured
By her voice, cheered on, enraptured:
‘Bravo! ’ ‘Too divine!’ ‘Encore! ’
So the nightingale once more,
Quite unused to such applause,
Sang till dawn without a pause.

(a) How do you know that the nightingale s song was a sensation?
Answer:
The creatures of the bog heard her voice and swam towards her. They listened to her song, enraptured and encouraged her to sing the whole night long.

(b) How did the nightingale react to the applause?
Answer:
The nightingale sang the whole night without a pause.

(c) Who are‘toads and teals and tiddlers’?
Answer:
The toads are a type of frog, teals are freshwater ducks and tiddlers are small fish. They were all a part of the nightingale’s adoring audience.

Question 8.
Next night when the Nightingale
Shook her head and twitched her tail,
Closed an eye and fluffed a wing
And had cleared her throat to sing
She was startled by a croak.

(a) Where is the nightingale? Who lived at the foot of the tree?
Answer:
The nightingale is on the sumac tree in Bingle Bog. The frog lived at the foot of the tree.

(b) How do you know that the nightingale was getting ready to sing?
Answer:
The nightingale shook her head and twitched her tail. Then she closed an eye, fluffed a wing and cleared her throat preparing to start singing.

(c) What surprised the nightingale?
Answer:
The frog’s croak surprised the nightingale.

Question 9.
Sorry—was that you who spoke?
She enquired when the frog
Hopped towards her from the bog.
“Yes,” the frog replied. “You see,
I’m the frog who owns this tree.”

(a) Who is ‘she’? What aspect of the frog’s personality is revealed in these lines?
Answer:
‘She’ is the nightingale. The frog is territorial and possessive.

(b) How did the frog introduce himself?
Answer:
The frog introduced himself as the owner of the sumac tree.

Question 10.
“Yes,” the frog replied. “You see,
I’m the frog who owns this tree.
In this bog, I’ve long been known
For my splendid baritone
And, of course, I wield my pen
For Bog Trumpet now and then.”

(a) What quality does the frog reveal in the second line of this extract?
Answer:
The frog is boastful.

(b) What is a baritone?
Answer:
Baritone is a deep male singing voice.

(c) Why does he say this?
Answer:
The frog says this to impress the nightingale and to get her under his influence.

Question 11.
“Did you … did you like my song?”
“Not too bad—but far too long.
The technique was fine, of course,
But it lacked a certain force.”

(a) Who is commenting on whose song? What is his comment?
Answer:
The frog is commenting on the nightingale’s song. He tells her that the song was not too bad but it was too long and it lacked intensity and depth.

(b) Do you think he is a fair judge of the other person’s song? Give reasons.
Answer:
No, the frog is not a fair judge because he is not a good singer himself and so possibly does not know much about singing. Moreover, he is jealous as the creatures who insulted his singing admired the nightingale’s song.

Question12.
“Oh!” the nightingale confessed,
Greatly flattered and impressed
That a critic of such note,
Had discussed her art and throat

(a) What were his comments on the nightingale’s singing?
Answer:
The frog commented that the song was not too bad but it was far too long and it lacked intensity and depth.

(b) How did the nightingale respond to the criticism?
Answer:
The nightingale was dejected to hear that her song was not good enough but flattered and impressed to have been noticed by a great critic.

(c) What impression do you form of the nightingale?
Answer:
The nightingale lacked confidence and was prone to influence. She was naive and gullible.

Question 13.
“I don’t think the song’s divine
But—oh, well—at least it’s mine.”
“That’s not much to boast about,”
Said the heartless frog.

(a) Why does the nightingale feel her song is not divine?
Answer:
The nightingale is a modest creature. She is ready to accept her mistakes and is willing to learn.

(b) Who composed the nightingale’s song?
Answer:
It is the nightingale’s self-composed song.

(c) How does the frog change his own statement: “That’s not much to boast about,” in the end?
Answer:
In the end the frog says that the bird should have realised that ‘your song must be your own.’

Question 14.
“That’s not much to boast about,”
Said the heartless frog. “Without
Proper training such as I
—And few others—can supply,”

(a) Who is the frog speaking to? What does ‘that’ refer to?
Answer:
The frog is speaking to the nightingale. ‘That’ refers to the fact that the song the nightingale sang was her own composition.

(b) Why is the frog referred to as heartless?
Answer:
The frog has been called heartless as he did not appreciate the nightingale’s melodious voice. He is cruel and uncaring about the nightingale’s feelings as he criticises her song.

Question 15.
“You’ll remain a mere beginner,
But with me you’ll be a winner.”

(a) How willihe frog change the nightingale’s singing?
Answer:
By teaching the nightingale the technique of singing, the frog promised to transform her from a mere beginner to a singing sensation.

(b) On what condition does the frog agree to teach the nightingale? What according to the frog was lacking in the nightingale’s song?
Answer:
The frog agreed on the condition of charging a modest fee. According to the frog, the nightingale’s song was too long and lacked intensity and depth.

(c) How will the fee not hurt the nightingale?
Answer:
The frog will not take it directly from her but will charge admission fees from the creatures who come to hear the bird sing.

Question 16.
“Dearest frog,” the nightingale Breathed;
“This is a fairy tale—
And you’re Mozart in disguise
Come to earth before my eyes.”
“Well, I charge a modest fee.”
“Oh! But it won’t hurt, you’ll see.”

(a) What was a fairy tale?
Answer:
The fairy tale was that a famous singer and music critic like the frog was ready to teach the nightingale.

(b) How was the listener ‘Mozart in disguise’?
Answer:
The nightingale is flattered and impressed by the frog who claims to be a famous singer and a critic. She praises the frog by comparing him to the great music composer, Mozart.

(c) Why is the nightingale worried at the mention of the fee?
Answer:
She does not have much money to pay the frog for music lessons.

Question 17.
Now the nightingale, inspired,
Flushed with confidence, and fired
With both art and adoration, A
Sang—and was a huge sensation.

(a) What inspired the nightingale to sing?
Answer:
The appreciation of the audience inspired the nightingale to sing beautifully.

(b) How did the nightingale become a sensation?
Answer:
The melodious song of the nightingale attracted creatures of the bog who came from miles around to hear her sing.

(c) Explain‘flushed with confidence’.
Answer:
The appreciation and success that the nightingale received made her feel confident. She also felt excited and pleased with herself as she began to sing.

Question 18.
Animals for miles around
Flocked towards the magic sound.
And the frog with great precision
Counted heads and charged admission.

(a) Why did the animals come in large numbers?
Answer:
The animals came to hear the nightingale’s song.

(b) What is the magic sound?
Answer:
The magic sound refers to the melodious song of the nightingale.

(c) How did the frog make money? ”
Answer:
The frog charged the other creatures admission fee when they came to hear the nightingale sing and he kept the money as his fee for training the nightingale.

Question 19.
Though next morning it was raining,
He began her vocal training.
“But I can’t sing in this weather.”
“Come, my dear—we’ll sing together.”

(a) What training did the frog give the nightingale?
Answer:
The frog trained the nightingale to sing.

(b) What was the effect of the training?
Answer:
As a result of the training, the nightingale lost her melodious voice and the creatures of the bog lost interest in her. They no longer came to hear her sing.

(c) What was her protest?
Answer:
The nightingale could not sing in the rain.

Question 20.
“Just put on your scarf and sash,
Koo-oh-ah! ko-ash! ko-ash!”
So the frog and nightingale
Journeyed up and down the scale
For six hours, till she was shivering
And her voice was hoarse and quivering.

(a) Why did the frog tell the nightingale to put on her scarf and her sash?
Answer:
As it was raining, the nightingale was a little reluctant but the frog wanted her to practise.

(b) Explain: ‘Journeyed up and down the scale’.
Answer:
It means they sang a number of notes—both high and low ones.

(c) What was the result of the practise on the nightingale?
Answer:
The frog made the nightingale practise in the rain for six hours. As a result she was shivering in the cold. Her throat became hoarse and her voice started shaking.

Question 21.
Though subdued and sleep-deprived,
In the night her throat revived,
And the sumac tree was bowed
With a breathless, titled crowd:
Owl of Sandwich, Duck of Kent,
Mallard and Milady Trent,
Martin Cardinal Mephisto,
And the Coot of Monte Cristo.

(a) Why was the nightingale subdued?
Answer:
The nightingale had had no rest. She had been made to practise for long hours in the rain.

(b) What made the nightingale’s throat revive at night?
Answer:
The appreciative audience revived the nightingale’s throat.

(c) Explain: ‘titled crowd’. Who was the noted critic?
Answer:
The ‘titled crowd’ refers to the aristocratic creatures of the bog. The frog was the noted critic.

Question 22.
Ladies with tiaras glittering
In the interval sat twittering
And the frog observed them glitter
With a joy both sweet and bitter.

(a) Where had all the animals gathered? Why?
Answer:
The animals had gathered near the sumac tree to hear the song of the nightingale.

(b) Why was the frog’s joy both sweet and bitter?
Answer:
The frog’s joy was sweet as he was exploiting the nightingale and charging money from the creatures of ‘ the bog who came to hear her, which he pocketed. At the same time he was bitter because the creatures who came to hear the nightingale were the same ones who had insulted him when he used to sing.

Question 23.
Every day the frog who’d sold her
Songs for silver tried to scold her:
“You must practise even longer
Till your voice, like mine, grows stronger.”

(a) Who is ‘her’?
Answer:
The ‘her’ mentioned here is the nightingale.

(b) How did the frog sell her songs for silver?
Answer:
The frog made the nightingale sing every night and he earned money by charging an admission fee from all the creatures who came to hear her song.

(c) What did the frog tell the bird to do?
Answer:
The frog told her to practise for longer hours till her voice became as strong as his own.
He told her to puff up her lungs and sing with passion and add trills to her song.

Question 24.
“In the second song last night
You got nervous in mid-flight. ,
And, my dear, lay on morfe trills:
Audiences enjoy such frills.”

(a) Who speaks these lines and to whom?
Answer:
The frog speaks these lines to the nightingale.

(b) What advice does the speaker give the listener?
Answer:
The frog advises the nightingale to add trills to her song—that is, to sing two musical notes one after the other, repeatedly and very quickly and to bring variety to her songs.

(c) In what two ways was the speaker benefited by the training he gave?
Answer:
He earned a lot of money and was finally able to get rid of the nightingale.

Question 25.
“You must make your public happier:
Give them something sharper, snappier.
We must aim for better billings
You still owe me sixty shillings.”

(a) Who are the ‘public’? Why was this advice given?
Answer:
The creatures who come to hear the nightingale sing are the public. The frog tells her to sing songs which have a faster beat to impress the public.

(b) What is the meaning of ‘better billings’?
Answer:
It means better publicity for the show.

(c) What aspect of the speaker’s personality is shown in these lines?
Answer:
The lines show his greed for money, his heartlessness and ruthlessness.

Question 26.
Till the birds and beasts grew tired
At a voice so uninspired
And the ticket office gross
Crashed, and she grew more morose

(a) Whose voice is being referred to here? What had happened to make it uninspired?
Answer:
The nightingale’s voice is being referred to here. The frog had been training her and she had lost the natural sweetness of her voice.

(b) What does ‘ticket office gross’ mean?
Answer:
This refers to the money collected as the sale of tickets for a concert or a show.

(c) Why did it crash? Why did the nightingale grow morose?
Answer:
The creatures no longer came to hear the nightingale’s song, so the collections fell. The lack of an audience and the frog’s constant rebukes made her feel unhappy.

Question 27.
For her ears were now addicted
To applause quite unrestricted,
And to sing into the night
All alone gave no delight.

(a) What had the nightingale become used to?
Answer:
The nightingale became used to an appreciative audience who applauded her.

(b) Why was she all alone?
Answer:
The nightingale’s voice was no longer as melodious as it had been earlier and the creatures of the bog no longer came to hear her sing.

(c) What was the result of the lack of applause?
Answer:
The nightingale became sorrowful and pale.

Question 28.
Now the frog puffed up with rage.
“Brainless bird—you’re on the stage—
Use your wits and follow fashion,
Puff your lungs out with your passion.”

(a) Why was the frog angry?
Answer:
The frog was angry as the nightingale’s voice no longer attracted the creatures of the bog as earlier and his earnings had dropped.

(b) Do you think the bird is brainless? Explain.
Answer:
Yes, the nightingale was truly brainless. She believed the frog and came under his influence even though the other creatures appreciated her song and came to hear her sing in large numbers. Moreover, she had no proof of the frog’s talent except for what he had himself said.

(c) What did the nightingale do to please the frog? What happened to her as a result?
Answer:
The nightingale puffed up her lungs to sing, burst a vein and died.

Question 29.
Trembling, terrified to fail,
Blind with tears, the nightingale
Heard him out in silence, tried,
Puffed up, burst a vein, and died.

(a) Why was the nightingale trembling?
Answer:
The nightingale was trembling because of the frog’s scolding.

(b) What did the frog wish the nightingale to do?
Answer:
The frog wanted her to use her wits and sing in a more fashionable style.

(c) Whom is she terrified to fail?
Answer:
The nightingale was terrified to fail her audience who paid to hear her sing and the frog who was training her.

Question 30.
Said the frog: “I tried to teach her,
But she was a stupid creature—
Far too nervous, far too tense.
Far too prone to influence.”

(a) Whose influence did she come under? What was the effect of the influence?
Answer:
The nightingale came under the influence of the frog. She was completely controlled by him. He made her practise day and night in all sorts of weather. She lost the melody in her voice and her audience decreased. One day, as the frog scolded her and told her to puff up her lungs, she burst a vein and died.

(b) What do you learn from the poem?
Answer:
We leant that one should exercise one’s individuality and reasoning without letting others lead one blindly. One should realise one’s limitations and capabilities and not leave oneself open for exploitation.

Question 31.
“Well, poor bird—she should have known
That your song must be your own.
That’s why I sing with panache:
Koo-oh-ah! ko-ash! ko-ash!”
And the foghorn of the frog
Blared unrivalled through the Bog.

(a) Why does the frog call the nightingale ‘poor bird’?
Answer:
The frog calls the nightingale ‘poor bird’ as she had died.

(b) What did the frog think of his own influence on the nightingale?
Answer:
The frog realises he was a bad influence on her. In the end, he confesses she should have realised her song should have been her own

(c) How did the frog gain by the nightingale’s death?
Answer:
Once again the frog was the unrivalled singer in the bog. He had got rid of his competition.

Here we are providing Virtually True Extra Questions and Answers Class 10 English Literature Reader, Extra Questions for Class 10 English was designed by subject expert teachers.

Virtually True Extra Questions and Answers Class 10 English Literature

Virtually True Extra Questions and Answers Short Answer Type

Question 1.
Why was the narrator attracted to the newspaper headline?
Answer:
The narrator was attracted to the headline because he wanted to mow whether Sebastian Shultz mentioned in the article was the same person whom he had met earlier.

Question 2.
Why did the doctors feel that they needed a miracle?
Answer:
Sebastian had been badly injured in a motorway accident and had gone into coma. His condition was described as critical though stable. The doctors did not know how to revive him. So they felt they needed a miracle for him to become normal again.

Question 3.
Why did the narrator gasp in amazement and feel nervous and shivery?
Answer:
The narrator gasped because he could not understand how a boy he had come to know recently could be described as being in a coma by the newspapers.

Question 4.
Why does the narrator enjoy playing computer games?
Answer:
The narrator enjoyed it because the big screen with the loud volume made him feel like he was inside the game, battling it out.

Question 5.
What are psycho-drive games?
Answer:
They are games played with a virtual reality visor and glove, which have the ability to change what a person can see. They control the action in the game by their thoughts.

Question 6.
What was the Powerbase?
Answer:
It was the loft which had been converted into their computer room and housed the computer, that screen, the printer and other accessories.

Question 7.
Describe the game called Wildwest.
Answer:
It was a game that transported the player to the time of the Wild West in America when saloons existed and Sheriffs were law enforcers.

Question 8.
Why was the narrator surprised while playing the game Wildwest?
Answer:
The narrator was surprised to see another Sheriff stride in, who was about his age, but did not look like a computer image.

Question 9.
Describe the game Dragonquest.
Answer:
The game required the player to rescue a princess called Aurora from a wicked dragon and collect its treasure along the way. The princess, who had been imprisoned in a tall tower, was a young woman with long golden plaits.

Question 10.
Why was the game Jailbreak important to the narrator?
Answer:
It was important because it was a game suggested by Shultz, which the narrator had to play in the hope of . rescuing him from the trap he had got into while playing on the computer.

Question 11.
Why did the narrator feel bad on seeing the empty printer tray after playing Jailbreak?
Answer:
The narrator felt bad because there was no further message from Sebastian and the narrator felt that he had failed him.

Question 12.
How did Sebastian find his way into the helicopter?
Answer:
The force caused by the impact of the tank against the jeep threw Sebastian out of the jeep and onto the hatch of the helicopter, from where he was pulled in by the narrator.

Question 13.
What was the significance of the narrator scoring 40,000,000?
Answer:
It meant that the narrator had hit the jackpot and won the game.

Question 14.
What were the questions that troubled the narrator after he finally saved Sebastian?
Answer:
First, the narrator wondered how the computer had saved Sebastian’s memory inside it and second, how he had been led to play the weird version of the games with Sebastian.

Question 15.
Pick out the literary device in the last line of the lesson. Identify it and explain it.
Answer:
The literary device is the unusual collocation of the words ‘true-virtually’. It is an oxymoron. It expresses ‘ the fact that the experience of the narrator with the computer games was very realistic even though it was not really true.

Virtually True Extra Questions and Answers Long Answer Type

Question 1.
Michael writes a letter to Sebastian, expressing his happiness at his recovery and wondering at the adventures they seemed to have experienced during their journey through virtual reality.
Answer:
14 March, 20xx
Dear Sebastian,
It is great to hear about your recovery. We shared a strange experience. I could never imagine that such an adventure is possible. However, I thoroughly enjoyed the thrill of narrow escapes and the final rescue. I am still not sure how your memory got trapped in the computer. This incident is not easy for anyone to believe.
We must actually meet.
Regards
Michael

Question 2.
Sebastian writes back to Micheal, thanking him for his role in helping him escape from the weird situation he found himself in. Write the letter.
Answer:
24 March, 20xx
Dear Michael,
Thank you for your good wishes. I owe my life to you. I would have continued to stay trapped ip’the game had you not responded to my pleas. We had so many close shaves. I had given up hope of returning to the real world. It was your help that pulled me through. I still can’t believe the experiences that we had in the virtual world,

Question 3.
A reporter friend of Michael’s learns of the adventure Michael and Sebastian had in the virtual world. He decides to write an article in the newspaper under the heading Virtual World—A Reality?
Answer:
It is surprising to hear about the strange news of a boy trapped in virtual world. Here technology is shown as gaining an upper hand over humanity. Sebastian, a young boy of 14, hit his head on the laptop accidentally. His memory gets stored in the computer. The psycho-drive games played by Michael hold the key to these strange occurrences and can lead to the final escape.

Question 4.
Michael’s father learns of his son’s escapade and decides to send the games back to the shop. Write the letter giving details why you feel the games are dangerous for young children.
Answer:
I had bought these games from the stall at the Computer Fair but now I want to return the games as I think them to be unsuitable for young children. It should have an age limit specified on the labels as the kids get too involved as the virtual becomes real for them. They lose track of reality and the games are too violent and stressful as the boundaries between virtual and real are less defined and kids believe what they see.

Question 5.
Write a debate on ‘Computer games are dangerous’.
Answer:
For: They appear to be harmless fun, but actually pose a danger as they involve people in a world that is not real. Children get attracted to these violent games and forget about reality. It affects their social skills and creates behavioural problems. Newer technology makes such games unpredictable, causing unknown harm and even long term side-effects.

Against: The world has changed and the games have always been a way of developing skills. In a changing, digital world, virtual games actually prepare you for the world and help you develop complex problem solving abilities. It gives a taste of harmless adventure with no danger involved.

Question 6.
Will power and determination bring success against all odds. Comment with reference to Virtually True.
Answer:
The story Virtually True teaches us the lesson of perseverance. It shows us how will power and determination helps an individual achieve what he strives for.Sebastian Shultz, who is very fond of virtual games, meets with an accident while playing one. His head bangs against his seat and he loses consciousness but his memory gets automatically saved in the game drive. Doctors inform his father that Sebastian has gone into coma.

Michael buys Sebastian’s games from the computer fair. When Michael starts the game on his computer, Sebastian’s memory stars to work and he asks Michael to help him retrieve his memory. Michael tries to Jielp him in the games—Wild-West Guns, Dragonquest and Jailbreak but he fails. But at last, in the game Warzone he gets success, and rescues Sebastian Shultz. Thus, his perseverance helps him succeed in his endeavour.

Virtually True Extra Questions and Answers Reference to Context

Question 1.
“The doctors were doing all they could, but in our hearts we knew we needed a miracle. ”

(a) Who said this and to whom?
Answer:
Mrs Schultz said this to the reporters at the press conference.

(b) What is the ‘miracle’ referred to in this line?
Answer:
It refers to the recovery of Mrs Schultz’s son Sebastian from coma after six weeks.

(c) What had happened to Sebastian?
Answer:
Sebastian had been badly injured in an accident and had gone into coma.

Question 2.
“Dad and I had spent the entire Saturday afternoon at the Computer Fair. ”

(a) Who does ‘I’ refer to?
Answer:
It refers to Michael.

(b) What does this line tell you about the character of the two people mentioned in this line?
Answer:
It tells us that both Michael and his father are very interested in computers.

(c) What did they buy at the fair?
Answer:
Michael and his father bought some of the latest psycho-drive games, a virtual reality visor and glove.

Question 3.
“As I burst through the swing doors of the saloon, everyone went silent and glared at me. ”

(a) Where has the narrator reached in these lines?
Answer:
The narrator has reached the Wildwest.

(b) ‘Everyone glared at me’… what does this tell us about the feelings of the people?
Answer:
This tells us that the people were unfriendly.

(c) What is the strange experience that he has here?
Answer:
The narrator is joined by a boy of his age dressed as a sheriffa, which meant that the game had two sheriffs.

Question 4.
“At the top was a picture of the second Sheriff. This time, though, he was wearing jeans and a sweatshirt. ”

(a) Who does the ‘second SherifF refer to?
Answer:
It refers to Sebastian Shultz, the boy who was supposedly in coma.

(b) Who is a sheriff?
Answer:
A sheriff was a law enforcement officer in America during the Gold Rush.

(c) Why had the picture been sent?
Answer:
The picture had been sent along with an appeal for help.

Question 5.
“My hero! ” she squealed. “Take me away from all this. ”

(a) Who is the speaker?
Answer:
The speaker is Princess Aurora from the game Dragonquest.

(b) What does ‘all this’ refer to?
Answer:
It refers to the danger Princess Aurora was facing while being imprisoned in a tower guarded by a dragon.

(c) Did he manage to take her away? Why?
Answer:
No, he got diverted into trying to rescue a boy named Sebastian who was trapped in the game.

Question 6.
“Better luck next time. Please don’t give up, Michael. Otherwise, I’ll have to stay in here forever. Try Jailbreak. I think it might just work! ”

(a) Who is the writer of this message? Who is the message for?
Answer:
The message is from Sebastian to Michael.

(b) What does Jailbreak refer to?
Answer:
Jailbreak refers to a psycho-drive computer game.

(c) Does ‘it’ work? Explain.
Answer:
No, it does not work as the helicopter refused to move and the boy Sebastian fell down onto the concrete floor below.

Question 7.
“The tall buildings were windowless and riddled with holes. ”

(a) What place is the narrator describing?
Answer:
The narrator is describing the virtual world inside the game, Warzone.

(b) What is he doing here?
Answer:
He had come to rescue a boy who was trapped inside the computer.

(c) Is he successful? Explain.
Answer:
Yes, he is successful because the boy lands into the helicopter in the nick of time, as it is taking off with the narrator sitting inside it.

Question 8.
“They ended up at the Computer Fair. And we bought them. ”

(a) Who is the speaker?
Answer:
Michael is the speaker.

(b) What is he talking about?
Answer:
He is talking about the psycho drive game CDs that had belonged to Sebastian and had ended up in the Computer Fair where he and his father had bought them.

(c) How had they landed there?
Answer:
They had been stolen from the Shultz family and sold at the fair.

Here we are providing A Shady Plot Extra Questions and Answers Class 10 English Literature Reader, Extra Questions for Class 10 English was designed by subject expert teachers.

A Shady Plot Extra Questions and Answers Class 10 English Literature

A Shady Plot Extra Questions and Answers Short Answer Type

Question 1.
Bring out the irony in the statement: “I didn’t specialise in ghost stories, but more or less they seemed to specialise in me.”
Answer:
The narrator did not write ghost stories out of choice. He wanted to write other genres. But it was his ghost stories that were popular and so he got into writing those. Ironically, it was the ghost, Helen, who helped him write these stories.

Question 2.
What does the narrator mean by “And I had never found it healthy to contradict Jenkins”?
Answer:
The narrator said that he had realised that when Jenkins gave him work to do, it was better to agree to what he said. He could not risk Jenkins getting angry and withdrawing the offer or not giving him any work in the future.

Question 3.
Though the narrator did not particularly like writing ghost stories, why did he do so?
Answer:
The narrator’s ghost stories were popular with the readers and Jenkins preferred him to write ghost stories. Moreover, no other magazine was ready to publish his writing. He needed this extra income from writing to pay the rent or the grocer’s bill.

Question 4.
What was the narrator’s attitude towards his writing ability? Was it justified?
Answer:
The narrator had become overconfident and cocky about his writing ability. He did not realise that the plots were being put in his mind by the ghost.

Question 5.
Briefly describe the ghost.
Answer:
The ghost was long and angular, with enormous fishy eyes behind big bone-rimmed spectacles, with her hair in a tight wad at the back of her head and a solid jaw. She wore a stiff white shirtwaist and a plaid skirt.

Question6.
Why did the ghost materialise?
Answer:
The narrator had not been able to think of a plot for his story and had been calling on heaven and earth all afternoon to help him write a story. The ghost had materialised as a result of his call for help to tell him that no help would be forthcoming as the ghosts were going on strike.

Question 7.
Why were the ghosts created by Helen in the narrator’s mind different from her? Do you think her estimation was correct?
Answer:
Helen felt that if she created ghosts like herself, the readers may not like them. She was correct because the narrator’s ghost stories are very popular.

Question 8.
What condition did she place on the narrator for providing him help?
Answer:
Helen wanted the narrator to get the fanatics using Ouija boards to stop asking questions. The ghosts have had to give up haunting almost entirely as they were really busy answering questions the Ouija board users were asking.

Question 9.
What impression do you form of Lavinia before you meet her?
Answer:
We learn that Lavinia, John’s wife likes to go shopping. She also had the tendency to take on every new fad that came along and perform it so often that people became tired of it. We further learn that she was very sensitive.

Question 10.
What was the narrator’s reaction when he was nervous or excited? When does Lavinia encounter this reaction?
Answer:
When the narrator was nervous or excited, a muscle in his face twitched pulling up one comer of his mouth into an idiotic grin. He had managed to conceal this affliction from Lavinia. But when Helen sent a message to him on all the Ouija boards, he felt his face twitch in the spasm of that idiotic grin.

Question 11.
What new fad had Lavinia adopted? What was the irony in this?
Answer:
Lavinia had picked up an Ouija board from a bumper sale as they were the latest craze. The Ouija board was her latest whim. This was ironic because the ghost had just told John to get his friends and acquaintances to stop using the Ouija board.

Question 12.
In what way did Lavinia think that the Ouija board would be helpful to John?
Answer:
Lavinia thought the Ouija board would help him write his stories. If he wanted to write a historical novel, he would not have to research old books in the public library. All he would have to do would be to get out his Ouija board and talk to Napoleon or William the Conqueror or Helen of Troy. He would have all the local colour he needed, without a speck of trouble.

Question 13.
Though at first Lavinia mentions Helen of Troy as one of the possible subjects of his novels, she quickly dismisses her. What does this show about her?
Answer:
Lavinia says the Ouija board would help John research heroes of history like Napoleon or William the Conqueror or Helen of Troy. She quickly dismisses Helen of Troy as a subject for a novel. This shows she is possessive of John and jealous if he pays attention to another woman, even if the woman is a ghost.

Question 14.
Why did Lavinia refuse to return the Ouija board?
Answer:
Lavinia said the Ouija board was bought at a bumper sale and so was non-returnable. She also said she believed in the hereafter and the messages conveyed through the board.

Question 15.
Why was the narrator late as he came home that Saturday? Why did Gladolia warn John?
Answer:
Friday had been a half day, and of course when John went to office on Saturday the work had piled up. Gladolia told him that as he was late, Lavinia was likely to be angry as she had invited people over for a party. She had called John’s office and conveyed a message for him to return early. Gladolia advised John not
to argue with his wife.

Question 16.
What party had Lavinia organised? What feelings did this evoke in John?
Answer:
Lavinia had called her friends for an Ouija board party. John was anxious and looked around with trepidation as he expected the ghost of Helen to materialise. He was worried how his wife would react.

Question 17.
Whom did John have to partner? Why?
Answer:
Lavinia told John to partner Laura Hinkle as her partner Mrs William Augustus Wainright had called up at the last moment to say that she could not possibly come. As a result Laura Hinkle had no partner.

Question 18.
Why did John wish Laura Hinkle was cheating on the Ouija board? Did his fears come out true?
Answer:
When the narrator noticed some force tugging the board about, he hoped it was Laura Hinkle. He did not want •the ghost, Helen, to send a message. His fears came true as Helen was the one who was sending the message.

Question 19.
Why does the ghost return the day after the incident of the Ouija board?
Answer:
Helen was sent by the other ghosts to find out when the narrator’s wife was going to get rid of that Ouija board.

Question 20.
What do you think would be the plot for the narrator’s next story?
Answer:
The plot of John’s next story would be about his encounter with the ghost of Helen.

A Shady Plot Extra Questions and Answers Long Answer Type

Question 1.
Write a brief character sketch of John Hallock.
Answer:
John Hallock was cocky and overconfident about his ability to write ghost stories and he did not believe in Helen and was sceptical about ghosts. He was creative as he was able to write stories and also protective of his wife. He was gentle and kind with Gladolia.

Question 2.
Write a brief character sketch of Lavinia Hallock.
Answer:
Lavinia Hallock was whimsical and loved novelty and thrills. She picked up fads with enthusiasm. She was also suspicious and jealous and got upset with John and Laura. Lavinia was manipulative and did not let John have his way. She was strong as a person and took the appearance of the ghost in her stride.

Question 3.
Imagine that you are Gladolia. Write a letter to your friend describing the events at the Hallock household.
Answer:
The mistress got an Ouija board and called her friends over for ^ session. The ghosts began sending messages through the Ouija board. I wanted to leave as the Ouija board contraptions and hoodoos scare me. Thankfully the mistress burnt the board and I think I will stay here for now.

Question 4.
Imagine you are one of the members of the Book Club. Write a brief account of the incident of the Ouija boards.
Answer:
I was invited to Lavinia Hallock’s place for a session with the Ouija board. The session started and the message ‘traitor’ appeared on it. I wanted to ask John Hallock the reason behind this message as I found that he behaved in a suspicious manner. I am sure there was a mystery behind this message.

Question 5.
Imagine that you are the ghost of Helen of Troy. Report to the others how you have got Lavinia Hallock to get rid of the Ouija board.
Answer:
I think that the Ouija board is a new fad, which is catching on really fast. Ghosts waste lot of time answering questions from these people. I had warned John Hallock to stop his friends and acquaintances from using the Outa board as it is an utter waste of our time. But he took part in this session with his wife. The message which appeared on the Ouija board called him a traitor. His wife was angry and I met her and she was convinced that the board should be burnt.

Question 6.
You are a regular reader of the magazine John Hallock writes for. Review his story A Shady Plot.
Answer:
The name of the story is A Shady Plot. It is about a writer of ghost stories who is helped by a ghost to write his plots. His wife gets an Ouija board and he is warned by the ghost to get rid of it. A ghost sends messages during an Ouija board session and she gets rid of the Ouija board. Among the characters, John is shown to be a man who loves his wife Lavinia and is tolerant of her foibles. Lavinia is shown to be a whimsical, jealous and suspicious person. The character of the ghost is interesting and she materialises at times. The story is an interesting read as it has humorous touches.

Question 7.
You are John Hallock. Write a diary entry after the day’s events are over and your wife has burnt the Ouija board.
Answer:
The day started badly. Lavinia slept in the guest room as she was angry and even threatened me with divorce. Next was the appearance of the ghost and she was angry too.
Gladolia warned me against using hoodoos and magic. Lavinia encountered Helen and finally decided to get rid of the Ouija board and now things are back to normal.

Question 8.
You are Lavinia Hallock. Write a diary entry on the day’s events when your friends come for the Ouija board party.
Answer:
I bought an Ouija board as it is the latest craze and my friends came over for a party. I was bothered by John and his behaviour. Lately his behaviour has been suspicious and I found him talking to himself. He has been, returning late from office. In the Ouija board session I had told him to partner Laura Hinkle and he tried to flirt with her. I think I will divorce him and then he can do what he wants.

Question 9.
What lesson does John Hancock learn from his encounter with the ghost?
Answer:
John Hancock, a reluctant writer of ghost stories, starts getting cocky about his ability to write ghost stories at will. One day, he is’visited by a ghost, who is part of a writers’ inspiration bureau, members of which inspire authors like Hancock to write. The ghost demands a favour from him. She tells the writer that they are on a strike because of constant use of ouija boards and requests the writer to stop people from using the board.

Later, Hancock’s wife brings an ouija board, and hosts an ouija board party. The writer is forced to use the board by his wife. The angry ghost then plays havoc with his married life, leading to a big dispute with his wife. Hancock realises his ideas come as inspiration from the ghosts and writes about the incident. The value that one can derive from this story is that one should not be overconfident about one’s own ability

A Shady Plot Extra Questions and Answers Reference to the Context

Read the following passages taken from A Shady Plot and answer the given questions:

Question 1.
“Hallock, ” he had said to me, “give us another on the supernatural this time. Something to give ’em the horrors; that’s what the public wants, and your ghosts are live propositions. ”

(a) Who is ‘he’?
Answer:
‘He’ is Jenkins, the editor of a magazine.

(b) What does he want Hallock to do?
Answer:
Jenkins wants Hallock to write a ghost story for the magazine.

(c) Why does he want Hallock to do it?
Answer:
Jenkins wants Hallock to write the story because his ghost stories are popular with the readers.

Question 2.
“Jenkins always seemed to have an uncanny knowledge as to when the landlord or the grocer were pestering me, and he dunned me for a ghost. ”

(a) Who is ‘he’?
Answer:
‘He’ is Jenkins, the editor of the magazine for which Hallock writes.

(b) Why is Jenkin’s knowledge uncanny?
Answer:
Jenkin always knew, as if through some mysterious powers, when the narrator needed money.

(c) Explain ‘he dunne,d me for a ghost.’
Answer:
The editor persistently asked the narrator to write a ghost story for the magazine.

Question 3.
“She was long and angular, with enormous fishy eyes behind big bone-rimmed spectacles, and her hair in a tightwad at the back of her head…”

(a) Who was she? What was her name?
Answer:
She was a ghost. When alive, her name had been Helen of Troy, New York.

(b) Why had she appeared to the narrator?
Answer:
Helen of Troy wanted the narrator to get his friends and acquaintances to stop using the Ouija board.

(c) How had she helped the narrator in the past?
Answer:
Helen of Troy had helped the narrator by putting ideas for ghost stories in his head.

Question 4.
“But my ghosts are n’t a bit like you… ”

(a) Who says this and to whom?
Answer:
John Hallock, the narrator, says this to the ghost, Helen.

(b) Why does he say this?
Answer:
The ghost claimed that she was the one who had suggested the plots of the ghost stories that the narrator wrote. A

(c) What does the listener reply?
Answer:
Helen of Troy said the readers wouldn’t believe him if the ghosts were like her.

Question 5.
“The very idea of that horrible scarecrow so much as touching me! And wouldn’t my wife be shocked! ”

(a) Who is the scarecrow?
Answer:
The scarecrow referred to here is Helen, the ghost.

(b) Why does the scarecrow touch the speaker?
Answer:
The ghost had told the narrator that she had often leant over his shoulder while he was writing to give him ideas.

(c) Why would the narrator’s wife be shocked?
Answer:
The narrator’s wife being sensitive, and scared even of a mouse, would be terrified of the ghost and become hysterical.

Question 6.
“There was a time when We had nothing much to occupy us and used to haunt a little on the side, purely for amusement, but not anymore. ”

(a) Who is the speaker?
Answer:
The speaker is Helen, the ghost.

(b) What does she not like to do anymore?
Answer:
The ghost does not wish to sit at a desk and answer questions on the Ouija board any more.

(c) Why does she not have time for any longer?
Answer:
Helen of Troy does not have time to haunt any longer.

Question 7.
“I remembered her craze for taking up new fads and a premonitory chill crept up the back of my neck. ”

(a) Who is the speaker? Who is the ‘her’?
Answer:
The narrator is the speaker. ‘Her’ is the speaker’s wife.

(b) What premonition does the speaker get?
Answer:
Hallock feels that his wife may have got an Ouija board.

(c) Why does he feel so?
Answer:
Hallock’s wife likes to follow the latest fads and Ouija boards were the latest craze.

Question 8.
“Misto Hallock, de Missus shot ’inks you are lost! She says she done ‘phone you dis mawnin ’ to be home early, but fo ’ de Lawd’s sake not to stop to largely now, but get ready fo ’ de company an come on down.

(a) Who is the speaker?
Answer:
The speaker is the narrator’s cook, Gladolia.

(b) Why had the listener’s wife tried to call him?
Answer:
The listener’s wife had called him to tell him they had guests coming over in the evening and he should be home on time.

(c) What advice does the speaker give?
Answer:
Gladolia tells him not to argue with his wife but to change his clothes and come down.

Question 9.
“Then it began to fly around so fast that I gave up any attempt to follow it. My companion was bending forward and had started to spell out loud: ‘T-r-a-i-t-o-r. ’ Traitor! Why, what does she mean?’’

(a) Who is being called a ‘traitor’?
Answer:
The narrator, John Hallock, is being called a traitor.

(b) Who is calling him a traitor?
Answer:
The ghost is calling him a traitor.

(c) Why is he being called a traitor?
Answer:
The ghost had wanted the narrator to get his friends and acquaintances to stop using the Ouija board but he was using it himself.

Question 10.
“Misto Hallock, ” came from the hall outside, “Misto Hallock, I’m gwine t ’quit. I don’t like no hoodoos. And the steps retreated. ”

(a) Who is the speaker?
Answer:
The speaker is the narrator’s cook, Gladolia.

(b) What is the speaker saying?
Answer:
Gladolia says that she is going to leave the job.

(c) What reason does the speaker give?
Answer:
Gladolia tells him that she does not wish to stay where people placed charms and curses on others.