A SHADY PLOT
- ELSIE BROWN
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Elsie Brown was born on January 2, 1870 in America. She was best known for her short stories
about ghosts. 'A Shady Plot' is one of her most popular short stories.It deals with a ghost story
writer named John Hallock who gets inspiration for his stories from a ghost called Helen.
SUMMARY
The story starts with introducing John Hallock as a writer, who is trying to write a ghost story. The
publisher Jenkins has asked Hallock to write a ghost story with engaging supernatural elements
because as per his research this is what the readers like and Hallock’s story has been the best of
them because the ghosts in the aforementioned writer’s story look very real providing the plot with
the much needed spooky and scary elements. Reluctant Hallock agreed to write it again because
Jenkins was the only publisher who used to publish his work. As Hallock sat to write a new ghost
story, he was still confused about the fact that how on earth does his ghost story work so well
because whenever he would sit to write a ghost story, he would be clueless but from nowhere
suddenly an idea would dawn on him and would go on to become a hot seller. He started believing
that he doesn’t specialize in ghost stories, but the ghost stories in itself specialized in him, a glimpse
of overconfidence was reflected in him here. He worked as an accountant in a lumber company
and used to work as a freelance writer. Thus, he thought that his publisher knew that he had trouble
in clearing the bills, so to earn extra the writer would not say no to write another ghost story.
Now once again he had to pen a good ghost story, so as he was pondering over ideas, to his dismay,
he couldn’t think of any good ghost story instead his mind got distracted in thinking about his wife,
who was a shopaholic and had a craze for new fashions and trends and would love to buy anything
that would be trending. He wanted her to change but he knew he couldn’t do so he resumed
thinking over the story. As he could not think of any idea in a sarcastic tone he said, “This writing
business is delightful, isn’t it?”
As soon as he said this, he was shocked to hear someone say, “Yes”.
He looked around and saw a shape moving and joining up in parts to form a body of a woman, this
woman was unknown to him, she was tall, angular, with fishy eyes, and was wearing spectacles.
On enquiry, the writer got a surprising answer from this ghostly woman that she had come because
he had only called her. Shocked and surprised Hallock, then got to know that she had come to help
him to write the ghost story and she is the one who has been helping him in writing the previous
ghost stories but this time she and all her other fellow ghosts are going on strike so he should stop
disturbing her for another plot. She said that in her previous birth she was an unsuccessful writer,
but her quest remains even after her death, so she has gathered all writer ghosts like her and formed
a ‘Writer’s Inspiration Bureau” where they helped alive writers who had no idea about what to
write. When Hallock disagreed to her fact that she had helped him in writing the stories then she
said that whenever he would sit to write she would join him very closely and give him ideas
because he had a flexible mind which could be influenced. She also informed that he shouldn’t
wait for her because they were all going on a strike because the humans disturbed them a lot by
using Ouija board and called the spirit every now and then to ask questions. She wanted the writer
to at least tell his family and friends to stop using this board. While Hallock was talking to this
ghost his wife Lavinia appeared, she found it strange that her husband was talking to himself, but
she was so excited about the new purchase that she ignored this. Her new buy was a Ouija board
which she had brought for the help of her husband so that he could directly talk to the ghosts and
write the story. The writer’s all attempts to ask his wife to return the board failed.
Next day he went out for his fixed job and when he returned his cook Gladolia asked him to change
and come for the Ouija board party. Reluctant ever because he feared the ghost who had visited
him last time, he still went to the party for his wife. As he looks around to see everyone in the
party, Lavinia asked him to join Laura Hinkle at the Ouija Board as his partner. Laura took his
fingers and started moving them on the board, to his horror the board spelt the words ‘TRAITOR’
and further enquiry about who the speaker was, the board spelt ‘Helen’, soon everyone including
Lavinia surrounded the place where Hallock and Laura were sitting, and they started staring at him
doubtfully. Embarrassed to the core Hallock left the scene. Next morning, he couldn’t find Lavinia
all he found was a note from her that said she is leaving, and further communication will be done
by her lawyer. Just then Helen reappeared in front of him and said that she has been instructed to
ensure that his wife should get rid of that Ouija Board, to this Hallock gets really angry and accuses
Helen of ruining his life.Listening to him even Helen gets irritated and just then Lavinia enters the
room to say a final goodbye to the writer. As soon as she entered, the writer tried to hide Helen
behind him and behaved strangely which his wife noticed. At this moment, the cook came in and
declared that she won’t work in a house where spirits are called.To get to the bottom of the story
Lavinia sprang behind her husband and spotted Helen. Helen didn’t disappear this time and boldly
announced that she was Helen. Realising that Helen was a ghost Lavinia felt relieved and joked
that she thought that the ghost was of Helen of Troy to which the ghost said that she was indeed
Helen but Helen of New York and left in phases. As soon as Helen went Hallock pushed his wife
aside because he had got a brilliant plot for his story.
LITERARY DEVICES
1. Transferred Epithet - Reminiscent finger
2. Pun – Above board
3. Allusion – Paradise, Purgatory
CBSE BOARD QUESTIONS SOLVED
1. In the story “Shady Plot”, why did Helen appear in bits and pieces?
Helen was an apparition that didn’t have any concrete physical presence. So being a spirit it was
natural that she would appear in bits and parts. Moreover, it could be a ploy to intimidate and
frighten John Hallock by appearing in such an unusual manner.
2. What is ‘The Writer’s Inspirational Bureau’ and what was its protest?
The Writer’s Inspiration Bureau was the group set up by the ghost writers commissioned with the
task of helping struggling writers by providing them with the idea for their stories. The main
objective of the bureau was to scout around until a writer without ideas was found. They would
then plant an idea into their receptive minds. The major protest of the bureau was that they were
being overworked for which they remained deprived of rest. They were being kept out of their
beds and could not even indulge in their usual pastimes since they were being pestered with
numerous illogical questions.
3. How does the narrator of ‘A Shady Plot’ earn his living?
The narrator John Hallock is by profession a book-keeper at a lumber company. Apart from this
he also writes ghost stories for a magazine run by Jenkins and makes an additional income.
4. Why did Gladolia decide to leave the Hallocks? What made her change her decision?
Gladolia was fed up with the use of Ouija board in the Hallock household and its subsequent
repercussions. Since the Ouija board involved interaction with the spirits Gladolia expressed her
displeasure at working in the household that entertained such unearthly association as she was
quite scared of ghosts, spirits and black magic. Finally, she consented to stay back when Lavinia
ordered the Ouija board to be disposed of for good.
5. Lack of trust shakes the very foundation of human relationships. How does Lavinia’s suspicious
nature threaten to wreck their marriage?
OR
Jealousy is an evil. Trust is needed for a happy married life. How did Lavinia almost ruin her life
by suspecting her husband of having an affair with Helen?
The foundation of any human relationship is trust. It is the most essential element for sustaining a
relationship and without it no relationship can survive long. Lavinia hosted an Ouija Board party
to which all the members of her book club. Since one of the members was absent, she called her
husband John Hallock to be the partner of Laura Hinkle. The moment Laura started asking the
Ouija Board some questions; all the boards started calling Hallock a ‘traitor’. When Lavinia was
informed of this by Laura, she started suspecting her husband of infidelity. The friends of Lavinia
presented the matter in front of her in a scandalous manner such that seeds of suspicion got
implanted in her head and it created a rift between the couple. Next morning, she went to John’s
room to inform him of her decision to leave the house and that her lawyer would talk to him later.
John had a tough time convincing her and their marriage was on the verge of breaking up. The
revelation of the truth occurred when Lavinia finally encountered Helen the ghost. She realized
that her suspicions were ill-founded and completely baseless. She was rather relieved to see that
Helen was not the famous Helen of Troy but the spirit of an ordinary looking woman of New York.
It was her suspicious nature that had threatened her marriage.
6. Why was John not worried when Jenkins asked him for a ghost story?
John had impressed Jenkins when he wrote a ghost story for the first time. He had tasted success
as a ghost story writer and ever since he could easily come up with a successful story whenever he
was assigned a task of writing one. This made John confident that he would be able to deliver the
story this time without any trouble.
7. Why did the spirit call Hallock a ‘traitor’?
The spirit, Helen had come to John Hallock asking him to exert his influence and convince his
friends and acquaintance to stop using the Ouija boards. However John was compelled to sit and
partner Laura Hinkle in maneuvering the Ouija board. Hence John was labeled a ‘traitor’ by the
spirit because he could not keep his word.
8. John’s apprehensions about his wife’s reaction to her encounter with the ghost are unfounded.
Justify.
John being a doting husband was concerned about his wife and feared that Lavinia would faint on
seeing a ghost. However in the end Lavinia was not shocked at seeing the ghost of Helen, in fact
she was more relieved and satisfied. Lavinia clarified that she was under the impression that John
had been philandering behind her back with ‘Helen of Troy’ but the revelation elicited a completely
different reaction from Helen from what John had expected. Thus John’s fears were unfounded.
9. Why did John try to prevent his wife from seeing the ghost?
John was well aware of the sensitive nature of his wife and knew that Lavinia could easily be
scared by a mouse. Hence John was apprehensive of the reaction of his wife if she encountered the
ghost and believed that she would faint. Thus being a loving husband John wanted to prevent the
meeting between his wife and the ghost.
10. Going on strike. Don’t you know what a strike is? Not another plot do you get from us!I stared
at her and wet my lips. Is..Is that where they have been coming from?
(a) Who is the speaker?
(b) Why is she going on strike?
(c) What does the word ‘plot’ mean?
(d) What is the mental condition of John Hallock at this stage?
(a) Helen the spirit who had come to warn John Hallock.
(b) The spirits are fed up with responding to the queries of the people who use Ouija Boards to
communicate with them and pester them with numerous questions for which they are called out of
their beds far too many times and are deprived of rest.
(c) ‘Plot’ means the outline for a story/ the basic idea behind a story.
(d) John Hallock was afraid to see the ghost in his room.
11. So I went home and sat down before my desk and sucked at the end of my pencil and waited,
but nothing happened. Pretty soon my mind began to wander off on other things.
(a) What did the author wait for?
(b) Where did the author’s mind begin to wander?
(c) What is meant by ‘wander off’?
(d) Why did ‘nothing happen’?
(a) The author waited for an idea about his new ghost story.
(b) The author’s mind began to wander about material things such as his wife’s shopping habits.
(c) Wander off means roam around.
(d) The author was unable to concentrate as his mind began to wander off to other things.
UNSOLVED
1. “Jealousy in romance is like salt in food. A little can enhance the savour, but too much can spoil
the pleasure and, under certain circumstances, can be life- threatening.” – Maya Angelou
2. Justify the statement keeping in mind the relationship between Lavinia and her husband.
3. Does the narrator like writing ghost stories? Support your answer with evidence from the text.
4. Why does John wish himself to be dead? Explain Helen’s role in resolving that phase in his life.
5. Do you agree with the narrator calling the assembly of women “manipulators”? Give reasons.
