What does Ouija board in 'A Shady Plot' symbolize?
What does Ouija board in 'A Shady Plot' symbolize?
The Ouija board symbolizes the bridge between the living and the supernatural world, representing the era's obsession with spiritualist fads that the story satirizes. At the same time, it symbolizes the disruption of domestic peace, since the ghostly messages it produces make Lavinia suspect her husband Hallock of infidelity, turning a harmless pastime into genuine marital conflict.
Marking Scheme
- 11 mark for identifying that the Ouija board symbolizes the bridge between the living and the supernatural/spirit world.
- 21 mark for explaining its role in symbolizing disruption of domestic peace or the obsession with spiritualist fads.
Hint
Think about what the Ouija board represents in terms of human obsessions and what chaos it introduces into Hallock's household.
Quick Oral Answer
The Ouija board symbolizes the disruption of domestic peace and the human obsession with spiritualist fads. It serves as a bridge between the living and the dead, creating conflict in Hallock's life and marriage.
Analysis & Explanation
This question tests symbolism in 'A Shady Plot,' requiring students to interpret the Ouija board's significance beyond its literal use as a spiritualist toy.
Key symbolic meanings (2 marks = 2 points)
- (i) Bridge between the living and the supernatural — the board is the device through which Helen the ghost communicates, symbolizing the era's fascination with spiritualism, which the story satirizes.
- (ii) Disruption of domestic peace — the messages received through the board make Lavinia suspect infidelity, turning a harmless fad into a genuine marital crisis for Hallock and his wife.
Common mistakes
- Treating the Ouija board as a mere plot prop rather than analysing its symbolic role.
- Writing a plot summary of what happens with the board instead of discussing what it represents.
Real-world connection
- The board symbolizes how trivial pursuits or fads (like spiritualism) can spiral into serious real-life consequences when taken too far — a satire still relevant to modern obsessions and misunderstandings.
Common Mistakes
- 1Treating the Ouija board as merely a game or plot device instead of analyzing what it symbolizes in the story's thematic context.
- 2Writing a summary of the entire story's plot instead of focusing specifically on the symbolism of the Ouija board and its deeper meanings.
- 3Failing to mention the domestic disruption angle, which is one of the board's most important symbolic functions, as it causes the marital conflict between Hallock and Lavinia.
Interesting Facts
The Ouija board was patented in the United States in 1891 by businessman Elijah Bond. It became massively popular during World War I as grieving families tried to contact soldiers who had died, leading to the spiritualism craze satirized in the story.
The name 'Ouija' is popularly believed to come from the French 'oui' and German 'ja', both meaning 'yes'. However, one of the board's creators claimed the board itself spelled out its own name during a session.
Elsie Brown's story was published during the early 20th-century American spiritualism movement, when an estimated 10 million Americans believed in communicating with the dead. The story humorously mocks this cultural obsession.
Spotted a mistake or something unclear?
Tell us — we fix reported answers fast.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 'shady plot' that the ghosts devise in the story?
The ghosts' shady plot is their plan to go on strike and refuse to help writers anymore. They are tired of being summoned through Ouija boards by people who treat their communication as a parlour game rather than respecting the spirit world.
How does the Ouija board create problems in Hallock's marriage?
When Hallock's wife Lavinia brings a Ouija board home and the ghost Helen communicates through it calling Hallock by name, Lavinia becomes jealous and suspicious, thinking Hallock is having an affair with a woman named Helen.
Who is the author of 'A Shady Plot'?
The story is written by Elsie Brown, an American author. It is a humorous ghost story that satirizes the early 20th-century craze for spiritualism and Ouija boards.