The Old Wife and the Ghost

Poem appreciation (answers to questions given on page no: 150)


1. On the basis of your reading of the poem, select the best option for the following.

a. What does the ghost do first upon entering the old wife’s kitchen?

i. potters round

ii. bangs pots and pans

iii. eats for the larder

iv. blows up the kitchen fire

b. What was the old woman’s solution to the problem?

i. getting up late

ii. sleeping soundly

iii. getting a rat trap

iv. getting a cat

c. What is the tone of the poem?

i. angry

ii. funny

iii. perplexed

iv. frightened

2. Here’s a summary of the poem. The sentences have been jumbled up. First, fill in the blanks with words or phrases to complete the sentences. Then, number them from 1 to 10 so that the events are in the right sequence.



_____ One bright night, a ghost entered an old woman’s __________.

_____ The ghost ran up and down and screamed _____ ____ ____ ___ ______.

_____ The ghost _____ round in her ____ ____ _______ kitchen.

_____ The old wife slept through it all because ______ _____ _______.

_____ The ghost ran about and _____ _____ the cupboards.

______ The pots and pans went jangle and bang as he _____ __________ ______ all around.

_____ He _____ _____ ____ and bumped on the floor.

_____ At last the old wife woke up and _______ _________ ________ for creating nuisance.

_____ He began to ________ ______ from the larder shelf.

______ The next day the old wife went off to Hitchin and ______ _____ ______ to keep the mice at bay.



Answers:

1. a. i. potters round b. iv. getting a cat c. ii. funny

2. The first number indicates the sequence.

1. kitchen

8. like a storm at sea

2. pottered round / neat and clean

3. she was deaf

5. peeped into

7. was throwing them

6. rattled the door

9. cursed the mice

10. fetched a cat