The Elevator | ICSE: Treasure Chest | William Sleator | Story | English For All | Class 9 & 10

Summary

The script narrates the story of Martin, a timid 12-year-old boy who develops a fear of the old, creaky elevator in his new apartment building. His anxiety is heightened by the elevator's dim lighting, dirty walls, and its tendency to shake violently. One day, he encounters a peculiar, large woman in the elevator who stares at him intently, escalating his fear. The suspense builds as Martin's fear becomes a recurring ordeal, leaving the audience to wonder about the woman's intentions and the fate of the increasingly anxious boy.

Takeaways

• 😨 The story revolves around a 12-year-old boy named Martin, who is extremely fearful and always lives in fear.
• ⚠️ Martin and his father shift to an old apartment building that has a small, old elevator which Martin starts to fear from the first day.
• 🚫 Martin feels uncomfortable in elevators due to the confined space and the fear that the elevator might fall.
• 🕵️‍♂️ The old elevator in the new building is particularly unsettling to Martin because of its dim lighting, dirty walls, slow and noisy door operations, and small size.
• 🏃‍♂️ As an alternative to the elevator, Martin tries using the stairs, but the lack of windows and the creaking sounds make him feel like someone is following him.
• 😟 Martin's father is concerned about his constant fear and inability to use the elevator, which affects Martin's confidence and self-image.
• 👵 One day, Martin encounters a strange, large woman in the elevator who stares at him intently, increasing his anxiety and fear of the elevator.
• 🏠 After the encounter with the woman, Martin becomes even more nervous and fearful, to the point where he runs all the way to school and back home.
• 🤕 In a subsequent elevator incident, Martin gets so scared that he falls down the stairs, resulting in a broken leg and a hospital visit.
• 🤔 The story ends on a suspenseful note with the strange woman appearing again in the elevator, leaving the audience to wonder about her intentions and what will happen to Martin next.

Q & A

Who is the main character in the story?

The main character in the story is a 12-year-old boy named Martin.

What is Martin's personality like?

Martin is described as very fearful and timid, always feeling scared.

What is significant about the new apartment Martin and his father moved into?

The new apartment is in an old building with a small, old elevator that can only hold three people at a time.

Why does Martin start to fear the elevator from the first day?

Martin starts to fear the elevator because it is poorly lit, has dirty walls, and its doors do not close properly, often making a loud noise when closing.

What is the alternative to the elevator that Martin tries to use?

The alternative to the elevator that Martin tries to use is the stairs, but they are also in poor condition with no windows and creaky steps.

What happens when Martin tries to use the stairs one day after school?

When Martin tries to use the stairs, he hears the sound of footsteps, which makes him think someone is following him, causing him to panic.

How does Martin's father react to his fear of the elevator?

Martin's father is frustrated and angry with Martin's fear, questioning why he can't use the elevator and suggesting that he is cowardly.

Describe the encounter with the large woman in the elevator.

Martin encounters a large woman with a green coat in the elevator who takes up most of the space and stares at him intently, making him very uncomfortable.

What does Martin do when he gets the chance to escape the elevator with the large woman?

When Martin gets the chance, he quickly exits the elevator without waiting for the doors to fully open, running all the way to school.

What happens when Martin sees the large woman in the elevator again?

Martin sees the large woman in the elevator again, and this time she presses the button for the 18th floor instead of the 14th, making the elevator go upwards, and she continues to stare at him.

What is the turning point for Martin in his fear of the elevator?

The turning point is when Martin falls down the stairs in the dark while trying to escape the large woman, resulting in a broken leg and a hospital visit.

How does the story end with Martin and the large woman?

The story ends with the large woman greeting Martin by his name and stopping the elevator, leaving the reader to speculate about her intentions and Martin's fate.