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

English For All

23 Mar 202412:19

Summary

TLDRThe 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.

Outlines

00:00

😨 Fear of Elevators

The story revolves around a timid 12-year-old boy named Martin who is extremely fearful. He and his father have shifted to an old apartment building that houses a small, old elevator that can only accommodate three people at a time. From the first day, Martin develops a fear of this elevator, which is dimly lit, has dirty walls, and makes loud noises when it moves or stops. The elevator's small size also makes Martin feel crowded, and he dislikes being close to other passengers. One day, after trying to use the stairs due to a broken light and feeling like someone was following him, Martin's fear intensifies when he encounters a large, old woman in the elevator who stares at him intently, making him extremely uncomfortable.

05:03

🏃 Escalating Anxiety

Martin's anxiety about the elevator escalates as he starts to associate the old woman with his fear. He becomes increasingly nervous about using the elevator, especially after she presses the button for the 18th floor instead of the 14th, which confuses and frightens him. He tries to avoid the elevator but fails, and on another encounter, the woman's behavior remains peculiar, staring at him throughout the ride. Martin's fear peaks when he has to squeeze past the woman to exit the elevator, and he races home, terrified that the elevator door might close before he can get out. His fear is so intense that he eventually falls down the stairs in the dark, leading to a broken leg and a hospital visit for Martin, where his father expresses frustration with Martin's cowardice.

10:06

🤔 The Mysterious Woman's Smile

After Martin's accident, he is unable to use the stairs and must rely on the elevator, which increases his anxiety. When he and his father are in the elevator together, the mysterious woman appears again, and this time, she smiles at Martin and presses the stop button, leaving the story on a suspenseful note. The author of the script ends the narrative here, leaving it to the audience to speculate about the identity of the woman and what might happen next. The author invites viewers to share their thoughts in the comments and encourages them to watch more videos from the channel, offering a playlist of English videos for easy access.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Elevator

An elevator, also known as a lift, is a platform or compartment housed in a shaft for raising and lowering people or things to different floors or levels. In the script, the elevator is a central element of the story, symbolizing Martin's fears and the setting for the suspenseful encounters with the mysterious woman.

💡Phobia

A phobia is an irrational, persistent fear of a specific object, activity, or situation that leads to a compelling desire to avoid it. Martin's fear of elevators is a key theme, as he experiences discomfort and anxiety whenever he has to use one, which is a significant part of the narrative.

💡Anxiety

Anxiety is a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease about something with an uncertain outcome. Martin's anxiety is palpable throughout the script, particularly in his interactions with the elevator and the strange woman, highlighting his internal struggle.

💡Crowded

When a space is crowded, it means it is filled with an excessive number of people or things, leaving little room to move. The script mentions Martin's discomfort in the elevator when it becomes crowded, emphasizing his claustrophobia and adding to the suspense.

💡Strange Woman

The mysterious woman with peculiar behavior is a key character in the script. Her odd appearance and actions create a sense of unease and contribute to the suspenseful atmosphere. Her presence in the elevator is a catalyst for Martin's escalating fear.

💡Fear

Fear is an emotional response to a perceived threat or danger. Martin's fear is a central theme in the video, driving his actions and reactions to the strange occurrences in the elevator, which is a significant plot point.

💡Habituation

Habituation is the process by which an organism reduces its response to a stimulus that is repeated over time. Martin tries to habituate himself to the elevator to overcome his fear, but the strange woman's presence disrupts this process, adding to the tension.

💡Nervousness

Nervousness is a state of worry or anxiety caused by fear of what may happen. Martin's nervousness is evident when he is in the elevator, especially when the strange woman is present, which is a key element in building the story's suspense.

💡Curiosity

Curiosity is a strong desire to know or learn something. The script builds curiosity around the identity and intentions of the strange woman, as Martin and the audience are left to wonder about her purpose and what will happen next.

💡Suspense

Suspense is a feeling of excited anticipation or anxiety about what may happen. The script is designed to create suspense through the eerie encounters in the elevator, the strange woman's behavior, and the uncertainty of the outcome.

💡Accident

An accident is an unfortunate incident that happens unexpectedly and unintentionally, typically resulting in damage or injury. The script climaxes with Martin's accident in the elevator, which is a turning point that changes the narrative and impacts his life significantly.

Highlights

The story is about a 12-year-old boy named Martin who is very fearful.

Martin and his father shift to an old apartment building with a small, old elevator.

The elevator can only hold three people at a time, causing discomfort for Martin.

Martin is initially terrified of the elevator due to its dim lighting and dirty walls.

The elevator's doors take a long time to close, adding to Martin's fear.

The elevator sways and makes loud noises while moving between floors, unsettling Martin.

Martin feels crowded and uncomfortable when two other people are in the elevator with him.

Martin tries to use the stairs as an alternative but finds them creepy and noisy.

Martin's father is concerned about his fear of the elevator and questions his manliness.

Despite trying to get used to the elevator, Martin's fear persists.

Martin encounters a strange, large woman in the elevator who stares at him intently.

The woman's odd behavior and appearance increase Martin's anxiety.

Martin becomes paranoid, thinking the woman might be following him after seeing her multiple times.

Martin's fear leads to him falling down the stairs, resulting in a hospital visit.

Martin's father remains unaware of the strange woman, dismissing Martin's fear.

The story ends with a suspenseful note, leaving the audience to wonder about the woman's intentions and Martin's fate.