For upper intermediate EFL students. Watch the clip and do the activities

1. http://efllecturer.blogspot.com/2011/06/dave-allen-haunted-house.html
The Haunted Cottage
The ghost story is told by Dave Allen
Dave Allen, was an Irish comedian who was very
popular in Great Britain, Australia, and Canada.
Allen lost the top of his left index finger. Here he
explains how it happened in a long story, ending
with "something evil" attacking him in a dark and haunted cottage.
1) Before you watch
Look at these words from the story.
The spirit world, a gravedigger, fright, a finger, a bet, a cottage, bit (bite)
Can you guess what the story is going to be about?
2) Watch the clip
Answer these questions;
1. Where and when did this story take place?
2. What was Dave’s attitude to stories of spirits?
3. Dave accepted the dare or bet to stay in the cottage. Why do you think he
did this?
4. Why did he feel afraid there?
5. How did he lose his finger?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeNDkxnz2V0&feature=player_embedded

2. http://efllecturer.blogspot.com/2011/06/dave-allen-haunted-house.html
Read the text to check your answers
"... Many years ago I was rather foolish. We were in the west coast of Ireland
and we were in a barn and we'd had a couple of drinks and somebody started
to talk about the unknown and the spirit world.
And the conversation came up about the gravedigger's house and the locals
started to tell us about it. This gravedigger was found in his bed, dead, with
terrible marks on his neck and his eyes wide open. The doctor said the marks
had nothing to do with his death but that the man had died of fright. And... I
scoffed, foolishly.
And it came about with a few more drinks that I accepted a dare or a bet that I
would stay the night in the cottage beside the graveyard. I went there and we
agreed that the door would be locked and I would stay in there until first light
and I was locked in.
I don't know really what happens but I think a great deal of fear is in one's
mind. It was dank. It was cold. The effects of the booze began to wear off and
I began to think, "What in the name of God are you doing here?" And I felt... I
don't know what it was. It was an instinct. It was something stronger than me
pulled me towards this bed where this man had died. And I was drawn... I
fought against it but I was drawn nearer and nearer to this bed. And I was told
somehow or other to sit on that bed. I didn't want to... and I did. An unnatural
drowsiness came over me and I became very sleepy... and I lay down
knowing full well that I shouldn't... and I went to sleep. A limbo sleep
I awoke. What time I have no idea. The candle had burnt down. It was black.
It was cold and I felt a presence. I was completely sober by then and utterly
terrified. The hackles on the back of my neck had begun to rise. I was
paralysed by a presence of fear. I felt something on my chest begin to move.
It crept slowly up my chest... and I couldn't move. It came closer and closer to
my throat. I gathered all my willpower... as this thing came closer... and
nearer... and I grabbed it! And it was wet and cold and I bit it! Aaaaaagh!!! I
screamed in pain!
And that is how I lost my finger."

3. http://efllecturer.blogspot.com/2011/06/dave-allen-haunted-house.html
Answers
1. Many years ago in the west coast of Ireland
2. He scoffed. He didn't believe them
3. He was drinking and maybe to prove the stories were rubbish
4. The atmosphere (cold and dank) and his own thoughts - a great deal of
fear is in one's mind...
5. He bit it off.
3) Matching - Look at the text again.
Can you match these words from the story with the definitions on the right. If
you are not sure look at the text and try and guess.
The first is done for you.
Words from the story Definitions
foolish = stupid self-control, strength
barn laughed at with contempt
scoffed not drunk
dank large building on a farm
booze pulled
drawn in oblivion
drowsiness stupid
limbo took or grasped suddenly
sober collected, brought together
utterly completely
hackles hairs
crept sleepiness
gathered alcohol
willpower moved slowly
grabbed cool and humid

4. http://efllecturer.blogspot.com/2011/06/dave-allen-haunted-house.html
Answers
foolish stupid
barn large building on a farm
scoffed laughed at with contempt
dank cool and humid
booze alcohol
drawn pulled
drowsiness sleepiness
limbo in oblivion
sober not drunk
utterly completely
hackles hairs
crept moved slowly
gathered collected, brought together
willpower self-control, strength
grabbed took or grasped suddenly
Dave says “a great deal of fear is in one's mind”.
• What vocabulary and expressions does he use to create an
atmosphere of fear?
• What tenses does he use?
Answers
• unknown, spirit, terrible, died of fright, dank, cold, an instinct,
something stronger than me , drawn, fought against, unnatural
drowsiness, very sleepy, limbo, black, a presence, utterly terrified, the
hackles on the back of my neck, paralysed by a presence of fear, crept
slowly, wet, bit , pain
• Mostly past simple. Some past perfect (we'd had... ), indirect speech
(agreed that...) and direct speech

5. http://efllecturer.blogspot.com/2011/06/dave-allen-haunted-house.html
4) Writing
"A good storyteller never lets the facts get in the way."
This story is an example of a "shaggy dog story" (a long story that ends in a
funny way).
Writing Task
Write your own shaggy dog story. It can be another ghost story or a similar
story with some element of "fear" and tension. The end should be a simple
comic sentence which breaks the tension of the story and makes people
laugh.
Look at Dave’s story to help you plan.
Look at the paragraphs
• How many paragraphs are there?
• What is the function of each paragraph?
Answers
Paragraph
1. Set the scene. Say when events happened. Describe the location.
2. Introduce characters and story
3. The story starts. Past Simple for narrative
4. The story continues. Description of feelings and thoughts. Create
atmosphere of fear.
5. The story comes to a climax. Dave uses simpler and shorter sentences to
create tension
6. Final sentence. Punchline / joke - tension is broken / end of story

6. http://efllecturer.blogspot.com/2011/06/dave-allen-haunted-house.html
Task Check - In your writing you should demonstrate you know how to
use
Language of narrative and story-telling;
• Past tenses e.g. past perfect for describing the background to the
situation
• Simple past for narrating events
• Past continuous for setting the scene
• Adjectives for describing people and/or feelings
• You can include some direct speech
When you finish check your spelling, grammar and punctuation.
"Goodnight, thank you, and may your God go with you" - Dave Allen