The Haunted Doll's Whisper

Objective:

Students will be able to analyze themes and characters in a narrative about a haunted doll and create their own story based on the themes of communication and possession.

Warm Up:

  1. What do you think makes a doll scary?
  2. Have you ever heard stories about haunted objects? What was the story?
  3. How do you feel about the idea of communicating with something supernatural?

Key Vocabulary:

  1. Haunted – Inhabited or disturbed by ghosts or spirits.
  2. Possessed – Controlled by a spirit or demon, usually against one’s will.
  3. Sinister – Giving the impression that something harmful or evil is happening or will happen.
  4. Eerie – Strange and frightening in a mysterious way.
  5. Whisper – To speak very softly, often associated with secrecy or something creepy.
  6. Paranormal – Events or phenomena beyond scientific explanation, like ghosts or psychic powers.
  7. Specter – A ghost or phantom.
  8. Curse – A magical spell meant to bring harm or bad luck.
  9. Dread – A strong feeling of fear or worry about something bad that might happen.
  10. Chilling – Causing fear or giving a sudden feeling of cold or terror.

The Haunted Doll's Whisper

In a small, quiet town, a young girl named Lily discovered an old doll in her grandmother's attic. The doll, with its cracked porcelain face and tattered dress, seemed eerie and out of place. As Lily brushed the dust off, she heard a soft whisper. "Play with me," the voice said, sending shivers down her spine. At first, Lily thought it was her imagination. But the whispers became more frequent, and the doll felt strangely warm in her hands. Intrigued, she decided to take the doll to her room. Little did she know, the doll was haunted, inhabited by a spirit seeking to communicate. As days passed, the whispers turned into chilling messages. "You are mine," it said one night, leaving Lily with a sense of dread. Despite her fear, she felt drawn to the doll, unable to resist its call. It was as if the doll possessed a power over her, controlling her thoughts and actions. Lily began to notice strange occurrences around her. Shadows lurked in corners of her room, and she felt a presence watching her. Friends who visited started to feel uneasy, as if the air had grown thicker and more ominous. They would leave quickly, claiming they felt a disturbance in the atmosphere. One evening, Lily heard a voice again, "Release me." The tone was no longer playful; it was desperate and sinister. She realized the doll was cursed, bound to her in a malevolent way. Its whispers turned into torment, feeding off her fears. Lily felt isolated, trapped in a game she didn’t want to play anymore. Determined to break the connection, she sought help from a local psychic. The psychic told her the doll was an apparition, a vessel for a spirit that was once very unhappy. "You must confront it," she advised. "Only then can you free yourself from its grasp." With newfound courage, Lily held the doll tightly and said, "You are not in control of me!" The doll's eyes seemed to widen, and the whispers turned into a cacophony of voices, each more chilling than the last. "You cannot escape!" they cried, but Lily stood firm. As she spoke, the room grew colder, and a shadowy figure appeared. It was the specter of the spirit trapped within the doll. Lily felt a mix of fear and determination. She realized that the spirit was not just malevolent; it was also a reflection of her own fears and insecurities. In that moment of realization, Lily whispered, "I forgive you." The spirit hesitated, and the whispers faded into silence. The doll trembled in her hands, and Lily could feel the weight of the curse lifting. With a final chilling breath, the doll fell lifeless, its power gone. Lily felt a sense of relief wash over her. She had faced the haunting and emerged victorious, but the experience left her changed. From that day on, Lily kept the doll in her dollhouse, a reminder of the battle she fought. While the doll remained silent, she knew that the whispers were no longer a threat. Instead, they became a part of her story—a tale of courage, communication, and the power of confronting one’s fears. 

Questions:

  1. How did Lily's feelings towards the doll change throughout the story?
  2. What role did the psychic play in Lily's journey?
  3. How did the themes of possession and communication manifest in the relationship between Lily and the doll?

Writing Prompt:

Write a short story where a character encounters an object that communicates with them. Explore the themes of fear, possession, and the consequences that arise from this interaction.