Charlotte’s Web – Chapters One & Two – Part One

Chapter One – Before Breakfast

1 At what time of day does the ‘…said Fern to her mother as they were setting the table
story begin? for breakfast.’
2 Explain what a ‘hoghouse’ is and A pig-house. We know it because in the same sentence
how you know. Mrs Arable says about pigs being born in the night.
3 How old is Fern? ‘…Fern, who was only eight.’
4 Explain what a ‘runt’ is and how ‘…one of the pigs is a runt. It’s very small and weak, and it
you can work it out from the will never amount to anything.’
text? Runt - 1. an animal that is small or stunted as compared
with others of its kind.
2. the smallest or weakest of a litter, esp. of pigs or
puppies.
5 Why are ‘away’ and ‘kill’ in italics To emphasise the words, and to show that Fern
(a different font)? emphasised the words when she shouted. She was upset,
angry at what Mr Arable was going to do.
6 Why did Fern try to take away To stop her father killing the runt. She had asked why he
her father’s axe? had the axe and her mother had explained that he was
going to do away with the runt. She was very upset and
didn’t think that he could always kill it in lots of different
ways.
7 Why did Mr Arable change his ‘A queer look came over John Arable’s face.’
mind about killing the piglet? Fern had asked him if he would have killed her if she had
been a runt, and asked what the difference was. It had
made him think and he was also persuaded by how
emotional and upset he was.
8 Why was the kitchen so full of They had been in the middle of breakfast so the coffee
smells? and bacon must have been on the table giving off their
aromas. The woodsmoke would have come from the stove
that kept them warm and cooked for them. The damp
plaster must have been from the weather. Remember
that on the first page it says that the grass was wet and
it was Springtime. It often rains a lot in Spring.
9 What can you tell me about Avery He is the sort of person who likes guns and knives. He
as a person. What did he like might like hunting or practising shooting in his spare time.
doing in his spare time? He is scathing of the little piglet, isn’t at all sympathetic
and doesn’t coo over it.
10 Why couldn’t Avery have a piglet ‘…I only distribute pigs to early risers…Fern was up at
too? daylight, trying to rid the world of injustice.’
11 Why wasn’t Fern able to just sit ‘…Fern couldn’t eat until her pig had had a drink of milk.’
down and eat her breakfast
straightaway?
 Charlotte’s Web – Chapters One & Two – Part One
12 Why does the author describe Honked - The blaring sound of the horn on a motor
the sound of the bus horn has vehicle.
‘honked’, what animal honks? A horn isn’t musical it, just makes a noise, loud enough to
catch people’s attention. A goose also honks, and that
isn’t musical either.
13 Why did Fern ignore everybody ‘…thinking what a blissful world it was and how lucky she
on the bus? was to have entire charge of a pig.’
14 What embarrassed Fern at She was thinking of Wilbur when she was asked a
school? question, and not thinking carefully enough she said his
name instead of the right answer. She blushed in
embarrassment, that’s how we know she was
embarrassed, especially when she was laughed at by the
others.
Chapter Two - Wilbur
15 Why did Fern use a bib when To stop milk running all down his front, just like a baby.
feeding Wilbur?
16 How many times did they feed Five – ‘…every morning…every afternoon…at
Wilbur every day? suppertime…just before going to bed…around noontime…’
17 What did Wilbur do that showed ‘He would stand and gaze up at her with adoring eyes.’
he loved being fed?
18 Why was Wilbur moved out to the ‘…when Mrs Arable complained, he was moved to a bigger
woodshed? box in the woodshed.’
19 Why was it alright for Wilbur to He was older, and ‘it was apple-blossom time, and the days
live outside now? were getting warmer.’
20 What did Wilbur do with his box ‘In a short time he had dug a tunnel in the straw. He
that made her happier about him crawled into the tunnel and disappeared from sight,
keeping warm? completely covered with straw.’
21 What did Wilbur do that was very ‘Every morning after breakfast, Wilbur walked out to the
odd for a pig? road with Fern and waited with her till the bus came…he
would stand and watch the bus until it vanished round a
turn.’ Would a normal pig do that? What would it do if it
was brought out to the side of a road?
22 Why did Wilbur not go upstairs? Maybe he found it hard to climb the stairs? He’s only got
little legs, remember.
23 What would Fern do sometimes ‘…Fern would pick him up and put him in the carriage
when Wilbur was tired? alongside the doll.’
24 What made him look so cute? ‘He looked cute when his eyes were closed, because his
lashes were so long.’
25 What word tells us what Wilbur ‘delightfully’
thinks about mud? Its use by the author infers that Wilbur likes the mud.
What words might the author have used instead if he
didn’t like the mud?
 Charlotte’s Web – Chapters One & Two – Part One
26 Why did Mr Arable have to sell He’s a farmer, everything he rears had to make a profit,
Wilbur? provide him with money to live on. He was having to feed
Wilbur, and this meant less food for the other pigs.
‘…he was beginning to eat scraps of food in addition to
milk. Mr Arable was not willing to provide for him any
longer.’
27 How did Mrs Arable solve the ‘Call up the Zuckermans…you Uncle Homer sometimes
problem of having to sell Wilbur? raises a pig. And if Wilbur goes there to live, you can walk
down the road and visit him as often as you like.’
28 Why might Uncle Homer have The price was right, six dollars, doesn’t sound much for
been happy to buy the pig? something that will grow up to produce lots of pork, ham
and bacon. It might also have been that Mrs Arable had
been talking things over with him before, and that it had
been arranged.
 Charlotte’s Web – Chapters Three & Four – Part Two
Chapter Three - Escape
1 Why did the barn smell of hay We can deduce this from the next sentence – ‘It smelled
and manure? of the perspiration of tired horses and the wonderful
sweet breath of patient cows.’ Hay is one of the foods
that can be fed to horses and cows, and manure is the
result!
2 Why did the barn sometimes ‘And whenever the cat was given a fish-head to eat, the
smell of fish? barn would smell of fish.’
3 What made the barn a nice place ‘…it was pleasantly cool in summer when the big doors
to stand in, in the summer? stood wide open in the breeze.’ The wind blew through it
and made it less hot than standing out under the Sun.
4 Can you work out what a Grindstone - a rotating solid stone wheel used for
‘grindstone’ might do? Think sharpening, shaping, etc.
carefully about the context and Its in a list of tools and implements so that tells us that it
the word itself? is related to them in some way.
5 Why were there rat traps in the To keep the rats down. The rats would eat the fodder that
barn? the animals dropped on the floor and gnaw through the
sacks, and generally create a mess.
6 Why was under the cows a good It was warm! It was on the sunny side of the barn! It was
place to put Wilbur? sheltered, out of draughts.
‘…a manure pile is a good place to keep a young pig. Pigs
needed warmth, and it was warm and comfortable down
there in the barn cellar on the south side.’
7 Why did the sheep and geese get ‘Here she sat quietly…she was so quiet and friendly.’
used to Fern and trust her? She didn’t make sudden moves or threaten the animals
with loud noises. She didn’t shove them or push them out
of the way.
8 Why was Wilbur bored? What ‘…he never had any fun – no walks, no rides, no
had he been used to? swims…’There’s never anything to do round here,’
Wilbur had been used to running around with Fern,
watching her leave on the bus, going indoors, out around
the farm. Here he was stuck in his pen and run and not
allowed out. He couldn’t even have much fun when Fern was
there as he couldn’t go out and she couldn’t go in his pen.
No wonder he was bored.
9 What did Wilbur say that was ‘I’m less than two months old and I’m tired of living.’
very, very sad thing for someone
so young to say?
10 Why didn’t Wilbur run for the ‘The woods seemed a long way off, and anyway, he had
woods as the goose suggested? never been down there in the woods and wasn’t sure he
would like it.’
Remember he was only a little pig who hadn’t had a lot of
experiences, so something new would be scary for him.
 Charlotte’s Web – Chapters Three & Four – Part Two
11 Why did Wilbur get confused Because everybody was shouting instruction at once, and
about what to do? he didn’t know which to follow first.
‘He tried to follow the instructions his friends were giving
him, but he couldn’t run downhill and uphill at the same
time, and he couldn’t turn and twist when he was jumping
and dancing…’
12 Why did he follow Mr It was the smell of food, and he was only a little pig and
Zuckerman? had been digging for several hours and was hungry.
‘The smell was delicious…the food smelled appetising…’
13 Define ‘appetising’. Explain what Appetising – adjective, appealing to or stimulating the
it means. Look carefully at the appetite especially in appearance or aroma
sentence it is in and think about Made him want to eat it.
the context.
14 What are 8-penny nails? Nails that cost 8-pennies each, or 8-pennies for a certain
weight of them?
Chapter Four - Loneliness
15 Why was Wilbur so upset when He had planned what he thought was an exciting and
he saw it was raining? interesting day, and so was disappointed when he saw the
rain and realised that he couldn’t do some of it and so his
day was spoiled.
‘Rain upset Wilbur’s plans…it seemed as though he couldn’t
bear it…’I get everything all beautifully planned out and it
has to go and rain’…
16 Did Wilbur have a favourite No! Just food, full stop! Think about the list of foods that
food? he eats for his meals!
17 What, in particular, made Wilbur It was when he called for Templeton and there was no
feel really alone? answer. It made him feel very alone.
‘There was no answer. Suddenly Wilbur felt lonely and
friendless.’
18 What made Lurvy realise that Wilbur didn’t come running when he heard Lurvy with the
something was wrong with food, as he would normally have done.
Wilbur? ‘Wilbur did not budge…he noticed something was wrong
with the pig.’
19 Why wouldn’t the goose go and ‘I’m sitting on my eggs…got to keep them toasty-oasty-
play with him? oasty warm.’
20 Why did the lamb get so annoyed Because he went on and on and on about something the
with Wilbur? lamb said, shooting it down in flames, showing that it
couldn’t possibly be true, what the lamb said about him
being ‘less than nothing’.
21 Why didn’t Templeton know much ‘I prefer to spend my time eating, gnawing, spying and
about fun and play? hiding. I am a glutton but not a merrymaker.’ He preferred
doing things that were useful to something that produced
nothing of any benefit to him.
 Charlotte’s Web – Chapters Three & Four – Part Two
22 Why was Templeton heading for ‘…to eat your breakfast, since you haven’t got sense
the trough? enough to eat it yourself.’
23 What did the tunnel reveal about ‘…a crafty rat…the tunnel was an example of his skill and
Templeton? cunning.’
The tunnel kept him safe from his enemies, he could move
around the farm safely.
24 Why did Wilbur cry so badly ‘This was almost more than Wilbur could stand: on this
when he saw Templeton by the dreary, rainy day to see his breakfast being eaten by
trough? somebody else.’
He didn’t necessarily want his breakfast but he didn’t want
to see anyone else eat it!
25 Why was Wilbur so surprised It was night-time and all the other animals had settled
when he got spoken to at the end down or were asleep, so to hear somebody talking when
of the chapter? normally it should have been quiet everywhere was a
surprise.
26 Why didn’t they continue the How could they? It was dark and Wilbur couldn’t see who
conversation? he was talking to. He couldn’t make a decision about being
friends with somebody he couldn’t see.
 Charlotte’s Web – Chapters Five and Six – Part Three
Chapter Five - Charlotte
1 Why couldn’t Wilbur sleep? ‘…when your stomach is empty and you mind is full, it’s
always hard to sleep.’
His stomach probably kept reminding him it was hungry by
grumbling and gurgling. When your mind is full, it is very
hard to switch off, thoughts go round and round in your
head and you have to think about them – think of
Christmas, or just before a holiday somewhere exciting.
2 Why is a barn never completely ‘A barn is never perfectly quiet. Even at midnight there is
silent? usually something stirring. All the different farm animals
were sleeping in there; one might turn over, or snuffle or
snore; then there were the mice and rats running around
with the odd squeak; then there was the sound of old wood
creaking, like in an old house.
3 Why couldn’t the goose sleep? ‘…I’ve too many things under my behind. Have you ever
tried to sleep while sitting on eight eggs?’
She was uncomfortable!
4 Why did the goose only leave her ‘…but I cheat a little. On warm afternoons, I just pull a
eggs on warm days? little straw over the eggs and go out for a walk.’
5
6 Why is Wilbur so pleased when Because his ‘friend’ had said, ‘…you’ll see me in the
morning arrived? How do you morning.’ We know he was excited and pleased that
know? morning had come because he said, ‘Oh, beautiful day, it is
here at last!’ that phrase ‘at last’ tells us that he’d been
looking forward to it for a long time.
7 Why did Wilbur feel he had to He’d looked everywhere, a bit like ‘Hide and Seek’ when
speak out in the barn? you can’t find anyone and have to call out.
‘Wilbur looked everywhere. He searched his pen
thoroughly. He examined the window ledge, stared up at
the ceiling. But he saw nothing new…he decided he would
have to speak up…he couldn’t think of any other way to
locate the …new friend who was nowhere to be seen.’
8 Why did Wilbur blush when he All the other animals looked at him; he was embarrassed,
was speaking? after all he was breaking the silence of the barn and
seemingly talking to no-one!
‘All the other animals lifted their heads and stared at him.’
9 Why did Wilbur’s friend not She was still asleep!
speak up at first? ‘How can you be sure your friend is an early riser...the
sheep was right – the friend was still asleep.’
10 Why does the author keep He wants to build up our anticipation so that we want to
saying ‘the friend’ rather than know more and more who this new friend is. It’s also to
telling us who it is? show just how the excitement was building up in Wilbur to
see who his new friend was?
 Charlotte’s Web – Chapters Five and Six – Part Three
11 Why does Wilbur scream at his He was so excited and yet really frustrated, he couldn’t
friend? contain himself. He wanted to know everything at once;
who she/he was; where he/she was. And his friend was
talking gobbledegook to him, words he didn’t understand,
which made it even more frustrating to him.
‘…where are you?’ screamed Wilbur. ‘Please, please, tell me
where you are.’
12 Explain clearly what the word ‘Salutations are greetings…it’s just my fancy way of saying
‘Salutations’ means and how you hello or good morning.’
know this
13 Why has the author compared It’s a children’s book; children will relate to a comparison
the spider’s size to a gumdrop? with a sweet, because they know exactly what size a
gumdrop is from their own experience.
14 Why can’t Charlotte see Wilbur ‘…I’m near-sighted…I’ve always been dreadfully near-
very clearly? sighted.’

15 What does ‘near-sighted mean? Near-sighted - adjective: able to see near things more
Can you work it out from the clearly than distant ones
situation in the story and its
context in the text?
16 How are Wilbur and Charlotte’s They need to look back to a description of Wilbur eating
eating habits different? to help them. Wilbur just gets his head down and slurps
and gobbles it all down as fast as he can, anything and
everything that he is given. Charlotte plans it in careful
stages, first setting a trap, then catching something in it,
then tying them up even tighter, and only then biting, and
even then she doesn’t actually eat the insect, just sucks
their blood!
17 Why did Wilbur groan when He didn’t like the sound of it, he felt a bit
Charlotte explained she drank squeamish/queasy when he thought of her doing it.
blood?
18 How do we know that Charlotte ‘You have your meals brought to you in a pail. Nobody feeds
is irritated by Wilbur’s view of me. I have to get my own living…and it just so happens, my
her sucking flies’ blood? Look friend…and furthermore...do you realise…’
carefully at the long speech she Think about the way in which you would read this speech
makes when she is defending her out aloud? Where would you put the emphasis?
habits. What phrases show us
she is irritated, even annoyed?
 Charlotte’s Web – Chapters Five and Six – Part Three
19 Who do you think has an easier The big speech that Charlotte makes has got all the
life, Wilbur or Charlotte? information to answer this question, plus any references
Explain your answer. back to Wilbur’s life before he met Charlotte. Basically
Wilbur has the easier life as he is fed and watered and
provided with shelter, whereas Charlotte has to do all that
herself and stay away from other animals that might want
to eat her or destroy her webs.
20 What fate does the goose think ‘…around Christmastime…he has no idea that Mr
awaits Wilbur? Zuckerman and Lurvy are plotting to kill him.’
21 What does the end of Chapter 5 That although Wilbur thought she was a cruel person, she
tell us about Charlotte and how would be a true and good and faithful friend and die for it.
does it encourage us to read on? ‘Underneath her rather bold and cruel exterior, she had a
kind heart, and she was to prove loyal and true to the very
end.’
Chapter Six – Summer Days
22 Other than the trees blossoming ‘School ends, and the children have time to play and to fish
what else makes those early for trout in the brook.’
summer days on the farm happy?
23 What does the author mean They thought of her as one of them, not something to be
when writing about Fern he says, wary/frightened/scared by. They behaved around her just
‘The animals treated her as an as if she was another sheep or goose or other farm animal.
equal’?
24 How long did it take to make and Two days.
barn the hay? ‘All morning…the next day…’
25 Which wild plants could be used ‘Dandelion stems are full of milk, clover heads are loaded
to assuage/satisfy a thirst? with nectar…’
26
27 How do the geese feel about
Templeton? Find the words and
phrases that describe him.
28 What was the important event ‘It was on a day in early summer that the goose eggs
that happened in early summer? hatched. This was an important event in the barn cellar.’
29 ‘unremitting’ – explain what this Unremitting - not slackening or abating; incessant;
word means, look carefully at its persistent.
use in the text and its context in There are hints in the text. We know that the goose has
telling the story. been sitting on her eggs, practically non-stop; it says for
four weeks. It also says ‘unremitting effort’. So its an
effort that’s gone on for a long time without stopping.
30 What does the word ‘untenable’ Untenable - not fit to be occupied, as an apartment, house,
mean? Have a look at the text etc.
around it and think about which It actually says in the book. Charlotte explains – ‘It means
part of the story is involved? nobody will be able to live here (on account of the smell.’
 Charlotte’s Web – Chapters Seven and Eight and Nine – Part Four
Chapter Seven – Bad News
1 Why did Wilbur like Charlotte He began to see that she was doing a sensible thing –
better and better? nobody liked flies, they were annoying.
‘Hardly anybody around the farm had a good word to say for
a fly. Flies spent their time pestering others. The cows
hated them. The horsed detested them. The sheep loathed
them. Mr and Mrs Zuckerman were always complaining
about them, and putting up screens.’
2 What did Wilbur appreciate ‘He was particularly glad that she always put her victim to
about Charlotte’s method of sleep before eating it.’
killing flies?
3 Why did Wilbur grow so fast? ‘He ate three big meals a day. He spent long hours lying on
his side, half asleep…’ He ate, but didn’t exercise, and he is
only a piglet remember and will grow fast, think about
babies, how quickly they grow and children! (Think about
growing out of your clothes and shoes)
4 ‘They’re going to what?’ Why is He couldn’t believe what was going to happen to him, it was
‘what’ in italics? Why has the as if he had misheard it. The italics emphasise the word to
author written it so? show he was astonished by what he had heard.
5 Why did the old sheep tell Is there any good, sympathetic way of telling somebody
Wilbur in that way? they are going to be killed and cut up? However you put it,
in the end you find out you are going to be killed!
6 How else did Wilbur react to the He became out of control. He was screaming and sobbing
news of his impending death? and running around and around, a bit like a child’s tantrum.
He so desperately didn’t want to die.
‘…screamed Wilbur, racing up and down…burst into
tears…throwing himself to the ground.’
In fact, Charlotte says, ‘You’re carrying on in a childish way.
Stop your crying! I can’t stand hysterics.’
7 Looking at its use in the story, Hysterics - a fit of uncontrollable laughter or weeping
what does ‘hysterics’ mean?
Chapter Eight – A Talk at Home
8 Why did Fern’s mother look Fern had just said that the goose had spoken! It made her
worried that breakfast-time? worry that there was something wrong with her!
‘…the goose told Templeton he didn’t want it any more…’
 Charlotte’s Web – Chapters Seven and Eight and Nine – Part Four
9 Why do you think the author has It’s very important to the reader as it tells us that Fern
made the whole of Chapter Eight had been listening in to all the conversations going on
just this one conversation? between the animals. We didn’t know that before. She is
very matter-of-fact about it. It also tells us that her
parents did not let it show that they were worried by the
conversation and didn’t really take what she said as if it had
actually happened. Children do make up imaginary friends
and things that have happened, but only in their imagination.
Chapter Nine – Wilbur’s Boast
10 Why did Charlotte have to weave ‘…a web gets torn every day by the insects that kick around
her web every day? in it…’
11 Why did Charlotte need so many She had to spin a web and it took a lot of work, using her
parts to her legs? legs.
‘You don’t have to spin a web. That takes real leg work.’
12 Why did Wilbur boast that he He wanted to be like his friend, he didn’t want to be
could weave a web himself? obviously less clever than here, to have less skills than her;
that’s why people boast. They don’t want to look as if they
have less, or are less intelligent than others.
13 Why can’t Wilbur spin a web? Charlotte says, ‘Now make an attachment with your
spinnerets, hurl yourself into space and let out a dragline as
you go down.’ But Wilbur doesn’t have any spinnerets and
cannot make lines with his body. Every time he jumps he will
just fall down because his body cannot make anything to
hang from.
14 Why did Wilbur not give up He wanted it to happen. He hadn’t realised that his body
straightaway? didn’t work like Charlotte’s.
15 Why did it not work, even though ‘But as he had neglected to fasten the other end to
Wilbur had thought to use the anything, it didn’t really do any good…’
string? He had one end of the rope tied around his tail, but the
other end was just lying loose, it wasn’t tied round anything
else to hold him.
16 Charlotte stayed in the barn ‘…she was truly fond of Wilbur, whose smelly pen and stale
with Wilbur for two reasons; food attracted flies that she needed…’
what are they?
17 Why did Wilbur become tearful? ‘…Wilbur landed with a thud, crushed and hurt. Tears came
to his eyes.’
It hurt when he fell on the ground, no wonder he became
tearful; he was also upset, because he had boasted that he
could and would show them he could spin a web, and now he
had clearly and stupidly showed that he couldn’t he was
embarrassed and ashamed.
 Charlotte’s Web – Chapters Seven and Eight and Nine – Part Four
18 How did Charlotte try to cheer By pointing out that he didn’t need to know how to weave a
Wilbur up? web, because he got given food three times a day and didn’t
have to go and find it himself.
19 Why was Charlotte so scathing Because it took so long!
at the web the men built? ‘But do you know how long it took men to build it? Eight
whole years…I would have starved to death waiting that
long. I can make a web in a single evening.’
20 What silly thing did Charlotte ‘…just keep trotting back and forth across the bridge
say the men did with the bridge? thinking there’s something better on the other side. If
they’d hang head-down at the top of the thing and wait
quietly, maybe something good would come alone.’
21 Why is Charlotte a sedentary Because she sits and waits for her prey to come to her. She
animal? doesn’t go out hunting, she doesn’t have to, so she can just
sit around.
Sedentary - accustomed to sit or rest a great deal or to
take little exercise.
22 What two meanings of the word Smell – 1: emit an odour; smell bad. 2: to perceive the odour
‘smell’ has the author used? or scent of through the nose by means of the olfactory
nerves; inhale the odour of.
23 Why did Charlotte say that Because he lives in a pen with a heap of manure to keep him
Wilbur had a ‘perfect right to warm. How could he not smell? He didn’t have anywhere to
smell’? roll around and clean himself in water. He was stuck with
how he smelt.
24 Why did Wilbur begin to ‘…as he lay there he remembered what the old sheep had
tremble, it was a lovely summer told him. The thought of death came to him and he began to
evening? tremble with fear.’
25 Why do you think Fern loves 1: Wilbur is her friend, and she wants to be with them. 2:
staying in the barn so much? she likes listening to them all talking to each other, it’s
Think of three reasons. interesting. 3: she likes the stillness of the place and the
smells of summer around her.
Accept anything else so long as they can justify their
answer and it is somehow linked to the story or what we
know about Fern.
26 Why is Wilbur so curious about Wouldn’t you be? After all her plan is going to save him
Charlotte’s plan? from being killed. Of course he is dying to know how she’s
going to stop the killing and save his life!
27 Why does Charlotte promise to She doesn’t want Wilbur to get all excited and upset again,
save Wilbur even though she has and frightened. She’s got plenty of thinking time ahead of
not got a plan yet? her, something will come to her, she’s sure of it.
 Charlotte’s Web – Chapters Seven and Eight and Nine – Part Four
28 What advice did Charlotte give ‘…get plenty of sleep and stop worrying…never hurry and
Wilbur? Why never worry…chew…food thoroughly and eat every bit of
it…gain weight and stay well…keep fit and don’t lsoe your
nerve.’
She didn’t want him to worry too much; he might stop
eating or lose weight and then he’d be killed sooner! She
wanted him to have to think about all the usual daily
routines and then he wouldn’t have time to think about
being killed.
29 Why did Wilbur not go straight Well, she’d mentioned eating everything hadn’t she, and now
to sleep, as Charlotte told him? she’d mentioned it he could imagine his trough and some of
the little bits left in it and it made him hungry and want to
eat them!
 Charlotte’s Web – Chapters Ten and Eleven – Part Five
Chapter Ten – An Explosion
1 Why did Charlotte spend so ‘Having promised Wilbur that she would save his life, she
much time thinking? was determined to keep her promise…she knew from
experience that if she waited long enough, a fly would
come to her web; and she felt sure that if she thought
long enough about Wilbur’s problem, an idea would come to
her mind.’
2 Why was Charlotte so sure she ‘…if I can fool a bug…I can surely fool a man. People are
could fool Mr Zuckerman? not as smart as bugs.’
3 Explain what ‘gullible’ means. ‘Easy to fool’
- easily deceived or cheated
4 What does the incident with He doesn’t think about how to care for animals, he sees
Avery’s frog tell us about his them almost as toys. If he cared for the frog, he would
character? not have let it jump in the washing-up bowl and would have
been worried in case it had harmed the frog, but he he
wasn’t! He put it down because he wanted the pie more
than the frog at that moment.
5 Why was the swing the best in It was the height and the amount of swing; it felt
the county? dangerous, even if it wasn’t. You had to hold on tight
because of the distance swung and height.
6 Why didn’t parents need to ‘Children almost always hang on to things tighter than
worry so much as they did about their parents think they will.’
the swing? Children ARE aware of danger and so were not stupid
where the swing was concerned.
7 Why did Fern tell Avery to take She didn’t think the frog would like to swing to and fro.
the frog out of his pocket? She thought it might get squashed as he swung on the
swing.
Take any answers that are thoughtful and link to the book
or their own experiences.
8 Why did their tongues change ‘…they went down…and picked wild raspberries and ate
colour? them.
Before they had been blue from the blueberry pies Mrs
Zuckerman offered them.
9 Why has the author not spelled He can’t say it properly. He may not have ever seen it
the word ‘tremendous’ correctly written in a book, but only heard it and so misheard it.
when Avery uses it?
10 Why was Fern so annoyed with She liked animals just left to get on with their own lives.
Avery for wanting the spider as Avery already had one animal to torment. She didn’t see
well? why he should have another.
‘Leave it alone…you’ve got a frog – isn’t that enough?’
 Charlotte’s Web – Chapters Ten and Eleven – Part Five
11 Why did Fern scream? After all It was a mixture of things. He was her brother after all,
Avery got what was coming to and if something bad happened she didn’t want him to get
him? He deserved to hurt hurt. But it was also the terrible sudden horrible smell,
himself for wanting Charlotte? like we might react to as we drive by a pig farm – smell
makes us strongly react.
12 Why did the goose feel so ‘’It was that rotten goose egg that saved Charlotte’s
proud? life’…the goose was proud of her share in the adventure.’
If she hadn’t laid the eggs and sat on them, there would
never have been an addled egg for Templeton to hide
under the trough and for Avery to fall onto and be driven
away because of it.
13 How do we know that Lurvy ‘The slops ran creamily down around the pig’s eyes and
tipped the pail over Wilbur and ears.’ They couldn’t have got there any other way. The
not neatly into the trough? trough would have had to have been deeper than Wilbur
and the slops to practically cover him up for it to have
happened any other way!
14 Why was Wilbur such a noisy ‘…anxious to get everything at once.’
eater? Everything was so tasty that Wilbur didn’t want to leave
anything out or miss anything. He had to eat as fast as he
could and eat as much as he could in one mouthful, so he
couldn’t help making so much noise.
15 Why did Wilbur leave extra food ‘…he remembered that the rat had been useful in saving
for Templeton? Charlotte’s life and that Charlotte was trying to save his
life…’
He wanted to say thank you to Templeton for being so
useful in saving Charlotte.
16 Why has the author not told us It’s a cliffhanger; the author wants us to want to read on,
what Charlotte was making at to make us eager to find out what it is. The author wants
the end of the chapter? to create an air of suspense.
Chapter Eleven – The Miracle
17 Why was Charlotte’s web so Because of the fog. The water vapour in the air condensed
beautiful that morning? on the web – like when a mirror in the bathroom mists up.
‘…each thin strand was decorated with dozens of tiny
beads of water.’
18 Why did Lurvy take so much ‘He noted how clearly it showed up and he noted how big
notice of the web that morning? and carefully built it was. And then he took another look
and he saw something that made him set his pail down.
There in the centre of the web, neatly woven in block
letters, was a message.’
19 Why did Lurvy feel weak? How could a spider have written words into a web? How
could a spider know how to write in English and spell the
words properly!
Take answers that the children can expand on.
 Charlotte’s Web – Chapters Ten and Eleven – Part Five
20 Why do you think Lurvy did not He didn’t think that he would be believed; they’d laugh at
tell Mr Zuckerman about the him; assume he’d drunk too much the previous evening;
web but asked him to come down think he was making a joke. He didn’t want to say too much
to the pen? in case it disappeared before he got back to it. He just
couldn’t believe what he’d seen and didn’t have the words
to explain it he was so amazed!
21 Why did Mrs Zuckerman turn so She didn’t know what to think. She knew he’d just been
pale and look so frightened when told to go down and see something in the sheds. She might
told to sit down by Mr have though some of the animals were ill, or that
Zuckerman? something worse had happened and some were dead. She
was worried because he talked ‘in a weak voice’.
22 ‘…right spang in the middle of Spang - directly, exactly, precisely; squarely.
the web.’ Explain what is meant The children should be able to come up with another word
by ‘spang’ and how you worked it they would use instead of ‘spang’; the clue is there in ‘in
out. the middle of the web’.
23 Why did Mrs Zuckerman He thought the pig was extraordinary, but she thought it
disagree with her husband? was the spider who was extraordinary for being to write
that in her web!
Zuckerman says, ‘It’s the pig that’s unusual. It says so,
right there in the middle of the web.’
Mrs Zuckerman says, ‘It seems to me we have no ordinary
spider.’
24 Why was Wilbur so pleased? ‘Wilbur was pleased to receive so much attention.’
He liked having the company, being watched.
25 Why did Charlotte sit so still? She didn’t want to distract the people. She meant for
them to wonder at the pig; she didn’t want them to wonder
at her, as that would have defeated what she set out to
do. That’s why she quickly removed the fly that might have
spoiled the reading of the web.
26 Why did everybody know about ‘Secrets are hard to keep.’
Wilbur well before Sunday and The four people who were the only ones who knew at the
the minister’s sermon? very beginning were desperate to tell their secret to
others and just couldn’t resist passing the secret.
27 Why did Mr Zuckerman stop ‘Mr Zuckerman was so busy entertaining visitors that he
doing his farm work? neglected his farm work.’
28 Why did Lurvy shave and have a He wanted to look good, when all the people came to see
haircut? Wilbur – he was going to be on show as well as he had to
feed Wilbur in front of them.
29 Why was Fern both glad and a ‘Fern was happy, for she felt that Charlotte’s trick was
little upset? working and that Wilbur’s life would be saved. But she
found that the barn was not nearly so pleasant – too many
people. She liked it better when she could be alone with
her friends the animals.’
 Charlotte’s Web – Chapters Twelve & Thirteen & Fourteen – Part Six
Chapter Twelve – A Meeting
1 Try to think what ‘idiosyncrasy’ Idiosyncrasy - a characteristic, habit, mannerism, or the
means from the conversation. like, that is peculiar to an individual.
The gander’s idiosyncrasy is that he says things three
times; it’s a habit he has. His family have it as well!
2 Why does Charlotte call a ‘Now I called this meeting in order to get suggestions. I
meeting? need new ideas for the web. People are already getting
sick of reading the words…’
3 Can you think of other words that Take any suggestions so long as they can justify/explain
Charlotte could spin into her web? their choice and they fit in with what Charlotte is trying
to do.
4 Why did Charlotte not like the It sounded too much like a pudding, which was a bit too
phrase ‘Pig Supreme’? close to what would happen to Wilbur if she failed!
‘No good…it sounds like a rich dessert.’
5 Why did Wilbur object to the Terrific - Very good or fine; splendid: or, awesome;
word ‘terrific’? What does it astounding: or, causing terror or great fear; terrifying:
mean? or, very bad or unpleasant; frightful.
‘But Charlotte…I’m not terrific.’
Poor Wilbur did not think he fitted any of the meanings
of terrific. He hadn’t done anything so amazing; he
wasn’t terrifying to look at; he wasn’t so horrible that he
looked frightful.
6 Charlotte persisted though, why? ‘That doesn’t make a particle of difference…people
believe almost anything they see in print.’
Charlotte realised that these people were really gullible
and would believe anything they saw written on the web.
7 Why was Charlotte so annoyed Because of his idiosyncrasy, he had repeated several
with the gander’s spelling of parts of it and t had sounded a very long word. She
‘terrific’? couldn’t possibly write that across her web easily!
8 How did the sheep help sort out ‘Templeton…visits the dump…and has access to old
what to write? magazines. He can tear out bits of advertisement and
bring them up here…so that Charlotte can have
something to copy.’
9 How does the sheep persuade He pointed out that Templeton was reliant on Wilbur for
Templeton to help Charlotte? the scraps he left in his trough.
‘You’ll worry all right on a zero morning next January
when Wilbur is dead and nobody comes down here with a
nice pail of warm slops to pour into the trough. Wilbur’s
left-over food is your chief source of supply…Wilbur’s
destiny and your destiny are closely linked…you’ll grow so
thin we can look right through your stomach and see
objects on the other side.’
 Charlotte’s Web – Chapters Twelve & Thirteen & Fourteen – Part Six
10 How did Charlotte make Wilbur She told him just what she thought of him.
feel good, and probably blush even ‘You’re terrific as far as I’m concerned…you’re my best
more? friend, and I think you’re sensational.’
Chapter Thirteen – Good Progress
11 What did Charlotte find helped ‘As she worked, her eight legs were a great help to her.
her? So were her teeth.’
12 Why did Charlotte use a dry ‘If I write the word TERRIFIC with sticky
thread for writing? thread…every bug that comes along will get stuck in it
and spoil the effect.’
13 Why did she not make each letter She wanted to make them clearer.
with just one thread? ‘It will show up better if I make the whole thing with
double lines.’
14 Why did Charlotte feel hungry She had been working non-stop for a long time, using up
when she had finished? lots of energy; it was no wonder she was hungry.
15 Why did Wilbur feel terrific now? They were reading the web and thinking it referred to
him so it made him feel good.
16 Why does Mrs Zuckerman call the Because her husband told her to!
newspaper? ‘Edith, you better phone the reporter…’
17 Why did Mr Zuckerman want the This is the next step on this pig being extraordinary! He
newspaper to know? wanted everyone to know just how extraordinary this pig
was.
‘There isn’t a pig in the whole state that is as terrific as
our pig.’
18 Why was there to be no more ‘There is to be no more cow manure thrown down into
manure put in the pig pen? that pigpen. I have a terrific pig. I want that pig to have
clean, bright straw every day…’
He couldn’t possibly have such an extraordinary pig being
treated like a normal pig.
19 Why do you think Mr Zuckerman He was proud of him. He wanted to show him off? It was
planned to take Wilbur to the fair? his pig that was extraordinary and he wanted everyone
to know that.
20 Look at the adjectives the author They all emphasise that the contents of the dump are all
uses when describing the dump – no good, not in working order, not needed, not useful.
broken, dead, discarded, tattered,
rusty, leaky, forgotten, useless.
Why has he chosen to use these?
21 Why did Charlotte say “crunchy” ‘We don’t want Zuckerman to think Wilbur is crunchy.
was a bad word? He might start thinking about crisp, crunchy bacon and
tasty ham.’
He’d start thinking of Wilbur as something to eat which
had been his plan to begin with.
 Charlotte’s Web – Chapters Twelve & Thirteen & Fourteen – Part Six
22 Why did Wilbur push the straw to ‘The straw seemed scratchy – not as comfortable as the
one side? cow manure, which was always delightfully soft to lie in.
so he pushed the straw to one ides and stretched out in
the manure.’
23 Why was Wilbur so tired? ‘It had been a busy day…dozens of people had visited his
yard…and he had to stand and pose, looking as terrific as
he could.’
He had been on his feet all afternoon, instead of having
a little snooze.
Chapter Fourteen – Dr. Dorian
24 Why was Fern so surprised when ‘Alone?Alone? My best friends are in the barn cellar. It
her mother said, ‘it isn’t good for is a very sociable place. Not at all lonely.’
you to be alone so much’? She didn’t understand how her mother could think she
was lonely, when she had so many animals to talk to. She
didn’t realise that her mother didn’t believe her about
the animals talking.
25 Why was Mrs. Arable worried ‘It didn’t seem natural for a little girl to be so
about Fern? interested in animals.’
I suppose she wanted her to want to go out and play with
other girls, and run around and play girly games with
them.
26 Why was Dr Dorian so amazed at a ‘A young spider knows how to spin a web without any
spider’s ability to spin webs? instructions from anybody. Don’t you regard that as a
miracle?’
He was amazed that they could just make webs, just like
that, without any teaching or learning.
27 What did Dr Dorian say that ‘I have never heard one say anything, but that proves
helped put Mrs Avery’s mind at nothing. It is quite possible that an animal has spoken
rest about Fern? civilly to me and that I didn’t catch the remark because
I wasn’t paying attention. Children pay better attention
than grown-ups. If fern says that the animals in
Zuckerman’s barn talk, I’m quite ready to believe her.’
He didn’t make it seem weird at all; he explained it as if
it might happen; he didn’t react in a way that might imply
that Fern was mad or anything like that.
28 Why does Mrs. Arable think He’s a boy, they are supposed to get up to all sorts of
Avery’s behaviour is normal and nonsense.
therefore needs no worrying
about?
 Charlotte’s Web – Chapters Fifteen and Sixteen – Part Seven
Chapter Fifteen – The Crickets
1 Why did the crickets sing ‘The crickets felt it was their duty to warn everybody that
that summer would soon be summertime cannot last for ever.’
over?
2 Of all those who heard the ‘Lurvy…heard the song and knew it was time to dig potatoes.’
singing of the crickets who You may need to explain what hard, back-breaking work digging
knew that it meant they potatoes is, with all the spade and fork work and bending over
would soon have to do some to shake the plant and pick out all the potatoes by hand from
hard work? the soil.
3 What did the sheep do when ‘…they felt so uneasy they broke a hole in the pasture fence and
they heard the crickets? wandered up into the field across the road.’
4 Explain, by looking at its Pasture - an area covered with grass or other plants used or
context in the sentence and suitable for the grazing of livestock; grassland; a field covered
your own knowledge what with grass or herbage and suitable for grazing by livestock
‘pasture’ means. They may need help with this. They need to think about where
the sheep were, what they eat, etc.
5 Why would any man be proud ‘Good food and regular hours were showing results…’
now of owning Wilbur? He was growing rapidly and not just in size but in weight. He was
getting lots of sleep and turning into a very well-looking pig
(which would produce a lot of ham and bacon!).
6 Why was Wilbur trying so ‘Ever since the spider had befriended him, he had done his best
hard to live up to the words to live up to his reputation.’
in the web? He didn’t want to let his new friend down; after all she was
trying her best to save him from the slaughterman.
7 What made the crowd love ‘…when his audience grew bored, he would spring into the air and
watching Wilbur so much? do a back flip with a half twist.’
He tried hard to entertain them, and noticed when they were
getting bored.
8 What did his friends worry ‘Some of Wilbur’s friends in the barn worried for fear that all
might happen? this attention would go to his head and make him stuck up.’
9 Why did Wilbur still worry ‘…he could hardly believe that a mere spider would be able to
about what might happen to save his life.’
him? How could such a small thing as a spider stop him from being
killed for bacon and ham? He couldn’t believe that she could
truly do it.
10 What did Wilbur hope that ‘If he could distinguish himself at the Fair, and maybe win some
he could do to save his own prize money, he was sure Zuckerman would let him live.’
life? He hoped by being an outstanding pig at the fair that he would
save his own life that was. Surely they wouldn’t kill such a
wonderful pig then just to make bacon?
11 Why was the Fair date such She had eggs to lay.
an inconvenient time for ‘Egg laying. It’s time I made an egg sac and filled it with eggs.’
Charlotte?
 Charlotte’s Web – Chapters Fifteen and Sixteen – Part Seven
12 Explain what ‘versatile’ Versatile - capable of or adapted for turning easily from one to
means. another of various tasks, fields of endeavour, etc.: a versatile
writer: having or capable of many uses: a versatile tool.
‘”Versatile” means I can turn with ease from one thing to
another.’
Chapter Sixteen – Off to the
Fair
13 What was different about ‘Avery lay dreaming that the Ferris wheel had stopped and that
the dreams both Avery and he was in the top car. Fern lay dreaming that she was getting
Fern had about the fair and sick in the swings.’
why? Avery’s was typical of his personality; he liked danger, he
wanted to be the one on top, in control. Fern is more timid; she
saw it as an opportunity not to have fun, but to have a miserable
time also.
14 Why has the author made The author wants us to realise just how hopeful Zuckerman is
Zuckerman’s dream so exact about winning prizes and about just how special his pig is going
with Wilbur’s measurements to turn out to be. The exact measurements are to show how
being so very specific? realistic a dream Zuckerman was having.
Accept a variety of reasons, similar or other, so long as they can
justify their answers with reference to the book.
15 Why was everybody up so They all wanted to look their best; the fair was a very special
early on the day of the fair? occasion for them all. On Zuckerman’s farm they had to get
Wilbur ready.
There’s lots of references to all this, make sure the children
back up statements by finding passages in the book.
16 Why did Mrs Zuckerman He was filthy behind the ears because of the slop being poured
want to give Wilbur a bath? over his head.
‘He’s filthy behind the ears…every time Lurvy slops him, the
food runs down around the ears. Then it dries and forms a
crust. He also has a smudge on one side where he lays in the
manure.’
17 Why did Zuckerman sit down He’d just been told what was going to happen by his wife and
‘weakly’? hadn’t been allowed to argue against it. As far as he was
concerned Wilbur was clean, but his wife disagreed and
intended to do something about it whether he wanted it or not.
18 Why did Templeton poke ‘his There were people there. He did not want to be seen by them.
head out cautiously’? They would have wanted to chase him or dig him up or try to kill
him. He wanted to remain unseen so that they didn’t know he
was there. If he wasn’t seen they would not remember that
they had rats on the farm.
19 Once Wilbur was washed and ‘…smooth as silk.’
dried he was as smooth as
….?
 Charlotte’s Web – Chapters Fifteen and Sixteen – Part Seven
20 Why did the goslings make They all wanted to go to the fair too and were asking their
so much noise? Where does mother to let them go.
it say this in the text? ‘They made quite a racket.’
21 Why did Templeton need to ‘…I might need somebody to run errands and do general work.’
go to the Fair? Charlotte decided that Templeton needed to come, to help her.
22 How does the sheep He appeals to his stomach! He points out all the opportunities
persuade Templeton to go? available for picking up delicious scraps of food.
Why does he go on and on He describes it in such detail because he wants greedy
about it? Templeton to realise what a wonderful place it will be and
because it is important for Templeton to go. If Charlotte wants
him then he must go. They must save Wilbur and Templeton is
needed for that.
23 Why did the rat and spider To make sure they were not seen. Being so excited about the
go and hide in the crate so fair and taking Wilbur, the Zuckermans would not tolerate a
soon? filthy rat or spider in the crate with their prize winning pig! If
they’d entered the crate at the same time as Wilbur they might
have been noticed and killed!
24 Why did Templeton not want ‘Struggle if you must…but kindly remember that I’m hiding down
Wilbur to fight being put here in this crate and I don’t want to be stepped on, or kicked
into the crate too much? in the face…’
Templeton didn’t want to be hurt by accident just because
Wilbur was playacting not wanting to go in the crate.
25 What caused Wilbur to sink What Mr Arable says reminds him what his fate might be if
to his knees? Charlotte doesn’t pull her idea off.
‘You’ll get some extra good ham and bacon, Homer, when it
comes time to kill that pig.’
26 Why is the word It shows that Mrs Arable emphasises that word strongly when
‘immediately’ in italics? she shouts at Avery. She really means Avery to stop right now.
She means Avery to know that there must be a stop to his
messing around.
27 Why was Fern so upset? Her little piglet, Wilbur, whom she had loved and watched for
so long had collapsed. She was worried for him and so was upset.
She was scared in case something really bad had happened to
him.
28 How did Zuckerman know By him struggling when they tried to get him in the crate.
that Wilbur was fine after ‘Wilbur kicked and thrashed and grunted. ‘Nothing wrong with
his faint? this pig…’’
29 Two or three times it is We know that they are vital for achieving their aim of saving
mentioned that the humans Wilbur from death. The people don’t know about the spider and
did not know about the the rat, but we do, As reader we know the secret, and the
spider and the rat in the author wants us to feel good about knowing this secret when
crate. Why do you think the nobody else does.
author has done that?
 Charlotte’s Web – Chapters Seventeen and Eighteen – Part Eight
Chapter Seventeen - Uncle
1 Why might the organisers It might be in the way of the door, and they can’t get in to fetch
want the car moved? the fireworks ready for the display.
It might be a dangerous hazard, having a petrol tank full of
petrol. If by some mischance the tank blew the shed would also
blow; if the shed blew, the car would blow. Whichever happened
it would make the accident much more dangerous to all the
people at the fair.
Take ideas so long as they children are using their own
experience to justify them. Question them if necessary so that
they realise their idea is a very good one or needs more thought
or a complete change of idea.
2 How do we know the All the questions they keep asking and the money they want.
children are excited when They want to go everywhere and have everything. They are
they first get there? desperate for the money. It’s the first thing they ask.
3 How does the author He uses the word ‘wonderful’ four times to show just how
convey the excitement of ‘wonderful’ it was to the children.
the children as they set
off around the fair?
4 Why did Mrs Arable sigh as She wasn’t sure she had done the right thing, letting them go off
she watched them go? on their own in this giant fairground. Anything could happen; they
could get lost, hurt…
‘Do you really think it’s all right?’ It’s obvious that she has been
persuaded to let them go but isn’t sure she should have agreed.
5 Why were there crowds to They had seen the sign ‘Zuckerman’s Famous Pig’ and wanted to
watch Wilbur being see it. They may have known Zuckerman by sight and so knew
uncrated? what he had there and wanted to see it. Whichever, they wanted
to get an early/first look at this pig.
6 Why did nobody notice They were all looking at Wilbur! She was so small no-one watching
Charlotte leaving the Wilbur would have noticed her movement.
crate?
7 Why did Mr Zuckerman or ‘…walked away towards the cattle barn to look at purebred cows
Lurvy not stay with and see the sights. Mr Zuckerman particularly wanted to look at
Wilbur? tractors…Lurvy wandered off by himself, hoping to meet some
friends and have some fun on the midway.’
8 What do you think the We know it’s ‘wonderful’ from the first mention, and we know it
midway might be? It has will be ‘fun’ there from why Lurvy wants to go there. We can
been mentioned twice now. assume it’s where all the excitement and stall and stalls are as
Look at its use and context the children went ‘towards the wonderful music and the
in the story. wonderful adventure and the wonderful excitement, into the
wonderful midway.’
Midway - the place or way, as at a fair or carnival, on or along
which sideshows and similar amusements are located.
 Charlotte’s Web – Chapters Seventeen and Eighteen – Part Eight
9 Why did Wilbur get wet Charlotte told him about a much bigger pig next door. It made
eyes? him sad and worried; he had to win to win his own life.
‘There’s a pig in the next pen and he’s enormous. I’m afraid he’s
much bigger than you are.’
10 Why did Charlotte not take ‘He has a most unattractive personality. He is too familiar, too
to Uncle? noisy, and he cracks weak jokes. Also, he’s not anywhere near as
clean as you, nor as pleasant.’
11 How does the author make He emphasises how tired Charlotte is, by letting Charlotte reveal
us concerned about it herself – ‘The least thing tires me these days. I don’t seem to
Charlotte, but also about have the energy I once had…’
the task she is in charge This also makes us worried about whether she will be able to
of? carry out her task and save Wilbur. We feel sure she will,
because books usually end happily, but we can’t be sure. It makes
us want to read on urgently to find out what does happen.
12 Why does Wilbur say ‘Oh He is doubly worried, not only at the size of the pig next door
dear’? (he knows this from comments he can hear), but also because
Charlotte is not feeling well. If he doesn’t win a prize or prove
himself to be such a wonderful pig, he will soon be ham and
bacon.
13 How do we know that Mrs The author mentions – ‘Mrs Zuckerman wanted to see a deep
Zuckerman was hoping to freeze.’ Then, he shows us she is still interested because he
get a deep freeze writes – ‘…Mrs Zuckerman, fanning herself with an advertisement
(freezer)? of a deep freeze.’ This tells us that it wasn’t just interest. She’s
kept the flyer to read about it and talk to Zuckerman about it.
14 How does the author make The author emphasises just how hot it is:
us aware of how everybody ‘The day grew fiercely hot…the children were hot…’isn’t it
is feeling? hot’…’it’s terribly hot’…the sun beat down on everything.’
15 Did Avery really think a How could a blanket be the very thing he wanted? He was hot and
blanket was the perfect annoyed when he saw the blanket and was being sarcastic. Why
thing to have just then? did Lurvy want a blanket on such a hot day! It was too hot to lie
under a blanket!
Chapter Eighteen – The Cool
of the Evening
16 Why did Templeton wait He didn’t want to be seen by all those people who were attending
until evening before coming the fair. He would very probably have been seen if he’d come out
out of his hiding place? during the day. Now it was safer, the light would be dimming soon
and there were plenty of shadows for him to run between to
avoid being seen.
17 Why did Templeton not He was only thinking about himself.
talk to anyone before ‘Templeton’s keen nose detected many fine smells in the air. The
leaving? rat was hungry and thirsty.’
His stomach was calling and he had to go and find what all these
wonderful smells were. He wanted to go off without having a task
to do.
 Charlotte’s Web – Chapters Seventeen and Eighteen – Part Eight
18 Why did the evening come The shadows meant that walking around became cooler as the sun
‘as a relief to all’? wasn’t shining directly on the people. The temperature drops a
little in the evening also as the sun dips in the sky.
19 Why did the children have The children felt refreshed after their nap.’
renewed energy?
20 Why did Mrs Arable say, ‘…saw her little daughter sitting with Henry Fussy…and saw how
‘My my’? happy Fern looked.’
She had been worrying about Fern being a loner and talking to
animals and now here she was doing what Dr had predicted would
happen - being interested in a boy!
21 How did Templeton fulfil He ate the food in the newspaper and then used the newspaper
his objectives for the to find a word for Charlotte!
evening and Charlotte’s ‘…he found a folded newspaper. Inside it were left-overs from
request? somebody’s lunch…the rat crawled in and ate everything. Then he
tore a word out of the paper…’
22 What does Charlotte say ‘It is the last word I shall ever write.’
that makes the reader It makes the read stop and think ’What!’ It makes the reader
surprised, sad and worried? worried for Wilbur and Charlotte, and makes the reader ask and
want the answer to the question ‘Why?’
23 Why does Templeton not He only ever thinks about himself. He wasn’t listening to her
react to what Charlotte because he wanted to be off having fun and eating yet more
says? food!
24 Why did Wilbur not feel ‘He would have felt lonely and homesick, had Charlotte not been
alone when the Arables and with him. He never felt lonely when she was near.’
Zuckermans left?
25 Why was Wilbur so curious ‘Why aren’t you on your web? You almost never leave your web.’
about what Charlotte was He could hear that she wasn’t on her web by where her voice was
up to? coming from. To be off her web must have been something very
important that Charlotte had to do.
 Charlotte’s Web – Part Nine – Chapters Nineteen and Twenty
Chapter Nineteen – The Egg Sac
1 How did the animals react to ‘…the sparrows stirred in the trees, when the cows rattled
the coming of the day? their chains and the rooster crowed…’
2 What was the weird object ‘It is my egg sac. My magnum opus.’
next to Charlotte, what did it ‘It was peach-coloured and looked as though it were made of
look like? cotton candy.’
Cotton candy is candyfloss.
3 Why did Wilbur think it was a Well, he’s only a little pig really and wants to play. So that
toy? would be his first thought when he saw something new
(either that or he might have thought it was some kind of
food, being a pig and very interested in food!).
4 Why has the author written He can’t believe how many eggs Charlotte laid. He might have
hundred as ‘hundred’ and thought one or two like the lambs the sheep have, or four or
fourteen as ‘fourteen’ when five, like the ducks and geese. It’s written in italics to show
Wilbur talked about the his surprise, and that he’s emphasising the words when he’s
eggs? saying it to show his astonishment.
Try to get something along those lines from the children.
5 Why does the egg sac need to If they got cold and wet they might die, just like little
be waterproof? babies have to be kept warm so Charlotte had to keep her
eggs dry and warm to ensure as many of them as possible
survive to become little spiders!
Question them if necessary to try and get them to think
about this.
6 What does Charlotte mean pep noun - an informal word for energy
by, ‘I just don’t have much She hasn’t got any energy.
pep any more’?
7 Why did Wilbur ask her to ‘…he was so worried he felt he had to ask.’
explain the word ‘languish’? He was confused at Charlotte not sounding happy and when
she said that she would not see them in the spring.
8 Why has the author used the To make us remember what he went off to do in the last
word ‘drag’ to describe chapter – to enjoy everything the fair had to offer,
Templeton’s movement across especially the food! To make us realise that he has been
the pen? eating all night and is so stuffed he can hardly move! His
speech which follows reinforces our ideas.
9 Why was Charlotte so She couldn’t believe that he had eaten and eaten and not
disgusted with him? stopped when he had had enough. She is the sort of person
who only eats when she’s hungry so could not understand why
he was prepared to eat so much.
10 Why did Wilbur say that The other pig had won the prize. This meant Wilbur wasn’t
Zuckerman would change his going to win. Without a win Zuckerman didn’t have a special
mind and eat Wilbur now? pig and so just had a normal pig that would be turned into
ham and bacon just like any other pig.
 Charlotte’s Web – Part Nine – Chapters Nineteen and Twenty
11 Why did Mrs Zuckerman cry? She was disappointed that Wilbur had not won; all their
hopes of winning the prize and becoming famous along with
Wilbur were lost. She was disappointed.
12 Why was Mr Zuckerman not He may well have been but was determined not to show it. He
upset like the others? was also more of an optimist than the others. He hope
something good would still happen, even if Wilbur had not got
the top prize, and he turned out to be right!
13 Why were the Arables and They couldn’t believe what they had just heard. They were
Zuckermans unable to move so surprised and excited, at the same time, they couldn’t
immediately after they heard think what to do! They were stunned!
the good news?
14 Why was Charlotte so ‘…she was sure that she had saved Wilbur’s life, and she felt
content? peaceful and contented.’
15 Why did Mr Zuckerman snap She was fussing about her hair and he had more important
at his wife? things to think about, like getting Wilbur crated and into the
show ring as soon as possible so that they could be given the
special prize. Hair? Who was bothered about hair at a time
like this?
Chapter Twenty – The Hour of
Triumph
16 Other than the word Pompous - characterized by an ostentatious display of
‘pompous’ how do we know dignity or importance: too grand in manner or speech.
that the man was speaking in Everything he said was using five words where two would do!
a pompous manner? Look at He was more interested in listening to his own voice than
what he says. giving precise clear directions to the onlookers.
17 Why did Wilbur tremble when He was so excited because of course he knew what was going
he heard the loudspeaker? on, but he was also a little nervous going into the big ring and
getting a special prize.
18 Why did the crowds press They wanted to see this extraordinary pig first before
close to the van? anyone else. They were as excited as the Arable,
Zuckermans and Wilbur and the others.
19 Why did Mrs Zuckerman tell She wanted Avery to kook his best, after all he was being
Avery to tuck in his shirt watched by hundreds of people. She didn’t want him to look
when he was in the middle of scruffy or she wouldn’t look like she was a good mother.
helping get Wilbur off the
truck?
20 Why was Fern so desperate ‘Henry invited me to go on the Ferris wheel again, only I
for some money? don’t think he has any money left.’
Fern so liked going round slowly on the Ferris wheel with
Henry before, just the two of them (!), that she wanted to
do it again. It was more important for her to be with Henry
than with Wilbur at that moment!
 Charlotte’s Web – Part Nine – Chapters Nineteen and Twenty
21 Why was there no point in Everybody could see exactly what was going on; they didn’t
what the loudspeaker said need someone to state the obvious for them. They were all
then? excited and wanting to meet this extraordinary pig.
22 What did Charlotte do to Nothing, she just sat there, looking after her egg sac.
celebrate? Why? Remember she was tired and worn out and not feeling
wonderful. We’ve never seen her jumping for joy anyway,
she’s just not that kind of person.
23 Why was Avery fussing so Now Wilbur was famous and about to get an award, Avery
much around Wilbur? wanted to be part of it all. He wanted some of that fame too!
24 Were there supernatural Supernatural - of, pertaining to, or being above or beyond
forces at work? what is natural; unexplainable by natural law or phenomena;
abnormal.
No, of course not, it was down to a very clever spider!
25 What was the prize for? Not for being a wonderful pig really, just because of all the
people who had come to the fair to see him. They were
saying thank you because more people had come than would
have done normally.
‘…our appreciation of the part played by this pig – this
radiant, this terrific, this humble pig – in attracting so many
visitors to our great County Fair.’
26 Why did Wilbur faint? He was overwhelmed by all the fuss and attention being paid
to him; that everybody was watching him and cheering him.
It was just too much.
27 Why did Mr Zuckerman sigh He was relieved that Wilbur was up on his feet so quickly. He
with relief? must have been worried that it would take time to get him
back up on his feet, because of the faint; then he might not
have got the prize!
28 Why did Mrs Zuckerman tell She was embarrassed at her son playing the fool. She didn’t
Avery to stop? want everyone to think she had a rude, ill-mannered child.
 Charlotte’s Web – Part Ten – Chapters Twenty-One and Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-One – Last Day
1 Why were they alone? ‘The families had gone to look for Fern. Templeton was
asleep.’
2 What did Charlotte point out That day would follow day, and season would follow season and
to Wilbur? Wilbur would be there to enjoy it all. She had saved him, and
all this was ahead of him.
3 Why did Charlotte stop all It was all a bit much for her. As she was telling Wilbur all
her descriptions? that he would be able to still enjoy she began to realise all
that she would be missing out on when she was dead.
4 Why were there tears in She had been so kind to him and such a good friend. She had
Wilbur’s eyes? saved his life and he would always be grateful and yet, when
he had first met her, he had thought her ‘cruel and
bloodthirsty’. He felt guilty that he had ever thought that of
her.
5 What was Wilbur looking ‘Won’t it be wonderful to be back home in the barn cellar
forward to? again with the sheep and the geese?’
6 Why did Charlotte reveal her It wasn’t something to shout out – to tell someone else that
news in such a low voice? you were going to die! It wasn’t something she was happy
about, but she knew it was about to happen.
7 How did Wilbur react to the He became hysterical. He was being selfish; he was going to
news? lose his best friend and what would life be like for him
without her! All he could think about was how unhappy he was.
8 What good idea suddenly ‘If Charlotte herself was unable to go home to the barn, at
came to Wilbur? least he must take her children along.’ He would take her eggs
back with him to the barn/farm.
9 Why did he have to move He could see the humans coming closer. He had to get
quickly? everything sorted before they arrived, because otherwise
they wouldn’t be able to do it.
10 Why was Templeton so bad- Wouldn’t you be if you were woken from your sleep by being
tempered? thrown up in the air? He had been sleeping off his food binge,
and wanted to wake up in his own time, not when someone
wanted him to!
11 How has the author made Short sentences emphasise the urgency of the situation. He
clear the urgency of the hasn’t got time to explain fully and in great detail. He needs
moment in Wilbur’s speech to to get it across as succinctly as possible.
Templeton?
12 What was Templeton doing, He wanted something from Wilbur. He wanted Wilbur to get
not jumping up straight away so wound up and desperate that he would bargain and offer to
to help Wilbur? get or give something to him in exchange for his help.
 Charlotte’s Web – Part Ten – Chapters Twenty-One and Twenty-Two
13 Why did the rat behave in He wasn’t a well-mannered rat. He was selfish, and was led by
that way? his stomach and by what he wanted. He’s only ever done
things for Charlotte or Wilbur because there was something
in it for him. He only brought a word from the dump because
he was going there to find food. He only came to the fair to
help because he was persuaded by the thought of all the food
that would be lying around.
14 What made climbing the wall ‘His stomach was still swollen from last night’s gorge.’
difficult for Templeton?
15 How did Wilbur carry the egg ‘…took the little bundle in his mouth and held it there on top
sac back to the farm? of his tongue.’
16 Why was it a safe place for it The sac was waterproof so the eggs would not get wet. In his
to be? mouth he was unlikely to trample or lie on it, and the adults
couldn’t trample on it either, or see it and brush it away.
17 What is so sad about the way He contrasts the hustle and bustle of all the moving out with
the author ends the chapter? the stillness and loneliness of Charlotte, as she died among
the empty buildings and rubbish. The last sentence reinforces
this.
Chapter Twenty-Two – A Warm
Wind
18 Why did the medal get hung ‘…where visitors could examine it. Wilbur himself could look at
above the pen? it whenever he wanted to.’ So could Mr Zuckerman and Lurvy
of course!
19 Why did Wilbur grow to ‘a ‘He no longer worried about being killed..’
great size’? Not being worried meant he could concentrate on one of the
most important tasks he had every day – eating!
20 What words did Wilbur think Affectionate, loyal, skilful.
of to describe his friend?
21 What is meant by – ‘he went He went and made tunnels in it and made holes and ran at it
out and ploughed the drifts in and in it and generally had lots of fun!
his yard’?
22 What does it mean, ‘they Coast - to slide on a sled down a snowy or icy hillside or
coasted down the lane’? incline; to advance or proceed with little or no effort. The
lane must have sloped down to the pond; so it was a good hill
to sledge on.
23 Why did Fern think about the She had feelings for Henry. She had enjoyed going on the
Ferris wheel all the time, wheel with him, and having such a good friend.
even though it was weeks
ago?
24 Why did Templeton not worry He enjoyed his life as it was!
about living longer? ‘…I get untold satisfaction from the pleasures of the feast.’
 Charlotte’s Web – Part Ten – Chapters Twenty-One and Twenty-Two
25 What were the first signs of ‘From the ponds, in shrill chorus, came the voices of hundreds
springtime? of little frogs.’
‘As she walked away, Wilbur saw a new lamb following her.’
26 Why did Wilbur tremble? The little spider that emerged, looked exactly like Charlotte!
‘It looked just like Charlotte.’
27 Why was Wilbur’s He could hear himself talking to them but their voices were
conversation with the spiders so small he couldn’t hear their answers!
one-sided? ‘…its voice was so small Wilbur couldn’t hear it.’
28 Why was Wilbur so frantic? He was watching all the little spiders leaving him. He didn’t
want to be left alone again.
‘You can’t all go. I would be left alone, with no friends.’