"Fern," he said gently, "you will have to learn to control yourself."In a soft, calm way.
Charlotte's Web
Chapter 1
E. B. White · Scouts 1st–3rd
Copywork
Mr. Arable stopped walking. "Fern," he said gently, "you will have to learn to control yourself."
Read the second sentence aloud the way Mr. Arable might say it. What does the word "gently" tell you about him?
Discussion
Narration Tell what happened from Fern seeing the ax to her answer at school, in order. Slow down where Fern first sees the pig.
- Fern says the pig "couldn't help being born small." Is that a good reason to save it? What makes you think so? Moral reasoning
- Mr. Arable says, "A weakling makes trouble." Was he being cruel, or sensible? What in the chapter makes you think so? Character
- Mr. Arable says, "A little girl is one thing, a little runty pig is another." Do you agree? Why or why not? Theme
- Mr. Arable says, "may the good Lord forgive me for this foolishness." Does he sound sorry? What makes you think so? Inference
- The story begins with Fern asking about an ax, before anyone mentions a pig. Why might the author start there? Author's choice
Make a Connection Tell about a time you saw someone speak up for someone smaller or weaker.
Vocabulary
- gently
- control
you will have to learn to control yourself.
To hold yourself in check.- runt
one of the pigs is a runt.
The smallest, weakest animal in a litter.- weakling
A weakling makes trouble.
A small or weak animal or person.- unfair
"But it's unfair," cried Fern.
Not right or even-handed.- injustice
This is the most terrible case of injustice I ever heard of.
Unfair treatment.- sobbed
"Please don't kill it!" she sobbed.
Cried hard, with deep breaths.- shrieked
"Do away with it?" shrieked Fern.
Cried out in a high, sharp voice.- sopping
Fern's sneakers were sopping by the time she caught up with her father.
Soaked through with water.
Critical thinking
- Avery calls the pig a "miserable thing." Fern says he is "absolutely perfect." Why do they see the same pig so differently? Give two reasons from the chapter.
- Mrs. Arable says the pig would probably die anyway, yet later she helps feed it. What does that show about her? Give two reasons from the chapter.
- Fern answers "Wilbur" when the teacher asks the capital of Pennsylvania. What does that show about how she feels about her pig? Give two reasons.