Charlotte's Web
Chapter 11 — Teaching Companion
E. B. White · Scouts 1st–3rd
Coaching, not a script — and not an answer key: every question here has more than one defensible answer.
This chapter's big question
Mr. Zuckerman calls the web a miracle about his pig, but his wife points to the spider. Who is reading the sign better?
The tension Mr. Zuckerman reads the words SOME PIG! as praise for Wilbur, while Mrs. Zuckerman looks at the maker of the words, and the maker sits quietly listening.
Today's focus
Notice who reads the words in the web and what each person decides they mean.
Two core ideas
- One sign can be read two ways: Mr. Zuckerman sees a wonderful pig, and his wife sees an unusual spider.
- A small trick can change a whole farm: visitors fill the driveway, Wilbur's meals go up, and farm work waits.
The shape at a glance
On a foggy morning Lurvy sees the words SOME PIG! woven in Charlotte's web. Mr. Zuckerman decides it is a miracle and tells his wife and the minister. The news spreads, visitors fill the driveway, and the farm work waits while Charlotte watches her trick work.
A way in
Start with the words in the web. Ask who sees them first, and what each person says they mean.
Lesson plan
Retell The student tells the chapter back in order: the foggy morning, Lurvy and the words, Mr. Zuckerman and his wife, the minister, the crowds, and the Sunday sermon.
Imitate the author After copying the passage, the student writes two sentences in the same pattern: where and when something looked beautiful, then what decorated it.
Debate Take sides on the big question: who is reading the sign better, Mr. Zuckerman or his wife? Each side must use one line from the chapter.
Purpose Close by asking why a story might let different people read the same sign in different ways.
Easier Read the scene at the pigpen aloud together and talk through discussion questions 1 and 3 only.
On level Talk through all five discussion questions, then have the student answer one critical-thinking question aloud with two reasons from the chapter.
Harder Ask the student to say what Mrs. Zuckerman might say if she asked Charlotte one question, using what she says in the chapter.
Discussion
- Lurvy drops to his knees and says a prayer when he sees the web. What do you think he is feeling? What makes you think so?Inference
What it asks It asks what Lurvy feels when he first reads the words, from what he says and does.
One reading
He is awed and a little afraid, as if he has seen something holy.
Lurvy felt weak.
He dropped to his knees and uttered a short prayer.
Another reading
He cannot believe his own eyes and wants someone else to look.
"I'm seeing things," he whispered.
"Do you see what I see?" he asked.
Listen for
- Uses what Lurvy says or does, not only a feeling word.
- Notices that he calls Mr. Zuckerman to come and see.
If stuck
- What does Lurvy forget about when he sees the words?
- What does he whisper to himself?
- Why would he want Mr. Zuckerman to look too?
A strong answer Lurvy seems shaken: he feels weak, brushes his hand across his eyes, and drops to his knees to pray. He also doubts himself, whispering that he is seeing things and asking Mr. Zuckerman if he sees it too. A strong answer picks the feeling that seems biggest and shows it with one thing Lurvy says and one thing he does.
- Charlotte is delighted that her trick is working. Is it all right to fool people to save a friend? Why or why not?Moral reasoning
What it asks It asks whether a trick can be right when it is meant to help a friend, and what the trick does to the people who are fooled.
One reading
Yes: the trick is a way to give Wilbur a chance to live.
Charlotte was delighted with the way her trick was working.
Another reading
No: the people who are fooled are frightened and shaken by it.
Mrs. Zuckerman sank into a chair. She looked pale and frightened.
Then they both began to tremble.
Listen for
- Gives a reason, not only yes or no.
- Says what happens to the people who are fooled.
If stuck
- What does Charlotte want for Wilbur?
- How do Lurvy and Mr. Zuckerman feel when they see the web?
- Is it different to fool someone to help a friend than to fool them to help yourself?
A strong answer One answer is that the trick is a kind one: Charlotte uses it to help a friend, and she is delighted that it is working. The other is that it frightens people, so Lurvy and Mr. Zuckerman tremble and Mrs. Zuckerman sinks into a chair looking pale. A strong answer takes a side and says what the other side would answer.
- Mr. Zuckerman speaks "in an important voice" about Wilbur. How does he sound to you? What tells you?Tone
What it asks It asks the student to hear Mr. Zuckerman's voice and decide whether he is showing off or truly admiring Wilbur.
One reading
He sounds like he is showing off, claiming he knew it all along.
in an important voice
I've thought all along that that pig of ours was an extra good one.
Another reading
He sounds truly pleased with Wilbur, and wants to share it with Lurvy.
Mr. Zuckerman took one last look at Wilbur.
He's long, and he's smooth,
Listen for
- Reads a line aloud in the voice the student hears.
- Uses the words important or all along.
If stuck
- What words does the author use for his voice?
- What does he say about Wilbur's shoulders?
- What does Lurvy say back?
A strong answer He can sound like he is showing off: he speaks in an important voice and says he thought all along that the pig was an extra good one. But he also takes one last look at Wilbur and goes on listing what he likes, so he may be truly pleased. A strong answer reads one line aloud and says which of the two it sounds like.
- Mrs. Zuckerman says, "we have no ordinary spider." Why might she look at the spider and not the pig?Character
What it asks It asks what is behind Mrs. Zuckerman's different guess, and what it shows about the way she thinks.
One reading
She is practical and wants to see for herself before she believes him.
Just the same, I intend to have a look at that spider.
it seems to me you're a little off
Another reading
She sees that the spider is the one who could have made the words, since they are part of her web.
The words were woven right into the web.
They were actual part of the web, Edith.
Listen for
- Uses what Mrs. Zuckerman says, not only a guess.
- Notices what Mr. Zuckerman says back.
If stuck
- Where are the words woven?
- What does Mrs. Zuckerman say she will do?
- What does Mr. Zuckerman say about the spider?
A strong answer Mrs. Zuckerman is practical: she says she intends to have a look at that spider, and she tells her husband he is a little off. She may also notice that the words are woven right into the web, so the spider has something to do with them. A strong answer says why she looks at the spider and uses one thing she says.
- The author lists many kinds of cars in the Zuckermans' driveway. Why might the author make the list so long?Author's choice
What it asks It asks what a very long list of cars does to the reader, and why the author did not stop after one or two.
One reading
It shows how many people came and how fast the news spread.
People came from miles around to look at Wilbur and to read the words on Charlotte's web.
The Zuckermans' driveway was full of cars and trucks from morning till night
Another reading
It is funny, and makes the excitement seem a little silly.
De Sotos with gyromatic transmissions and Oldsmobiles with rocket engines
Listen for
- Says what the reader feels as the list gets longer.
- Uses something from the list, such as the names of the cars.
If stuck
- How many kinds of cars does the author name?
- What did the news do before Sunday came?
- Read part of the list aloud. How does it sound?
A strong answer The long list shows that people came from everywhere, since the driveway is full from morning till night. It is also a little funny, with names like De Sotos with gyromatic transmissions, as if the author is smiling at the crowd. A strong answer says what the reader feels as the list goes on and why the author may have wanted that.
Critical thinking
- Mr. Zuckerman puts on his best suit and drives to the minister. What does this show about how he feels about the web? Give two reasons.
What it asks It asks what his best suit and his visit to the minister show about how seriously he takes the words.
One reading
He thinks it is a very serious thing, almost holy.
he took off his work clothes and put on his best suit
He stayed for an hour and explained to the minister that a miracle had happened on the farm.
Another reading
He is excited and enjoys being the one who knows.
only four people on earth know about this miracle
He wore his good clothes all the time now
Listen for
- Two separate things Mr. Zuckerman does or says.
- A reason, not only the word proud or excited.
If stuck
- What does Mr. Zuckerman change into?
- How long does he stay with the minister?
- How many people does he say know about it?
A strong answer Mr. Zuckerman treats the web as something very serious: he puts on his best suit and spends an hour explaining the miracle to the minister. He also seems to enjoy it, saying only four people on earth know, and he wears his good clothes all the time now. A strong answer gives two pieces of evidence and says which feeling seems stronger.
- The Zuckermans are so busy with visitors that other jobs on the farm go undone. What does that show about the web? Give two reasons.
What it asks It asks what the neglected jobs and the new meals for Wilbur show about how much the web has changed the farm.
One reading
It has taken over the farm: the work waits because of it.
The blackberries got ripe, and Mrs. Zuckerman failed to put up any blackberry jam.
The corn needed hoeing, and Lurvy didn't find time to hoe it.
Another reading
It has changed how people treat Wilbur: he gets special care.
Mrs. Zuckerman prepared special meals for Wilbur.
Mr. Zuckerman ordered Lurvy to increase Wilbur's feedings from three meals a day to four meals a day.
Listen for
- Two separate pieces of evidence, not one told twice.
- A reason that says what the web has changed.
If stuck
- What jobs does the chapter say are not done?
- What happens to Wilbur's meals?
- What did Mr. Zuckerman do instead of farm work?
A strong answer The web has taken over the farm: the blackberry jam is not made and the corn is not hoed because everyone is busy with visitors. It has also changed how Wilbur is treated, with special meals and a fourth feeding each day. A strong answer gives two pieces of evidence and says which change is bigger.
- Fern is happy about the web, and also finds the barn less pleasant. Why does she feel both? Give two reasons from the chapter.
What it asks It asks the student to see why Fern feels two things at once on this busy day.
One reading
She is happy because the trick seems to be saving Wilbur.
Fern was happy, for she felt that Charlotte's trick was working and that Wilbur's life would be saved.
Another reading
She is unhappy because the crowds have taken away her quiet time with her friends.
But she found that the barn was not nearly as pleasant - too many people.
She liked it better when she could be all alone with her friends the animals.
Listen for
- Names both feelings and what causes each.
- Uses what the chapter says about Fern and the barn.
If stuck
- What does Fern think is happening to Wilbur's chances?
- What has changed about the barn?
- When did Fern like the barn best?
A strong answer Fern is happy because she feels Charlotte's trick is working and Wilbur's life would be saved. But she misses the barn as it was: too many people, and she liked it better when she could be all alone with her friends the animals. A strong answer gives two pieces of evidence and says how one feeling can sit next to the other.