Charlotte's Web
Chapter 12 — 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
Wilbur says he is only average, yet Charlotte says her opinion is what counts. Whose word should count more: Wilbur's honesty about himself, or his best friend's praise?
The tension Wilbur's plain statement that he is not terrific, against Charlotte's loyal answer that he is terrific as far as she is concerned.
Today's focus
Notice how Wilbur and Charlotte talk about the word "terrific" and who gets to say what is true.
Two core ideas
- Charlotte gets her friends to help: she asks for suggestions and the old sheep finds a way to move Templeton.
- Wilbur says what he thinks of himself, and Charlotte answers with what she thinks of him.
The shape at a glance
Charlotte calls the animals together in the barn cellar and says her trick seems to be working. She asks for a new word to weave, and the goose suggests "terrific." The old sheep persuades Templeton to bring a magazine clipping, and Charlotte tells a worried Wilbur that he is terrific as far as she is concerned.
A way in
Start with Charlotte calling the roll. Ask what the animals do, and how she answers them.
Lesson plan
Retell The student tells the chapter back in order: the roll call, Charlotte's news, the suggestions, Templeton and the old sheep, and Charlotte's last words to Wilbur.
Imitate the author After copying the sentence, the student writes one sentence in the same pattern: what someone said, who said it, how, and then what the person added.
Debate Take sides on the big question: whose word should count more, Wilbur's honesty about himself or his best friend's praise? Each side must use one line from the chapter.
Purpose Close by asking why a story might let a friend call someone terrific when he says he is only average.
Easier Read the scene with Templeton and the old sheep 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 Wilbur might answer to Charlotte's last words, using what he says about himself in the chapter.
Discussion
- Charlotte says Templeton is "always looking out for himself." Is that fair? What makes you think so?Character
What it asks It asks whether Charlotte's opinion of Templeton fits what he says and does at the meeting.
One reading
Fair: he does not care about Wilbur and he finds the meeting boring.
Meetings bore me.
Let him die,
Another reading
Not quite fair: he does agree to help, even if he grumbles.
Maybe you're right," he said gruffly.
I'll bring back a magazine clipping if I can find one.
Listen for
- Uses something Templeton says or does at the meeting.
- Weighs what he says first against what he agrees to later.
If stuck
- What does Templeton say when the old sheep asks for help?
- What does he say after she talks about winter?
- Can someone grumble and still help?
A strong answer Charlotte has some reason: Templeton says meetings bore him and says Wilbur can die. But in the end he says maybe you're right and promises a magazine clipping, so he is not only looking out for himself. A strong answer takes a side and uses one thing he says early and one thing he says later.
- Charlotte mutters, "You sound like three ganders." How does she sound as she calls the roll? What tells you?Tone
What it asks It asks the student to hear Charlotte's voice and decide whether she is cross, amused, or both.
One reading
Cross: she is tired of the repeating.
Why can't you just say 'here'? Why do you have to repeat everything?
Charlotte glared at her.
Another reading
Amused: she makes a joke about it.
This is getting to be quite a meeting," said Charlotte.
Anybody would think we had three ganders, three geese, and twenty-one goslings.
Listen for
- Reads one of Charlotte's lines aloud in the voice the student hears.
- Allows that she may be cross and amused at once.
If stuck
- What does Charlotte do when the goose says here three times?
- What does she say after the goslings answer?
- Can a joke have a little crossness in it?
A strong answer At first she sounds cross: she mutters, asks why they have to repeat everything, and glares at the goose. Later she jokes that anybody would think there were three ganders, three geese and twenty-one goslings, which sounds more amused. A strong answer reads one line aloud and says which voice it hears.
- Wilbur says twice that he is not terrific. What do you think he is feeling? What makes you think so?Inference
What it asks It asks what is behind Wilbur's words when Charlotte says she will write "terrific" about him.
One reading
He is shy and embarrassed by the praise.
Wilbur blushed.
Another reading
He is uneasy about a word that does not seem true of him.
But Charlotte," said Wilbur, "I'm not terrific.
I'm just about average for a pig.
Listen for
- Uses Wilbur's own words or the blush.
- Allows that he may feel more than one thing.
If stuck
- What does Wilbur do when Charlotte says she will write the word?
- What does he say about himself?
- How would you feel if a friend wanted to call you terrific?
A strong answer Wilbur blushes, so he may be shy about being praised. He also says plainly that he is just about average for a pig, so he may be uneasy about a word that does not seem true of him. A strong answer picks the feeling that seems stronger and uses one thing he says or does.
- Charlotte ends the meeting and tells Wilbur, "Now stop arguing and go get some sleep!" Is that a kind way to end it? Why or why not?Moral reasoning
What it asks It asks whether Charlotte's last words are kind to Wilbur, or whether they brush aside what he said.
One reading
Kind: she tells him he is her best friend and sends him to rest.
You're my best friend, and I think you're sensational.
replied Charlotte, sweetly
Another reading
Not so kind: she cuts him off when he is worried.
Now stop arguing and go get some sleep!
Wilbur blushed. "But I'm not terrific, Charlotte.
Listen for
- Weighs her sweet words against her order to stop arguing.
- Says what Wilbur might feel when he hears her.
If stuck
- What does Charlotte say to Wilbur just before she tells him to sleep?
- What was Wilbur doing when she says stop arguing?
- Can someone be kind and bossy in the same breath?
A strong answer She is kind in what she says: he is her best friend and she thinks he is sensational. But she also cuts off his worry with stop arguing, which might leave him feeling unheard. A strong answer takes a side and says what the other side would answer.
- The author lets the gander spell "terrific" in a long, silly string. Why might the author put that joke into a meeting about saving a life?Author's choice
What it asks It asks what a joke does in the middle of a serious meeting, and what the gander's spelling shows about him.
One reading
It makes the meeting funny and keeps the mood light, even though Wilbur's life is at stake.
I would have to have St. Vitus's Dance to weave a word like that into my web.
This is getting to be quite a meeting,
Another reading
It shows the gander cannot help repeating himself, which is part of who he is.
It's my idio-idio-idiosyncrasy,
Sorry, sorry, sorry,
Listen for
- Says what the reader feels when the gander spells the word.
- Compares the funny parts with the serious part of the meeting.
If stuck
- What does Charlotte say when she hears the spelling?
- What does the gander say he cannot help?
- What is the meeting really for?
A strong answer The long spelling is funny, and it keeps the meeting lively even while Charlotte is trying to save Wilbur's life. It also shows the gander as he is, repeating everything, since he says it is his idiosyncrasy. A strong answer says what the reader feels and why the author may have put the joke here.
Critical thinking
- Charlotte turns down "Pig Supreme" and picks "terrific." How does she choose her words? Give two reasons from the chapter.
What it asks It asks what Charlotte looks for in a word to weave, and what she thinks about when she picks one.
One reading
She chooses the word that will best impress the people who read it.
It sounds like a rich dessert.
I think 'terrific' might impress Zuckerman.
Another reading
She chooses a word she can actually weave into a web.
Cut that down to one 'terrific' and it will do very nicely
I would have to have St. Vitus's Dance to weave a word like that into my web.
Listen for
- Two separate things from the chapter, not one said twice.
- A reason that explains how she chooses.
If stuck
- What does Charlotte say Pig Supreme sounds like?
- Who does she want the word to impress?
- What does she say when the gander tries to spell it?
A strong answer Charlotte thinks about the readers: she says Pig Supreme sounds like a rich dessert and that terrific might impress Zuckerman. She also thinks about her own work, since she cannot weave a word as long as the gander's spelling. A strong answer gives two pieces of evidence and says which one matters more to her.
- The old sheep tells Templeton about a zero morning next January. How does she get him to agree? Give two reasons from the chapter.
What it asks It asks what the sheep says that moves a rat who said "Let him die."
One reading
She shows him he would lose his food.
Wilbur's leftover food is your chief source of supply, Templeton.
Wilbur's food is your food
Another reading
She gives him a picture so scary he cannot shrug it off.
you'll grow so thin we can look right through your stomach and see objects on the other side
Templeton's whiskers quivered.
Listen for
- Two separate things the sheep says.
- Says what Templeton would lose.
If stuck
- What does the sheep say Wilbur's food is to Templeton?
- What does she say will happen to him if the trough is empty?
- What does Templeton's body do after she talks?
A strong answer The sheep speaks about Templeton's own food: she says Wilbur's leftovers are his chief source of supply. She also paints a picture of a rat so thin you can see through his stomach, and his whiskers quiver. A strong answer gives two pieces of evidence and says which one seems to move him more.
- Charlotte calls the meeting to get suggestions for new words. What does that show about how she works with the others? Give two reasons.
What it asks It asks whether Charlotte treats the animals as helpers or only as an audience.
One reading
She listens and welcomes their help.
I need new ideas for the web.
Good idea," said Charlotte.
Another reading
She still makes the choices herself.
No good," said Charlotte.
I've got to tear my web apart and write 'Terrific.
Listen for
- Two separate things Charlotte says or does.
- Says whether she is a leader, a helper, or both.
If stuck
- Why does Charlotte say she called the meeting?
- What does she say to the lamb's idea?
- Who decides what to write in the web?
A strong answer She listens: she says she needs new ideas and she says good idea when the sheep offers one. But she says no good to the lamb and she decides what to write, saying she must tear her web apart and write terrific. A strong answer gives two pieces of evidence and says what kind of leader she is.