Charlotte's Web
Chapter 13 — 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
Charlotte works all night to weave the word, and Wilbur stands in the morning swelling out his chest. Does Charlotte seem to mind, or does she seem content?
The tension Charlotte does the hard, tiring work while the others sleep, and Wilbur gets the praise; yet she loves to weave and looks at him with affection.
Today's focus
Notice who does the work in this chapter and who gets the praise.
Two core ideas
- Charlotte works at night while the others sleep, and in the morning the visitors look at Wilbur.
- Charlotte takes care over words: she turns down two of Templeton's finds, tests the third, and says the soap ad will do.
The shape at a glance
Charlotte weaves the word TERRIFIC in her web at night. Next morning Mr. Zuckerman and the visitors read it, and he orders clean straw and a crate for the County Fair. That afternoon Templeton fetches words from the dump, Charlotte tests Wilbur's action, and at bedtime she tells him stories and sings him to sleep.
A way in
Start with the morning when Lurvy sees the web. Ask who is looking at the word, and who made it.
Lesson plan
Retell The student tells the chapter back in order: the night of weaving, the morning of the word, the new orders, Templeton's three finds, Wilbur's action, and the bedtime stories and song.
Imitate the author After copying the sentences, the student writes two sentences of their own: one that ends with a feeling word like affection, and one that begins with Well.
Debate Take sides on the big question: does Charlotte seem to mind the work, or does she seem content? Each side must use one line from the chapter.
Purpose Close by asking why a story might show a friend working quietly while someone else is praised.
Easier Read the morning scene aloud together and talk through discussion questions 1 and 4 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 Charlotte might answer if Wilbur asked her whether she was tired, using what she says and does in the chapter.
Discussion
- Templeton grumbles, "What do you think I am, a messenger boy?" Why does he keep fetching words for Charlotte anyway?Character
What it asks It asks why a rat who complains so much still goes back to the dump, and what that shows about him.
One reading
He gives in when Charlotte asks politely.
Just once more - please!
I'll tell you what I'll do,
Another reading
He is a little proud of his finds and wants to hear that they are good.
There!" he said, triumphantly. "How's that?
Listen for
- Uses something Templeton says, not only a guess.
- Notices that he grumbles and helps in the same scene.
If stuck
- What does Charlotte say after he grumbles?
- What does Templeton offer to bring next?
- How does he sound when he comes back with the cardboard?
A strong answer Templeton grumbles that he will not spend all his time at the dump, but when Charlotte says please, he offers to bring a piece of the soap flakes package. He even says "There!" in a triumphant way, so part of him seems pleased with his find. A strong answer says what makes him give in and uses one thing he says.
- Charlotte says, "I'm not sure Wilbur's action is exactly radiant," but she will use the ad anyway. Is that all right? Why or why not?Moral reasoning
What it asks It asks whether it is right to use a word that may not be quite true, and what Wilbur's own words add.
One reading
All right: it is for a good cause, and Wilbur himself says he feels radiant.
Actually," said Wilbur, "I feel radiant.
I'm in this thing pretty deep now - I might as well go the limit.
Another reading
Not quite: she herself is not sure it is true.
I'm not sure Wilbur's action is exactly radiant, but it's interesting.
Listen for
- Gives a reason, not only yes or no.
- Says what Charlotte is unsure about and what she hopes the word will do.
If stuck
- What does Charlotte say about Wilbur's action?
- What does Wilbur say about how he feels?
- Can a word be true for one person and not for another?
A strong answer One answer is that it is all right: the word is for a good cause and Wilbur himself says he feels radiant. The other is that Charlotte admits she is not sure it is exactly true. A strong answer takes a side and says what the other side would answer.
- While she weaves, Charlotte talks to herself: "Whoa, girl! Steady now!" How does she sound to you? What tells you?Tone
What it asks It asks the student to hear Charlotte's voice as she works, and decide whether she sounds like a coach or like someone under strain.
One reading
She sounds like a coach, cheering herself on.
she began to talk to herself, as though to cheer herself on
Good girl!
Another reading
She sounds careful and a little tense, because the work is hard.
the spider worked at her difficult task
Easy, keep those lines together!
Listen for
- Reads one of her lines aloud in the voice the student hears.
- Uses the words the author gives for how she talks.
If stuck
- Read her lines aloud quickly. How do they sound?
- What does the author say she is doing as she talks?
- Would you talk like that to yourself if a job were hard?
A strong answer She sounds like a coach: the author says she talks to herself as though to cheer herself on, and she ends with Good girl! But the lines are short and quick, and she says Easy, keep those lines together, so she also sounds careful, since the task is difficult. A strong answer reads one line aloud and says which voice it hears.
- Wilbur pushes the clean straw aside and lies in the manure. What does that tell you about him on his first day of being terrific?Inference
What it asks It asks what Wilbur's choice of bed shows about him, now that people call him terrific.
One reading
He is still the same pig, who likes what he knows.
The straw seemed scratchy - not as comfortable as the cow manure, which was always delightfully soft to lie in.
Another reading
He is just tired and new things take getting used to.
It had been a busy day - his first day of being terrific.
Now he was tired.
Listen for
- Uses what the chapter says about the straw and the manure.
- Says whether praise has changed Wilbur.
If stuck
- How does the chapter say the straw feels?
- What does it say about the manure?
- What kind of day has Wilbur had?
A strong answer He seems to be the same pig as before: the straw seems scratchy to him, and the manure is delightfully soft. It could also be that it was a busy day and he is too tired to get used to anything new. A strong answer picks one reading and says what it shows about how Wilbur has or has not changed.
- Wilbur asks, "Then what happened?" and Charlotte answers, "Nothing," twice. Why might the author end the story that way?Author's choice
What it asks It asks what the plain answer does after a story full of fighting, and why the author lets it fall flat.
One reading
It is funny: Wilbur wants more and Charlotte keeps it short.
Then what happened?" asked Wilbur.
Nothing," said Charlotte.
Another reading
It shows the battle was the exciting part and what came after was ordinary spider business.
The fish lost the fight. My cousin wrapped it up so tight it couldn't budge.
when she got good and ready, she ate it
Listen for
- Says what the reader feels when Charlotte answers Nothing.
- Compares how she tells the fight with how she tells the end.
If stuck
- How does Charlotte tell the fight with the fish?
- What does she say when Wilbur asks what happened next?
- What does Wilbur want to hear?
A strong answer The fight is told blow by blow, so a flat Nothing after it is funny. It also shows that what came next was just ordinary spider business: the cousin wrapped the fish up and ate it when she got good and ready. A strong answer says what the reader feels and why the author might end it that way.
Critical thinking
- After TERRIFIC appears, Mr. Zuckerman gives Lurvy new orders. What do they show about how he now sees Wilbur? Give two reasons.
What it asks It asks what the clean straw, the crate and the fair show about how Mr. Zuckerman now sees Wilbur.
One reading
He sees Wilbur as a very special animal who deserves the best care.
I have a terrific pig. I want that pig to have clean, bright straw every day for his bedding.
There is to be no more cow manure thrown down into that pigpen.
Another reading
He sees a pig to show off to everyone.
I have decided to take the pig to the County Fair on September sixth.
They should say Zuckerman's Famous Pig.
Listen for
- Two separate orders, not one said twice.
- A reason that says how Mr. Zuckerman sees Wilbur.
If stuck
- What does Mr. Zuckerman say about the bedding?
- What does he tell Lurvy to build?
- What will the letters on it say?
A strong answer Mr. Zuckerman wants the best for Wilbur: no more manure, and clean, bright straw every day. He also wants to show him off, with a large green crate with gold letters that say Zuckerman's Famous Pig. A strong answer gives two pieces of evidence and says whether he sees a special pig, a famous one, or both.
- Charlotte turns down "Crunchy" and "Pre-shrunk." What does that show about how she picks words? Give two reasons.
What it asks It asks what Charlotte looks for in a word, from why she says no to two of Templeton's finds.
One reading
She thinks about what a word will make Mr. Zuckerman picture.
He might start thinking about crisp, crunchy bacon and tasty ham.
We want Zuckerman to think Wilbur is nicely filled out, not all shrunk up.
Another reading
She wants words that praise Wilbur himself, not only his body.
We must advertise Wilbur's noble qualities, not his tastiness.
Listen for
- Two separate reasons, one for each word.
- Says what Charlotte does not want Mr. Zuckerman to think.
If stuck
- What does Charlotte say Crunchy might make Mr. Zuckerman think of?
- What does she say about Pre-shrunk?
- What does she say she wants to advertise?
A strong answer Charlotte is careful about what a word will make Mr. Zuckerman picture: crunchy might make him think of bacon, and pre-shrunk makes Wilbur sound small. She also wants words that praise Wilbur's noble qualities, not his tastiness. A strong answer gives two pieces of evidence and says what Charlotte is trying to prevent.
- At bedtime Wilbur asks for a story and a song, and Charlotte, though tired, gives both. What does that show about her? Give two reasons.
What it asks It asks what Charlotte's stories and lullaby show about how she cares for Wilbur at the end of a long day.
One reading
She puts Wilbur's wishes first, even when she is tired.
So Charlotte, although she, too, was tired, did what Wilbur wanted.
Tell me another story!
Another reading
She wants him calm and unafraid before he sleeps.
Be not afraid and be not lonely!
Sleep, sleep, my love, my only,
Listen for
- Two separate things Charlotte says or does.
- A word for her, such as patient, tender or loyal.
If stuck
- What does Charlotte do when Wilbur asks for a story?
- What does the author say about how she is feeling?
- What does the song tell Wilbur not to be?
A strong answer Charlotte is tired herself, but the chapter says she did what Wilbur wanted: she tells a story, then another, then sings a lullaby. The song itself tells him to be not afraid and not lonely, so she cares about how he feels as well as what he asks. A strong answer gives two pieces of evidence and a word for how she cares.