Charlotte's Web
Chapter 15 — 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 keeps her worries to herself and tells Wilbur only that she will come to the Fair if she possibly can. Is she protecting him, or holding something back?
The tension Wilbur begs for the one friend he trusts to come with him, while Charlotte hides her worries and says she has egg-laying to do.
Today's focus
Notice what Charlotte says to Wilbur about the Fair, and what the chapter tells us she keeps to herself.
Two core ideas
- Summer is ending and everyone on the farm hears it in a different way: the crickets' song reaches Charlotte, Wilbur, the sheep and the Zuckermans.
- Wilbur trusts Charlotte to come, while the chapter shows her quiet worries and her work waiting.
The shape at a glance
The crickets sing that summer is ending, and everyone on the farm feels it. Wilbur is famous now and hopes to win a prize at the County Fair. He begs Charlotte to come with him, but she says she has egg-laying to do and will come only if she possibly can. At the end we learn what Charlotte knows.
A way in
Start with the crickets' song. Ask who hears it, and what each one does or feels.
Lesson plan
Retell The student tells the chapter back in order: the crickets, the farm hearing the song, Wilbur's fame, his talk with Charlotte, and the end of the day.
Imitate the author After copying the sentence, the student writes one sentence about someone doing a small thing while they think: the name, what they did, and how they watched.
Debate Take sides on the big question: is Charlotte protecting Wilbur, or holding something back? Each side must use one line from the chapter.
Purpose Close by asking why a story might let the reader know more than the hero at the end of a chapter.
Easier Read the talk between Wilbur and Charlotte aloud together and talk through discussion questions 4 and 5 only.
On level Talk through all six 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 tell Wilbur if she chose to say everything, and what Wilbur might answer.
Discussion
- The crickets sing that summer is over, and Charlotte "knew that she hadn't much time left." What does the song mean for her? What makes you think so?Inference
What it asks It asks the student to work out what the cricket song means to Charlotte in particular, from what the chapter says about her.
One reading
It means her time to help Wilbur is running out.
Charlotte heard it and knew that she hadn't much time left.
She knew that she couldn't help Wilbur much longer.
Another reading
It means it is time for her own work: the egg sac.
Egg laying. It's time I made an egg sac and filled it with eggs.
In a few days she would have to drop everything and build the beautiful little sac that would hold her eggs.
Listen for
- Uses something Charlotte thinks or says, not only the song.
- Notices that the song means something different to each creature.
If stuck
- What does Charlotte know when she hears the song?
- What does she say she has to do soon?
- What does the song mean to Lurvy, or to Mrs. Zuckerman?
A strong answer The song tells Charlotte that her time is short: she knew she hadn't much time left and that she couldn't help Wilbur much longer. It also means a job is waiting for her, since she says it is time to make an egg sac and fill it with eggs. A strong answer says which meaning seems bigger to her and points to one thing she knows or says.
- The crickets feel it is their duty to warn everybody that summer cannot last. Is it kind to warn, or only sad? What makes you think so?Theme
What it asks It asks whether a warning about something sad is a gift or a hurt, and how the farm creatures take it.
One reading
Kind: it helps everyone get ready for the change.
The crickets felt it was their duty to warn everybody that summertime cannot last forever.
Lurvy, at work building a crate for Wilbur, heard the song and knew it was time to dig potatoes.
Another reading
Only sad: it makes the creatures uneasy and spreads gloom.
the crickets spread the rumor of sadness and change
The sheep heard the crickets, and they felt so uneasy they broke a hole in the pasture fence
Listen for
- Says what the song does for the creatures and what it does to them.
- Uses what Lurvy, the sheep or Mrs. Zuckerman does or says.
If stuck
- What does Lurvy do when he hears the song?
- What do the sheep do when they hear it?
- Would you want to be warned that something sad is coming?
A strong answer The warning helps some: Lurvy hears it and knows it is time to dig potatoes. But it also makes the sheep so uneasy that they break a hole in the fence, and Mrs. Zuckerman sighs that another summer is gone. A strong answer takes a side and says what the other side would answer.
- Wilbur's friends worry that fame will make him stuck up, but it never does. Why do you think he stays modest?Character
What it asks It asks why a pig with a hundred people admiring him does not let it go to his head.
One reading
He values his friends more than being famous.
No pig ever had truer friends, and he realized that friendship is one of the most satisfying things in the world.
Another reading
He is still worried about the future, so the fame does not feel safe.
He still worried some about the future
Sometimes at night he would have a bad dream.
Listen for
- Gives a reason from what Wilbur thinks or feels.
- Allows that he may feel proud and worried at once.
If stuck
- What does the chapter say about Wilbur and fame?
- What does Wilbur still worry about?
- What does he say is one of the most satisfying things in the world?
A strong answer The chapter says Wilbur was modest and that fame did not spoil him. One reason could be that he cares more about his friends: no pig ever had truer friends. Another could be that he still worries about the future, so the cheering does not make him feel safe. A strong answer picks a reason and uses one thing the chapter says about him.
- Wilbur begs, "I need you, Charlotte." She says she had better stay home. Is it fair of Wilbur to ask her? Why or why not?Moral reasoning
What it asks It asks whether a frightened friend may ask for help, when the helper has work of her own.
One reading
Fair: he is afraid and she is his best friend.
I need you, Charlotte. I can't stand going to the Fair without you.
Another reading
Not fair: she has her own duties and he does not understand them.
You don't know the first thing about egg laying, Wilbur.
I can't arrange my family duties to suit the management of the County Fair.
Listen for
- Weighs what Wilbur needs against what Charlotte has to do.
- Uses what each of them says.
If stuck
- What does Wilbur say he cannot do without her?
- What does Charlotte say she has to do?
- Can asking for help ever be too much?
A strong answer One answer is yes: Wilbur is afraid and Charlotte is his closest friend, so he says he cannot stand going without her. The other is no: Charlotte says she has to lay eggs, Fair or no Fair, and Wilbur does not know the first thing about it. A strong answer takes a side and says what the other side would answer.
- Charlotte tells Wilbur, "I'll come to the Fair if I possibly can." How does she sound when she says it? What tells you?Tone
What it asks It asks the student to hear Charlotte's voice at the end of the talk and say what it holds.
One reading
She sounds warm and hopeful: she wants to comfort him.
However, I don't want you to worry about it - you might lose weight.
We'll leave it this way: I'll come to the Fair if I possibly can.
Another reading
She sounds uncertain and a little heavy.
Charlotte gave her web a twitch and moodily watched it sway.
I'm afraid not,
Listen for
- Reads Charlotte's line aloud in the voice the student hears.
- Allows that she may sound both warm and uncertain.
If stuck
- Read the line aloud once warmly and once heavily. Which fits?
- What does she say right before it?
- What does Wilbur answer?
A strong answer She sounds warm: she tells him not to worry and she offers a way to leave it. She also sounds uncertain, because she says if I possibly can and watches her web sway moodily. A strong answer reads the line aloud and says which voice it hears, or that it hears both.
- The last paragraph tells us what Charlotte knows while Wilbur is taking life easy in the straw. Why might the author end the chapter that way?Author's choice
What it asks It asks what the reader gets from knowing more than Wilbur does at the end of the chapter.
One reading
It gives the ending a quiet, sad note, set against Wilbur's easy day.
All that day Wilbur stayed inside, taking life easy in the straw.
She knew that she couldn't help Wilbur much longer.
Another reading
It prepares us for what Charlotte has to do next.
In a few days she would have to drop everything and build the beautiful little sac that would hold her eggs.
Listen for
- Says what the reader feels when Wilbur is resting and Charlotte is thinking.
- Compares what Wilbur knows with what the reader knows.
If stuck
- What does Wilbur do that day?
- What does Charlotte do that day, and what does she know?
- How would you feel if the chapter stopped at Wilbur resting?
A strong answer Ending on what Charlotte knows lets the reader see more than Wilbur does: he rests easy in the straw while she thinks about the little time she has. It also tells us what is coming next for her, the egg sac. A strong answer says what the reader feels at the end and why the author might want that.
Critical thinking
- In the daytime Wilbur feels happy and confident, but at night he sometimes has a bad dream. Why are they so different? Give two reasons.
What it asks It asks why the same pig feels sure by day and afraid by night.
One reading
By day he has company, praise and a plan; at night the fear he keeps pushed down comes out.
In the daytime, Wilbur usually felt happy and confident.
He would dream that men were coming to get him with knives and guns.
Another reading
He is not sure the plan will work, so the worry shows in his dreams.
He still worried some about the future, as he could hardly believe that a mere spider would be able to save his life.
Listen for
- Two separate pieces of evidence, not one said twice.
- A reason that explains the difference between day and night.
If stuck
- What does Wilbur do in the daytime?
- What does he dream about at night?
- What does he find hard to believe?
A strong answer By day Wilbur is busy and admired, and the chapter says he usually felt happy and confident. At night the fear shows: he dreams that men are coming to get him with knives and guns. The chapter also says he could hardly believe a mere spider could save his life, so the worry is always there. A strong answer gives two pieces of evidence and a reason.
- Wilbur believes doing well at the Fair will save him. What do you think of that hope? Give two reasons from the chapter.
What it asks It asks whether Wilbur's hope for the Fair rests on something solid or something shaky.
One reading
A good hope: people already admire him and Mr. Zuckerman is proud of him.
One day more than a hundred people came to stand at his yard and admire him.
How's that for a pig?
Another reading
A shaky hope: it all depends on what Mr. Zuckerman decides.
If he could distinguish himself at the Fair, and maybe win some prize money, he was sure Zuckerman would let him live.
Listen for
- Two separate things from the chapter.
- Says what Wilbur is counting on.
If stuck
- What does Wilbur hope to do at the Fair?
- Who will decide whether he lives?
- How does Mr. Zuckerman act when the crowd cheers?
A strong answer It seems a good hope, because more than a hundred people came to admire him in a day and Mr. Zuckerman is proud and asks how's that for a pig. But the hope rests on Mr. Zuckerman letting him live, which Wilbur only feels sure of. A strong answer gives two pieces of evidence and says whether the hope seems solid or shaky.
- Wilbur guesses that "versatile" means "full of eggs," and Charlotte explains it. What does that show about how she talks with him? Give two reasons.
What it asks It asks what Charlotte's answer to a silly guess shows about her way with Wilbur.
One reading
She is patient: she tells him plainly what the word means.
'Versatile' means I can turn with ease from one thing to another.
It means I don't have to limit my activities to spinning and trapping and stunts like that.
Another reading
She is a little proud and teasing.
Oh, sure," said the spider. "I'm versatile.
Certainly not,
Listen for
- Two separate things Charlotte says.
- A word for how she talks, such as patient or teasing.
If stuck
- What does Wilbur guess the word means?
- How does Charlotte answer him first?
- What does she say it really means?
A strong answer Charlotte tells Wilbur plainly what the word means and says she can turn with ease from one thing to another, so she is patient with a pig who has never heard it. She also says Certainly not to his guess and calls herself versatile, which sounds a little proud. A strong answer gives two pieces of evidence and a word for how she talks.