Charlotte's Web
Chapter 19 — 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
Everyone admires the web and nobody notices Charlotte, yet she feels peaceful and contented. Should she be content, or is she owed more?
The tension Charlotte does the work that saves Wilbur and stays unseen in the ceiling, while the crowd praises the web, the pig and each other.
Today's focus
Notice who is praised in this chapter, who is unseen, and how each of them feels.
Two core ideas
- Credit goes to the web and the pig, while Charlotte stays unseen in the ceiling with her egg sac.
- Wilbur and Charlotte talk about her egg sac while Templeton brings bad news and a crowd cheers.
The shape at a glance
At dawn Wilbur wakes to find Charlotte weak and her peach-colored egg sac on the ceiling. Templeton returns from his feast and says Uncle has won first prize. The crowd admires Wilbur and the web, and a loudspeaker calls Mr. Zuckerman to the judges' booth. Charlotte watches unseen, and the family drives off.
A way in
Start with Charlotte's egg sac. Ask what Wilbur sees, and how Charlotte answers when he asks about it.
Lesson plan
Retell The student tells the chapter back in order: the egg sac, Templeton's news, the sign HUMBLE, the blue tag, the bath, the loudspeaker, and the drive.
Imitate the author After copying the passage, the student writes two sentences in the same pattern: what everyone did, then what nobody did.
Debate Take sides on the big question: should Charlotte be content, or is she owed more? Each side must use one line from the chapter.
Purpose Close by asking why a story might let the helper stay hidden while the crowd cheers.
Easier Read the talk about the egg sac aloud together and talk through discussion questions 1 and 2 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 Wilbur might tell the crowd about Charlotte if he could, using what he knows from the chapter.
Discussion
- Charlotte tells Wilbur, "Oh, don't pay any attention to me." Why do you think she says that? What makes you think so?Character
What it asks It asks why Charlotte pushes Wilbur's worry away, when he can hear that something is wrong.
One reading
She wants Wilbur to enjoy his big day and not fret about her.
But I don't want you to worry about me. This is your big day today.
Another reading
She is tired, and does not want to talk about it.
I just don't have much pep any more.
I'm not young any more, Wilbur.
Listen for
- Uses something Charlotte says, not only a guess.
- Notices that Wilbur keeps asking, even so.
If stuck
- What does Charlotte say is happening today?
- How does her voice sound to Wilbur?
- What does she tell him about her age?
A strong answer Charlotte seems to be thinking of Wilbur first: she tells him not to worry because this is his big day. She also says she does not have much pep and is not young any more, so she may be tired and not want to say more. A strong answer picks a reason and uses one thing she says.
- Templeton tells Wilbur, "I guess you're licked." Was it right to tell him the bad news that way? Why or why not?Moral reasoning
What it asks It asks whether bad news should be told bluntly, and what Wilbur owes to hearing the truth.
One reading
Yes: it was true, and Wilbur would find out anyway.
I noticed a blue tag on the front of his pen. That means he has won first prize.
Another reading
No: he said it in a hurtful way, and Wilbur was left trying not to think about it.
He'll take the knife to you, my boy.
Wilbur tried not to think about what the rat had just said.
Listen for
- Gives a reason, not only yes or no.
- Says what Charlotte did when she heard it.
If stuck
- What did Templeton see on Uncle's pen?
- What does he say will happen to Wilbur?
- What does Charlotte tell him?
A strong answer One answer is that Templeton told the truth: he saw the blue tag, and Wilbur would learn about it soon. The other is that he said it harshly, adding that Zuckerman would take the knife to him, and Charlotte tells him to be still. A strong answer takes a side and says what the other side would answer.
- After Templeton's news, Wilbur decides to change the subject and tells him about the egg sac. Why might Wilbur pick that? What makes you think so?Inference
What it asks It asks why Wilbur turns to the egg sac when he wants to stop thinking about the bad news.
One reading
He wants to push the fear away with something happy.
Wilbur tried not to think about what the rat had just said.
He decided to change the subject.
Another reading
He is proud of Charlotte and wants Templeton to see what he missed.
if you weren't so dopey, you would have noticed that Charlotte has made an egg sac
She is going to become a mother.
Listen for
- Uses what Wilbur says or thinks.
- Allows that he may be afraid and proud at once.
If stuck
- What does Wilbur try not to think about?
- What does he tell Templeton?
- How does Templeton answer?
A strong answer Wilbur is trying not to think about what the rat said, so a happy subject is a way to push the fear away. He is also proud of Charlotte and calls Templeton dopey for missing the egg sac. A strong answer picks a reason and uses one thing Wilbur says or does.
- After everyone stares at the blue tag, Mr. Zuckerman says "Bath time!" cheerfully. How does he sound to you? What tells you?Tone
What it asks It asks the student to hear Mr. Zuckerman's voice just after the silence, and decide what is behind it.
One reading
He sounds brisk and determined, a man who keeps going.
What's everybody crying about?
Let's get busy! Edith, bring the buttermilk!
Another reading
He sounds like he is putting on a brave face while everyone else is upset.
Mrs. Zuckerman began to cry.
Nobody said a word. They just stared at the tag.
Listen for
- Reads Mr. Zuckerman's line aloud in the voice the student hears.
- Compares how he sounds with how the others act.
If stuck
- What does everyone do when they see the blue tag?
- What does Mr. Zuckerman ask them?
- What word does the author use for how he speaks?
A strong answer He sounds brisk: he asks what everybody is crying about and says let's get busy. But Mrs. Zuckerman is crying and nobody has said a word, so he may be putting on a brave face. A strong answer reads one line aloud and says which of the two it sounds like.
- A bystander says Wilbur "isn't as big as that pig next door" but "he's cleaner." Why might people like clean more than big?Theme
What it asks It asks why a crowd might care more about how a pig looks and seems than about how big he is.
One reading
People like what looks cared for and pretty.
He isn't as big as that pig next door,
Wilbur grew beautifully white and smooth.
Another reading
People are moved by the web and its word, not only by the pig.
He's humble, too,
Everyone admired the web.
Listen for
- Says what the crowd sees in Wilbur.
- Uses what the bystander or the woman says.
If stuck
- What happens to Wilbur during the buttermilk bath?
- What does the woman say about the sign on the web?
- What do people notice first about a pig?
A strong answer The crowd sees a pig who has been washed and looks white and smooth, so they like clean. They also read the sign on the web and call him humble, so it is not only looks. A strong answer says what people are judging by, and uses one thing a person in the chapter says.
- Templeton comes back "swollen to twice his normal size." Why might the author write his return that way?Author's choice
What it asks It asks what the picture of the full, boasting rat does for the chapter, set next to Charlotte's weak voice.
One reading
It is funny, and lightens the scene after Charlotte's sad talk.
His stomach was as big around as a jelly jar.
I must have eaten the remains of thirty lunches.
Another reading
It shows what Templeton cares about most: himself.
Don't worry about my stomach,
Oh, it was rich, my friends, rich!
Listen for
- Says what the reader feels when Templeton arrives.
- Compares Templeton's voice with Charlotte's.
If stuck
- How does Charlotte sound before Templeton comes in?
- How does Templeton talk about his night?
- What does Charlotte say to him?
A strong answer The picture of Templeton as big as a jelly jar is funny and breaks up the sad talk with Charlotte. It also shows what he cares about: he talks about his feast and tells Wilbur not to worry about his stomach. A strong answer says what the reader feels and why the author may have written it that way.
Critical thinking
- Charlotte calls her egg sac "the finest thing I have ever made." What does that show about how she feels about it? Give two reasons.
What it asks It asks what Charlotte's words and her care for the sac show about what it means to her.
One reading
She is proud, and she has made it strong and safe.
It's made out of the toughest material I have. It is also waterproof.
The eggs are inside and will be warm and dry.
Another reading
She is proud, but sad too, because her voice is weak and she does not expect to see what comes of it.
Wilbur noticed that Charlotte's voice sounded sad.
I have a feeling I'm not going to see the results of last night's efforts.
Listen for
- Two separate pieces of evidence, not one said twice.
- Says what Charlotte did to make the sac safe.
If stuck
- What does Charlotte say the sac is made of?
- What does she do with her front legs when she talks about it?
- How does her voice sound?
A strong answer Charlotte is proud of the sac: she says it is made of her toughest material, waterproof, so the eggs will be warm and dry. But her voice sounds sad, and she says she does not expect to see the results. A strong answer gives two pieces of evidence and says what the sac means to her.
- Fern asks for money again and again and is told to wait. What does that show about the grown-ups that morning? Give two reasons.
What it asks It asks what Fern being put off shows about how busy and excited the grown-ups are.
One reading
They are so excited about Wilbur that they do not hear Fern.
We have no time to lose!
Can't you see everybody is busy?
Another reading
They are caught up in small worries of their own.
Does my hair look all right?
You didn't even look at my hair!
Listen for
- Two separate things the grown-ups say or do.
- Says how Fern might feel.
If stuck
- What does Fern ask for?
- What do Mrs. Arable and Mr. Zuckerman answer?
- What does Mrs. Zuckerman worry about?
A strong answer The grown-ups are so full of the announcement that Mr. Zuckerman says they have no time to lose and Mrs. Arable tells Fern everybody is busy. They are also caught up in small things, like Mrs. Zuckerman's hair. A strong answer gives two pieces of evidence and says how Fern might feel.
- Templeton sees the men put Wilbur in the crate and decides to go along. What does that show about him? Give two reasons.
What it asks It asks what Templeton's choice shows about him, when the chapter does not say why he goes.
One reading
He is curious and does not want to miss what happens.
He didn't know exactly what was going on, but when he saw the men shoving Wilbur into the crate he made up his mind to go along.
heard the commotion and awoke
Another reading
He is hoping for more of what the Fair has given him.
I must have eaten the remains of thirty lunches.
he crept into the crate and buried himself in the straw at the bottom
Listen for
- Two separate things from the chapter, not one said twice.
- Says what the chapter does not tell us.
If stuck
- What does Templeton hear when he wakes?
- What does he do when no one is looking?
- What did he say about his night at the Fair?
A strong answer Templeton wakes to the commotion and decides to go along without knowing exactly what is going on, so he may be curious. He also had a feast the night before and may want more. The chapter does not say why. A strong answer gives two pieces of evidence and admits what is not known.