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Charlotte's Web
Scouts · 1st–3rd
Wilbur calls Charlotte cruel for trapping flies, yet she says it is the way she is made. Can someone be cruel when they cannot help what they are?
The tension Wilbur's horror at what Charlotte does to the fly and his wish for a friend, against Charlotte's plain statement that she has to live and cannot help how she is made.
Notice how Wilbur and Charlotte meet, and how each answers the other about what she eats.
Wilbur lies awake, and at dawn he calls out for the voice that offered to be his friend. Charlotte, a spider in the doorway, greets him. She wraps up a fly in front of him and explains that she must live that way. Wilbur is shocked, then wonders whether he can learn to like her.
Start with Wilbur's loud call for his friend. Ask what he hopes to find, and what he finds.
Retell The student tells the chapter back in order: the long night, the call for a friend, the greeting, the fly, and the talk about what she eats.
Imitate the author After copying the sentence, the student writes one sentence about someone they met for the first time, using the pattern: at last, saw, spoke in a way.
Debate Take sides on the big question: can someone be cruel when it is how they are made? Each side must use one line from the chapter.
Purpose Close by asking why a story might make a new friend someone Wilbur is not sure he likes.
Easier Read the fly scene aloud together and talk through discussion questions 1 and 2 only.
On level Talk through all four 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 to Wilbur's words "It's cruel," using her own reasons from the chapter.
1. Wilbur detested flies, yet he "watched in horror" as Charlotte wrapped one up. Why was he sorry for it?Character
What it asks It asks why a pig who does not like flies still feels sorry for one, and what that shows about Wilbur.
He feels for the fly because he sees it struggle and cannot get away.
The fly was beating its wings furiously, trying to break loose and free itself.
He is shocked, because he has never seen anything like it, and the shock turns into pity.
He could hardly believe what he was seeing
although he detested flies, he was sorry for this one
A strong answer The chapter says Wilbur detested flies, so his pity does not come from liking them. It could come from watching the fly beat its wings furiously, trying to break loose. It could also come from the shock of seeing something he could hardly believe. A strong answer picks one and says what Wilbur's pity shows about him.
2. Charlotte says, "You have your meals brought to you in a pail." Is that a fair answer to Wilbur? Why or why not?Moral reasoning
What it asks It asks whether pointing at Wilbur's own meals answers what Wilbur said, or only changes the subject.
It is fair: Wilbur never has to find his own food, and Charlotte does.
You have your meals brought to you in a pail.
Nobody feeds me.
It is not quite fair: it does not answer him, and he stands by what he said.
Well, you can't talk
who did not intend to be argued out of his position
A strong answer Charlotte has a point: Wilbur's meals come in a pail, and nobody feeds her. But Wilbur had said something about what she does, and she answers with something about what he has. The chapter says he does not intend to be argued out of his position. A strong answer takes a side and says what the other side would reply.
3. Wilbur says, "Perhaps your web is a good thing after all." What did Charlotte say that made him think again?Inference
What it asks It asks which of Charlotte's words moved Wilbur, and whether it was her reasons or the way she said them.
Her point about what would happen if nobody caught bugs.
if I didn't catch bugs and eat them, bugs would increase and multiply and get so numerous that they'd destroy the earth, wipe out everything
Her honesty about herself: she is not proud of it and says she cannot help it.
I am not entirely happy about my diet of flies and bugs, but it's the way I'm made.
But I can't help it.
A strong answer Charlotte gives a big reason: if she did not catch bugs, they would multiply and wipe out everything. She also says plainly that she is not entirely happy about it and cannot help it. Wilbur says perhaps, so he is only partly won over. A strong answer picks the reason that seems to move him most and says why.
4. Wilbur thinks, "But what a gamble friendship is!" What does he risk by making a friend like Charlotte?Theme
What it asks It asks what a new friend could cost Wilbur, from what he sees and says about Charlotte in this chapter.
He risks liking someone who is fierce and does things he hates.
Charlotte is fierce, brutal, scheming, bloodthirsty - everything I don't like.
How can I learn to like her, even though she is pretty and, of course, clever?
He risks little, since she has been friendly to him from the start.
she was waving one of them at Wilbur in friendly greeting
I'll be a friend to you.
A strong answer Wilbur thinks Charlotte is fierce, brutal, scheming and bloodthirsty, and he wonders how he can learn to like her. That is the risk: a friend who does things he hates. But she has been kind to him, waving in friendly greeting and offering friendship. A strong answer says what Wilbur could lose and what he could gain.
1. Wilbur shouts, "Attention, please!" to find his friend, and the sheep scold him. What does this show about how much he wants a friend? Give two reasons.
What it asks It asks what Wilbur is willing to do, and to put up with, to find the voice from the night before.
He wants a friend badly enough to be bold and loud, though he is shy.
he said in a loud, firm voice
But he was determined to get in touch with his unknown friend.
He wants a friend badly enough to risk being embarrassed in front of everyone.
He hated to break the lovely stillness of day by using his voice
Wilbur blushed.
A strong answer Wilbur wants a friend so much that he shouts a loud, firm message even though he hates to break the stillness of day. He blushes when everyone stares, but he is determined to find his unknown friend, and he says it all again. A strong answer gives two pieces of evidence and says what they show about how much he wants a friend.
2. Charlotte says she is near-sighted and wishes she could see Wilbur as clearly as he sees her. What does this show about her? Give two reasons.
What it asks It asks what Charlotte's words about her own eyes show about the way she treats Wilbur.
She is friendly: she wants to see Wilbur well and get to know him.
I wish I could see you, Wilbur, as clearly as you can see me.
She is honest about her faults, and takes them lightly.
I've always been dreadfully near-sighted.
It's good in some ways, not so good in others.
A strong answer Charlotte wishes she could see Wilbur as clearly as he sees her, which shows she cares to know him. She also says she has always been dreadfully near-sighted and that it is good in some ways and not so good in others, so she is honest and easy about her faults. A strong answer gives two pieces of evidence and says what they show.
3. Charlotte calls "salutations" a silly expression and says she is surprised she used it. What does this show about how she treats a new friend? Give two reasons.
What it asks It asks what her explanation of a fancy word shows about how she treats Wilbur.
She is patient: she explains the word and does not make him feel foolish.
Salutations are greetings,
it's just my fancy way of saying hello or good morning
She is modest and honest: she admits the word was a little silly.
Actually, it's a silly expression, and I am surprised that I used it at all.
A strong answer Wilbur asks what salutations are, and Charlotte explains that they are greetings, her fancy way of saying hello or good morning. Then she says it is a silly expression and she is surprised she used it at all. She is patient with him and does not pretend to be grander than she is. A strong answer gives two pieces of evidence and a word for how she acts.