Charlotte’s Web
About
Wilbur is the runt of a litter born to a pig on the farm of Fern Arable's father. When it is announced that her father is going to kill the pig, Fern rushes forth to save it, asking of her father: "If I had been very small at birth, would you have killed me?" Her father spares the pig, but only if Fern agrees to care for it. Falling in love immediately with the little pig, Fern takes care of him until he is moved to her Uncle’s farm. Wilbur becomes friends with the other animals at the farm including a spider named Charlotte who saves Wilbur’s life.
Read one section at a time, then discuss the questions to review understanding. These questions are a starting place for conversation, not a complete test of the chapter.
Chapter 1
Comprehension questions
Describe the setting of this story.
Page 1 — Farm; kitchen and on the way to the pigpen; morning, breakfast time; grass was wet and the earth smelled of springtime
1
Why did Fern’s father decide to keep the pig and not kill it?
Page 3 — Fern said she would take care of it and that it was an injustice to kill a pig just because it was small
3
From your perspective, can you understand why Fern's father wanted to kill Wilbur? Explain. Example: It costs extra money to feed a pig he can't use; the pig will likely not thrive, so he doesn't want to spend time and feed on it;
listen to your child's answer
Chapter 2
Comprehension questions
What is the main idea of this chapter?
Page 9 — Fern’s has great love and devotion, as she cares for Wilbur raising him as a pet. As Wilbur grows older and too large to keep as a pet, her father insists on selling him to her uncle, Homer Zuckerman, marking the transition from being a pet to life on a farm.
9
Chapter 3
Comprehension questions
Describe Wilbur’s new home.
Page 14 — The lower part of a barn, below the cows, in the manure pile
14
Is the goose a good or bad influence and why?
Page 17 — Bad; She told Wilbur to free himself and to dig in the orchard and garden; told him how to escape when people were coming
17
How did Lurvy and Uncle Homer catch Wilbur?
Page 19 — Go behind him and drove him toward the barn; got a bucket of slop to lure into his pen
19
Why didn’t Wilbur care that he was being led back to his pen?
Page 22 — He was nervous; he wanted the food; he wanted to be in his pen again and not being chased around
22
Chapter 4
Comprehension questions
Why is Wilbur sad in this chapter?
Page 27 — It’s raining and he can’t do his plan; he’s doesn’t have any friends and he’s lonely
27
Describe Templeton.
He’s a rat; he’s dug tunnels everywhere so he can get to where he wants to without being seen; he sleeps in the day and is out at night; gluttonous; 30
Give me three descriptive words of how Wilbur was feeling in this chapter.
Page 31 — Lonely; despair; sad; rejected
31
Who do you think spoke to Wilbur about being his friend?
Page 31 — Charlotte
31
Chapter 5
Comprehension questions
Why did Wilbur have a difficult time sleeping?
Page 33 — He was anxious for morning so he could meet his new friend
33
Describe Charlotte.
Page 37 — Friendly; nearsighted; a spider; has eight legs; pretty; tells the truth
37
What did Charlotte say that finally convinced Wilbur that catching bugs and drinking their blood was ok?
Page 40 — If she didn’t, bugs would otherwise multiply and take over the world
40
What did goose know about Wilbur that he did not?
Page 40 — Mr. Zuckerman and Lurvy were going to kill him at Christmastime
40
Chapter 6
Comprehension questions
Give three reasons why the author stated that the happiest and fairest days on the farm are in early summer.
Page 42 — Blossoms and lilacs with bees; temperature is warm; school ends; cutting of the hay and put in the loft of the barn; birds, nests and eggs; plenty of things for a child to chew (dandelion stem); goose eggs hatch
42
Why did the geese worry about Templeton?
Page 46 — He would kill a gosling if he could get away with it
46
What did Charlotte say would happen if the egg broke?
Page 47 — It would be such a strong smell that no one could handle living in the barn, it’s a stink bomb
47
Chapter 7
Comprehension questions
Who told Wilbur that the farmer would most likely kill him when the weather got cold?
Page 49 — The old sheep
49
What was Wilbur’s reaction?
Page 50 — Got upset, cried and ran around in a panic
50
Chapter 8
Comprehension questions
Why was Mrs. Arable concerned about Fern?
Page 54 — Fern told her about the animals speaking
54
Chapter 9
Comprehension questions
What did Charlotte try to teach Wilbur to do?
Page 56 — Spin a web
56
Why couldn’t Wilbur spin a web?
Page 58 — He lacked a set of spinnerets and know how
58
How did Charlotte help Wilbur feel better when he was worried about dying?
Page 63 — She said she had a plan to help him
63
What was the advice Charlotte told Wilbur?
Page 64 — Build himself up; get plenty of sleep; stop worrying; no hurrying; chew food thoroughly and eat every bit of it, except leave enough for Templeton; gain weight and stay well; keep fit; don’t lose nerve
64
Chapter 10
Comprehension questions
What was Charlotte’s plan going to do to Zuckerman?
Page 67 — Trick or fool him
67
What did Avery want to do with Charlotte?
Page 72 — Catch her
72
Why wasn’t Avery able to catch her?
Page 73 — He was climbing to swing a stick to knock her in a box and lost his balance. He fell and landed on the rotten egg and it exploded making it stink terribly, so he ran away
73
What made the terrible smell go away?
Page 75 — Lurvy covered the rotten egg with dirt
75
Chapter 11
Comprehension questions
Describe Mr. Zuckerman’s reaction when they saw Charlotte’s web?
Page 79 — In awe; bewildered; said a miracle has happened on the farm; said the pig was a special pig
79
Where did Mr. Zuckerman go with his suit on and why?
Page 82 — To see the minister to explain there had been a miracle at the farm
82
Why was everyone coming to see the pig?
Page 83 — They heard about it and wanted to see the “sign” that had appeared in the web
83
What was Avery’s punishment for trying to hit the spider with a stick?
Page 84 — Sent to bed with no supper
84
What did the minister say the “sign” or miracle was?
Page 85 — Human beings needed to be on the watch for wonders
85
Chapter 12
Comprehension questions
How do we know Charlotte’s plan to save Wilbur worked?
Page 87 — Everyone thought Wilbur was unusual, so they won’t kill him now
87
How did the animals want Templeton to help out Charlotte?
Page 89 — Bring magazine clippings from the dump so she can get ideas and know how to spell words
89
What made Templeton agree with bringing back magazine clippings?
Page 90 — Realizing that if Wilbur dies, he won’t get any more food
90
Chapter 13
Comprehension questions
How did seeing the word “terrific” written in the web, change Zuckerman's attitude towards Wilbur?
Page 96 — He saw potential in Wilbur and decided to take him to the fair
96
Give me two examples in this chapter that describe how Charlotte feels about Wilbur.
Worked far into the night for him p. 92; Charlotte looked affectionately at him p.101; she told him a story even though she was tired p.102; she sang him a song p.104; listen to other examples stated
Chapter 14
Comprehension questions
Why did Fern’s mother visit Dr. Dorian?
Page 107 — She was concerned about Fern and her interest in the farm animals
107
What did Dr. Dorian tell Mrs. Arable?
Page 111 — To not worry about Fern and that she seemed to be fine
111
Chapter 15
Comprehension questions
Why was Charlotte worried when she heard the crickets singing that summer was almost over?
she didn’t have much time left and she couldn’t help him anymore p.114 &117
What was Wilbur’s attitude even with the attention he was getting?
Page 115 — Humble; modest; kind
115
Why did Charlotte need to stay at the farm and not go to the fair?
Page 116 — it was time for her to lay eggs
116
Chapter 16
Comprehension questions
How did the sheep convince Templeton he should go to the fair?
Page 123 — told him of all the food scraps that would be left around
123
What made Wilbur faint as everyone admired him?
Page 126 — The farmer spoke of the ham and bacon that would come from killing him
126
How did the farmer know that Wilbur was ok?
Page 28 — Wilbur fought back as they tried to get him into the crate
28
Chapter 17
Comprehension questions
Using 3 of the senses, describe what the family saw as they arrived at the fair.
Page 130 — Hear the music; see the Ferris wheel; smell the of the race track; smell hamburgers frying; hear bleating in pens; see balloons aloft
130
Have you ever been to a fair? Compare the similarities and differences from your experience to Fern's experience.
Page 131 — Listen to your child's answer
131
Describe Uncle.
Page 134 — A spring big; much larger and dirtier than Wilbur; noisy; cracks weak jokes; unattractive personality
134
Chapter 18
Comprehension questions
What word did Templeton bring Charlotte at the fair and why was it a good word?
Page 140 — Humble; he’s not proud and he’s near the ground
140
Why was the fair a paradise for Templeton?
Page 140 — He could find all sorts of food to eat
140
What do you think Charlotte is making?
Page 143 — Listen to your child’s ideas; an egg sac
143
Chapter 19
Comprehension questions
Why isn’t Charlotte going to see her children?
Page 146 — She doesn’t think she’ll be around
146
Why is everyone so excited after bathing Wilbur in buttermilk?
Page 151 — There was an announcement for Mr. Zuckerman to bring his pig to the judges’ booth to receive a special award
151
Why is Charlotte feeling content and peaceful?
Page 153 — She thinks she has saved Wilbur’s life
153
Chapter 20
Comprehension questions
Where did Fern want to go during the award ceremony?
Page 156 — On the Ferris wheel with Henry
156
Why is the writing in the web such a phenomenon?
Page 158 — Spiders aren’t supposed to write
158
What did the rat do to Wilbur save him after he fainted?
Page 159 — Bit his tail
159
Why did Avery enjoy getting splashed with water?
Page 162 — He loved the crowd cheering at him as he acted like a clown
162
Chapter 21
Comprehension questions
Why can’t Charlotte go back to the barn?
Page 165 — She’s going to be dead in a day or two; she doesn’t have enough spinnerets to lower her to the ground; she doesn’t have strength to get into the crate
165
What’s the deal Wilbur made with Templeton to make him get Charlotte’s egg sac?
Page 168 — Wilbur would let him eat first when Lurvy fed him
168
How did the egg sac feel in Templeton’s mouth?
Page 170 — Sticky; worse than caramel candy
170
Chapter 22
Comprehension questions
Why did Wilbur look forward to winter ending?
Page 176 — Charlotte’s eggs would hatch
176
Describe to me the signs of spring.
Page 176 — A new lamb; frogs croaking; snow melting; a sparrow singing; goose sitting on eggs
176
What is a theme for this story?
Friendship; sacrifice; Life & Death; Circle of Life
What did you like about this story?
Listen to your child's answer
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