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Copywork
About This Passage
These two sentences are the moral hinge of the chapter. The first is Fern's biggest claim — that the world is full of injustice, even toward a runt pig. The second is the quiet reaction shot that shows her father being moved. Together they model a superlative noun phrase ('the most terrible case of...') and a vivid idiom ('a queer look came over his face') — sentence shapes a young writer does not yet produce, and meaning worth absorbing by the hand.
This is the most terrible case of injustice I ever heard of. A queer look came over John Arable's face.
Full copywork activity with handwriting lines available in the complete study guide.
Discussion Questions
Narration Prompt
Tell someone what happens in Chapter 1 of Charlotte's Web in order. When you get to the part where Fern stops her father from using the axe, slow down and tell it carefully — what happened, why it mattered, and what you think about it.
Discussion Questions
- Fern tells her father, 'This is a matter of life and death.' Mr. Arable tells Fern she must 'learn to control herself.' Who is right — and what in the story helps you decide?
- Mr. Arable first tells Fern that 'a weakling makes trouble,' but then a 'queer look' comes over his face and he almost cries. Why do you think his feelings changed? What in the story shows you?
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Vocabulary Builder
Item 1
The smallest and weakest animal in a group born at the same time
Item 2
A group of baby animals born to the same mother at once
Item 3
Cried loudly with short gasping breaths
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Critical Thinking
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