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Copywork
About This Passage
This is the hinge of Dr. Dorian's whole argument with Mrs. Arable. Two short sentences carry the chapter's central idea: the ordinary is as miraculous as the extraordinary. The passage packs the vocabulary words 'miracle,' 'appeared,' 'pointed,' and 'itself' in tight quarters and models the rhythm of a well-balanced argument.
When the words appeared, everyone said they were a miracle. But nobody pointed out that the web itself is a miracle.
Full copywork activity with handwriting lines available in the complete study guide.
Discussion Questions
Narration Prompt
Retell Chapter 14 in six or seven sentences. Start with Fern and Mrs. Arable at the kitchen sink, include the story about the fish, Fern's line about the barn cellar being 'sociable,' Mrs. Arable's visit to Dr. Dorian, his lesson about the web being a miracle, his questions about Fern's health, and the mention of Henry Fussy at the end.
Discussion Questions
- Mrs. Arable tells Fern, 'You must not invent things' — but then she asks, 'What finally happened?' about the fish story. What in the chapter shows you that curiosity can win out even over disbelief?
- Dr. Dorian says, 'Children pay better attention than grownups' and 'Perhaps if people talked less, animals would talk more.' How do you know the author sees Fern's quiet barn-watching as a gift and not a problem?
+ 3 more questions in the complete study guide
Vocabulary Builder
Item 1
To make up something new, whether a machine or a story.
Item 2
So interesting it is hard to look away.
Item 3
Friendly; liking the company of others.
+ 9 more vocabulary words in the complete study guide
Critical Thinking
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