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Copywork
About This Passage
Study the anaphora. Three times the sentence begins 'When Charlotte's web said,' and each time Wilbur strains to embody the new word, until the final 'And now' breaks the pattern and lifts him into the present. White lets the parallel syntax enact a creature growing into the words written about him, so the grammar itself dramatizes a reputation becoming a self.
When Charlotte's web said SOME PIG, Wilbur had tried hard to look like some pig. When Charlotte's web said TERRIFIC, Wilbur had tried to look terrific. And now that the web said RADIANT, he did everyt...
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Discussion Questions
Narration Prompt
In your own words, reconstruct the chapter from the crickets' song through Charlotte's answer about the Fair. Which moment do you take to be the chapter's true center, and how do you know?
Discussion Questions
- Across the chapter Wilbur strains to embody each word Charlotte writes, from 'some pig' to 'terrific' to 'radiant.' Examine White's argument about the relationship between a creature and the words written about it, and assess whether Wilbur is being shaped by language or merely performing it. Use the details of what Wilbur does for each word to support your answer.
- Wilbur is admired by day yet dreams of slaughter by night. What does White's split between Wilbur's public confidence and his private terror reveal, and why does the fear persist beneath all the fame? Use the details of Wilbur's days and his dreams to support your answer.
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Vocabulary
Item 1
The estimation in which one is generally held by others.
Item 2
To make oneself prominent through notable achievement.
Item 3
Capable of turning competently from one pursuit to another.
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Critical Thinking
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