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Copywork
About This Passage
Watch how White lets praise slide into a death sentence inside one short speech. Mr. Arable calls Wilbur 'a wonderful pig,' marvels that he was once the runt, and then, in the same breath and the same friendly tone, plans to kill and eat him. The horror is in the casualness; copying it shows how a writer can hide cruelty inside ordinary, cheerful words.
Mr. Arable studied Wilbur carefully. "Yes, he's a wonderful pig," he said. "It's hard to believe that he was the runt of the litter. You'll get some extra good ham and bacon, Homer, when it comes time...
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Discussion Questions
Narration Prompt
In your own words, reconstruct the chapter from the night of dreams to the truck driving off. Which moment do you think carries the most weight beneath all the holiday bustle, and how do you know?
Discussion Questions
- White tells the reader that a rat and a spider are hidden in the crate while the people 'saw only a pig.' What does White gain by letting us in on the secret the family cannot see, and why does that irony make the loading scene both funny and tense? Use the details of what is hidden and what the people do to support your answer.
- On a day of holiday excitement, Mr. Arable casually calls Wilbur future 'ham and bacon,' and Wilbur faints. What do you make of White setting this death-talk right inside the festive bustle? Make a claim and answer the strongest objection to it. Use the details of the scene to support your view.
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Vocabulary
Item 1
Shining and glorious; the web's praise-word that now shapes how people see Wilbur.
Item 2
Regarding with wonder, approval, or respect.
Item 3
In a careful, wary way, alert to possible danger.
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Critical Thinking
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