Charlotte's Web — Chapter 2

About This Passage

E.B. White is doing two things at once in this quiet passage. First, he lets Wilbur demonstrate a pig's instinct — the small, competent act of burrowing — without any authorial explanation. Second, he reports Fern's reaction in two sentences of contrasting length: the lyrical 'Fern was enchanted' (three words, a complete thought) followed by the longer, more practical 'It relieved her mind to know that her baby would sleep covered up, and would stay warm.' Copying this passage teaches the writer how to shift between a short emotional sentence and a longer explanatory one — and how a single word like 'enchanted' carries more weight after a concrete scene than it would on its own.

Narration Prompt

In your own words, tell the story of Chapter 2. What were the most important moments — from Fern feeding Wilbur at home, to the walks, to Wilbur being sold to Uncle Homer Zuckerman? What made them important, and how do you know they were the ones that mattered most?

Discussion Questions

1. Fern treats Wilbur like a human baby — she tucks him into a doll carriage, covers him with a blanket, and wheels him slowly so as not to wake 'her infants.' Is Fern pretending, or does she actually believe Wilbur is her baby? What evidence in the chapter points to one answer over the other? Which answer is more interesting?
2. In Chapter 1, Fern's father yields to her. In Chapter 2, he does not. Both times he has a practical reason — 'a weakling makes trouble,' and now 'Wilbur is not a baby any longer and he has got to be sold.' What has changed about the situation, about Fern, or about Mr. Arable's position that lets him hold firm this time when he could not last time?

+ 3 more questions in the complete study guide