Preview
Copywork
About This Passage
This is the smallest, strongest promise in the chapter: four short words — 'You shall not die' — said briskly, the way someone talks when they have already decided. Wilbur's questions tumble out in little bursts, and Charlotte's answer is just two words: 'I am.' Copying this exchange gives practice with quotation marks around short speeches, a question mark and an exclamation living side by side, and the power of saying a big thing in very few words.
"You shall not die," said Charlotte, briskly. "What? Really?" cried Wilbur. "Who's going to save me?" "I am," said Charlotte.
Full copywork activity with handwriting lines available in the complete study guide.
Discussion Questions
Narration Prompt
Tell the story of the bad news in order: how Wilbur was feeling about his meals and his naps, who walked in to pay a call, what the old sheep told him, what Wilbur did when he heard it, and what Charlotte said at the end. Finish by telling exactly what Charlotte promised and what she said when Wilbur asked how.
Discussion Questions
- Wilbur is proud of growing: 'At my age it's a good idea to keep gaining,' he says. But the old sheep sees the same weight and says, 'I don't envy you.' Why does the same weight look good to Wilbur and bad to the sheep? Use the words of their talk to explain what each one knows.
- When Wilbur asks if the bad news is true, Charlotte does not pretend: 'If she says they plan to kill you, I'm sure it's true. It's also the dirtiest trick I ever heard of.' Why might Charlotte tell her frightened friend the truth instead of something comforting? Use the words of her answer and the details of what she promises next to explain what her honesty does.
+ 2 more questions in the complete study guide
Vocabulary
Item 1
Salted, smoked meat from a pig.
Item 2
A secret plan made by a group.
Item 3
Stiff and unable to move.
+ 6 more vocabulary words in the complete study guide
Critical Thinking
+ 4 more questions in the complete study guide
Get the complete study guide — free
Sign up and get your first book with every chapter included. Copywork, discussion questions, vocabulary, and critical thinking.
Sign up free