Charlotte’s Web Chapters 12-15
Chapter 12
Summary
A few days after the miracle in the web, Charlotte calls a meeting of the animals. Wilbur, the gander and goose, the goslings, the sheep, and the lambs are present—only Templeton is missing. Charlotte explains her plan and says that it’s working, and that she needs a new word. One of the lambs suggests "Pig Supreme," but Charlotte thinks it sounds too much like a dessert. "Terrific" is suggested, and Charlotte likes it. The sheep suggests asking Templeton to find something with other good words written on it. When the rat refuses, the sheep reminds him that Wilbur’s food is his food, and if Wilbur dies, so does his food supply. Templeton gives in and agrees to help. Wilbur protests at the word choice, arguing that he is not actually terrific. Charlotte says he is, as far as she is concerned; she tells him to quit arguing and go to sleep.
Analysis
This chapter is important to show the strong friendship between Wilbur and Charlotte. A true friend doesn’t need for you to prove you are terrific; they simply believe you are terrific.
Chapter 13
Summary
Charlotte works through the night, spinning the new word in her web, keeping herself entertained by giving herself encouragement. In the morning, Lurvy finds Wilbur standing under the "Terrific" web and again goes and gets Mr. Zuckerman. They alert the papers to another "miracle," and soon people again surround Wilbur’s pen. Zuckerman tells Lurvy to fill Wilbur’s pen with clean, bright straw instead of cow manure; he also says to prepare a box in which to carry Wilbur to the Fair.
Meanwhile, Templeton is searching around the garbage dump for new words for Charlotte’s web. He brings back "crunchy" and "pre−shrunk," both of which she dismisses—but "radiant," his third word, is a winner. She asks Wilbur to dance and jump around, to see if he really is "radiant" in action. Charlotte says she’s not sure it’s exactly radiant, but it is interesting; Wilbur, however,feelsradiant. Wilbur, tired from all the activity, asks Charlotte to tell him a story. She tells him a tale about a cousin that had built a web over a stream. To her surprise, she caught a fish. After another story about a cousin who was a balloonist, Wilbur requests a song, and Charlotte sings him to sleep.
Analysis
Again, in this chapter, people arrive to admire Wilbur, ignoring Charlotte who is truly responsible for the writing in the web. In addition, we see Wilbur as needy, depending on Charlotte for entertainment and comfort.
Chapter 14
Summary
The next day, Fern and her mother are washing dishes at the kitchen sink when Fern begins to talk to Mrs. Arable about Charlotte. She tells her what a great storyteller Charlotte is and retells the two satories Charlotte told Wilbur the day before. Mrs. Arable, of course, is unbelieving, and though she herself gets caught up in the story, she scolds Fern for "inventing … wild tales." She tells Fern that she would prefer her not to spend so much time alone in the barn, but Fern insists that she’s not alone—her best friends are in the barn—and she heads for the Zuckermans’ place.
After Fern leaves, her mother continues to worry, until finally she decides to pay a visit to the family doctor, Dr. Dorian. She explains her concerns, but instead of agreeing, he says that he thinks the barn sounds magical and peaceful. She asks him about the words in the web, but he says he doesn’t understand "the miracle," either. He says that the web itself is a miracle, and when Mrs. Arable questions him, he asks her if she has ever made a web? She says no, but that she can knit a sock. He explains that while this is true, someone taught her to do these things; no one teaches a spider to spin.
Mrs. Arable goes on to tell Dr. Dorian that Fern says the animals talk to each other. He says he never heard an animal speak but that that doesn’t mean they don’t. He manages to make Mrs. Arable feel better about her daughter, and says that she has nothing to worry about.
Analysis
E.B. White makes what some readers think to be his most obvious appearance in the character of Dr. Dorian. Dorian expresses some of the books themes in this chapter. For one, there is a love and appreciation of nature and the everyday miracles of the natural world. In addition, we see what White believes is true of human nature—that most people are afraid of what they don’t understand.
Chapter 15
Summary
The crickets feel that it is their duty to warn everyone of the end of summer and the coming of change. Everyone hears it and knows change is coming; there is a bit of sadness in the air.
Wilbur is still the center of attention, and he spends his time trying to look radiant for his visitors. His friends worry that the praise could go to his head, but he is a modest pig and not changed by his new fame. He worries, in his dreams, that Charlotte’s plan could still fail, but during the day, he is excited about the upcoming Fair.
One morning, he asks Charlotte if she is going with him to the Fair. First, she says no; she has work to do. She explains that it is time for her to lay her eggs. She gives in a bit when she sees how much it will worry Wilbur if she is not there, telling him she will go if she possibly can.
Analysis
Wilbur’s issues with dependence are again the most important thing in the chapter, as he expects Charlotte to go with him to the Fair even after she tells him about her eggs. Charlotte is, as usual, a true and selfless friend, agreeing to go with him. Her behavior in this chapter also begins to give the reader an idea about Charlotte’s fate.
Charlotte’s Web Vocabulary for Chapters 12-15
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Adjourn
Astonishing
Civilly
Discard
Distinguish
Fascinating
Fidget
Idiosyncrasy
Impress
Incessant
Mere
Miraculous
Monotonous
Sociable
Quiver
Radiant
Rummage
Sensational
Tattered
Triumphantly
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______(adjective) so surprising that it is difficult to believe
______(adjective) boring because of always being the same
______(adjective) continuing without stopping, continuous
______(adjective) full of happiness and love that shows in your face and makes you look attractive
______(adjective) old and torn
______(adjective) someone who is friendly and enjoys being with other people
______(adjective) used to emphasize how small or unimportant something or someone is
______(adjective) very good, completely unexpected, and often very lucky
______(adjective) very interesting
______(adjective) very interesting, exciting, and surprising
______(adverb) being polite in a formal but not very friendly way
______(adverb) in a way that shows pleasure and pride because of a victory or success
______(noun) an unusual habit or way of behaving that someone has
______(verb) it stop a meeting or activity for a short time
______(verb) to keep moving your hands or feet, especially because you are bored or nervous
______(verb) to make someone feel admiration and respect for you or your actions
______(verb) to recognize and understand the difference between two or more things or people
______(verb) to search for something by moving things around in a careless or rushed way
______(verb) to shake slightly because you are cold, or because you feel very afraid, angry, or excited
______(verb) to throw away
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