Charlotte’s Web Facts & Worksheets

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The beloved children’s book Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White, with pictures by Garth Williams, was released in 1952. The widely read story is about Wilbur, a pig, and his loyal friend Charlotte, a spider, who writes about him in her web and ultimately saves his life. The story takes place on a farm.

See the fact file below for more information about Charlotte’s Web, or you can download our 24-page Charlotte’s Web worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

• Readers of various ages appreciate Charlotte’s Web, which is regarded as a classic of children’s literature. 
• The sentences in the story depict the feeling of swinging on a rope swing at the farm and mirror the swing’s motion, making it an often-used example of rhythm in writing.
• Publishers Weekly declared the book to be the all-time best-selling children’s paperback in 2000.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

• Elwyn Brooks White was a well-known American essayist and children’s book author who lived from July 11, 1899, in Mount Vernon, New York, until October 1, 1985, in North Brooklin, Maine. As a literary stylist, he promoted well-written, concise, and understandable text.
• As a liberal free-thinker, White frequently wrote with the sardonic perspective of an observer, delving into the intricacies of contemporary society, the distinct qualities of both urban and rural existence, the sometimes destructive impact of technology, and the developing global order. 
• EDUCATION. In 1921, White earned a Bachelor of Arts from Cornell University. He became known by the nickname “Andy” at Cornell, where it is customary for any student with the last name White to bear that name in honor of Cornell co-founder Andrew Dickson White. He co-managed The Cornell Daily Sun as editor while attending Cornell, alongside fellow student Allison Danzig, who went on to work as a sportswriter for The New York Times. In addition, White belonged to the semi-secret Quill and Dagger club, which honored members for their commitment to service, leadership, and honor.
• CHILDREN’S LITERATURE. White is mainly known for his children’s books, especially Stuart Little and Charlotte’s Web. Charlotte’s Web, which was first published in 1952, is the tale of Wilbur, a pig, and Charlotte, a barn spider, who become friends. Since its initial release, the book has been illustrated by the enchanting illustrations of Garth Williams in countless versions.

PLOT SUMMARY

• When Fern Arable, age eight, learns that her father plans to kill the runt of his new litter of pigs, she is horrified. She names the piglet Wilbur after she convinces him that the piglet has a right to life and swears to take care of him. Fern is compelled to sell Wilbur to her uncle, Homer Zuckerman, whose barn is stocked with animals who avoid the newcomer when he becomes too big.
• Wilbur is quite upset to learn that he would shortly be killed for Christmas supper. Charlotte, the hairy barn spider that lives in the rafters above his sty, decides to aid him as he lies in the barn’s corner sobbing and says, “I don’t want to die.” 
• Weird messages start appearing in the spiderweb, inspiring people from miles around to visit these “divine” manifestations and the pig that inspired them. 
• She writes the message “Some Pig” in her web with the help of a cunning rat named Templeton and some of the other animals in the barn. 
• But it soon becomes clear that Charlotte is ill. She has deposited hundreds of eggs, but she is too frail to return to the Zuckerman farm.
• Wilbur, who is grieving, leaves the dying Charlotte behind and accepts the egg sac. When he gets home, he closely monitors the eggs. 
• Three of Charlotte’s offspring remain in the barn after hatching, while the majority go, providing Wilbur with comfort for many years to come.

CHARACTERS

• WILBUR. A pig that was the spring litter’s runt at the Arable farm. After raising Wilbur like a newborn, Fern sells him to the Zuckermans after saving him from her father, Mr. Arable. Wilbur reacts to the world like a child and is compassionate but naive. He strives to live up to Charlotte’s high opinion of him since he idolizes her.
• CHARLOTTE. A spider that resides in Zuckerman’s barn entryway. Charlotte is wise, informed, and caring. She makes Wilbur her buddy and demonstrates that she is a patient teacher as well as a devoted friend. She is astute and devises a plan to preserve Wilbur’s life.
• FERN. A girl, eight years old, who prevents Wilbur from being slaughtered when he is a piglet. As she tends to Wilbur, Fern, who is loving and empathetic, quickly becomes attached to him. She spends a lot of time in the Zuckerman’s barn since she loves animals. The animals in the stable are her closest companions.
• MR ZUCKERMAN. The man that purchases Wilbur. Fern’s uncle, Mr. Zuckerman, consents to purchase Wilbur. Wilbur receives excellent care from him, including a secure home and wholesome food. Before Charlotte’s webs persuade him otherwise, he intends to kill Wilbur for Christmas supper.
• JOHN ARABLE. Fern’s father and the original owner of Wilbur. A pragmatic farmer, Mr. Arable places a high value on labor and providing for his family and farm animals.
• MRS. ARABLE. Mom of Fern. When Fern saves Wilbur’s life, Mrs. Arable is kind to Fern and even helps by giving him a bottle while Fern is in school. When Fern informs her that her best friends are animals, she starts to worry about Fern.

THEMES

• THE CHALLENGES OF GROWING UP. Wilbur, the youthful protagonist of the narrative, inevitably experiences the growing pains associated with being a young adult. Fern, who is also young and growing up with Wilbur, is close to him. Wilbur has to manage early life before he ever learns about the weight of life or death. Wilbur is totally reliant on Fern at first, and later has to deal with the pain of being apart from his closest companion. This causes him to become bored and tired with life, which he has to learn how to deal with. He deals with loneliness and the disappointment of friendships falling through. 
• THE DEATH REALITY. The possibility of death appears throughout the story from the very first line. Fern, who is troubled by the idea of Wilbur dying unfairly, makes fervent pleas to save Wilbur. She makes an attempt to win over her father, who is conflicted about the potential impact of letting Fern save Wilbur now on her in the future. After a while, Wilbur gains admiration and distinction and escapes being killed. He still isn’t immune to the consequences of death, though. Charlotte passes away, but Wilbur is spared the slaughterhouse. Charlotte’s passing highlights one of the harsh facts of life, despite the irony that someone can avoid dying and nonetheless die.
• THE VALUE OF FRIENDSHIP. The value of friendship leaves its mark on and influences the story’s characters. The characters emphasize friendship as a source of strength and a prerequisite for survival. His optimism returns when he meets Charlotte. This emphasizes friendship as a cause for optimism. In the end, the fundamental dispute is resolved through a close friendship. Wilbur is spared from certain death by his friend Charlotte’s selfless love. 
• When Wilbur questions Charlotte about why she helped him and constructed the webs despite her deteriorating health, she responds that it’s because he’s her friend.

SYMBOLS

• CHARLOTTE’S WEB. The power of language is symbolized by Charlotte’s web. Despite the fact that spiders are disliked and often even thought of as dangerous, Charlotte demonstrates intelligence and cunning in the way she deceives people into viewing her web. She not only entangles people in her web, but she also influences Wilbur’s self-perception and the opinions of others. 
• CRICKETS. Crickets are a sign of a changing season when they appear. Wilbur believes that as the seasons change, his chance of passing away around Christmas is increasing. The rise in tension prior to the story’s climax is signified by the crickets arriving for the change of the seasons. Even if Wilbur is afraid of time passing, the change of seasons is not necessarily positive or negative. All that time does is indicate that life is progressing in a normal way. It makes no difference if the characters are looking forward to it or not.
• CHARLOTTE’S EGG SAC. Hope for the future is symbolized by Charlotte’s egg sac. Wilbur grabs an egg sac that Charlotte creates before she passes away during the fair.
• Throughout the narrative, Wilbur is given friendship and hope by Charlotte, who also finally saves his life. When Wilbur’s best friend passes away, he yet feels the anguish of death. He has hope for a fresh future as he brings the egg sac home and lives up to all of the lessons Charlotte taught him that allowed him to grow up. His treatment of the egg sac is another indication of his optimism for the future. 

ADAPTATIONS

• FILM. In 1973, Hanna-Barbera Productions and Sagittarius Productions turned the novel into an animated film of the same name, with music composed by the Sherman Brothers. Paramount Pictures released Charlotte’s Web 2: Wilbur’s Great Adventure, a direct-to-video sequel, in 2003.
• A live-action dramatization starring Julia Roberts as Charlotte’s voice and Dakota Fanning as Fern was produced by Paramount Pictures, Walden Media, Kerner Entertainment Company, and Nickelodeon Movies in 2006. The film was released on December 15, 2006.
• MINI SERIES. The news that Sesame Workshop was developing an animated miniseries based on the book was released on March 8, 2022. After a few months of production, it was supposed to debut on Cartoon Network and HBO Max in 2024. It was revealed on November 3, 2022, that the miniseries will not be continuing.
• MUSICAL. Dramatic Publishing licensed Charlotte’s Web to community theaters, colleges, high schools, and middle schools all across the world. The musical was presented in regional theaters because, as Strouse pointed out, the film rights were controlled by other parties, and without them, no New York producer would invest in the piece.
• VIDEO GAME. A different game based on the 2006 film was released a year later for the PlayStation 2 and was developed by Blast! Backbone Entertainment created a video game adaptation of the film, which was distributed by THQ and Sega and released on December 12, 2006, for the Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, and PC.

Charlotte’s Web Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about Charlotte’s Web across 24 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about Charlotte’s Web. The widely read story is about Wilbur, a pig, and his loyal friend Charlotte, a spider, who writes about him in her web and ultimately saves his life. The story takes place on a farm.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

1. Literature: Charlotte’s Web Facts
2. Charlotte’s Words
3. Story by Numbers
4. A Word for Survival
5. Web and Chill
6. The Character in Me
7. Plot Recall
8. A Web of Themes
9. Chapter Fave
10. Web of Wisdom
11. Written by ________

Frequently Asked Questions

What is “Charlotte’s Web” about?

“Charlotte’s Web” is a classic children’s novel written by E.B. White. It tells the story of a pig named Wilbur who is saved from being slaughtered by a kind and clever spider named Charlotte. With the help of other farm animals, Charlotte weaves messages in her web to convince the farmer that Wilbur is extraordinary, ultimately saving his life.

What are the major themes explored in “Charlotte’s Web”?

Themes in “Charlotte’s Web” include friendship, loyalty, kindness, and the circle of life. The book explores the relationships between humans and animals, and the importance of empathy and understanding.

Who are the main characters in “Charlotte’s Web”?

The main characters include Wilbur, the pig who is the protagonist of the story; Charlotte, the wise and compassionate spider; Fern Arable, the young girl who saves Wilbur’s life at the beginning of the novel; Templeton, the greedy rat; and other farm animals such as Templeton, the rat, and the other animals in the barn.

What is the significance of Charlotte’s web-spinning abilities in the story?

Charlotte’s ability to spin webs and write messages in them is central to the plot. Her webs serve as a means to communicate with humans and convince them of Wilbur’s worth. Through her actions, Charlotte demonstrates intelligence, creativity, and selflessness.

How has “Charlotte’s Web” impacted children’s literature?

• “Charlotte’s Web” has had a profound impact on children’s literature since its publication in 1952. It has been praised for its timeless themes, memorable characters, and gentle approach to difficult subjects such as death. The book has inspired generations of readers and continues to be celebrated as a classic of children’s literature.

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