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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why does the goose say the last egg didn't hatch?

2. What has Charlotte woven into her web?

3. How does Fern feel about being entrusted with the care of a baby pig?

4. What does Charlotte do when Templeton takes the last egg away?

5. What does Avery ask for after he sees Fern's new pet?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Mrs. Arable tell Fern in Chapter 8 that Fern can tell her more about the animals in Uncle Homer's barn that afternoon?

2. What is the explosion mentioned in Chapter 10's title, and why is it important?

3. What is Wilbur's boast and how does Fern feel when she hears him make it?

4. Why might Wilbur feel particularly betrayed that John Arable is in on the "conspiracy" to kill him?

5. How observant is Lurvy when it comes to Wilbur, and how can you tell?

6. How would you describe Charlotte's personality and interactions with other barnyard animals in Chapter 6?

7. Why do you think Fern goes rigid on her stool one time while visiting with the barn animals?

8. Why does Uncle Homer agree to buy Wilbur?

9. Why might the author include scientific information about spider's webs and legs in Chapter 9?

10. How seriously does Fern take her new responsibility of taking care of the pig?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay discussing what Charlotte's Web has to say on the subject of fame. Include discussion of issues such as how people (and pigs) might achieve fame, what some beneficial and hurtful byproducts and effects of fame might be, and how fame might change people (and pigs) either for the better or the worse.

Essay Topic 2

How can Charlotte's webs be thought of as both a symbol of life and a symbol of death? Be sure to explain how the things they symbolize affect the meaning of the narrative and to use specific examples from the text to back up your argument.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay examining mother-child relationships in this book, focusing on such relationships as Fern/Wilbur, Charlotte/Wilbur, Fern/Mrs. Arable, Charlotte/Charlotte's children, and the goose/the goslings. How are these relationships alike and different? How do some change over time? What does it mean to be a mother or a child in this book? Are motherhood and childhood different for humans than for animals?

(see the answer keys)

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