Étude du livre Charlotte’s Web d'E. B. White (document en anglais)

Charlotte’s Web

written by

E. B. White

Book Report: “Charlotte’s Web”, E.B. White

Introduction

I chose this book because I come from Belgium and my writing tutor told me that I wouldn’t have any difficulty with understanding this book. My English isn’t that good because I only learned English two years ago. Moreover, this is a famous book; everybody knows this story so I needed to read it.

1. Before Breakfast

In this chapter, Fern, Mr. and Mrs. Arable daughter was wondering why her father went out with an ax. Her mom explained her that some pigs were born during the night. But she still didn’t see why her dad needed an ax. Mrs. Arable explained than to Fern, that one of the pigs is a runt and so he needed to be killed. Fern was devastated and ran outside after her dad. She didn’t want her dad to kill that little pig. Her dad explained to her that he would die anyway, but Fern stood hard against it and finally her dad decided she could keep it but it would be her responsibility. Back in the house, Avery (her brother) came in and saw this little creature and asked what this little white rat was doing in his house. Fern decided to first milk her little pig before she would eat. A new little creature did his appearance in the Arable’s house and it was Fern’s little baby, she called him “Wilbur”.

In this first chapter, the relation between animal and human is clear. Mr. Arable wants to kill the pig because he is a runt. This is clear, Mr. Arable is a farmer and so he thinks about his agriculture. But Fern is against the fact that her father would kill the little pig and finally she has the right to keep the little pig and raise it. In this chapter, there are 2 different relations, one who would kill the pig because he is a runt, and the other one would save it and raise it like a little baby.

2. Wilbur

In this Chapter, Fern takes care about Wilbur like she did never before with anyone or anything. Wilbur becomes her “everything”, she feed him perfectly, she took him with her during her walks outside and if Wilbur was tired she would put him in the carriage, she loved Wilbur so much. She even took a bath with him. Every day was a happy day and every night was a peaceful night. But it changes when Wilbur started to be too big so they needed to sell him. She was really sad but her father find a solution; call her uncle Homer Zuckerman who was living down the road, she could visit him as many times she wanted to. It was soon arranged and Wilbur was sold for six dollars. The very next day, Wilbur was taken to Zuckerman’s barn.

In this chapter, the relation between Wilbur and the Arable family is getting better, Fern feeds the pig when she is home and while she is at school, Mrs. Arable takes care of him. So here we can notice that the relationship is more positive than it all started at the beginning when they would kill him (even Mrs. Arable agreed when Mr. Arable wanted to kill Wilbur a few days ago, and now she is feeding him). Fern is really becoming close to Wilbur. Wilbur is her best friend so this is really a strong positive relation between her and Wilbur because she cried when her dad told her that Wilbur needed to be sold because they couldn’t take care of him anymore.

3. Escape

In this chapter, Wilbur discovers the barn. Actually it is a regular basic barn, it smells like one and it looks like one. Wilbur’s place was in the lower part of the barn, where it was warm and dry. Fern came every day, she found an old milking stool and she putted it next to Wilbur’s pen. She could sit there all day long, just looking at Wilbur. Wilbur loved Fern’s presence, he was happy when she was there. He quickly met all the other animals and befriended with them. One afternoon in June, Fern didn’t come and Wilbur was standing there outside in his pigpen. He felt alone and was sad but than the goose told him that he could easily escape because one of the boards was loose. First he didn’t want to but after he get so bored he decided to try. And there he goes, he broke out, run into the garden and soon Mrs. Zuckerman, Mr. Zuckerman and Lurvy (Mr. Zuckerman’s help) were trying to catch him. Finally it was Mr. Zuckerman who caught him by using the old pail trick. Once Wilbur in his pigpen again Mr. Zuckerman said he was probably be a good pig even though he escaped. On his side, Wilbur thought he was to young to be free so wouldn’t try it anymore.

In this Chapter, the relation changes a bit. Indeed, Wilbur was sold to Mr. Zuckerman, but Mr. Zuckerman is a farmer and he thinks of Wilbur like a farmer would do, as food. So he agreed to feed and raise Wilbur but it is because he is a farmer. So this is more a neutral relation between Mr. Zuckerman and Wilbur, even though Fern is still really close to Wilbur. So they still have a strong positive relationship.

4. Loneliness

In this chapter, Wilbur feels and realizes he is alone. It was a dark rainy day, nobody was there, neither was Fern. He had made a planning but the rain upsets Wilbur’s planned. And when he was trying to find some friends, nobody wants to be his friend or they would just simply ignore him. When Lurvy brought his food he didn’t want it, the only thing he wanted was love. But nobody wants to play with him so he feels alone. He started to cry. In the evening, just before going to bed a little voice told Wilbur that he/she wanted to be his friend. Wilbur couldn’t see him/her because of the darkness. He will met her the next day said the voice.

In this chapter, there isn’t really a relationship between human and animal, apart from the fact that Lurvy feeds Wilbur but this is only because they want Wilbur to gain weight. Fern is still close and friend with Wilbur.

5. Charlotte

In this chapter, Wilbur was so excited to meet his new friend he couldn’t sleep. He woke up several times during the night thinking about his new friend. The very next morning, once the sun came up, Wilbur was looking for his friend…but nobody was there. He started to look around and still nobody was coming or there. Finally the little voice called him again and Wilbur was super excited. He couldn’t find from where it came from so he was confused, but than a little spider above Wilbur’s pen called him again. Wilbur finally sees her and she was in fact, Charlotte. They started to talk, and talk, and talk again for a

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