book report

AUTHOR E.B.White
BOOK TITLE Charlotte’s Web
PLACE England
PUBLISHER Puffin Books
DATE 1952
NO. OF PAGES 192pages

Summary: One day, a little girl named Fern saw her father when he would kill the baby pig because it was a runt. Fern thought that it was unfair and said her father not to kill him. Finally, she persuaded him and he let her keep the pig for herself. The pig was named Wilbur. Fern loved him a lot. However, he grew up day by day and he got to be bought by Fern’s uncle who was the farmer living next to her house. Wilbur was fed with a lot of animals in a hut and Fern come there every day. One day, the rat who often visited the hut to eat their slops told Wilbur that people would kill the pig in winter for the Christmas dinner. Wilbur was terribly shocked to hear that. Every animal in the hut took pity on him but they thought that was the way it goes. Then one spider said that she would help him from the death in winter. The Spider was Charlotte. She was kind to Wilbur because he didn’t fear her though everyone feared her because of her looks. She pondered on the problem and she found the way. One summer morning, Charlotte made the cobweb and she weaved the letters of ‘SOME PIG’ in the web. A lot of people were surprised and it became big news. Of course, Wilbur called as a ‘SOME PIG’ and he became a charmer. However, after some days, everyone forgot it and Wilbur came back to a normal pig. Next, few weeks later, Charlotte made the letter of ‘TERRIFIC’ in her web to attract people’s attention. A lot of people came and saw Wilbur, but humans had very short attention. As summer ended so did the excitement about web Charlotte needed to think of something special, special enough to change the way people saw the world, or at least one pig in the world. At that time, everyone in the hut loved Wilbur and Charlotte. So, they all cooperate with Charlotte for securing Wilbur from death. The rat found the word of ‘RADIANT’ on a scrap of news paper in the human’s world and Charlotte made it in her web. The same thing was happened and then, Wilbur was just a runt. To keep Wilbur, Fern decided to let him take part in the domestic animal contest. Every animal in the hut and Fern wanted him to win because if he won, he would be a special pig and it couldn’t be killed anyway. They all had become his friends then. On the very day of the contest, Charlotte made letters of ‘humble’ that suit with him well. Though it was determined that the winner was the rival pig, the decision was changed that Wilbur was the winner!! The web of Charlotte moved people and she helped Wilbur. Wilbur thanked for Charlotte but she was not fine because she laid eggs and she didn’t have power any more. Charlotte told him that she loved him a lot and she was very happy because he became her friends. Wilbur brought her eggs back to the hut and took care of them. Wilbur could snow in a hut and in spring, Charlotte’s babies were born. And, in an ordinary barn, an ordinary pig, a runt no less, stood surrounded by friends, welcoming his second spring.

Setting: The setting is the present day in America

Point of view; This story is told by the third person.

Conflict: Fern’s uncle and everyone who loves Wilbur are in conflict. The uncle wanted to kill Wilbur if he was just a pig. Fern and every animal in hut did their best to secure Wilbur against her uncle.

Climax: The climax of this story is when the contest was held. First, Wilbur was lost and everyone thought that he would be killed soon. However, the web was made up and the decision was changed. So, it was the climax when Charlotte’s pains helped him.

Symbol: The symbol of this story was web. Web was Charlotte’s love to Wilbur.

Irony: When the decision was changed, Wilbur was very happy and said to Charlotte to go home with him and live together forever. Then, however she got weak and couldn’t live anymore. Wilbur didn’t know that she had eggs and she kept working to help him. So, the death of Charlotte was the irony of this story.
Theme: Theme of this story is the friendship and the self devotion. Wilbur didn’t judge others by their looks. Then, Charlotte could have a friend. His kindness and pure mind make everyone gently. Charlotte was very kind of him because he was her first friend. She administered to help her friend and finally she was dead. So, this story was almost about the friendship and the self devotion.

Evaluation: This book was written in a little difficult English but I could read it without any difficulties. It was very heartwarming story for me. I think it is good for children to learn love. Charlotte and Wilbur were always thought each other. It is very difficult thing to love someone laying down one’s life. I also impressed by this book when Fern said to her father that it was unfair to kill the runt and she asked to him, ‘If I had been very mal at birth, would you have killed me?’ I became to think that it must always fair to live. This book told me the fact that everyone has their right to live and we must cherish the life of not only oneself but also everyone in the world.