book report about charlotte's web

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Charlotte’s Web

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Charlotte’s Web , classic children’s novel by E.B. White , published in 1952, with illustrations by Garth Williams. The widely read tale takes place on a farm and concerns a pig named Wilbur and his devoted friend Charlotte, the spider who manages to save his life by writing about him in her web.

Eight-year-old Fern Arable is devastated when she hears that her father is going to kill the runt of his pig’s new litter. Persuading him that the piglet has a right to life and promising to look after it, she saves the animal and names him Wilbur. When Wilbur becomes too large, Fern is forced to sell him to her uncle, Homer Zuckerman, whose barn is filled with animals who shun the newcomer.

When Wilbur discovers that he will soon be slaughtered for Christmas dinner, he is horribly distraught . He sits in the corner of the barn crying, “I don’t want to die.” Charlotte—the hairy barn spider who lives in the rafters above his sty—decides to help him. With the assistance of a sneaky rat named Templeton and some of the other animals in the barn, she writes a message in her web: “Some Pig.” More strange messages appear in the web, sparking people from miles around to visit these “divine” manifestations and the pig that inspired them. Charlotte accompanies Wilbur to the county fair, where she spins her last note: “Humble.” Wilbur wins a special prize, and his survival is ensured.

It becomes apparent, however, that Charlotte is unwell. After laying hundreds of eggs, she is too weak to return to the Zuckerman’s farm. A saddened Wilbur takes the egg sac, leaving the dying Charlotte behind. Once home, he keeps a watchful eye on the eggs. Although most leave after hatching, three stay behind in the barn, and they and subsequent generations of Charlotte’s offspring comfort Wilbur for many years to come.

Charlotte’s Web earned critical acclaim upon its release— Eudora Welty notably called it “just about perfect”—and it quickly became a beloved children’s classic. While humorous and charming, the novel also contains important lessons. For example, Fern’s caring for Wilbur teaches her responsibility, and she realizes that if she stands up for what she believes in she can make a difference in the world. Charlotte and Wilbur’s friendship, despite their differences in nature, teaches tolerance. As he grows up, like any child, Wilbur learns to cope with fear, loss, mortality, and loneliness. Although a story of life and death , it is also full of warmth, with silly characters such as the geese and the snobby sheep . In addition, Charlotte’s Web contains a wealth of detail about spiders and other animals, which White drew from his own life on a farm. Wilbur was allegedly inspired by an ailing pig that White tried unsuccessfully to nurse back to health. The incident served as the basis for the essay “Death of a Pig,” which was published in 1948, four years before the release of Charlotte’s Web .

Charlotte's Web

by E.B. White

• Charlotte's Web Summary

One morning at the breakfast table, eight year old Fern sees her father leave the house with an axe and asks her mother where he's going. Her mother delivers the shocking news that Mr Arable is going out to kill a runt that was born the night before. Fern chases her father down and persuades him to spare the runt, telling him that it is unjust to kill a piglet just because it is small. Moved by his daughter's plea, Mr Arable decides to give the runt to her to look after.

Fern names the piglet Wilbur and looks after him like a baby, pushing him in her pram alongside her doll and feeding him with a bottle. At five weeks old Mr Arable insists that Wilbur is sold and he goes to live in the Zuckerman barn down the road.

Wilbur initially struggles at the barn because he misses Fern so much but soon he becomes acquainted with new friends, the best of whom is a lady grey spider called Charlotte . Wilbur is fascinated by Charlotte, although to begin with he is slightly suspicious of the way she catches her food - he doesn't like the idea that she spins bugs in her web and sucks their blood. He soon realizes that Charlotte is everything but cruel and bloodthirsty and that her method of eating is entirely necessary for a spider.

Wilbur is complete happy during the summer days - Fern comes to visit and his new friend tells him exciting stories and has the patience to try and coach him about how to spin a web (although she knows fine well he will never be able to) but one day he gets some terrible news that puts an end to his carefree attitude.

The sheep tells Wilbur that Mr Zuckerman is fattening him up for Christmas dinner and Wilbur is distraught - he is so happy on the farm and doesn't want to die. Charlotte calms him down and promises him that she won't let him be killed. She hasn't worked out how to save him yet, but she is determined that she will.

One morning as Lurvy pours Wilbur's slops, he notices Charlotte's twinkling spider web in the morning fog. The words 'SOME PIG' have been weaved into the web. Lurvy is gobsmacked and utters a prayer. He quickly tells Mr Zuckerman who is equally amazed and soon the news spreads near and far.

Worried that people may be getting bored of 'SOME PIG', Charlotte asks Templeton the rat to aid her in finding more words to write in her web. Knowing that if Wilbur is killed he won't have access to his slops, Templeton reluctantly scavenges for newspaper clippings to help Charlotte. The next word she writes is 'TERRIFIC' and after that, 'RADIANT.'

Meanwhile, Mrs Arable is concerned that Fern is spending too much time down at the barn and becomes even more alarmed when her daughter tells her about Charlotte and the stories Charlotte tells. Mrs Arable decides to go and see Dr. Dorian to ask him what he makes of Fern thinking the animals can talk and what he makes of the mysterious writing in the web. Dr Dorian is very calm and rational and says that the real miracle is not the writing in the web but the fact that a spider instinctively knows how to build a web without any tuition. He says that it is quite possible that animals can talk and that the reason that adults cannot hear them might be because they talk too much to hear what is going on in nature.

With the news of Zuckerman's famous pig spreading, the Zuckermans and Arables decide to take Wilbur to the County Fair. Charlotte agrees to go too although she is feeling tired and soon has to build a sac to hold her eggs. At the fair, Charlotte is disappointed to see that beside Wilbur's pen is a much larger spring pig called Uncle . Knowing he is fierce competition, Charlotte decides to spin another web and once again Templeton is sent off to find a word.

The adults and children enjoy themselves at the fair and Avery and Fern are particularly excited that they are allowed to go off without their parents all afternoon. Fern spends all afternoon with Henry Fussy and they go on the Ferris wheel together. For months after, Fern will look back nostalgically at her time on the Ferris wheel with Henry.

Before nightfall Charlotte weaves her web with the new word 'HUMBLE' written into it and throughout the night she makes her egg sac. In the morning the Zuckermans and Arables see the web but they also notice that Uncle has a blue tag on his pen - he has already won first prize. Mr Zuckerman ignores the tag and tells everyone to buck up and give Wilbur a buttermilk bath. Everyone who comes to Wilbur's pen has something good to say about him.

Suddenly, over the loudspeaker a voice is heard asking Zuckerman to bring his famous pig to the judges' booth for a special award. Wilbur is awarded a medal for being phenomenal and completely out of the ordinary and Mr Zuckerman is given $25. Since the writing first appeared in the web, the miracle has been on everyone's mind. After the press photos and the commotion, Wilbur is returned to his pen.

Wilbur notices that Charlotte is quiet and looks unwell. She tells him that she is content now that she knows he is safe - she knows Mr Zuckerman will never harm him now, but she tells Wilbur that she is failing and will be dead in a day or two. Panicked and distraught Wilbur races around the pen, begging Charlotte to come home with him, but she hasn't enough energy to move. Wilbur decides to take Charlotte's egg sac and promises Templeton first choice of his slops if he retrieves the sac. As Wilbur carries the sac in his mouth and is led into the crate, he winks at Charlotte and she musters all the energy she can to wave goodbye. The next day, as the Ferris wheel is being taken apart, Charlotte dies.

Back at the Zuckerman’s, Wilbur is given a noisy welcome home. He waits patiently for the birth of Charlotte's children and often looks longingly at her empty, broken web. When her children are finally born, Wilbur is distraught to see them let out loose clouds of fine silk that carries them far away on the breeze. Three of Charlotte's children stay in the barn with Wilbur, however and become his good friends. Year after year new spiders are born to replace the old but no one ever replaces Charlotte in Wilbur's heart.

Charlotte’s Web Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for Charlotte’s Web is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

Wilbur was born during the night.

“Out to the hoghouse,” replied Mrs. Arable. “Some pigs were born last night.”

Vocab chapters 9-12

Like a crossward? I need to see the letters of the word to try to help.

An animal in the story with webbed feet?

Goose has webbed feet.

Study Guide for Charlotte’s Web

Charlotte's Web is a book by E.B. White. The Charlotte's Web study guide contains a biography of E.B. White, 100 quiz questions, a list of major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About Charlotte's Web
• Character List

Essays for Charlotte’s Web

Charlotte's Web is a children's novel by E.B. White. Charlotte's Web literature essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of Charlotte's Web written by E.B. White.

• Didacticism and Teaching in Animal Literature and Charlotte’s Web
• Charlotte's Web: Our Connection with Food
• The Not So Subtle Portrayal of Supernatural Elements in E.B. White’s Charlotte’s Web and Louis Sachar’s Holes
• E.B. White's Faith in Nature: The Critique of Christianity in 'Charlotte's Web'

Wikipedia Entries for Charlotte’s Web

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Charlotte’s Web

E. b. white.

Ask LitCharts AI: The answer to your questions

When the Arable family’s hog welcomes a litter of spring piglets, Mr. Arable plans on killing the runt—a weakling who will only “make trouble” for the others. His eight-year-old daughter Fern , however, becomes emotional and distraught at the idea of death and demands Mr. Arable spare the pig. Mr. Arable agrees—on the condition that Fern accept responsibility for the pig, and make sure that he is fed and taken care of.

Fern falls in love with her new “baby” Wilbur , feeding him from a bottle and taking him on carriage rides with her dolls in cool spring afternoons. As spring turns to summer, though, Wilbur grows too big to live in the Arables’ yard, and Fern’s parents suggest she sell the pig to their neighbors and relatives, the Zuckermans. Homer Zuckerman offers Fern six dollars for Wilbur, and she takes the pig to live over on their farm, promising to visit as often as she can.

As Wilbur adjusts to his new life on the farm, he finds himself experiencing a series of highs and lows. He likes his dark, fragrant corner of the barn and enjoys Fern’s frequent visits—but is often bored and lonely, and has trouble making friends with the other barnyard animals. The sheep are snobby, the cows are indifferent, and the goose and gander are busy hatching a nest full of eggs. Wilbur is given to fits of crying and despair, and in the midst of one of these fits one night, he hears a small voice call out to him, promising to be his friend.

In the morning, Wilbur is excited to meet his potential new friends, and runs throughout the barn looking for the source of the voice. He is surprised when he realizes it has come from a common gray barn spider who lives over the barn door. The spider introduces herself as Charlotte , and begins telling Wilbur about herself—and her peculiar eating habits, which include sucking the blood from flies and other small insects. Wilbur is nervous to have such a “bloodthirsty” friend, but grateful to have someone to talk to.

As summer arrives in earnest, Fern and her brother Avery spend more and more time at the Zuckermans’ farm, playing in the barn and the fields beyond. One day, the goose eggs hatch, and seven goslings are born. One egg is a dud, and the goose and gander give it to the cunning hoarder rat Templeton who makes his nest beneath Wilbur’s trough as a kind of peace offering—they warn him never to prey upon their goslings, and he reluctantly agrees to the truce. As Wilbur grows bigger with each passing day, he draws the concern of a kind old sheep who warns him that if he keeps getting fatter, Homer, his wife Edith , and their hired man Lurvy will surely kill him for meat come Christmastime. Charlotte comforts the hysterical Wilbur, assuring him that she will find a way to save his life.

Charlotte schemes day in and day out, and eventually settles on a plan that will save Wilbur—she worries, though, that she doesn’t “have much time” to execute it. As soon as the plan is firm and her mind she sets to work. One morning, when Lurvy comes out to the barn with Wilbur’s breakfast, he spies a “miracle”: the words “SOME PIG!” have been threaded into Charlotte’s web . Lurvy alerts Homer and Edith, who are forced to really consider Wilbur for the first time as they try to discern the meaning of the message—and its source. They agree that he is “some pig.”

As word of the “miracle” spreads throughout town and many visitors descend upon the farm to glimpse it, only Fern knows what’s happening: Charlotte is fooling the “gullible” humans into letting Wilbur live. Charlotte enlists the other animals’ help in coming up with more words to describe Wilbur, so that she can weave more miraculous webs. She chooses as her next word “terrific,” and tires herself out weaving the long and complicated web—but the plan continues to be a success as Homer orders Lurvy to start feeding Wilbur more often and putting fresh, sweet hay into his pen. Homer has decided to take Wilbur to the county fair in September to show him off.

Fern tells her parents the stories and conversations she overhears between the animals over at the barnyard, concerning her mother, Mrs. Arable . Mrs. Arable pays a visit to the town doctor, Dr. Dorian , who assures her that there’s nothing to worry about—Fern will grow up and start playing with the other children in her own time. As summer winds down, Wilbur is the center of attention on the farm: he has grown big and beautiful, and entertains large audiences of people who come to see him and Charlotte’s ever-changing webs. Wilbur is getting excited about the fair, but Charlotte won’t commit to going—she is feeling tired lately, and knows that soon she must build her egg sac.

The night before the fair, everyone is excited and restless—humans and animals alike. Lurvy and Homer dream of the prizes Wilbur will win, while Fern and Avery dream of rides and games. Even Templeton the rat gets excited at the idea of going to a “paradise” full of food scraps and discarded junk. Charlotte has agreed to come, and on the morning of the festivities, she and Templeton scurry into Wilbur’s crate. When the Arables arrive to drive with the Zuckermans out to the fairgrounds, Mr. Arable remarks on how large Wilbur has become, and what great ham and bacon the Zuckermans will get out of him come Christmas. The startled Wilbur faints as he overhears this.

Wilbur recovers, and after the Zuckermans and Arables pack him into his crate, they all head off for the fair. Fern and Avery immediately ask for money so that they can run off and play games, while the adults help Wilbur settle into his temporary pen. Charlotte takes up residence in the eave of a nearby shed, where she spots something upsetting: in the next pen over, there is an incredibly large pig named Uncle . Charlotte is determined, though, to ensure Wilbur takes home first prize anyway, and plans on spinning a web—even though she is “swollen” and “listless,” she remains devoted to saving Wilbur’s life.

That evening, as Fern rides the Ferris wheel with her friend Henry Fussy and Templeton raids the emptying fairgrounds for food and scraps, Charlotte gets to work on her new web: she is going to weave the word “humble,” which she feels describes Wilbur perfectly. As night falls, the exhausted Charlotte starts a new project: she is making something for herself “for a change,” and it is going to be her “masterpiece.”

The next day, Charlotte has finished spinning an egg sac and filling it with over five hundred eggs. As the Arables and Zuckermans arrive at the fair and see the newest web, they are overcome with emotion—but devastated when they see that a blue ribbon has been pinned to Uncle’s pen. Everyone is surprised when a voice over the loudspeaker calls them all to the judges’ stand for a special announcement. As the group hurries Wilbur into his crate and hustles him over to the stand, Fern finds herself wishing she were up on the Ferris wheel again with Henry Fussy.

At the judges’ table, Wilbur is awarded a special prize for his contribution to the success of the county fair and the local economy. Homer is awarded twenty-five dollars, and Wilbur gets a special bronze medal. After the ceremony, Wilbur returns to his pen and asks Charlotte if she’s excited to return to the barn. Charlotte, though, replies that she won’t be going home: she is dying, and has hardly enough strength to move her arms. Wilbur throws himself on the ground, hysterical, but Charlotte urges him to calm down. Wilbur decides that in light of all Charlotte has done for him, there must be one last thing he can do for her: he can bring her egg sac home. He enlists Templeton’s reluctant help in fetching the egg sac down from the eave, and promises in exchange that Templeton can help himself to each of Wilbur’s meals before Wilbur even touches them. Templeton scurries down with the egg sac and drops it at Wilbur’s feet just as the Arables and Zuckermans return to the pen to load Wilbur up. He places the egg sac in his mouth for the journey home, and winks at Charlotte as he leaves. The next morning, she dies alone but in peace.

Back at the barn, life resumes as normal. Wilbur keeps watch over the egg sac and continues to grow larger. Even when winter descends, Wilbur remains happy and calm—he knows that because of Charlotte’s help, his worth has been proved and his life is now safe. Fern and Avery come to the Zuckermans’ to play at Christmastime, but Fern is no longer interested in the barnyard, or Wilbur himself.

Winter turns to spring, and, one morning, hundreds of tiny spiders begin to emerge from Charlotte’s egg sac. Wilbur greets them all excitedly, but they soon launch threads of silk and float away on the warm spring wind. Only three of them stay behind—Wilbur helps them select the names Joy, Aranea, and Nellie , and he tells them all about how wonderful their mother was. Wilbur pledges his friendship to the spiders, and they pledge theirs in return. As the months and years go by, Wilbur lives a long and happy life and meets many of Charlotte’s descendants—but none of them “ever quite [take] her place in his heart.”

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Charlotte's Web

83 pages • 2 hours read

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-4

Chapters 5-8

Chapters 9-14

Chapters 15-19

Chapters 20-22

Character Analysis

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Discussion Questions

Summary and Study Guide

Charlotte’s Web was written by E. B. White, illustrated by Garth Williams, and first published in 1952. It is considered a quintessential American children’s fiction novel and has been adapted into two films (1973, 2006) and a stage musical. Over the years, Charlotte’s Web has been awarded the Newbery Honor Award for children’s books, the George C. Stone Center for Children’s Books Recognition of Merit Award, the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award, and the Massachusetts Children’s Book Award. Elwyn Brooks White was a children’s author who wrote many timeless children’s books, including Stuart Little and The Trumpet of the Swan . Charlotte’s Web is considered one of the top 100 children’s novels of all time.

This guide utilizes the 1980 publication of the novel.

Plot Summary

Charlotte’s Web begins on a spring day when a runt piglet is born, and Mr. Arable announces that he must slaughter it. His daughter Fern protests this decision, considering it unfair that this pig must die simply for being small. Her parents agree to let her keep it for a while, and Fern names him Wilbur . She takes extraordinary care of Wilbur for the first two weeks of his life, and he grows too big to live with her. Wilbur is moved to Fern’s uncle’s farm nearby, the Zuckermans. There, he is given a new home with a pig pen and a barn.

Fern comes to visit Wilbur almost every day, and Wilbur begins to grow quickly. He misses Fern when she is not there and takes it upon himself to make new friends. His first friend is a rat named Templeton , but the rat is standoffish and not always around. Wilbur is offered friendship from an unlikely source instead: a spider named Charlotte , who has made her home in the barn doorway. The two quickly become friends, and Charlotte becomes protective over Wilbur. When a sheep announces that Wilbur may likely be slaughtered at Christmas time, Charlotte decides she must find a way to save him. Meanwhile, Fern is the only one who hears the animals talk and decides to spend her summer watching this all unfold.

Charlotte formulates a plan to save Wilbur by spinning words into her web that describe him as an extraordinary pig. She knows that she can fool the gullible humans into believing it is true, and her plan succeeds. From the time she spins the words “some pig” into her web, people from far and wide become enamored with Wilbur. Charlotte spins two more subsequent phrases, “terrific” and “humble,” which serve to propel Wilbur into winning a special prize at the County Fair that fall. The entire county becomes convinced that Wilbur is a miracle pig, and Charlotte becomes convinced that the Zuckermans will not eat him. Charlotte knows her life as a spider is short and wants to ensure Wilbur is safe before she is gone.

After the fair, Charlotte knows she is nearing the end of her life. Having laid her egg sac the night before, and secured Wilbur’s future with her tricks, Charlotte can die in peace. Wilbur takes the egg sac back to the farm with him, and Charlotte dies in the pen at the fair on her own. The next spring, many new spiders hatch from Charlotte’s egg sac, and three of them decide to make their homes in the barn. Wilbur instantly befriends them, vowing to protect them. Charlotte’s children have children, and this cycle continues for many years. Wilbur is never again without a friend, but he never forgets his truest friend, Charlotte.

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'Charlotte's Web' Summary

A Fable About a Lovable Pig and a Clever Spider

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A masterpiece of American children’s literature, Charlotte's Web  is a fable by E.B. White about a runt of a pig named Wilbur, who is loved by a little girl and befriended by a very clever spider named Charlotte.

Summary of Charlotte's Web

Author E.B. White, a humorist and elegant essayist who wrote for the New Yorker and Esquire and edited The Elements of Style, wrote two other classic children’s books, Stuart Little, and The Trumpet of the Swan . But Charlotte’s Web— an adventure story set largely in a barn, a story of friendship, a celebration of farm life, and much more—is arguably his finest work.

The story begins with Fern Arable rescuing the runt of a pig’s litter, Wilbur, from certain slaughter. Fern cares for the pig, who beats the odds and survives—which is something a theme for Wilbur. Mr. Arable, fearing his daughter is becoming too attached to an animal that is being bred to be butchered, sends Wilbur to the nearby farm of Fern’s uncle, Mr. Zuckerman.

Wilbur settles into his new home. At first, he’s lonely and misses Fern, but he settles in when he meets a spider named Charlotte and other animals, including Templeton, a scavenging rat. When Wilbur discovers his fate—pigs are raised to become bacon—Charlotte hatches a plan to help him.

She spins a web over Wilbur’s sty that reads: “Some Pig.” Mr. Zucker spots her work and thinks it is a miracle. Charlotte keeps spinning her words, deploying Templeton to bring back labels so she can copy words such as “Terrific” over Wilbur’s pigpen.

When Wilbur is taken to the country fair, Charlotte and Templeton go to continue their work, as Charlotte spins new messages. The results draw enormous crowds and Charlotte’s plan to save Wilbur’s life pays off.

At the close of the fair, however, Charlotte says goodbye to Wilbur. She is dying. But she entrusts her friend with a sack of eggs she has spun. Heartbroken, Wilbur takes the eggs back to the farm and sees that they hatch. Three of Charlotte’s “kids” stay with Wilbur, who lives happily with Charlotte’s descendants. 

Charlotte’s Web was awarded the Massachusetts Children's Book Award (1984), Newbery Honor Book (1953), Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal (1970), and Horn Book Fanfare.

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Charlotte's Web

By e.b. white.

'Charlotte’s Web' by E.B. White features some of the best-loved characters in the history of children’s literature—Charlotte and Wilbur. 

Article written by Emma Baldwin

B.A. in English, B.F.A. in Fine Art, and B.A. in Art Histories from East Carolina University.

These two central characters work together to save Wilbur’s life, crafting messages into Charlotte’s web, along with help from the other farm animals. Although this novel was written for and is still primarily read by children, it’s loved by readers of all ages around the world. 

Wilbur is the main character in E.B. White’s timeless classic Charlotte’s Web . Wilbur is a young pig who is about to be sent away to be slaughtered until he is saved by a small gray spider named Charlotte. Wilbur’s life is changed forever when Charlotte saves him, and he has a unique opportunity to learn and experience more than what he had ever imagined before.

Wilbur quickly becomes a lovable character, with his naivety and innocence making him endearing to all readers. He loves playing with the other barnyard animals and is often times outsmarted or embarrassed by them. As the story progresses, Wilbur learns important lessons and values, such as courage and friendship. He also discovers that true friendship can be found in unexpected places. 

Although Wilbur is small and naive, he always manages to remain strong and determined in the face of adversity, proving that even though he may not always know what’s going on, he will do whatever it takes to protect his friends.

Charlotte is a grey spider with a white streak on her back, is one of the main characters in E.B. White’s novel Charlotte’s Web . Throughout the story, Charlotte and her friends Wilbur the pig, Templeton the rat, and the rest of the barnyard animals teach readers valuable lessons about friendship, loyalty, and the importance of being kind to each other.

Charlotte’s most notable trait is her selfless nature. She often puts others before herself, going out of her way to help Wilbur, even though it means sacrificing her own safety and well-being. Charlotte’s personality is characterized by her warm-heartedness, her strong sense of morality, and her unyielding loyalty. Her gentle and understanding attitude makes her an inspiration to readers, young and old. Charlotte proves that small acts of kindness can make all the difference in someone’s life.

Charlotte saves Wilbur’s life by spinning words into her web. She is an advocate for Wilbur, always looking out for him and encouraging him. She is also an inspiration to Wilbur, teaching him that there is more to life than food and sleep.

Fern is the eight-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Arable, who saves Wilbur from being slaughtered when he is born. Fern is kind-hearted and loves animals, especially Wilbur. She immediately bonds with him and with the other animals on the farm. She teaches Wilbur how to communicate with humans and continues to care for him throughout the story.

She treats Wilbur like a friend, and he returns her affection by following her around. The first half of the novel is primarily driven by Fern’s friendship with Wilbur. 

As the novel progresses, it becomes clear that Fern is outgrowing her friendship with the barn animals and is becoming more interested in making friends with children her own age (this alludes to one of the central themes of the novel—aging). 

Templeton is a rat who lives in the barn where Wilbur is kept and is often considered to be the antagonist of the novel. At first, he appears selfish and unhelpful, but as the story progresses, he becomes an important ally of Wilbur. Templeton helps Wilbur by finding materials for Charlotte’s web and by using his wily ways to trick other animals on the farm.

Mr. Zuckerman

Mr. Zuckerman is the farmer who owns the barn where Wilbur lives. At first, he seems uncaring and cold, but eventually, he develops a fondness for Wilbur and appreciates Charlotte’s efforts to save Wilbur’s life. He gives Wilbur a safe place to live.

John Arable 

Fern’s father and Wilbur’s first owner. He’s practical, cares about his family, and tries to make the right decisions for his farm. 

Fern’s brother, who gets in trouble and is known for carrying objects around in his pockets. 

Mrs. Arable 

Mrs. Arable is Fern’s mother, who helps her take care of Wilbur when he’s a piglet. She wants her daughter to make friends with children her own age and not spend as much time with animals, though. 

Lurvy 

The hired worker on the Zuckerman farm. He finds Charlotte’s webs and reports to his boss every time there’s a new one. 

Oldest Sheep 

An impatient sheep who doesn’t like it when Wilbur is too loud or rude. But, he is in his heart compassionate and helps Wilbur out. 

The geese are a group of birds who live near the barn where Wilbur lives. They are important characters in Charlotte’s Web because they help spread the news of Wilbur’s greatness throughout the countryside.

Who is the protagonist of Charlotte’s Web ?

The two protagonists of the story are Wilbur the pig and Charlotte the spider. The former is generally considered to be the most important of the two. 

What is the main conflict of Charlotte’s Web ? 

The main conflict of the story is finding a way to keep Wilbur from being slaughtered. This results in the plan to use Charlotte’s web to write messages to the farm owner. 

Is Avery a boy or girl in Charlotte’s Web?

Avery is Fern’s brother in Charlotte’s Web. In the novel, he is ten years old and is often getting into trouble. 

What is controversial about Charlotte’s Web ?

Like many novels, Charlotte’s Web has also faced its challenges, with groups hoping to ban the novel. A case in Kansas cited the novel’s use of talking animals as a reason to ban it from school libraries. 

What is the moral of the story in Charlotte’s Web ?

The moral of the story is that friendship knows no bounds. The farm animals work together, and the friendship truly blossoms between Wilbur and Charlotte. Additionally, Fern’s love of the animals, particularly in the first half of the novel, plays into this moral quite well. She declares that they are her best friends, rather than any children her own age she might know.

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About Emma Baldwin

Emma Baldwin, a graduate of East Carolina University, has a deep-rooted passion for literature. She serves as a key contributor to the Book Analysis team with years of experience.

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