83 pages 2 hours read

E. B. White

Charlotte's Web

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 1952

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Chapters 20-22Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapter 20 Summary: “The Hour of Triumph”

The loudspeaker announces, “Mr. Homer L. Zuckerman and his famous pig”, and Wilbur is nervous under all the pressure. Fern’s priorities are completely different from the beginning of summer now, as she begs her mom for money to go off with Henry instead of staying to watch the award ceremony. In Charlotte’s “hour of triumph” (157), the speaker attributes the messages in the web to supernatural forces and Wilbur’s smooth, shiny complexion. The speaker states that “spiders are very clever at weaving their webs, but needless to say spiders cannot write” (158), which Charlotte guffs at. The speaker awards Mr. Zuckerman 25 dollars for his extraordinary pig and the attention it brought to the county fair. Wilbur faints from embarrassment again, and Templeton bites his tail to wake him up. The prize is awarded, and a “great feeling of happiness” (160) comes over the Arables and Zuckermans. Lurvy frantically appears with a pail of water, too late to wake Wilbur, and in his panic throws it on Mr. Zuckerman and Avery. Everyone laughs, and Avery begins dancing and clowning around for the crowd. Finally, the families crowd back into the truck and drive back to the pigpen.