Charlotte's Web

Use these essay questions as writing and critical thinking exercises for all levels of writers, and to build their literary analysis skills by requiring textual references throughout the essay.

Differentiation Suggestion: For English learners or struggling writers, strategies that work well include graphic organizers, sentence frames or starters, group work, or oral responses.

Scaffolded Essay Questions

Student Prompt: Write a short (1-3 paragraph) response using one of the bulleted outlines below. Cite details from the text over the course of your response that serve as examples and support.

1. Charlotte and Wilbur develop a Strong Bond of Friendship that comes to define them both.

• What are the similarities and differences between Wilbur and Charlotte’s characters, and how do these similarities and differences allow them to grow and learn from each other? (topic sentence)
• In the body of your essay, detail three characteristics of both Wilbur and Charlotte using examples from the text. Compare and contrast these traits.
• In the conclusion of your essay, discuss the ways that Wilbur and Charlotte’s friendship breaks conventions.

2. Charlotte lays an egg sac before she dies in one final illustration of The Inevitable and Fleeting Nature of Life.

• What does this egg sac represent, and how does it serve to comfort Wilbur after he loses his best friend? (topic sentence)
• In the body of your essay, examine the symbolism behind Charlotte’s egg sac, what it took to make it, and what happened afterward. Consider how the novel’s conclusion focuses on Charlotte’s offspring.
• In your conclusion, discuss how Charlotte’s decision to entrust Wilbur with her young demonstrates The Strong Bonds of Friendship.

3. Each animal on the farm has a part to play in saving Wilbur’s life.

• How does each animal on the farm contribute to saving Wilbur, and why are they so motivated to help? (topic sentence)
• In the body of your essay, examine how at least four animals contribute to the saving of Wilbur and identify their motivations for doing so.
• In your conclusion, detail how Wilbur himself contributes to his own saving.

Full Essay Assignments

Student Prompt: Write a structured and well-developed essay. Include a thesis statement, at least three main points supported by text details, and a conclusion.

1. Charlotte’s Web is considered a classic American novel and one of the top 100 Children’s novels of all time. Why might this be, and how does the novel exhibit traditional American life? How do the setting, characters, and issues examined within the novel represent the era of the novel’s writing while continuing to hold relevance today? Be sure to include at least two quotes as well as other textual support in your essay.

2. Death looms over both Wilbur and Charlotte’s future throughout the story and becomes the mechanism that bonds Wilbur and Charlotte to one another in a true demonstration of The Strong Bonds of Friendship. Why is this so important for their growth as characters and for the development of their friendship? How does Wilbur’s growth relate to The Inevitable and Fleeting Nature of Life? Include at least three quotes in your essay.

3. Fern is initially viewed as strange for wanting to save Wilbur, but eventually, everyone decides that Wilbur is special and worthy of saving. Why do the humans decide not to eat Wilbur, and what characteristics does Charlotte see in humans that made her prediction so accurate? How does Charlotte’s view of humans inspire her idea for how to save Wilbur? In your essay, include textual support and at least two quotes.