Charlotte’s Web

Chapter Summaries:

Chapter 1:

Fern saves a runt pig from being killed by convincing her father to let it live. She agrees to care for the pig herself and names him Wilbur.

Chapter 2:

Fern grows very attached to Wilbur and spends lots of time caring for him. Eventually, her father decides the pig must be sold, but he arranges for Wilbur to stay with Fern’s uncle so she can still visit him.

Chapter 3:

Wilbur feels lonely without Fern nearby. A goose helps him escape from his pen, but the excitement does not last long. After being tempted back with food, Wilbur returns to the pen despite the goose warning him he may regret it.

Chapter 4:

Wilbur planned his day before going to sleep. The next morning, he woke up to a rainy day and felt gloomy. He asked the other animals to play with him, but they refused. Fern could not visit because of the weather.

Wilbur felt lonely and depressed. At the end of the chapter, he heard a friendly voice speaking to him.

Chapter 5:

This chapter explains how Wilbur meets Charlotte. She introduces herself and explains her lifestyle. However, Wilbur does not like the way she catches her food.

At the end of the chapter, Wilbur wonders how he can become friends with someone so bloodthirsty.

Chapter 6:

This chapter describes the beginning of summertime. The goose’s eggs finally hatch, although one egg turns out to be a dud. Templeton the rat wants the egg.

The animals explain that rats cannot be trusted because they are selfish and cold-hearted.

Chapter 7:

This chapter explains that Wilbur learns from an old sheep that the farmers plan to kill him at Christmas time.

At the end of the chapter, Charlotte explains that she will save him because Wilbur does not want to die.

Chapter 8:

This is only a short chapter. It is about Fern telling her family about the talking animals at her uncle’s farm.

Chapter 9:

This chapter is about Wilbur trying to make a web like Charlotte does, but he cannot succeed.

The chapter ends with Wilbur explaining to Charlotte that he is scared of dying. He asks her whether she has come up with a plan to help him yet.

She replies, “No, not yet. I’m working on it.”

She then tells him, “Never hurry and never worry.”

Chapter 10:

This chapter starts with Charlotte thinking of a way to save Wilbur.

We also hear more about Fern and her brother, Avery.

Later, Avery tries to catch Charlotte, but he falls and breaks the rotten egg instead. The egg accidentally saves Charlotte.

Chapter 11:

It was a foggy morning, and the farmhand was going to feed Wilbur.

He noticed Charlotte’s web because the fog made it easier to see clearly.

He saw the words “Some Pig” written in the web and quickly ran off to tell Mr Zuckerman.

He could not believe his eyes and rushed back to tell his wife.

They went to the minister and told him all about it. The news quickly spread, and people came to visit Wilbur all the time.

At the end of the chapter, Charlotte wishes things would go back to normal.

Chapter 12:

This chapter is about Charlotte coming up with a plan. She calls a meeting with the barn animals and wants Templeton to get a magazine so she can find a new word for her web. The animals appeal to Templeton’s selfish needs to persuade him to help them.

Chapter 13:

In this chapter, Charlotte writes the word “Terrific” into her web. The family sees it again and contacts the Weekly Chronicle. Mr. Zuckerman wants everyone to know he owns a terrific pig. He decides to take Wilbur to the county fair and starts treating him much better.

Charlotte then asks Templeton to search through the dump for another word she can use in her web. After several failed attempts, he finally finds the word “Radiant.” The chapter ends with Charlotte telling Wilbur a story.

Chapter 14:

This chapter is about Fern’s mother visiting Dr. Dorian because she is worried that Fern believes animals can talk. She wonders whether she should be concerned about Fern’s imagination. However, Dr. Dorian reassures her that there is nothing to worry about. By the end of the chapter, Fern’s mother feels relieved by what he has said.

Chapter 15:

The chapter begins with the crickets announcing that summer is almost over, which makes everyone feel sad. Wilbur becomes excited about going to the county fair and wants Charlotte to come with him. However, Charlotte explains that she may not be able to go because it is time for her to lay her eggs. Wilbur does not understand why she cannot come with him, but Charlotte promises to try.

Chapter 16:

Everyone is excited about going to the fair, so they all go to bed early. Mrs Zuckerman washes Wilbur in buttermilk to make him “clean as a whistle.” Charlotte decides to go to the fair after all, and she also wants Templeton to come. As usual, Templeton has to be convinced that it will benefit him. The old sheep manages to persuade him. The chapter ends with everyone travelling to the fair.

Chapter 17:

When they arrive at the fair, the children are very excited and are allowed to explore on their own. Wilbur settles into his pen while Charlotte begins making her web. Templeton stays hidden in the crate.

Charlotte notices a very large pig in the next pen and is shocked by his size. She goes to speak to him, but although he calls himself “Uncle,” he turns out to be rude and unfriendly. After Charlotte tells Wilbur about him, Wilbur begins to worry. However, Fern reassures him and says that she will help him win. The chapter ends with everyone returning from their walk around the fair.

Chapter 18:

At the beginning of the chapter, Charlotte asks Templeton to search for another word for her web. Although he complains, he eventually agrees to help. After returning, Templeton proudly says, “I will enjoy myself now.”

Charlotte then spins the word “humble” into her web to describe Wilbur. Later in the chapter, Charlotte begins working on something for herself in the web. Wilbur becomes curious and asks what she is doing, but Charlotte tells him she will explain tomorrow.

Chapter 19:

This chapter begins with Wilbur noticing Charlotte’s egg sac and asking what it is. Charlotte explains that it contains all 514 of her eggs. She sadly admits that she may not live long enough to see them hatch in the spring, but Wilbur does not fully understand what she means.

Later, Templeton returns after eating far too much food at the fair. At the end of the chapter, Mr Zuckerman is called to see the judges.

Chapter 20:

This chapter focuses on the judging competition at the fair. Wilbur wins a special bronze prize, and Charlotte hears the announcement through the loudspeaker.

Many people refuse to believe that a spider could have written words in a web. During all the excitement and applause, Wilbur becomes overwhelmed and faints. Fortunately, Templeton helps by biting Wilbur’s tail to wake him up.

Chapter 21: 🕸️

The chapter begins with Wilbur asking Charlotte why she helped him. Charlotte explains that she helped him because she liked him and considered him a true friend. Wilbur happily says that he cannot wait to return home, but Charlotte quietly reveals that she will not be going with him 🏠💔.

Wilbur soon discovers that Charlotte is dying and becomes completely heartbroken and distraught 😢. He even offers to stay with her, but Charlotte tells him not to be silly. Realising that Charlotte’s egg sac must be protected, Wilbur decides to take it home with him 🥚.

He asks Templeton for help, but, as usual, Templeton refuses unless there is something in it for him 🐀💰. Eventually, he agrees and retrieves the egg sac for Wilbur. Wilbur carefully places it in his mouth and says his final goodbye to Charlotte 👋. As he leaves, Charlotte gently waves goodbye.

The chapter ends sadly with Charlotte dying alone at the fairground ☁️.

Chapter 22: A Warm Wind 🌬️🕸️

Wilbur finally arrives home, where everyone warmly welcomes him back 🏡. He feels immensely happy to return to the barn. The chapter then describes the changing seasons as time slowly passes from autumn into spring 🍂➡️🌸.

Eventually, Charlotte’s babies hatch from the egg sac that Wilbur protected so carefully 🥚. Wilbur is overjoyed to see them. However, as the young spiders grow older, they create balloon-like threads and float away into the sky 🎈. Wilbur desperately begs them to stay, but they explain that they want to explore the world for themselves 🌍.

Later, Wilbur walks to the doorway where Charlotte’s web once hung and discovers three new webs 🕸️. He speaks kindly to the spiders and gives each of them a name 🏷️.

As the years pass, more generations of spiders continue to live in the barn 🏚️. However, despite all the new friendships he forms, no spider could ever truly replace Charlotte in Wilbur’s heart ❤️🕸️.