Start Here

I had to read this novel as a kid and of course, we watched the movie on the big projector in the school gym as the capstone to the unit.  Those were the good old days.  If you’ve never read the young adult novel, it’s worth your afternoon.   There are many lessons in it worth remembering.The quick version:
Wilbur is a pig who has already escaped death after being born so small that his farmer-owner decides to kill him.  The farmer’s young daughter intervenes and Wilbur is saved.  Later, Wilbur grows up only to learn that death is the fate of all pigs.  Wilbur is devastated.  His friend, Charlotte, a spider, tries to protect him from death again by spinning a web that reads “Some Pig” convincing the farmer and surrounding community that he is extraordinary and should, indeed, be saved.  Again.

“Do you understand how there could be any writing in a spider’s web?”

“Oh, no,” said Dr. Dorian. “I don’t understand it. But for that matter I don’t understand how a spider learned to spin a web in the first place. When the words appeared, everyone said they were a miracle. But nobody pointed out that the web itself is a miracle.””What’s miraculous about a spider’s web?” said Mrs. Arable. “I don’t see why you say a web is a miracle-it’s just a web.”

“Ever try to spin one?” asked Dr. Dorian.