Charlotte's Web: The Ultimate Quiz

1 of 25

What did E.B. White himself consider Charlotte's Web to be about?

The Barn

Death

Friendship

Spelling

ANSWER: When narrating an audio version of the book in 1970, White stated: "This is a story of the barn. I wrote it for children, and to amuse myself." When narrating an audio version of the book in 1970, White stated: "This is a story of the barn. I wrote it for children, and to amuse myself."

2 of 25

Everyone knows the author of Charlotte's Web is E.B. White. But what do the initials E.B. stand for?

Edward Brian

Elijah Blake

Elwyn Brooks

Ethan Benjamin

ANSWER: While attending Cornell, though, White was known neither as E.B. nor as Elwyn; instead, he was called Andy, as are all Cornell students with the surname White, after Cornell co-founder Andrew Dickson White. While attending Cornell, though, White was known neither as E.B. nor as Elwyn; instead, he was called Andy, as are all Cornell students with the surname White, after Cornell co-founder Andrew Dickson White.

3 of 25

Garth Williams illustrated the original 1952 edition of Charlotte's Web. What was his first commission as an illustrator?

Bedtime for Frances
by Russell Hoban

Charlotte's Web
by E.B. White

Little Fur Family
by Margaret Wise Brown

Stuart Little
by E.B. White

ANSWER: Williams received his first commission as an illustrator in 1945 from children's editor Ursula Nordstrom at Harper's; it was for White's Stuart Little. They had reportedly burned through 8 other illustrators before commissioning Williams. Williams received his first commission as an illustrator in 1945 from children's editor Ursula Nordstrom at Harper's; it was for White's Stuart Little. They had reportedly burned through 8 other illustrators before commissioning Williams.

4 of 25

What other classic children's stories did Garth Williams NOT illustrate?

The Cricket in Times Square
by George Seldon

The Family Under the Bridge
by Natalie Savage Carson

The Little House series
by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Pat the Bunny
by Dorothy Kunhardt

ANSWER: Kunhardt both wrote and illustrated Pat the Bunny; Williams' collaboration with Margaret Wise Brown for the Little Fur Family was Harper's answer to Simon & Schuster's Pat the Bunny. Kunhardt both wrote and illustrated Pat the Bunny; Williams' collaboration with Margaret Wise Brown for the Little Fur Family was Harper's answer to Simon & Schuster's Pat the Bunny.

5 of 25

In what year was the first film adaptation of Charlotte's Web released?

1953

1973

2003

2006

ANSWER: Hanna-Barbera and Sagittarius Productions released a musical animated feature film adaptation in 1973. Hanna-Barbera and Sagittarius Productions released a musical animated feature film adaptation in 1973.

6 of 25

Which actor volunteered to perform in the animated feature film for no salary, out of a love of the original novel?

Agnes Moorehead

Debbie Reynolds

Henry Gibson

Paul Lynde

ANSWER: According to William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, Reynolds offered to participate in the movie without salary out of a love for the E.B. White novel. It's unclear whether or not she received payment for her role as Charlotte. According to William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, Reynolds offered to participate in the movie without salary out of a love for the E.B. White novel. It's unclear whether or not she received payment for her role as Charlotte.

7 of 25

What famous child actor voiced one of the characters in the animated feature film, Charlotte's Web?

Danny Bonaduce

Gary Coleman

Linda Blair

Susan Olsen

ANSWER: Bonaduce voiced Avery Arable, brother to Fern. Bonaduce was one of 5 members of the Charlotte's Web cast who had also appeared on the TV show Bewitched; the other 4 were Henry Gibson, Paul Lynde, Agnes Moorehead, and Dave Madden. Bonaduce voiced Avery Arable, brother to Fern. Bonaduce was one of 5 members of the Charlotte's Web cast who had also appeared on the TV show Bewitched; the other 4 were Henry Gibson, Paul Lynde, Agnes Moorehead, and Dave Madden.

8 of 25

How did Mrs. White describe the Hanna-Barbera animated film adaptation of her husband's novel?

Awful

Lovely

Terrific

Travesty

ANSWER: In a letter to Gene Deitch, a director of animation and friend of the Whites, in 1977, Mrs. White wrote, "We have never ceased to regret that your version of Charlotte's Web never got made. The Hanna-Barbera version has never pleased either of us... a travesty..." In a letter to Gene Deitch, a director of animation and friend of the Whites, in 1977, Mrs. White wrote, "We have never ceased to regret that your version of Charlotte's Web never got made. The Hanna-Barbera version has never pleased either of us... a travesty..."

9 of 25

What was the title of the animated direct-to-video sequel to the animated Hanna-Barbera adaptation of Charlotte's Web?

Charlotte Lives

Fern and Wilbur, Together Again

Wilbur's Great Adventure

Wilbur's Legacy

ANSWER: The 1973 animated Charlotte's Web became one of the best-selling titles of 1994, a comeback the likes of which no other non-Disney film has ever experienced. The renewed interest prompted the direct-to-video sequel, Charlotte's Web 2: Wilbur's Great Adventure, which was released in 2003. The 1973 animated Charlotte's Web became one of the best-selling titles of 1994, a comeback the likes of which no other non-Disney film has ever experienced. The renewed interest prompted the direct-to-video sequel, Charlotte's Web 2: Wilbur's Great Adventure, which was released in 2003.

10 of 25

Which popular child actress portrayed Fern Arable in the live-action feature film adaptation?

Dakota Fanning

Drew Barrymore

Emma Roberts

Lindsay Lohan

ANSWER: Fanning was born in 1994, the year the original 1973 animated adaptation experienced a resurgence in popularity, so it's only fitting that she portrayed Fern in the 2006 live-action film. Fanning was born in 1994, the year the original 1973 animated adaptation experienced a resurgence in popularity, so it's only fitting that she portrayed Fern in the 2006 live-action film.

11 of 25

Who voiced Charlotte for the live-action feature film adaptation?

Angelina Jolie

Debbie Reynolds

Elizabeth Taylor

Julia Roberts

ANSWER: Roberts voiced the spider Charlotte, one of only two entirely computer-generated characters in the live-action film; the other was Templeton the rat. Roberts voiced the spider Charlotte, one of only two entirely computer-generated characters in the live-action film; the other was Templeton the rat.

12 of 25

In 1933, E.B. White and his wife relocated to a farm, which would serve as the inspiration for Charlotte's Web. In which state was their farm located?

Arkansas

Maine

Ohio

Wyoming

ANSWER: They purchased a saltwater farm on the coast of Maine, in Brooklin above Blue Hill Bay. At White's request, the farm has never been opened to the public for tours or set up as a museum. They purchased a saltwater farm on the coast of Maine, in Brooklin above Blue Hill Bay. At White's request, the farm has never been opened to the public for tours or set up as a museum.

13 of 25

In 1953, Charlotte's Web was nominated for the Newbery Medal. Which book won instead?

The Bears on Hemlock Mountain
by Alice Dalgliesh

Moccasin Trail
by Eloise Jarvis McGraw

Red Sails to Capri
by Ann Weil

Secret of the Andes
by Ann Nolan Clark

ANSWER: Secret of the Andes is the story of a 20^th-century Incan boy. Anita Silvey, one of the members of the 1953 Newbery Medal committee, wrote in the School Library Journal in 2008 that she voted for Clark's book over Charlotte's Web "because she hadn't seen any good books about South America." She went on to say, "The Secret of the Andes is a good book; Charlotte's Web, the best." Secret of the Andes is the story of a 20^th-century Incan boy. Anita Silvey, one of the members of the 1953 Newbery Medal committee, wrote in the School Library Journal in 2008 that she voted for Clark's book over Charlotte's Web "because she hadn't seen any good books about South America." She went on to say, "The Secret of the Andes is a good book; Charlotte's Web, the best."

14 of 25

In 1948, E.B. White published an account of how he failed to save a sick pig; some consider Charlotte's Web his attempt "to save his pig in retrospect." What was the title of the 1948 account?

Agony of Farm Life

Death of a Pig

Death on a Farm

Some Pig

ANSWER: In January 1948, "Death of a Pig" was published in The Atlantic, vol. 181, no. 1, pages 28-33. In January 1948, "Death of a Pig" was published in The Atlantic, vol. 181, no. 1, pages 28-33.

15 of 25

What is the first thing Charlotte ever says to Wilbur?

Chin up

Do you want a friend, Wilbur?

Good morning!

Salutations

ANSWER: Wilbur is terribly lonely and hears a voice in the dark asking, "Do you want a friend, Wilbur?" He doesn't learn until the next morning, after an exchange of "Salutations," that the voice is that of the spider Charlotte. Wilbur is terribly lonely and hears a voice in the dark asking, "Do you want a friend, Wilbur?" He doesn't learn until the next morning, after an exchange of "Salutations," that the voice is that of the spider Charlotte.

16 of 25

How old is Fern Arable at the beginning of the book, when she rescues the runt piglet from being killed and names him Wilbur?

6

8

10

12

17 of 25

What is Charlotte's full name?

Charlotte A. Cavatica

Charlotte Epeira

Charlotte M. Arachne

Charlotte Zuckerman

ANSWER: The spider was so named because she is a barn spider, an Araneus cavaticus. Charlotte Epeira was the name White gave to the real spider on his own farm that inspired the book. The spider was so named because she is a barn spider, an Araneus cavaticus. Charlotte Epeira was the name White gave to the real spider on his own farm that inspired the book.

18 of 25

According to the old sheep, "there's a regular conspiracy around here" to kill Wilbur by what holiday?

Christmas

Easter

Fern's birthday

Thanksgiving

ANSWER: The sheep states: "Almost all young pigs get murdered by the farmer as soon as the real cold weather sets in. There's a regular conspiracy around here to kill you at Christmastime. Everybody is in the plot--Lurvy, Zuckerman, even John Arable." The sheep states: "Almost all young pigs get murdered by the farmer as soon as the real cold weather sets in. There's a regular conspiracy around here to kill you at Christmastime. Everybody is in the plot--Lurvy, Zuckerman, even John Arable."

19 of 25

What type of animal is Templeton?

Goat

Mouse

Rat

Squirrel

ANSWER: Templeton is described as the rat that lives under Wilbur's trough; he's gluttonous and self-centered, yet he often helps Wilbur and Charlotte. Templeton is described as the rat that lives under Wilbur's trough; he's gluttonous and self-centered, yet he often helps Wilbur and Charlotte.

20 of 25

What are the first words Charlotte weaves in her web above Wilbur's pen?

Pig Supreme

Salutations!

Some Pig!

Terrific

ANSWER: "Pig supreme" was suggested by the lamb, but Charlotte felt it would remind Mr. Zuckerman of bacon. She does use "terrific," the goose's suggestion, later, but it's not the first phrase. "Pig supreme" was suggested by the lamb, but Charlotte felt it would remind Mr. Zuckerman of bacon. She does use "terrific," the goose's suggestion, later, but it's not the first phrase.

21 of 25

When Fern Arable's brother asks if he can have a pig too, their father replies that pigs are only distributed to _______.

Early risers

Girls

Hard workers

Well-behaved children

ANSWER: Mr. Arable states: "I only distribute pigs to early risers. Fern was up at daylight trying to rid the world of injustice. As a result, she now has a pig." Mr. Arable states: "I only distribute pigs to early risers. Fern was up at daylight trying to rid the world of injustice. As a result, she now has a pig."

22 of 25

Who is Wilbur's rival at the fair?

Avery

Henry

Fussy

Uncle

ANSWER: Wilbur's competition is a large pig named Uncle. Avery is the name of Fern Arable's brother, and Henry Fussy is the name of the boy with whom Fern is close, perhaps even dating him by the end of the novel. Wilbur's competition is a large pig named Uncle. Avery is the name of Fern Arable's brother, and Henry Fussy is the name of the boy with whom Fern is close, perhaps even dating him by the end of the novel.

23 of 25

What reason does Charlotte give Wilbur for helping him?

Boredom

Excitement

Fame

Friendship

ANSWER: When Wilbur asks why she helped save him, she replies, "You're my friend, Wilbur. That in itself is a tremendous thing." When Wilbur asks why she helped save him, she replies, "You're my friend, Wilbur. That in itself is a tremendous thing."

24 of 25

Who rescues Charlotte's egg sac after her death so that Wilbur can take it home from the fair to care for Charlotte's children?

Fern Arable

Mrs. Arable

Mr. Zuckerman

Templeton

ANSWER: Wilbur convinces Templeton to rescue the egg sac by promising, "Get Charlotte's egg sac for me, and from now on I will let you eat first, when Lurvy slops me. I will let you have your choice of everything in the trough, and I won't touch a thing until you're through." Wilbur convinces Templeton to rescue the egg sac by promising, "Get Charlotte's egg sac for me, and from now on I will let you eat first, when Lurvy slops me. I will let you have your choice of everything in the trough, and I won't touch a thing until you're through."

25 of 25

How many piglets were used to play the part of Wilbur in the live-action feature film adaptation?

1

23

47

514

ANSWER: Piglets grow so quickly that, during the course of production, 47 different piglets were needed to play the part of Wilbur. Each piglet was taught only one trick--staring up, walking a certain distance, and so on. 514 is the number of baby spiders that hatch from Charlotte's egg sac. Piglets grow so quickly that, during the course of production, 47 different piglets were needed to play the part of Wilbur. Each piglet was taught only one trick--staring up, walking a certain distance, and so on. 514 is the number of baby spiders that hatch from Charlotte's egg sac.