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
by Russell Hoban
Charlotte's Web
by E.B. White
by E.B. White
Little Fur Family
by Margaret Wise Brown
by Margaret Wise Brown
Stuart Little
by E.B. White
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
by George Seldon
The Family Under the Bridge
by Natalie Savage Carson
by Natalie Savage Carson
The Little House series
by Laura Ingalls Wilder
by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Pat the Bunny
by Dorothy Kunhardt
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
by Alice Dalgliesh
Moccasin Trail
by Eloise Jarvis McGraw
by Eloise Jarvis McGraw
Red Sails to Capri
by Ann Weil
by Ann Weil
Secret of the Andes
by Ann Nolan Clark
by Ann Nolan Clark
ANSWER: Secret of the Andes is the story of a 20th-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 20th-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.