Skip to content
NorthFactsFacts first, Canada's reference desk
Entertainment

Charlottes Web

What is charlottes web?

· James MacDonald

Key facts

Author E. B. White[1]
First published 1952[2]
Main characters Wilbur and Charlotte[1]
Setting A farm[1]
Genre Children’s novel / animal fable[2]

Charlotte’s Web is a children’s novel by E. B. White about a pig named Wilbur and a barn spider named Charlotte, who saves Wilbur from slaughter by writing messages in her web. It is set on a farm and is often described as an animal fable.

Context

Charlotte’s Web, first published in 1952, tells the story of Wilbur, a pig who is saved from slaughter by the clever spider Charlotte [1]. The novel is set on a farm and is commonly described as an animal fable [2]. Fern Arable rescues Wilbur as a runt piglet, and later Wilbur is taken to Homer Zuckerman’s farm [1]. Charlotte writes words like “Some Pig,” “Terrific,” and “Humble” in her web to make Wilbur special [3]. At the end, Charlotte dies after laying eggs, but three of her offspring remain with Wilbur in the barn [1].

Documented claims

  • Fern Arable rescues Wilbur as a runt piglet. [1]
  • Charlotte writes messages such as “Some Pig,” “Terrific,” and “Humble” in her web. [1]
  • Charlotte dies after laying eggs, and three of her offspring stay with Wilbur. [1]

Questions and answers

What is the story Charlotte's Web about?

It’s about a pig named Wilbur who is saved from slaughter by a spider named Charlotte, who writes messages in her web [1].

What is the famous line from Charlotte's Web?

One of the famous messages Charlotte writes is “Some Pig” [1].

What grade level is Charlotte's Web for reading?

The sources do not specify a grade level for the novel.

Sources

  1. Charlotte's Web: Full Book Summary — sparknotes.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  2. Charlotte's Web Summary and Study Guide - SuperSummary — supersummary.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  3. Charlotte's Web Summary — shmoop.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)

Sources last checked August 3, 2026. · More in Entertainment