As the sun rises on the Arable’s farm, Fern Arable discovers that her father is planning on killing the runt of the litter of pigs born during the night. She runs to save it and persuades her father to let her keep the pig, whom she names Wilbur. Wilbur is taken to the farm of her uncle, Homer Zuckerman, where he meets the other farmyard animals. However, Wilbur is lonely without a special friend of his own...that is, until he meets Charlotte--a spider. Charlotte decides to save Wilbur from the fate of all other pigs and she begins to spin the words “Some Pig” in her web. When her words are discovered, the Zuckermans are astounded and realize the potential for publicity and financial revenue.
When more words appear, the story soon spread around and reporters descend on the Zuckerman farm. Homer is persuaded to take Wilbur to the county fair, where he competes in the ‘Best Pig’ competition. Knowing that she is near the end of her life, Charlotte agrees to go with Wilbur as she know he needs her help to produce more words. Her final word, before releasing her sack of eggs, is ‘Humble’. Although Wilbur does not win the prized blue ribbon, the Zuckerman family is overjoyed to find out that he has been awarded a special medal and a cash prize. When it is time to leave, Charlotte reveals to Wilbur that she is dying and does not have the strength to travel. Wilbur is sad to lose his friend, but he takes her egg sack to honor her memory and hatch them back in the barn.
Charlotte's Web guide sections
