Summary

Wilbur is the runt of a liter born to a pig on the farm of Fern Arble’s father, John Arable. When it is announced that her father is going to kill the pig, Fern rushes forth to save it, asking of her father: “If I had been very small at birth, would you have killed me?” Her father responded, “Certainly not!” and could not find a way around the argument. Her father spares the pig but only if Fern agrees to care for it. Falling in love immediately with the pig, she feeds him regularly with a bottle, and names him Wilbur.

Wilbur is Fern’s constant companion until he grows big enough to be transferred to his new home in the barn of Fern’s neighboring uncle Mr. Zuckerman. Fern is able to visit Wilbur, but is unable to see him as often. Wilbur initially struggles at the barn because he misses Fern so much but out of boredom, Wilbur begins to befriend other animals in the barn, which often patronizingly instruct the still naïve little pig in the ways of life. His most important friend, however, turns out to be a spider named Carlotta A. Cavatica, who occupies a web in the corner of a doorway above him. Charlotte fascinates Wilbur, although to begin with he is slightly suspicious of the way she catches her food-he doesn’t like the idea that she spins bugs in her web and sucks their blood. He soon realizes that Charlotte is everything but cruel and bloodthirsty and that her method of eating is entirely necessary for a spider.

Wilbur enjoys the summer days when Fern comes to visit and Charlotte tells him exciting stories and has the patience to try and coach him about how to spin a web but one day he gets some terrible news that puts an end to his carefree attitude. The sheep tells Wilbur that Mr. Zuckerman is fattening him up for Christmas dinner and Wilbur is distraught. Charlotte and Wilbur are determined to foil Mr. Zuckerman’s plans.

One morning as Lurvy, Mr. Zuckerman’s hired man to take care of the animals, pours Wilbur’s slops, he notices Charlotte’s twinkling spider web. The words “SOME PIG” has been weaved into the web. Lurvy quickly tells Mr. Zuckerman who is equally amazed and soon the news spreads near and far. Worried that people may be getting bored of “SOME PIG”, Charlotte asks Templeton the rat to aid her in finding more words to write in her web. Knowing that if Wilbur is killed he won’t have access to his slops, Templeton reluctantly scavenges for newspaper clippings to help Charlotte. The next word she writes is “TERRIFIC” and after that “RADIANT.”

With the news of Zuckerman’s famous pig spreading, the Zuckerman’s and Arable’s decide to take Wilbur to the County Fair. Charlotte weaves one last word in her web, “HUMBLE” and throughout the night she makes her egg sac. The next morning, Wilbur is awarded a medal for being phenomenal and completely out of the ordinary and Mr. Zuckerman is given $25. Wilbur notices that Charlotte is quiet and looks unwell. She tells Wilbur that she is failing and will be dead in a day or two. Charlotte does not have enough energy to follow Wilbur back home, but reassures him that Mr. Zuckerman will never harm him. With Templeton’s help, Wilbur takes Charlotte’s egg sac with him back home, leaving Charlotte to die at the Fair.

Back at the Zuckerman’s, Wilbur waits patiently for the birth of Charlotte’s children. When her children are finally born, Wilbur is distraught to see them let out loose clouds of fine silk that carries them far away on the breeze. Three of Charlotte’s children stay in the barn with Wilbur, however and become his good friends. Year after year new spiders are born to replace the old but no one ever replaces Charlotte in Wilbur’s heart.