How Does E. B. White Use Animals In Charlotte's Web

E.B. Whites Use of Animals in Charlottes Web Have you ever read a book about animals? Chances are you have, in many children's novels, they use animals to tell a story. A prime example of this is E.B Whites book, Charlotte's Web. Many times the authors choice to use animals is unknown, however, E.B Whites use of animals allows him to write deeper themes while still communicating to children. In the book Charlottes Web , The author tells a story about life and death. Life and death can be hard to understand as an adult, however E.B. White is able to communicate this idea to children. His use of human like animals enhances his story and the delivery of deeper messages. There are several instances in the story that show this theme through animals,

Fern a young girl see’s her father carrying out a ax and begins to question her mother, “one of the pigs is a runt. It’s very small and weak, and it will never amount to anything. So your father has decided to do away with it.” (White 1). This very first scene brings up the dark idea of not only death but killing. The author even chooses to use the phrase “do away with it” in a matter-of-fact tone. The author would never be able to demonstrate this clear example of death without the use of animals. After hearing this from her mother Fern, like most children wanted to stop Wilbur, the runt pig from dying. By doing this E.B White is able to communicate the idea of death to children and also builds a connection between the reader and

Whites use of animals to explain deeper concepts is seen In Charlottes Journey. Throughout the book, you see that Charlotte herself is dying, but still chooses to help Wilbur. In one of the last conversations they had Charloote tells Wilber “After all, what's a life, anyway? We're born, we live a little while, we die.”(White 64). Having Charlotte be the deliverer of the message helps kids to understand this idea but in a way not to scare them. Children know that bugs and spiders don't live long and many times their life isn’t respected. Charlotte saying this may seem dark but nonetheless true for her and easier for children to comprehend. It also shows that even though Charlotte knew life was short for her, she spent most of her time trying to save Wilburs. Without the use of animals these points, themes, and conversations would never be able to be written or explained to