The Shapeshifter - Charlotte's Web

In Charlotte's Web, the shape-shifter is Templeton. Templeton never does anything for anyone else- unless he gets something out of it.

For example, when Wilbur needed to get Charlotte's egg sac so he could be her children to the old barn, Templeton wouldn't help to get it for Wilbur. On for a couple pages, Wilbur had to beg and plead Templeton to help. Templeton finally gave in when Wilbur offered Templeton as much food from the trough that he wanted before Wilbur ate. In turn, Templeton turned into a huge, fat rat who looks like he might explode or die of a heart attack at any second.

When Templeton didn't want to go to the county fair, the old sheep had to bribe him with all the "tempting" descriptions of dropped food. In the end, he went to the fair and had a wonderful night. He was still a bit grumpy from being ordered around to find a good, last word for Charlotte to write in her web.

The Shape-shifter is the person who changes sides, depending on bribes, also like in Star Wars, which Han Solo is the Shape-shifter.

Connecting - Charlotte's Web

Page 3 - The kitchen table was set for breakfast, and the room smelled of coffee, bacon, damp plaster, and wood smoke from the stove.
Page 49 - "Well, I don't like to spread bad news," said the sheep, "but they're fattening you up because they're going to kill you, that's why."
"They're going to what?" screamed Wilbur. Fern grew rigid in her chair

When I read page 3, I thought "Does Fern EAT bacon?" It would be sort of weird if she did, and if not, that's good. Although in the book it sort of seems like it's evil to eat bacon, outside of the book, lots of people eat bacon. If Fern DOES eat bacon, maybe she doesn't understand that bacon comes from pigs.

And on page 49, did Fern KNOW that Wilbur was going to be killed and eaten? If so, wouldn't she have complained to her father about it, like she did when she saved Wilbur's life? Or has she grown up more and decided it didn't matter and things should just take their "natural course"? If she didn't know, she would've just found out. But would she be "rigid"? Or was she rigid from the fact that Wilbur was finally finding out for himself what might happen? I wonder if there was a conversation with between Fern and her parents. It would have been easier if White had just simply written a chapter of it, if there was one, but maybe he's just leaving a little mystery behind...

Expanding Entry - Charlotte's Web

In Charlotte's Web, the mother role plays a very important part. By saying "the mother role", I mean the role of a kind, caring woman who acts as a mother to someone, whether they're related or not.
On page 8, I could already get the sense that Fern was like a mother figure to Wilbur.

Fern loved Wilbur more than anything. She loved to stroke him, to feed him, to put him to bed. Every morning, as soon as she got up, she warmed his milk, tied his bib on, and held the bottle for him.

Fern cares so much for him, she ties a BIB on him! She is truly playing the motherly role here.

Wilbur loved his milk, and he was never happier then when Fern was warming up a bottle for him. He would stand and gaze up at her with adoring eyes.

Later in the book, Charlotte becomes more of a mother figure to Wilbur. She's strict and sharp sometimes, but always caring.

"You're terrific as far as I'm concerned," replied Charlotte, sweetly, "and that's what counts. You're my best friend, and I think you're sensational. Now stop arguing and go get some sleep!"

Fern's mother is also a good mother. Even though we may think she's mean for not believing Fern about animals talking, we have to admit that it's true animals don't talk. Ms. Arable went to see a doctor just to make sure Fern was okay. She's still taking care of her, she's just doing her best to try to help Fern realize that animals don't talk. Although, in the book, they do.