THE INDIAN SCHOOL

ENGLISH CORE (301)

CLASS XII

TEXTBOOK - VISTAS

TOPIC

About the author

Walter Braden "Jack" Finney (born John Finney, 2 October 1911 – 14 November 1995) was
an American author. His best-known works are science fiction and thrillers, including The Body
Snatchers and Time and Again. The former was the basis for the 1956 film Invasion of the Body
Snatchers and its remakes.

In 1987, Finney was given the World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement at the World Fantasy
Convention, held in Nashville, Tennessee.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Finney

About Grand Central Station

Grand Central is a major commuter rail terminal in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, serving
the Metro-North Railroad's Harlem, Hudson and New Haven Lines. It is the most recent of three

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functionally similar buildings on the same site. The current structure was built by and named for
the New York Central Railroad, though it also served New York Central's successors as well as
the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Grand_Central_Terminal

Introduction
The Third Level by Jack Finney is an interesting story that is set after the world wars.
Consequently, life was full of fear, insecurity, war and worry. Americans lived in a fearful
atmosphere, with the possibility of the atom bomb fresh in everyone’s minds. Children had to do
‘duck and cover’ drills at school. The Cold war with Russia was escalating. Demagogues further
spread fear and suspicion by saying that communists’ may be hiding within the government.

This story talks about how figments of imagination can be used to escape from reality. It takes
readers back to the times of joy and peace. Charley, the protagonist wants to escape from the
harsh realities of the modern world and imagines the world of the 1890s where people were
living a peaceful life with ample time for themselves.

The story weaves together the psychological journey of the narrator into the past, present and
progresses toward the future.

Theme
1. Science fiction genre of ‘time travel’
2. Escapism

Charley's description of the Third Level (imaginary)

 smaller rooms, fewer ticket windows; wooden, old-styled information booth

 Derby hat and gold pocket watches
 men with beards, sideburns and fancy moustaches
 women with skirts, high buttoned shoes and leg-o-mutton sleeves
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 brass spittoons on the floor; open flame gas lights
 old-styled locomotives with funnel-shaped
 stack of newspapers ‘The World’, 11th June 1894
 Charley wishes to buy two tickets to Galesburg
 clerk stares at him since the currency is different
 moves from past to present ( reality); runs from there

Charley shares his experience

 psychiatrist friend Sam refuses to believe

 considers it a waking dream wish fulfilment
 wife Louisa gets worried; disbelieves, too
 Presidents of New York Central, New Haven and Harford railroads will swear on the
existence of two levels-

The first level for the trains of 20 The second level for suburban trains
Century
Grand Central - mushrooming with subways, staircases and corridors like the
roots of a huge tree (Simile/ Imagery)

Sam disappears

 Charley gets a note from Sam dated 18 July 1894

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  Sam suggests to Charley that he should keep on searching for the Third Level
 Sam reaches the third level (Galesburg); a world of peace
 starts a new business of hay, grain and cattle
 enjoys a happy and peaceful life

First Day Cover

 stamp collectors buy stamps on the day of release

 mail the envelope with a blank paper in it and postmark the date of release, to themselves
 covers remain unopened
 Charley inherited a stamp collection from his grandfather

About Charley

 31 years old ordinary person

 takes temporary refuge from reality
 wife Louisa worries
 imagines himself to be on the third level
 desires to stay back and travel to Galesburg in 1894
 wants security and peace
 hobby - stamp collection

Description of Galesburg

 A peaceful place that was not ravaged by the two world wars.
 It has old framed houses, huge lawns and splendid trees with expanded branches.
 The men would smoke cigars, and talk quietly.
 The women would be waving palm leaves fans.
 They have ample time for themselves.

READ AND FIND OUT

a. What does the third level refer to?

b. Why did the narrator meet a psychiatrist?
c. What, according to the psychiatrist, was Charley’s problem?
d. What was Charley’s argument when the psychiatrist told him that his hobby of stamp
collecting was a temporary refuge from reality
e. What does Charley think of the Grand Central Station?
f. What idea did Charley have about the tunnel and why didn’t he tell his psychiatrist about
it?
g. Would Charley ever go back to the ticket counter on the third level to buy tickets for
himself and his wife?
h. Why did Charley go near the newspaper boy?

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 i. In which context did Charley say, “…eggs were thirteen cents a dozen in 1894”?
j. What did Charley suspect when his friend Sam Weiner disappeared?
k. What do you infer from Sam’s letter to Charley?

SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS in 40 words.

1. How do Charley's wife Louisa and his friend Sam react to the narrator's observation?
2. Describe briefly the scene at the station as seen by Charley.
3. What do you learn about Galesburg, Illinois during 1894?
4. What do you know about the 'First Day Cover '?
5. What strange experience did Charley have on the day when he went to the Grand Central
Station?
6. How the narrator was convinced that he had come to the Third level?
7. Why did the clerk refuse to accept the money?
8. Why did the narrator get out so fast?
9. Who was Sam? What had happened to him?
10. What role does Sam's letter play in the story?
11. Where did Charley go after reading Sam's letter?
12. What information did you gather about Sam?

LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS in about 120-150 words.

1. The story reveals refuge from reality to illusion. Do you think that the third level was a
medium of escape for Charley from the harsh realities of life?
2. Give a brief description of the Third Level.
3. Charley wanted to buy two tickets to Galesburg, Illinois. Do you think he succeeds in
his efforts?
4. ‘The modern world is full of insecurity, fear, war, worry and stress.’ How do we
attempt to overcome them?
5. Comment on the ending of the story.

Or

What is the irony at the end of the story?

6. Do you see an intersection of time and space in the story?