INDIAN LANGUAGE

SCHOOL
GRADE XII ENGLISH

THE THIRD LEVEL

BY JACK FINNEY
(L1- VISTAS)
 LEARNING OBJECTIVES: TO ENABLE LEARNERS TO –

• Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are

used in the text.
• Analyse the cumulative impact of specific word choices
on meaning and tone (e.g., how the language evokes a
sense of time and place; how it sets a formal or informal
tone).
• Understand the modern-day problems of Man and their
tendency to escape reality.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: THE LEARNERS WILL BE ABLE TO –

• Analyse Jack Finney's word choices concerning how to

structure a text, order events within it (e.g., parallel
plots), and manipulate time (e.g., pacing, flashbacks)
create such effects as mystery, tension, or surprise.
• Comprehend that escapism from any negative situation is
not a remedy.
• Explore the dressing style and various things of early 19th
century.
• Explore the science fiction genre of time travel
 Jack Finney
Walter Braden "Jack"
Finney (born John Finney; October 2,
1911 – November 14, 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. Finney was
born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin He
attended Knox College in Galesburg,
Illinois, graduating in 1934. After living
in New York City and working for
an advertising agency there, he moved
with his family to California in the early
1950s. He lived in Mill Valley, California,
and died
of pneumonia and emphysema in Greenb
rae, California, at the age of 84. Finney's
greatest success came with his science
fiction novel Time and Again (1970). It
involves time travel to the past, a theme
he had experimented with previously in
short stories. The Third Level, Knox
College's science fiction and fantasy
Trailer of invasion ofpublication, is named for Finney's short
the body snatchers
story "The Third Level", published in The
https://www.youtube.com/watch7?v=vc_0dlmSqI
Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction in
October 1952.
Introduction:
The Third Level by Jack Finney is an
interesting story that is set after the
world wars. Consequently, the life was
full of fear, insecurity, war & worry.
This story talks about the figments of
imaginations that can be used to
escape from reality. It takes readers
back in the time of joy and peace.
Charley, the protagonist wants to
escape from the harsh realities of
modern world and imagines the world
of 19th century where the people were
living peaceful life and they had
ample time for themselves. The story
weaves together psychological journey
of the narrator into the past, present
and progresses towards future.

HOW DO YOU ESCAPE FROM YOUR STRESS/PROBLEMS

– DISCUSS
Watch the video:-
Summary
The story revolves around a 31-year-old man named Charley,
who experienced something weird. One day after work
coming from the Subway, he reached the third level of the
Grand Central station (which doesn’t actually exist). He
reminisces the entire experience with his psychiatrist friend
Sam. Charley thought he experienced time travel and had
reached somewhere in the eighteen-nineties, a time before
the world saw two of its deadliest wars. As soon as he realised
what time he is in, he immediately decided to buy two tickets
to Galesburg, Illinois; one for himself and the other for his
wife. Unfortunately, the currency used in that century was
different. Thus, the next day he withdrew all his savings and
got them converted even if it meant bearing losses. He went
looking for the third level but there himself, he encourages
Charley and Louisa to never stop looking for it. failed to find it.
It worried his wife and the psychiatrist Sam who told him that
he is hallucinating in order to take refuge from reality and
miseries of the modern world which is full of worry. Charley
thus resorts to his stamp collection in order to distract himself
when suddenly one day he finds a letter from his friend Sam
who had gone missing recently. Sam wrote that he always
wanted to believe in the idea of third level and now that he is
himself is there, he encourages Charley and Louisa to never
stop looking for it.
 
THEME OF THE STORY :The story ‘Third Level’ clearly explores the science fiction genre
(classification) of ‘time travel’. Jack Finney, the recipient of the world fantasy award
interweaves fantasy with the reality in the most futuristic projection of time travel. Charley
wishes to be transported to the third level, the world of 1894 which is supposedly much
happier and quieter place to be. It is one of the most concise and entertaining story about time
travel. The question whether the third level exist in real or only in charley’s mind can be
inferred from Sam’s letter. The story also dwells on the theme of escapism, not only as a
psychological refuge from the grim realities of the present-day world but also as a desire to
stay with the past or to keep the past alive in the complexities of the present. In the story
charley not only expresses desire to escape but also prepares and tries very hard, a desire
which is not contested by the wife either. Sam is also happily escaped with no plans to resort
to his old profession along with scores of other people who cross the grand central everyday…
to escape seems to be an all-pervasive feeling.

MESSAGE OF THE STORY: The modern world is full of insecurity, fear war, worry and all the
rest of it and all people want to escape from them. They just want a little peace and relaxation
from these situations.

TITLE OF THE STORY : Oppressed by the pulls and pressures of modern life, man yearns for
an escape from all the tensions and worries. He looks for a level of existence that would yield
peace and tranquility. Trying to delve deeper into life, he wonders whether it is possible for
him to live on a different plane, and he looks for this ideal world, hoping to come across it
someday. It is this Utopian world that the author has chosen to call the third level. Third level
can also refer to a level of reality that exists in our mind only and not in space and time. It is
MESSAGE OF THE STORY: The modern world is full of
insecurity, fear war, worry and all the rest of it and
all people want to escape from them. They just want
a little peace and relaxation from these situations.

TITLE OF THE STORY : Oppressed by the pulls and

pressures of modern life, man yearns for an escape
from all the tensions and worries. He looks for a level
of existence that would yield peace and tranquility.
Trying to delve deeper into life, he wonders whether
it is possible for him to live on a different plane, and
he looks for this ideal world, hoping to come across it
someday. It is this Utopian world that the author has
chosen to call the third level. Third level can also
refer to a level of reality that exists in our mind only
and not in space and time. It is this faculty of mind
that makes virtual travel in time possible and opens
innumerable ways to escape. Hence ‘the Third Level’
is an appropriate title.
MESSAGE OF THE STORY: The modern world is full of
insecurity, fear war, worry and all the rest of it and
all people want to escape from them. They just want
 Let us ponder:

Did the third level actually exist?

• From the story we know that there are only two levels. The
third level does not exist. The modern world is full of insecurity,
fear, war and worries. ... The writer Jack Finney uses the Third
Level at the Grand Central Station as a medium of escape.

What does the third level signify?

• The third level signifies an escape from the modern world that
is “full of insecurity, fear, war, worry and all the rest of it....” The
period of 1890s represents a peaceful life not possible in the
present era. From this level, the protagonist wants to travel to
Galesburg, Illinois, with his wife Louisa.

Did Sam really go to Galesburg?

• Sam's letter is a proof of his having reached the third level and
of having been transported to Galesburg of 1894. ... But
that Sam's letter maybe a mere figment of Charley's imagination
just like the third level.

• IS TIME TRAVEL POSSIBLE? – Time Machine by H G Wells

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ph6U3mFBkO4
 Extract Based Questions

“The presidents of the New York Central and the New York, New Haven and Hartford railroad
will swear on a stack of timetables that there are only two. But I say there are three, because I’ve
been on the third level of the Grand Central Station. Yes, I’ve taken the obvious step : I talked to a
psychiatrist friend of mine, among others. I told him about the third level at Grand Central
Station, and he said it was a waking-dream wish fulfillment. He said I was unhappy. That made
my wife kind of mad, but he explained that he meant the modern world is full of insecurity, fear,
war, worry and all the rest of it, and that I just want to escape.”
(i) Pick out the option which is a correct description of the phrase “waking-dream wish
fulfillment”.
(a) A pleasant wish that makes one forget the past’s terrible experiences
(b) A pleasant wish that takes one to the future
(c) A pleasant wish that encourages to work
(d) A pleasant wish that makes one forget the present
(ii) What does the ‘third level 'signify?
(iii) Pick out the option that best describes the mental tendency of the narrator.
1) Disappointed (2) Escapism (3) Calm (4) Satisfied
(a) 1 and 3 (b) 1 and 2 (c) 3 and 4 (d) 2 and 4
(iv)“The modern world is full of insecurity, fear, war, worry.: signifies that :
(a) the world is full of chaos but at the same time means of happiness also for the narrator. (b)
the narrator is not at all satisfied with his life. (c) the narrator wanted to explore more about the
 Ques1. How did ‘The World’ help Charley to confirm his
doubts regarding the existence of a third level?

SAQ &
• Ques2. The story reveals refuge from reality to illusion.
LAQ Do you think it is obvious to escape from reality of life?