The Third Level Jack Finney

Pronunciation of his name

Learning Outcome

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to-

Summarize the story in a gap-filling exercise. (Understand)
Recall the important points of the story through a questionnaire, fill-in, reference to the context and MCQ quiz. (Remember)
Write the character sketch of Mr. Charley with the help of the STEAL characterization technique. (Create)
Infer the meaning of some important statements in the story writing a short note on them. (Analyze)
Debate if Charlie has visited third level by writing a short note on it. (Evaluate)

Background

In the 1950s, people were scared. The threat of the atom bomb was fresh in everyone’s mind. Children were required to do duck and cover drills at school. Russians have launched the Sputnik; the artificial Earth satellite. The Cold War was inflaming and the Demagogues* were saying communists may be hiding in our own government.
In this atmosphere, Jack Finney wrote a book about escape. In “The Third Level,” a collection of short stories, Finney wrote about people who are upset with the world they live in, they seek some idyllic** place in the country’s recent past. In the story “The Third Level,” the mysterious level of Grand Central Station leads to a town in Ohio in 1894.

*a political leader who seeks support by appealing to the desires and prejudices of ordinary people rather than by using rational argument.

**extremely happy, peaceful, or picturesque.

Setting of the story and Vocabulary

(Prepared by Minerva González)

The Third Level by Jack Finney from jimenez602

Vocabulary Quiz based Exercise

images

Image Courtesy: NCERT

Additional Information :

Science fiction is a genre of speculative fiction that typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, parallel universes, and extraterrestrial life. It has been called the “literature of ideas”, and often explores the potential consequences of scientific, social, and technological innovations. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_fiction)
Time travel is the concept of moving backward and forward to different points in time, in a manner analogous to moving through space. Additionally, some interpretations of time travel suggest the possibility of travel between parallel realities or universes.

Cloze Exercise

Comprehension Quiz (MCQ)

Fill in

Reference to the Context

The Third Level Questionnaire

Mind Map

Important Points to Ponder

An intersection of time and space

There are a lot of instances that tell us about the intersection of time and space in the story. First intersection being the one between the first two levels of the Grand Central Station and its third level which is based somewhere in the 1890s whereas the former exists in the present times. Also when Charley went to buy tickets for Galesburg which existed in 1894 while he and his wife exists in the present times. Not to ignore the old fashioned architecture of the third level in contradiction to the modern interiors of the first two levels. Lastly, the letter dated 18th July, 1982 that Charley found also throws light upon the intersection of time and space as both the sender (Sam) and the receiver (Charley) exist in the present times.

Apparent illogicality sometimes turns out to be a futuristic projection

While a lot of the world’s greatest inventions were made by people who were criticised for their ideas. Audiences used to mock at them for being illogical. Sighting the example of Thomas Edison who invented the light bulb, no one believed in him at first but all he had was an idea and it’s realistic projection in mind. The idea here tells us how important it is to sometimes follow one’s insight and have hope for it holds the capacity to change the world through its futuristic projections.

First Day Cover

When a new stamp is issued, the stamp collectors buy that stamp and use them to the self-addressed envelops on the very first day of the sale.The new stamp gets the postmark and the date. This is called the first day cover. These envelops are never opened because the receivers know that there is a blank page inside put by them.

Philately helps keep the past alive

Philately does indeed help in keeping the treasures of past alive. It gives one a chance to revisit and embrace the past of one’s existence. Some of the other ways in which it can be done is by keeping a record of all the letters, ancient manuscripts, things that are discontinued but were a significant part of the past, images, videos and written records of experiences.
Human beings are a collection of all the experiences they have been through. Their tendency to connect with the past from time to time helps them stay connected to the roots while helping them to face the present and future challenges with more strength. Connecting with the future on the other hand, is just as important to know the outcome of one’s current actions and decisions. If one doesn’t seem satisfied with the realistic interpretation of future, it can certainly help in altering current actions to direct towards a better future.

The Third Level: a medium of escape for Charley

The Third Level was the creation of his own mind, whim and fantasy. The Third Level was medium of escape for Charley from the present harsh realities of modem life which was full of insecurity, fear, war, worry and tension. Charley was, undoubtedly, afraid of the modern world and its complexities. He tried to avoid people, situations and circumstances as much as possible. His intense desire to go back to past and live there showed that how insecure and withdrawn he was. It was a safe route for Charley to go to Galesburg in order to escape from trouble. So, he tried to purchase two tickets for Galesburg, Illinois from the Third Level at Grand Central. Besides, the remarks made by his psychiatrist and friends clearly indicated his defiant approach towards life and ways to escape from this world. He termed it as ‘waking-dream wish fulfillment’. He claimed to have seen the third level which never existed as per the records and the statements made by the higher officials of the Grand Central Station. The way he described the scene of the third level and made efforts to visit that again and again points at his escapism from reality. He was never able to find the Third Level. It is because the Third Level has existed in his fantasy only. Hence, it can be well ascertained that the Third-Level was a medium of escape for Charley. It was only his escapist fantasy.