Hello Friends
Today we will discuss the first chapter of the Supplementary Reader “Vistas”
The Third Level by Jack Finney
About the
Author :
Walter Braden "Jack" Finney
(1911 - 1995) was an American author. His best-known works are science fiction
and thrillers, including The Body Snatchers & Time and Again
Theme of “The Third Level” By Jack Finney
The chapter is a science fiction and
based on two basic themes i.e. Time travel and Escapism. The author has become
extremely successful in depicting psychologically disturbed state of the
protagonist Charley, (31 yrs middle class citizen of New York) who is in search
of some refuse from the modern day life which is full of worries, insecurities
and fatigues. Everyone wants to escape from such grim realities of the modern
day world.
The
world’s largest railway station “Grand Central Station” which has only two
levels from where you can take trains. In order to escape from the fear,
insecurities, war and complexities of the present fast moving world Charley
takes refuse in a “Walking dream wish fulfillment” of visiting the third level
of the Grand Central Station. In reality there is no third level. When he was
on the Third Level he noticed 1894 style dresses of the people there, smaller
ticket windows and tried to check the date on a news paper. He wants to go to
Galesburg in Illinois of 1894 which is considered by him to be more happier a
place than the modern day world. But he could not get there as he was not
having the currency to buy two tickets one for him and other for his wife
Louisa. Suddenly he came out of his waking dream and could not find it later.
But his efforts to go there could not stop. He changed all his money in old
style currency as well.
At
this moment he get to know that his psychiatrist friend Sam is missing. He and
his wife tried their best but failed in their efforts to find him.
Charley
becomes busy now in Philately, a hobby and indicator of escape of his
grandfather as well. He is having a huge collection of stamps and first day
covers. In his collection he found a first day cover which was from Sam and
addressed to Charley. He opened it and read it. Sam says that the third level
does exist. He has reached Galesburg and started his own business there. There
are two explanations to explain the contents of this letter. First is that Sam
is a psychiatrist and wants to comfort his psychologically disturbed patient
Charley. This letter may have been a part of his treatment. Secondly Sam may
also have been experiencing the same stress of worries, insecurities and
fatigues of the modern day life. He may have been feeling himself relaxed with
the Walking dream wish fulfillment of the existence of the Third Level in the
Grand Central Station, as it has been discussed by Charley during one of his
meetings.
Important Characters :
1. Charley – the protagonist
2. Louisa – Charley’s wife
3. Sam - Charley’s Psychiatrist Friend.
Let's revise through a mindmap :
 |
Download Chapter - The Third Level |
Difficult Meanings :
|
Word |
meaning |
|
Word |
meaning |
|
Swear |
make
a solemn statement |
|
Angling |
Inclined
at an angle |
|
Stack |
a
large quantity of something. |
|
Hollow |
Echoing |
|
Obvious |
self-evident |
|
Flickering |
Shining
unsteadily |
|
psychiatrist |
a
medical practitioner specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of mental
illness. |
|
Spittoon |
a
bowl or other container that's made for spitting into |
|
Refuge |
The
state of being safe |
|
Snapped |
With
a sharp cracking sound |
|
Subway |
a
tunnel under a road for use by pedestrians. |
|
Glance |
take
a brief or hurried look |
|
Tan |
a
yellowish-brown colour. |
|
Frowned |
furrow
one's brows in an expression indicating disapproval, displeasure |
|
Gabardine |
tough,
tightly woven fabric used to make suits |
|
Handlebar |
With
a handgrip at each end |
|
Straw
hat |
hat
that is woven out of straw or straw-like materials |
|
Sideburn |
a
strip of hair in front of ears |
|
Bumping |
run
into |
|
Locomotive |
Engine
of a train |
|
Corridor |
a
long passage in a building from which doors lead into rooms |
|
Fussing |
busy
oneself restlessly |
|
Pushing
out |
Extend |
|
|
|
 |
Download PPT - The Third Level |
Questions and Answers - The Third Level : (Textual and from CBSE AI Papers)
Q. 1 What does the third level refer to? (Page :
1)
Ans : It is a medium of escape for the protagonist
Charley from the insecurities, war, anxieties and worries of the modern day
world. In fact Grand Central Station has only 2 levels but a third level has
been imagined by Charley there to get train to reach Galesburg (Illinois) of
1984.
Q. 2 Would Charley ever go back to the ticket-counter
on the third level to buy tickets to Galesburg for himself and his wife? (Page
: 5)
Ans : No, Charley could not go back to the ticket
counter on the third level as it was his fantasy. In real the Grand Central
Station has only 2 levels.
Q. 1. Do you think that the third level was a
medium of escape for Charley? Why? (Page : 7) CBSE AI 2008
Ans : Yes, the Third Level is a medium of escape
for Charley. Sam his Psychiatrist friend explained him that the modern life is
full of insecurities, fear, war and worries. Man has to face a lot of anxieties
and complexities of the modern life. This makes him unpleasant and even
unbearable. So he wants some escape in a world which he wish. Sam calls it “a
walking-dream wish fulfillment”. During one such incident he fantasized to be
on the third level where everything is just like 1980s and tried to buy 2
tickets to reach his favourite place Galesburg (Illinois). But failed, for not
having proper bills of currency. Later he could not get to the third Level any
more. But his search continued till the end of the chapter.
Q. 2. What do you infer from Sam’s letter to Charley? (Page : 7) or
What did the narrator come across in his stamp collection ? Why was he surprised ? CBSE AI 2011 or
Why did Charley suspect that Sam had gone to Galesburg ? CBSE AI 2011
Ans : Charley found the letter of Sam in his
collection of First Day Covers. It was written on July 18, 1894. The postmark
showed the Picture of President Garfield. Sam tells through letter that Charley
was right. Third level does exist in the Grand Central Station and he has
reached Galesburg. Life in Galesburg is very easy and enjoying. He also invited
him to come to Galesburg with his wife Louisa. There could be 2 explanation for
such statement. First is that Sam may also have seeking some refuse from the
complexities of the modern world and the idea shared by Charley seemed
convincing to him. Second is that Sam may have been trying to apply some
psychological therapy on his patient Charley.
Q. 3 ‘The modern world is full of insecurity,
fear, war, worry and stress.’ What are the ways in which we attempt to overcome
them?
Ans : In order to escape from the harsh realities
of the insecurities, war, worries and anxieties of the routine and fast life we
all try to be involved in some activity based hobbies, spending time with our family
or friends, going on trips to some new place, writing diaries, reading books or
take help of meditation to be healthy and psychologically balanced. In the
chapter “The Third Level” the protagonist is having a hobby of philately i.e.
collecting stamps and First Day Covers since his grandfather was alive. In
order to avoid the insecurity, fear, war, worry and stress of his life Charley
fantasizes that there is a third level in the Grand Central Station. He wants
to take train to Galesburg (Illinois) of 1894 which was considered by him more
peaceful and enjoyable.
Q. 4. Do you see an intersection of time and space in
the story?
Ans : Yes, Some instances of the story are based
on the Time Travel and show an intersection of time and space. Firstly, in the
present time there are only 2 levels in the Grand Central Station while Charley
takes us to the third level in 1890s. Secondly, Charley even though being
present in the present time wish to buy 2 tickets to Galesburg, thus exchanges
his all savings with old style currency. Once Charley had been on the third
level but could not buy tickets as he was not having old style currency of
1894. To ensure that it is 1890s he checked the date on the news paper which
was of 11 June, 1894. The construction of the third level and clothes of the
people there were also of old style while Charley was wearing Tan Gabardine
suit and a straw hat. Charley found a letter from his Psychiatrist friend Sam
of 18th July, 1894 in his collection of First Day Covers, addressed
to his grandfather, while Sam and Charley both live in the present.
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