UpdatedThe-Third-Level.pdf

The third lvl from the English book class 12 presentation

1. THE THIRD LEVEL
INDEX
1.Prelude
2.About the Author
3.Background/Context
4.Theme, Sub-theme, Plot
5.Characters
6.Summary
7.Sequence & Key-Points
8.Vocabulary
9.Points to Ponder
10.Character Sketch
11.Assignments
-Jack Finney
(1911-1995)

2. THE THIRD LEVEL
Do you believe in time travel??
IS IT POSSIBLE FOR US
TO VISIT OUR PAST!!!
-Jack Finney
(1911-1995)PRELUDE

3. THE THIRD LEVEL
Do you sometimes take temporary
refuge in your hobby to avoid the
harsh world around you!!!
-Jack Finney
(1911-1995)
A waking dream wish fulfillment
(day-dreaming)
PRELUDE

4. The story is
an intersection between
Fantasy & Reality
an intersection between
Time & Space
The story deals with
Escapism&Time Travel
PRELUDE

5. The Third Level
Galesburg, Illinois
in 1894
Grand Central
Station, New York
Present Past

6. THE THIRD LEVEL
JackFinneywasanAmericannovelistanda
short-storywriter.Hisbest-knownworksare
sciencefictionandthrillers.HeattendedKnox
CollegeinGalesburg,Illinois.Afterlivingin
NewYorkCityandworkingforanadvertising
agencythere,hemovedwithhisfamilyto
Californiaintheearly1950s.Finney'sfirst
shortstory"TheWidow'sWalk",wonacontest
sponsoredbyElleryQueen'sMystery
Magazinein1946.Hisfirstnovel,FiveAgainst
theHouse,waspublishedin1954.Itwas
madeintoamoviethefollowingyear.
-Jack Finney
(1911-1995)
AbouttheAuthor:

7. Background/Context :
THE THIRD LEVEL
JackFinneyinthisstoryconveysthatthelifeofmodernmanisfullof
insecurity,stressandworriesandheisunabletocopewiththese
challengesofmodernlife.Sohewantstoescapeandrunawayfrom
theharshrealitiesoflife.Whenhecannotcopewiththeharshrealities,
hewantstoescapeintoafancifulworld.Hetriestofindalevelof
existencethatwillprovidehimpeace,happinessandtranquility.He
dreamsofafantasticworldwhichisdevoidofanystress.Theauthor
hasgiventhetitle'ThirdLeveltothisfantasticworldwhichisyearned
forbythemodernman.Thetitle'ThirdLevel'alsoreferstothereality
thatexistsonlyinthemindofmodernman.Itdoesnotexistinspace
andtime.Itishismindthathelpshimescapethetensionsandharsh
realitiesoflife.Onthecontrary,thingswereprettyniceandpeacefulin
theearliertimes.Peopledidnotsufferfromstress.Theyledasimple
andcarefreelifefullofpeaceandserenity.Theydidnotentertain
fancifulandunrealisticideas.Theywereneitherdreamersnor
escapists.Theyledacontentedlife.

8. THE THIRD LEVEL
Theme:Thestorydwellsonthethemeofescapism
asmandesirestogetridofthemodernworldwhich
isfullofwar,insecurity,fear,stressandanxiety.He
isoverwhelmedbytheharshrealitiesoflife.
Sub-Theme:Humantendencytovisithis/herpast
Plot:Protagonist’sbelief–thirdlevelasamedium
ofescape-JourneytoGalesburg,adreamplace-
Roleofthepsychiatrist–modernman’sillusion
The story emphasises psychological impact of modern life
and the plight of modern man

9. CHARACTERS :
❑Charley–Protagonist (a common young man,
works at an office)
❑Louisa –Charley’ wife (loving and caring)
❑Sam –A psychiatrist and Charley’s friend
❑Charley’s grandfather –practised philately
THE THIRD LEVEL

10. THE THIRD LEVEL
SUMMARY
CharleywasquiteanordinarymanfromNewYork.Oneeveninghereachedthe
GrandCentralRailwayStation,NewYork,afteralongday’sworkintheoffice.
Thiswaswhathappenedatthestation:Hewasinahurrytogethome.Hiswife
Louisawaswaitingforhim.Havingfoundnotrainfromthefirstlevelofthe
station,Charleywentdowntothesecondlevel.Whilewaitingforatrainonthe
secondlevel,Charleyfoundadoorandtunneldown.Curiousashealwayswas,
Charleysuspecteditwasamysterioustunnel.Followingthetunnel,hetook
stepsdownandreachedthethirdlevelofthestation.But,GrandCentralhas
onlytwolevels!Howisthisthirdlevelpossible?Charleyremainedwondering.
Wonderingattheoldfashionedtrainengines,atthehundredyearoldfashion,
menwithlongmustache,womendressedintheoldFrenchstyle,amanpulling
outhiswatchfrompocket,gaslampsandspittoons…Fromanewspaper,he
learntthetime–1895!Charleyknewonethingforsure–timetraveling!Hehad
gotintosimilartunnelsinthepast–underRooseveltHotel,underTimes
Square…Inthepasthehadgotintomoresuchmysterioustunnelsandcaves
butalwaysaquestionremainedwithoutanswer–whywashenotabletogo
backtothoseplacesonceagain!

11. THE THIRD LEVEL
Anyway,now,inthethirdleveloftheGrandCentralStation,hehadnotmuch
timetoaskquestions–Louisawaswaitingathome.Hewenttheticketcounter
andaskedfortwoticketstoGalesburg–the1895Galesburgormoreclearly,a
hundredyearsoldGalesburg–wherehewasborn.Whenhepaidthecashatthe
counter,theclerksuspectedhimfortenderingfakecurrency.Threatened,Charley
ranoutofthethirdlevelandreachedhome.CharlienarratesthisincidenttoSam
Weiner,hisfriendwhoworksasapsychiatrist.SamconcludesthattheThird
LevelisnothingbutamerefigmentofCharlie’simagination.Themiserieswhich
themodernworld;fullofwar,worryandterror,hadtooffermadeCharlie
hallucinateabouttheexistenceoftheThirdLevel.Duringhislunchbreakthenext
day,Charleywithdrawsnearlyallhissavingsandbuysold-stylecurrencytobuy
ticketstoGalesburgof1894.Buthecanneveragainfindtheentrancetothethird
levelatGrandCentralStation.However,Charleyfindsevidencethatthethird
levelactuallyexistswhenhediscoversaletterdatedJuly18,1894addressedto
hisgrandfatheratGalesburg,Illinois,fromhispsychiatristSamWeinerwhoit
seemswasnotskepticalofthethirdlevelashehadappeared.
SUMMARY

12. SEQUENCE & KEY POINTS
1
2

13. SEQUENCE & KEY POINTS
3
4

14. SEQUENCE & KEY POINTS
VOCABULARY
5

15. THE THIRD LEVEL
POINTS TO PONDER
In the First Level :
Trains like the Twentieth Century

16. THE THIRD LEVEL
POINTS TO PONDER
In the SECOND LEVEL :
Suburban trains departed from there, after that Charley
ducked into an arched doorway heading for the subway
—and got lost.

17. In THE THIRD LEVEL …
Therewerefewerticketwindowsandtrain
gates,andtheinformationboothinthecentre
waswoodandoldlooking.Andthemaninthe
boothworeagreeneyeshadeandlongblack
sleeveprotectors.Thelightsweredimandsort
offlickering.ThenIsawwhy;theywereopen-
flamegaslights.
Therewerebrassspittoons,amanwaspulling
agoldwatchfromhisvestpocket.Hesnapped
openthecover,glancedathiswatchand
frowned.Heworeaderbyhat,ablackfour-
buttonsuitwithtinylapels,andhehadabig,
black,handlebarmustache...everyoneinthe
stationwasdressedlikeeighteen-ninety-
something;Ineversawsomanybeards,
sideburnsandfancymustachesinmylife.A
womanworeadresswithleg-ofmuttonsleeves
andskirtstothetopofherhigh-buttoned
shoes…Icaughtaglimpseofalocomotive,a
verysmallCurrier&Iveslocomotivewitha
funnel-shapedstack.

18. THE THIRD LEVEL
POINTS TO PONDER
▪ButIsaytherearethree,becauseI’vebeenonthethirdleveloftheGrand
CentralStation.
▪…andhesaiditwasawakingdreamwishfulfillment.
▪themodernworldisfullofinsecurity,fear,war,worryandalltherestofit,
andthatIjustwanttoescape.
▪Mystampcollecting,forexample;that’sa‘temporaryrefugefromreality.’
Well,maybe,butmygrandfatherdidn’tneedanyrefugefromreality;things
wereprettyniceandpeacefulinhistime.
▪IturnedintoGrandCentralfromVanderbiltAvenue,andwentdownthe
stepstothefirstlevel,whereyoutaketrainsliketheTwentiethCentury.
ThenIwalkeddownanotherflighttothesecondlevel,wherethesuburban
trainsleavefrom,duckedintoanarcheddoorwayheadingforthesubway—
andgotlost.
▪…becauseforsomanypeoplethroughtheyearsGrandCentralhasbeen
anexit,awayofescape—maybethat’showthetunnelIgotinto...

19. THE THIRD LEVEL
▪SometimesIthinkGrandCentralisgrowinglikeatree,pushingoutnew
corridorsandstaircaseslikeroots.
▪Tomakesure,Iwalkedovertoanewsboyandglancedatthestackofpapers
athisfeet.ItwasTheWorld;andTheWorldhasn’tbeenpublishedforyears.
TobebacktherewiththeFirstWorldWarstilltwentyyearsoff,andWorldWar
IIoverfortyyearsinthefuture...Iwantedtwoticketsforthat.
▪‘‘Thatain’tmoney,mister,’’hesaid,‘‘andifyou’retryingtoskinme,youwon’t
getveryfar,’’…There’snothingniceaboutjail,evenin1894.
▪MyfriendSamWeinerdisappeared!Nobodyknewwhere,butIsortof
suspectedbecauseSam’sacityboy,…
▪Thatnight,amongmyoldestfirst-daycovers,Ifoundonethatshouldn’thave
beenthere…AndithadbeentheresinceJuly18,1894—thepostmark
showedthat
▪Samboughteighthundreddollars’worthofold-stylecurrency.Thatoughtto
sethimupinanicelittlehay,feedandgrainbusiness;…andhecertainlycan’t
gobacktohisoldbusiness.NotinGalesburg,Illinois,in1894.Hisold
business?Why,Samwasmypsychiatrist.
POINTS TO PONDER

20. THE THIRD LEVEL
POINTS TO PONDER
941 Willard Street
Galesburg, Illinois
July 18, 1894
Charley
Igottowishingthatyouwereright.ThenIgottobelieving
youwereright.And,Charley,it’strue;Ifoundthethirdlevel!
I’vebeenheretwoweeks,andrightnow,downthestreetatthe
Daly’s,someoneisplayingapiano,andthey’realloutonthefront
porchsinging‘SeeingNellyHome.’AndI’minvitedoverfor
lemonade.Comeonback,CharleyandLouisa.Keeplookingtillyou
findthethirdlevel!It’sworthit,believeme!
SIGNIFICANCE OF SAM’S LETTER TO CHARLEY

21. CharacterSketchofCharley:
Theprotagonistofthestory,Charleyisatruerepresentativeof
modernman.Heisavictimofstress,insecurityandfearandwantsto
runawayfromreality.Heisanescapistandwantstoescapefromthe
worldofharshrealities.Heisfondofstampcollection,ahobby,which
hetakesuptomakehisleisurehoursmoreproductiveandfulfilling
experience.Buthispsychiatristfriendcallsitatemporaryrefugefrom
reality.Heyearnstoleadagoodsimplelifeofhisgrandfather’stime,
whenthingswereprettyniceandpeaceful.Hequestsforthefabulous
ordinarinessofabygoneagethatwasfreefrommodernrazzle-
dazzle,sophisticationandmaterialcomfortsbutexudespeaceand
tranquility.HewantstogotoGalesburg,Illinois,intheyear1894
whentheFirstWorldWarwastwentyyearsoffandtheSecondWorld
Warstillfortyyearsahead.
THE THIRD LEVEL
Character Portrayal

22. THE THIRD LEVEL
CharacterSketchofLouisa:
LouisaisCharley’swife.Sheislovingandcaringtowardsher
husband.However,sheisasimpleladyanditisnotdifficulttotake
herin.Sherefusestoacceptthepsychiatrist’sobservationthather
husbandisunhappy.Shetakesthiscommentasapersonalattack
andfeels‘kindofmad’.Onbeingtoldthemodernworldisfullof
insecurity,fear,etc.shefeelssatisfiedwiththepsychiatrist
explanation.WhenCharleytalkstoherabouthispredicament
regardingthethirdlevel,shegetsalarmedandadviseshimnottolook
forthethirdlevelanymore.Herhusband’sexchangingthenew
currencywiththeoldoneisacauseofconcernforherandshetells
Charleyemphaticallytostoplookingforit.WhenCharleytellsher
aboutSam’sdisappearance,shejoinshiminlookingforthethirdlevel
everyweekend.
Character Portrayal

23. THE THIRD LEVEL
CharacterSketchofSamCharley’sPsychiatristfriend:
Samisapsychiatristbyprofession.Heisatypicalcityboy.When
Charleyshareshisvisitingthethirdlevelhetellshimitisawakingdream
wishfulfillment.Hetellshimthatheislookingforwaystoescapesince
heisnothappy.ButheimmediatelyreviseshisstatementthatCharleyis
avictimofinsecuritiesofmodernlife.Hedubstheargumentofnarrator’s
hobbyofstampcollectionasatemporaryrefugefromreality.Hedoesnot
believeinmixinguphisprofessionwithhisfriendship.Hegetsfascinated
byCharley’sdescriptionofGalesburg,Illinois,asawonderfultownwith
bigoldframehouses,hugelawns,tremendoustreesliningthestreets.
Heisalsoaffectedbythepullsandpressuresofmodernlifethathe
thinksofescapingtothepeacefulworldofGalesburgof1894.Intheend,
hediscoversthethirdlevelofGrandCentralandgoesthere.Hewritesa
letterfromthereadvisingCharleyandLouisatokeepfindingthethird
levelbecauseitisworth.AccordingtoCharley,Sammusthavesetuphis
littlehayfeedandgrainbusinessesashecan’tgobacktohisold
businessaspsychiatristsareredundantinGalesburgof1894.
Character Portrayal

24. ASSIGNMENT : QUESTIONS TO TEST COMPREHENSION
Short Answer Questions (30-40 words)
1.What was Charley’s problem? What did his psychiatrist friend say?
2.Why couldn’t Sam go back to his old business in Galesburg of 1894?
3.What do you infer from Sam’s letter to Charley?
4.What did Charley do to be sure that he was really on the third level.
5.What did Charley notice at the third level of the Grand Central Station?
6.How did Charley reach third level?
Long Answer Questions (100-125 words) :
1.Sam’s letter to Charley is fine blend of fantasy and reality. Comment.
2.Did the third level really exist? Was it a medium of escape for Charley?
3.Do you see an intersection of time and space in the story?
4.‘The modern world is full of insecurity, fear, war, worry, stress.’ Discuss
in reference to the story ‘The Third Level’.
5.‘The Third Level’ is the eerie shadow land between desire, dreams and
reality. Discuss.
THE LAST LESSON