Saturday, April 6, 2024

THE THIRD LEVEL- Notes

 


THE THIRD LEVEL

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

1. What does the third level refer to? What is the significance of the third level? (2001; 2004, Delhi)

Answer: The third level refers to the subway of the Grand Central Station that takes passengers to Galesburg, Illinois. The third level on the station was a medium of escape for Charley, the narrator, from the harsh realities of modern life. It provided him a base where he could interweave fantasy and reality.

2. How did Charley make sure that he was not in the present time? (2002 Delhi)

Answer: When Charley reached Third Level of the Grand Central Station, he found everything delved deep in the old style. In order to confirm, he went to the shop at a newspaper seller. He glanced at the stack of the papers and saw a newspaper named 'The World' of June 11, 1894. This confirmed that he was in the year 1894.

3. How did Charley often get lost on the Grand Central Station? (2010 Delhi)

Answer: The Grand Central Station was growing like a tree pushing out endless corridors, doorways and stairs like roots. It had intricate and tangled pathways. The network of passages was so complicated that instead of reaching his destination, one did tend to move up and down to look for entries and exits. So, Charley often got lost on this station.

4. Why did Charley suspect that Sam had gone to Galesburg? (2011 Outside Delhi)

Answer: Charley suspected that Sam had gone to Galesburg because one night he found a first day cover from Sam informing him that he had found the third level. Through the third level he had reached Galesburg, Illinois in 1894. He further told him the life at Galesburg was quite idyllic. He invited him and Louisa, his wife to join him in Galesburg, Illinois.

5. What did Charley learn about Sam from the stamp and coin store? (2012 Outside Delhi)

Answer: From the stamp and coin store, Charley came to know that Sam had bought old style currency worth eight hundred dollars. This money was sufficient to set him up in a little hay, feed and grain business in Galesburg.

6. How did Charley reach the third level of Grand Central? How was it different from the other levels? (2009 Delhi; 2012, Comptt. Delhi) (2010 Comptt. Delhi)

Answer: One night Charley worked till late at the office. Then he was in a hurry to get back to his apartment. So he decided to take the subway from Grand Central. He went down the steps and came to the first level. Then he walked down to the second level from where the suburban trains left. He ducked into an arched doorway that headed to the subway. Then he got lost. Knowing that he was going wrong he continued to walk downward. The tunnel turned a sharp left and then taking a short flight of stairs he came out on the third level at the Grand Central Station. The general layout of the third level was different from that of the second level. It had comparatively smaller rooms, fewer ticket windows and lesser train gates. The information booth in the centre was made of wood and looked old. The place with its brass spittoons did not look very bright. Dim gaslights flickered and men wore derby hats and four-button suits. It was a rather strange world of sideburns, beards and fancy moustaches. Then he caught a glimpse of an old locomotive and also saw an 1894 issue of ‘The World’ newspaper.

7. Do you think that the third level was a medium of escape for Charley? Why? (2005; 2008 Delhi)

Answer: The fears, anxieties and insecurities of the modem world are taking a toll on man’s mind. He feels helpless and frustrated and seeks temporary respite from life’s harsh realities. Charley too was unable to cope up with his fast paced and stressful life so his flight to the third level was undoubtedly a medium of escape for him. It is nothing but a creation of Charley’s own mind. He wants to escape from the modern world’s insecurity, fear, worries and stress and so seeks an exit, a medium to get away into the world of dreams and fancies.

8. What is being inferred from Sam’s letter to Charley? (2003 Delhi)

Answer: The way Charley came across Sam’s letter was surrounded in mystery. Among his oldest first-day covers, he found an envelope. The envelope containing the letter bore the address of his grandfather. It was written on July 18, 1894. The postmark showed the Picture of President Garfield. Generally the first day covers have blank papers in them, but this one contained a letter. The letter was addressed to Charley. The introductory part of the letter confirms Charley’s belief in the existence of the third level. It also suggests that those who find the third level can travel across to Galesburg and enjoy the festivities, songs, music and peaceful world of the 1890s. So the author uses Sam’s letter as a unique combination of the real and fantasy world.  Clearly, the letter was a product of Charley’s imagination.

Competency-based Long Answer Questions:

1. The story reveals refuge from reality to illusion. Jack Finney portrays Charley’s transition from reality to imaginary world through the story.

As Charley you decided to write a letter to Sam for advice as you have fantasies about the third level at Grand Central station. You may begin this way:

Dear friend Sam,

I worked late night at the office and was in hurry to reach my apartment to be with my wife Louisa.....

Ans. Dear friend Sam,

I worked late night at the office and was in hurry to reach my apartment to be with my wife Louisa. I thought of taking the subway since it seemed faster than bus. Grand Central Station was mysterious and mushrooming with subways, staircases and corridors that led to many ways and places. Moving through the tunnel I recounted my past experience that appeared safe and quite normal. I had been to the Grand Central Station hundreds of times. However, at times, I was almost lost in new doorways and corridors. Once, I entered a tunnel and came out in the lobby of a hotel. Another lime, I reached in an office building. I thought it was the second level. But I had reached the third level. I realised this as there were fewer ticket windows; the information booth was of wood and old-looking. The lights were flickering as they were open-flame gaslights. There were brass spittoons on the floor. The locomotive had a funnel-shaped stack.

Modern world is full of insecurity, fear, war, worry and tension. I want to escape from the harsh realities of modem world. I hope you would also agree with the escape theory. Please suggest some remedies.

Charley


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THE THIRD LEVEL- Notes

  THE THIRD LEVEL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 1. What does the third level refer to? What is the significance of the third leve...