The Third Level

By Jack Finny
Q1. Do you see an intersection of time and space in the story "The Third Level"?
There is an intersection of time and space in the story because it moves freely crossing all
barriers of time and space. Charley is able to move into the third level which belongs to the
past era of 1894 and then gets back to the 20th century. Sam transports himself to Galesburg,
Illinois in 1894 and yet communicates with Charley in the 20th century.
Q2. How did the psychiatrist explain Charley's flight to the non-existent 'third level'?
The psychiatrist, Sam, explained that Charley couldn't reach the third level because it didn't
exist. He was of the view that fear, insecurity, war and worries of the modern world made his
tension-ridden mind to create an escape route for himself. The third level was a creation of his
own imagination and 'a waking-dream wish fulfillment'.
Q3. 'Yes, I've taken the obvious step.' Why does Charley term meeting the psychiatrist as
'an obvious step'?
The moment Charley talked about his visit to the non-existent third level, everybody got alarmed
and felt that he needed to see a psychiatrist. Under the circumstances, it was clear that he
should talk to an expert to rule out any psychiatric problem. Therefore, he terms it as 'an
obvious step.
Q4. Why did the psychiatrist's analysis make Louisa lose her temper and how did the
psychiatrist appease her?

Louisa and Charley were leading a happy married life. So, she couldn't tolerate the psychiatrist's
observation about Charley that he was an unhappy man. However, her anger subsided when he
clarified that he was referring to modern man's unhappiness in general.

Q5. Stamp-collecting too was described as a medium of escape by the psychiatrist. Why
did Charley's grandfather, who lived in the good old days, when life was tension-free,
pursue this hobby?
Life in the times of Charley's grandfather was tension-free. So he didn't need to pursue philately(
hobby of collecting stamps) as a 'temporary refuge from reality'. He rather took up this hobby to
make his leisure( free time) hours more productive and fulfilling experience.
Q6. What was Charley's state of mind as he came back from the office? Why did he
decide to take the subway from the Grand Central Station?
Having worked late at the office, Charley was tired and bored. He wished to return to his loving
wife, Louisa and to the comfort of his home, as fast as possible. The bus would have taken
longer to cover the distance, so he decided to take the subway.
Q7. How did Charley reach the third level?
In his hurry to take a train back to home, Charlie came to Grand Central from Vanderbilt Avenue
and took two flights of stairs to reach the second level from where he had to take his train. He
got lost when he ducked into an arched doorway which led to the subway and he found himself
into a tunnel. The tunnel took him to another flight of stairs at the end of which he found himself
on the third level at Grand Central Station.
Q8. What does 'the third level' symbolize?
"Third Level symbolizes man's wish to transport himself deeper into the world of imagination as
an escape from the world of harsh realities. It stands for the narrator Charley's quest( search)
for 'the fabulous peaceful world of the bygone era' that was free from the worries and anxieties
of the modern world.
Q9. What does Grand Central Station symbolize?
The Grand Central Station symbolizes the labyrinth that this world is. The network of passages
is so complicated that rather than reaching the destination, one keeps on moving up and down
one's entire life to look for different entries and exits.
Q10. 'Now I don't know why this should have happened to me'. Charley wondered why he
alone took a flight to the 'third level'?
The power of imagination vary from person to person. Caught in the web of dull routine and fast
life, Charley finds it difficult to cope up. So, on the wings of imagination, he takes a flight to the
non-existent world of the past where he wanted to refuge.
Q11. What does Charley compare Grand Central Station to? Why?
Charley compares Grand Central Station to a tree. Just like a tree continuously grows the new
leaves and branches and spreads its roots, Grand Central Station also seems to him to be
pushing out new corridors and staircases.
Q12. 'But I never told my psychiatrist friend about the idea.'What did Charley not tell his
psychiatrist?Why?
Charley did not tell his psychiatrist friend about his notion that a long unknown tunnel ran under
the city and that Grand Central offers a way of escape through its tunnels. Charley did not share
this idea with the psychiatrist because he did want his psychiatrist to think of him as a crazy
person and make fun of him as an escapist.
Q13. Give a description of the 'third level'.or
How was the third level different from the second level?
The general layout of the third level was almost similar to that of the second level. But it had
smaller room, fewer ticket windows and train gates. The information booth in the centre was
wooden and old looking. One could spot a small Currier & Ives locomotive with a funnel-shaped
stack. The place with brass spittoons did not look very bright in the open-flame gaslights.
Everyone in the station was dressed like 'eighteen-ninety-something'.
Q14. What sort of dresses and appearances did Charley come across on the third level?
Charley came across men and women wearing 19th century dresses. Men had fancy
mustaches. beards and sideburns. Tiny lapels, four-button suits, derby hats and pocket gold
watches were in fashion then. Women wore fancy cut sleeves and long skirts with high-buttoned
shoes.
15. If the third level was just a product of Charley's imagination, why wasn't it rosier (very
beautiful) than reality?
Ordinarily imagination adds colour to reality and makes it look larger than life. However, the non-
existent third level was a lacklustre ( dull) place because it belonged to the past and Charley's
imagination saw past as dull and drab. He was looking for peace in that world and not any
razzle-dazzle of the modern world.
Q16. How did Charley confirm the specific date of the era that he had passed into?
On reaching the third level, Charley was quite puzzled to see a strange looking platform, an
outdated locomotive, and the people dressed in old-fashioned styles. To do a reality check, he
looked at the newspaper, 'The World, carrying a lead story on President Cleveland who
belonged to late 19th century. Later, he confirmed from the Public Library files that the
newspaper was dated 11th June, 1894.
Q17. Why did Charley run back from the third level?
When Charley tried to pay in the modern currency for the two tickets to Galesburg, the ticket
clerk accused him of trying to cheat and threatened to hand him over to the police. This made
Charley sense trouble and he ran back get out of the third level as fast as he could.
Q18. 'My three hundred dollars bought less than two hundred in old-style bills, but I
didn't care.' Bring out the significance of these lines.
Although Charley got less than two hundred old- style bills for his three hundred dollars but he
did not mind it because the old-style money could buy him railway tickets to Galesburg of 1894
where he could lead a life of peace free from his modern day worries and tensions. Also life in
1894 Galesburg was quite cheaper as compared to the modern life. Therefore, less money
actually meant more
Q19. Why could Charley not reach the third level again?
Charley could not reach the third level of Grand Central Station again because despite his best
efforts he failed to locate the tunnel that had taken him to this level earlier as he could never
experience the same level of consciousness which had transported him earlier to the third level
of Grand Central
Q20.Why did Louisa stop Charley from looking for the third level?
Louisa was a loving and caring wife. So, she got alarmed at Charley's claim that he had visited
the third level. His exchanging the new currency with the old one added to her worries. She also
thought that the third level was just a product of Charley's imagination, so she asked him to stop
looking for it.
Q21. What do you understand by a first-day cover?
The value of a newly issued stamp increases if it has the same postmark and the date of issue
on it. Therefore the stamp collectors buy new stamps on the first day of its sale. They paste
them on self-addressed envelopes and post them on their own address. These envelopes are
called the first-day covers and they are never opened.
Q22. Why was Sam attracted towards Galesburg?
Sam, who was a typical city boy, was attracted towards Galesburg illinois of 1894 . As per
Charley's description,It is a wonderful town with big old frame houses, huge lawns and
tremendous trees making canopy over the streets. He was also a man suffering worries and
tensions of modern life so, he always thought of escaping to the 'peaceful world' of Galesburg
of 1894.
Q23. How did Charley come to know that Sam had found the third level?
Charley came across a first-day cover that he had never seen in his collection earlier. It had his
grandfather's Galesburg address and it contained a note written by Sam mentioning that he had
found the third level and was in Galesburg since two weeks. This was a solid proof that Sam
had found the third level.
Q24. How did Sam like life in Galesburg?
Sam's letter to Charley from Galesburg showed that he was quite happy there. He liked the way
people enjoyed music, dance and socialising. It was a perfect place for his hay, feed and grain
business. He even invited Charley and Louisa to come over to Galesburg through the 'third
level'.
Q25. Why did Sam buy eight hundred dollars of old- style currency?
Sam must have spent all the earnings of his lifetime to buy old-style currency of worth eight
hundred dollars. It seemed to be a foolish bargain but he considered it to be very profitable one
for him because with that money he could get transported to the world of peace. Moreover, eight
hundred dollars was enough to start a nice hay, feed and grain business in Galesburg.
Q26. Why does Charley say, 'he (Sam) certainly can't go back to his old business'?
Charley knew that though it was less profitable, the quiet business of hay, feed and grain would
give Sam a greater sense of satisfaction. Moreover, he had no scope of coming back to his own
profession as in the peaceful world of 1894 a psychiatrist was not much needed.
Q27. Why do you think Charley withdrew nearly all the money he had from the bank ?
Charley was convinced that he had found the way to reach Galesburg of the past era and he
could travel to that peaceful world only with the help of old currency bills. So, he withdrew nearly
all the money he had from the bank to buy old-style currency.
Q28. How would you evaluate Sam's character? Elucidate any two qualities, and
substantiate with evidence from the text.
Sam is an intelligent psychiatrist and a wise person. He diagnosed Charley's transporting
himself to the non- existent third level as Charley's tendency to escape from the worries of
modern era. Yet he is wise enough not to pacify Charley's wife telling her that her husband is a
victim of insecurity like any other young man and was not unhappy because of her.
Q29. At the beginning of the story, Sam is sceptical of Charley's discovery of the third
level. By the end of the story, the reader is told that he found the third level and travelled
back in time. How would
Sam describe himself?
Sam would describe himself as an insecure person seeking escape from the fast-paced and
competitive life. He would also conclude that he failed to fight the anxiety of the modern world
and like Charley, he always wanted to transport himself to the peaceful world of the bygone era.
Q30. "It's easy to judge others and give advice, but much more difficult to apply it to
ourselves." Elaborate with reference to the character of Sam in The Third Level.
Sam told Charley that he was dissatisfied and was looking for an escape. The third level was
actually a figment of his imagination. Towards the end of the story the same tendency to escape
is seen in Sam as he too goes in search of the third level.
Long Answer Questions

Q1.Do you think that the third level was a medium of escape for Charley? Why?
Third level' refer to a level of reality that exists in our mind only and not in actual space and
time. It is this faculty of mind that makes virtual travel in time possible and opens various ways
to escape the harsh realities. Hence "The Third Level" is a medium of escape for a modern
man, Charley.

The wars, worries, insecurity and fear keep on troubling the modern man's mind. This
helplessness and frustration forces him to look for 'a temporary refuge from reality. Charley’s
hobby of stamp collection too diverts his attention temporarily and gives him some comfort.
The fast pace of life, overwork and anxieties of modern life too had made Charley uneasy and
restless. He strongly wished for peace and tranquility which ruled in the bygone era. Hence, the
redoubled efforts of his subconscious mind to escape resulted in his flight to the third level-a
level of existence which he associated with peace. His psychiatrist friend, Sam Weiner, also
diagnosed Charley's claim of visiting the third level, as 'a waking-dream wish fulfillment. Hence,
the third level was undoubtedly. a medium of escape for Charley.

Q2. What do you infer from Sam's letter to Charley?or

Sam's letter to Charley is a fine blend of reality and fantasy. Comment.
Sam's letter, dated 18th July, 1894 written from Galesburg, Illinois is a proof of his been
transported to Galesburg via the third level.Sam had explained it to be an escape mode. But
being equally insecure, in the heart of hearts, he had wished the entire episode to be true.
inwardly, he too wished for such an escape and wanted to believe in the existence of the third
level. He carried out an intense search for it and eventually found it. Galesburg fascinated him
and gave him the taste of tension-free life with boundless innocent pleasure. He enjoyed the
easy going, peaceful and simple life where people loved music, dance and socialising. He
suggested to Charley and Louisa to keep on looking for it till they came across it.
The letter surprises the reader because it is found in a first-day cover addressed to Charley's
grandfather. He wonders whether Sam had written it to Charley or Charley's grandfather. Also
instead of a blank paper inside, there was a letter with the words which Charley wanted to read.

Thus, the letter appears to be a strange but interesting mixture of the reality and the fantasy, an
imagination of Charley.
Q3."The modern world is full of insecurity, fear, war, worry and stress." What are the
ways in which we attempt to overcome them?
Insecurity due to war, worry, fear and stress takes away the peace of mind of the modern man.
Thus our conscious mind constantly forces out a solution for tension and anxiety. In order to get
a relief, he turns to religion, world of fiction, fantasy, hobbies, sports, music and creativity. These
things divert man's attention from harsh realities. Thus, man experiences some sort of a relief
from his worries. The degree of involvement in these activities gives a sense of calmness to
man. The tranquility that he experiences for himself saves him from the psychiatric problems
caused by stress, strain fears and anxieties.
Q4. Apparently illogical sometimes it turns out to be a futuristic projection. Discuss.
To dream of something that the world is unfamiliar with, usually appears to be illogical. In fact a
good number of scientific inventions seem illogical when some fertile mind imagines them for
the first time. Aeroplane, railway-engine,telephone, radio, television, mobile phone - all of them
must have sounded illogical and impossibe till some brilliant minds gave them a concrete shape.
Similarly the make-believe world of science fiction and all talk about aliens and life on other
planets may sound a bit impossible and unbelievable today but who knows tomorrow man may
be travelling to planets inhabited by aliens and aliens too might come to visit Earth. However,
the apparent illogicalities of the past like the submarines did prove to be futuristic projections.
The idea of going back in time, as shown in 'The Third Level', is illogical today but some day in
future, it may become possible and one may get transported back in time whenever one may be
bored with the present world.
Q5. Bring out the contrast between the world the Charley lived in and the one that he
strayed into.
Charley lived in a world full of insecurity, fear, war and worry, a world where the fast pace of life
always left man running a race against time. As a result, everybody had in their mind, a desire
for escape. The world that charley travels into was free from the complexities of life. Simplicity,
tranquility and peace made this world beautiful. People lived in big old frame houses with huge
lawns. The streets had on both sides massive trees with their branches forming a canopy.
People had ample leisure time and liked to socialise with each other. There was no mad rush
and the world was not torn with war. In fact, even the First World War was two decades away
and the second four decades away. The two worlds of Charley, thus stood in complete in
contrast to each other.
Q6. Did Sam really go the Galesburg or was it Charley's figment of imagination?
The third level at the Grand Central symbolises man's wish to live in a world which is free from
wars, worries, insecurities. tensions and provides a level of calmness, peace and tranquility.
Charley's imagination had given him a brief taste of this world when he fantasies himself on a
non existant level of Grand Central.But after getting a glimpse of it, Charley could never get
back to this world in spite of his sincere efforts. The craving for such a utopia remained in him.
Sam's letter from Galesburg and his claim that he had found the third level are also perhaps a
way of escape for Charley. He had become so obsessed with the charm of old world that his
imagination crosses limit and he has the illusion of a letter in the first day cover. Herefore, i think
that Sam, like any modern man, could never go to the world of past and it was just the
imagination of Charley. However, the story is a science-fiction and is open-ended to allow the
reader to believe either what Charley thinks about Sam or what Sam thinks about Charley's
escapist attitude.

My Mother at Sixty-Six
By Kamala Das

Q1.What do the poet’s parting words to her mother signify? (All India 2009)
Answer:
The poet’s parting words of assurance and her smile provide a stark contrast to the old familiar
fear of childhood. Her words and smiles are a deliberate attempt to hide her real feelings. She is
trying to hide her fear about her mother’s frail and deteriorating health which might separate her
from her mother.
Q2. What is the kind of pain and the ache that the poet feels ?
The poet, feels the pain of separation from her mother whom she must leave behind at her
native place. The ache the poet feels is the continuous sad feeling that she has for not being
able to take good care of her mother. Since her childhood, the poet has experienced a nagging
fear of losing her mother and her mother being ravaged by decay and age.
Q3. Why are the young trees described as 'sprinting'?
Young trees seem to be sprinting i.e. rushing past the poet, because she is travelling very fast in
a car. The sprinting movement of the trees contrasts with the poet's "ashen like" old mother. The
youth in one's life sprints away while the old age lingers on.
Q4.Why has the poet brought in the image of the merry children 'spilling out of their
homes'?
The poet sees merry children spilling out of their homes when she looks out of the car. The
image presents a sharp contrast to the poet's limp and dozing old mother. The spontaneous
overflow of life symbolised by the children is in contrast with the passive and inactive life of the
aged mother.
Q5.Why has the mother been compared to the "late winter's moon"?
The poet has compared her mother to the "late winter's moon" to convey the idea of her old age.
The winter is a traditional symbol of death and moon, particularly the pale moon is associated
with decay. The mother's pale dull face with wrinkles together with her grey hair give her the
look of a "late winter's moon".
Q6. What do the parting words of the poet and her smile signify?
The poet's parting words express the dilemma and confusion in her mind while her elongated
smile is superficial and expresses her helplessness. Both the words and the smile not only hide
her anxiety and fear about her mother's frail health but also give a faint hope that the old
woman
would survive long enough for the two to meet again. The smile must have comforted the old
woman.
Q7. What thoughts does Kamala Das put away while travelling with her mother in the
car? Why do you think she puts them away?
Kamala Das puts away the negative thoughts about losing her mother to death, and a nagging
ache for not being able to care well enough for her. She tries to drive away these dreadful
thoughts because they are very depressing.
Q8. How does Kamala Das bid farewell to her mother?
Kamala Das bids farewell to her mother with the comforting words "See you soon, Amma". She
tries to hide her anxiety and worry about her old mother's delicate health behind her prolonged
superficial smile.
Q9. What thoughts do you think Kamala Das had at the airport?
At the airport, Kamala Das was full of worries about her mother's delicate health and old age.
She even feared for not being able to see her during her next visit. Her inability to stay with her
mother in her hour of need makes her feel sad.
Q10. Why could Kamala not express her thoughts to her mother at the airport?
Kamala could not express her emotions in front of the old lady because she feared at the
thought of losing her mother. Any such expression would have proved fatal for her mother.So
she just said, "See you soon, Amma" and repeatedly smiled bidding a cheerful adieu.
Q11. Bring out the significance of the title "My Mother at Sixty-six".
The poem “ My Mother at Sixty- six” is a beautiful reflection of Kamala Das’s understanding of
the complexities of human relationships. She through her emotions for her old mother brings
home the idea that ageing is a natural process that spares none. So, the poem that is an
expression of poet's worry about the frail health and old age of her mother is titled aptly.
Q12. Do you think the poem reflects on the escapist tendency of the poet?
The poem reflect the escapist tendency of the poet. Burdened by the weight of pain suffered by
her mother, the poet tries to escape from the realities by looking out of the car. Again, she tries
to hide her sufferings by smiling continuously.
Q13. The pain of separation is expressed both literally
and metaphorically in this poem. Elucidate. Or
How does the poet express her personal anguish?
The poet expresses her personal anguish both literally and metaphorically. To convey her pain
of separation metaphorically, the poet writes that her mother's face was 'ashen' and looked like ‘
winter's moon’. She expresses her fear literally when she writes that she 'realised with pain' her
face looked ‘ wan, pale’ . She in fact wants to tell that her mother had grown old and death can
separate them.
Long Answer Question
Q1. Both "My Mother at Sixty-six" and "Aunt Jennifer's Tigers" are written by women
poets and both the poems have a woman as the chief character. What
similarities/dissimilarities do you find in the chief ideas in the poem?

"My Mother at Sixty-six" has been written by Kamala Das and "Aunt Jennifer's Tigers" by
Adrienne Rich and both the authors are renowned feminists. But, although both the poems
revolve around a female character, they are very dissimilar so far as the chief idea is concerned.
Kamala Das does not take up any issue of the suppression of women in a patriarchal society as
Adrienne Rich does, though symbolically in her poem. Kamala Das indirectly projects the idea of
the transience of human life. After enjoying a few decades of childhood pleasures and youthful
energy, one inevitably moves towards old age which brings with itself a number of physical and
mental weaknesses. The old age ultimately leads to death. Kamala Das is grieved to look at the
weakened, haggard face of her mother and then realizes with pain that her mother has grown
old. The fact, naturally, evokes the emotion of fear which she conceals behind her long smile.

Adrienne Rich, on the other hand, projects the fact that women have to undergo subjugation
and slavery in a patriarchal society. Aunt Jennifer's fingers wearing heavy rings symbolise the
burdens of the duties of women after matrimony. Thus, Adrienne Rich too takes up the theme of
death but not to lament the brevity of human life but to emphasize that even death is not an
escape from the burdens of women in a male-chauvinistic society. But there is a contrast
between the transience of human life and the permanence of art as the tigers in the panels will
go on prancing even after the death of Aunt Jennifer.