Exploring the Psychological Journey in 'The Third Level' by Jack Finney
The story 'The Third Level' by Jack Finney delves into the intricate workings of the human mind, capturing a narrative that shifts seamlessly between past, present, and future. Charley's exploration of the Third Level at Grand Central Station leads to a profound realization about escapism and the allure of a simpler time, intertwined with the mysteries of stamp collecting and the disappearance of his friend, Sam, a psychiatrist. The narrative unravels a thought-provoking examination of the cyclical nature of time and the yearning for an alternate reality.
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English Core. Book: Vistas Lesson: The Third Level. By Jack Finney (He) Theme: It is a study of human mind caught in the cycle of time. It weaves together a psychological journey of the narrator into the past, the present and moves towards the future.
New Words Meanings: Pg-1 stack : (n) pile refuge: (n) shelter Pg-2 first-day cover: envelope that contains no letter or blank paper but bears the stamp/s bought on the day of its issue. It is mailed to one s own address. subway: (n) underground railway gabardine: (n) tightly woven fabric arched: curved
Pg-3 flickering: shining unsteadily Pg-4 glint: shine derby: dome-shaped Pg-5 mister: Mr. (Sir) fussing: paying attention with excitement
Point Wise Summary: There are two levels at the Grand Central Station but Charley claims that there are three. His psychiatrist friend, Sam explains it as Charley s waking-dream wish fulfillment, a way of escape. Charley s stamp collection: a refuge but he does not accept it citing the examples of his grandfather and President Roosevelt. Charley explains how he reached the Third Level.
Description of the Third Level: Smaller rooms, fewer ticket windows and gates, lights dim, open flame gas lights, people in 1890s clothes and The World newspaper. Charley wanted to buy two tickets to go to Galesburg, Illinois of 1894 because life was peaceful there at that time. He failed to buy the tickets as he did not have the old currency of 1890s. He bought old currency to buy tickets but could not find the way leading to the Third Level.
He resumed his hobby of stamp collection which made him believe about the existence of the Third Level because his psychiatrist friend, Sam had disappeared and there was a letter from Sam found in a first-day cover. He concludes that Sam cannot go to the 1890s world because he was a psychiatrist. ******
In text Questions and Answers: 1.What does the third level refer to? Ans: A way of escape from the real world full of war, worry and tension. 2. Would Charley ever go back to the ticket- counter on the third level to buy tickets to Galesburg for himself and his wife? Ans: No, because he could not find the way to the third level. *******
Reading with Insight: 1.Do you think that the third level was a medium of escape for Charley? Why? Ans: -Yes, because: - Charley, a product of 20th century was exhausted with the world full of war, worry, fear. -Wanted to escape from this harsh world. 2. What do you infer from Sam s letter to Charley? Ans: - All human beings of the 20th Century want refuge from the harsh realities of the world and Sam, though a psychiatrist, was not an exception to it.
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: - Introduction. Ways to overcome:- Practising one s hobby - Doing Yoga Listening to Music Practising Spirituality. 4. Do you see an intersection of time and space in the story? Ans: Yes. 5. Apparently illogicality sometimes turns out to be a futuristic projection? Discuss. Ans: - Introduction. - Charley s claim about the third level was interpreted as waking dream wish fulfillment. - Later Sam also disappeared.
6. Philately helps keep the past alive. Discuss other ways in which this is done. What do you think of the human tendency to constantly move between the past, the present and the future? Ans: - Introduction. - Other ways: - collection of old coins.- collection of books on old age, - collection of old music, movies, paintings etc. -It is human tendency to go the past when they are exhausted with the present waiting for the better future. *********
Extra Short Answer Type Questions to be answered in 30 to 40 words each. 1. Why did the narrator take the subway from the Grand Central? Ans: - He worked late in the office and was in hurry took the subway as it was faster than the bus. 2. Why did the narrator talk to his psychiatrist friend and what did he say about the third level? Ans: -Because no one believed him- he said it was a waking-dream wish fulfillment. 3. How did Charley ascertain that he had reached the world of 1894? Ans: - Saw dim gas lamps, brass spittoons, old styled clothing of men and women, moustaches, string watches and the newspaper, The World.
4. Why did Charley not agree that stamp collecting hobby is a way of escape? Ans: -Because his grandfather and President Roosevelt used to collect stamps though life was not stressful at that time. 5. Why did Charley run away from the third level? Ans: - Because the clerk at the ticket counter charged him that the money he was carrying was fake- he might be put behind the bars for that. 6. How does the narrator describe Galesburg, Illinois? Ans: - Wonderful town with big old frame houses, huge lawns and big trees. Summer evenings twice longer- people lived in peace and harmony.
7. How did Louisa react when the narrator told her about his wish to go to the Third Level? Ans: - She got worried as she was a loving and caring wife- thought it was the product of Charley s imaginary creation. 8. What did the narrator prepare to go to Galesburg? Ans: - Went to the third level at Grand Central as he knew that he could go anywhere from there- went to the ticket window to buy tickets. 9. Why did Charley think that Sam had escaped to Galesburg? Ans: Because he was not seen anywhere- no one knew where he had disappeared- Letter from Sam- Sam always told Charley that he liked the sound of Galesburg. *********
