Chapter in Brief
It shows us the imaginative world of Charley. Charley does not like the worries, stress, war and anxiety of modern world. He likes the past life in which his grandfather lived in Galesburg, Illinois. He wants to escape this modern world somehow and live in the times of 1894 (the time in which his grandfather lived and collected stamps).
One day, Charley was going to his home late at night due to overburdened work load. He went in the Grand Central Railway Station of New York City, but missed the train. But while going out of the railway station, he noticed a narrtow passage leading some different level of Grand Central. The Grand Central railway station had only two levels. Charley sweared, how come their exist an another level (viz. the third level). Then Charley went through that passage and noticed that everything was in retro style🚂🕵️.
Everything from the dress of people, the currency, the magazines and newspapers being sold there were from past. He noticed people wearing long cloaks and gaberdine. There were brass spittons as well. Charley found a newspaper seller selling 'The World' - a daily newspaper that was not published in his time. It was dated 11th June, 1894.
Then Charley thought 🤔 why not go to Galesburg, Illinois. Now Galesburg is very far from New York, so only option with Charley was to board a train. So, he went to the ticket counter and asked for two tickets, one for him and the other for his wife Louisa. He gave currency to the clerk. But....
The clerk got suspicious of Charley seeing his clothes (which were not prevalent in 1895s New York. He also saw that Charley was handing him some different or fake currency. So, he threatened Charley that he would call the police and get him arrested. Charley got scared and went back through the same gateway through which he had entered the third level🔙.
Then he took the bus and went to his home. His home location is not mentioned in the text. After he reached, Charley narrated the whole stiry to his wife Louisa. Louisa did not believe his imaginary story 😂. Even while writing answers in exam also, students are advised to say that these unusual experience of Charley was only his imagination 💭. Even there is not a sci-fi movie ahead. The story is based on the idea of escapism from hassle-filled world life, not on some kind of fantasy. The story is confusing to young-aged people. The remaining story is a kind of homework for you to read. However, you can still proceed with the question answers which follow :
The Third Level Imp Questions
What does the third level refer to?
The third level refers to the subway of Grand Central railway station at New York. It was not in reality. It was only Charley's imagination. Charley believed that he had been on the third level. The third level never existed in the Grand Central Railway Station, NYC.
Do you see an intersection of time and space in the story in the third level?
Yes, we can see an intersection of time and space in the story of the third level.
Firstly, the first two levels of Grand Central Railway Station were located in the present time, but the imaginary third level was located in the past. Secondly, Charley and his wife Louisa were located in present, yet Charley arranged old currency to buy two tickets to go to Galesburg if 1894.
The modern world is full of insecurity, fear, war, worry, and stress. What are the ways in which we can attemot to overcome them?
It is fact that the modern world us full of insecurity, fear, war, worry and stress.
We can attempt to overcome them by spending time with our family, exercising and doing meditation, reading inspiring books, and attending social activities.
What do you infer from Sam's letter to Charley
One day, Charley found Sam's letter in his collection of first day covers. Sam wrote that letter to Charley on 18th July, 1894. On this letter, he informed Charley that he had reached at the third level. He suggested Charley to come to third level with his wife Louisa. Then they will together go to his grandfather's house in Galesburg.
Why did Charley come back from the third level?
Charley came back from the third level to arrange some old currency to buy two tickets to Galesburg of 1894.
Do you think that the third level was a medium of escape for Charley?
Yes, I think that the third level was a medium of escape for Charley. The third level highlights the theme of escapism from modern world life.
The Grand Central railway station had only two levels. The third level was not in reality. It was only Charley's imagination. Charley wanted to escape from the modern world life, which is full of insecurity, fear, worry, war and stress.
Apparent illogical sometimes turns out to be a futuristic projection. Discuss.
Yes, it is true that apparent illogical ideas some times turns put out to be futuristic projections.
For example, before the invention of video camera, it was hard to believe that we could capture moments in video format. Similarly, before the invention of cellphone it was hard to believe that we could talk to our family and freinds wirelessly from anywhere in the world. Even we can connect to them through video as well by adding modern smartphones. In the near future, we may have time machine to experience time travel. Moreover, we still do not have any convenient device to capture smells and save them and share them on social media. In the near future, we may have such items!
With this, we have reached the end of this chapter. Do remember that the third level did not exist.
Wishing you good luck for your test on this chapter.
Hey, if you have any more chapter coming in the test, do check out this page: Class 12th English Index. You will get index having links 🔗 to go to each chapter.
0 Comments