THE THIRD LEVEL by JACK FINNEY
Jack" Finney (born John Finney, October 2, 1911 – November 14, 1995) was an American author. His
best-known works are science fiction and thrillers, including The Body Snatchers and Time and Again.
In 1987, Finney was given the World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement at the World Fantasy
Convention, held in Nashville, Tennessee
THEME-
• Fantasy , imagination, a temporary refuge from a world full of insecurity, fear, war, and worry.
• Stress, sense of insecurity and fear of people of modern times
• Increasing tension & worries
• People want to run away from reality
• Modern times , 20th century – war , greed , materialism on rise , restlessness of minds
• Pulls and pressure of modern times
• Man’s desire to find a peaceful state , the third level is a utopian world
• The Third Level symbolises an ideal place full of peace & tranquility
• Complexities of human mind
• LIFE IN PREVIOUS TIME- simpler & better
CHARACTERS- Charley, Sam Weiner, Louisa
About the personalities referred to in the chapter :
1. President Roosevelt
2. President Grover Cleveland
3. President James Garfield
SOME FACTS:
• This story was published in 1954.
• Real place- Galesburg : the writer had spent some time here
• AMERICAN SONG – Seeing Nelly Home , published in1850
SUMMARY OF THE LESSON:
• The Third Level’ is a story that weaves together a psychological journey of the narrator
into past, present and moves towards future.
• -Charley- 31 year old, an American narrates his unusual experience of having been to the third
level.
• -He discovers brass spittoons, flickering gas lights, everyone dressed, like 1890’s with old
fashioned beards, side burns, fancy moustaches, engine with funnel shaped stack,newspaper -
The World, few ticket windows etc in the third level.
-Charley goes to get the ticket for Galesburg - Illinois- Wonderful town, big houses, huge
lawns, plenty of trees, people with lots of leisure time and surprises when the clerk says
that it is not currency and he will be put behind the bars.
• Wife worried -takes him to his Psychiatrist friend
• -He refuses to believe -says it a waking wish dream fulfillment as he could not face the modern
world which is full of fear, insecurity, war, worry, stamp collection a refuge from reality.
• Charley desperate to go to Galesburg & so exchanges new for old currency. But could never find
the third level. Sam’s disappearance has something to do with Galesburg as he was fond of the
place. One day while going through his stamp collection, he finds an envelope, containing a
letter of July 18, 1894 written by Sam, who is living at Galesburg, assertions the Third level.
Grand Central Station of New York has two levels. But Charley, a thirty-one year old dweller of the city, talks
about there being three. Not only does he believe in the existence of this hypothetical third level but also
claims to have been there.
A visit to his psychiatrist friend
Charley visits a psychiatrist friend to talk about this problem. The psychiatrist calls it a “waking-dream wish
fulfillment” and rationalises Charley's psychology by saying that the “modern world is full of insecurity, fear,
worry, and war...” and everybody wants to escape to some “temporary refuge from reality.” According to him,
even hobbies like stamp collection is a manifestation of this escape.
Charley loses his way at Grand Central
The fast growing Grand Central station at times seems to be a maze to Charley. He had lost his way a couple
of times earlier too while taking the subway. Once, he entered the lobby of the Roosevelt Hotel while the
other time he emerged at an office building that was three blocks away. But this time when he loses his way,
something unique happens. He visits the third level!
The Third Level - Charley keeps walking in the quiet corridor, angling left and slanting downward, till he
reaches an architecturally old station that is completely different from the two familiar levels. The antiquated
small room with fewer ticket counters and train gates, a wooden information booth, flickering open flame gas
lights and brass spittoons reminds him of the architecture of the 1800s. He also finds that people are dressed
in outmoded outfits. He notices that the date on the newspaper The World is printed June 11, 1894. As he
tenders money to the clerk at the counter to buy two tickets, he realises that he need to have old currency bills
to do so.
Charley's plan for a journey not realised - He had always wanted to travel to Galesburg with his wife,
Louisa. In his mind, it is “a wonderful town still, with big old frame houses, huge lawns, and tremendous
trees....” It is a place with long and pleasant summer evenings and where people have ample of time. So, the
next day during lunch, he exchanges three hundred dollars for old style bills amounting to some two hundred
only. The loss doesn’t bother him much as he believes that in Galesburg everything will be cheaper and that
he can manage even with a small amount. But, he could never again find the corridor leading to the third
level.
Sam goes missing! –Charley’s wife Louisa is worried after knowing all this and asks him not to look for the
third level any further. Suddenly Charley realises that his friend, Sam Weiner, is nowhere to be found, so he
and his wife keep looking for him in the weekends. Sam was the one with whom Charley used to share his
ideas about Galesburg.
Philately & the first day covers -Philately is not just stamp collection but a broad term including the study
of stamps, postal history and other related items. When a new stamp is issued, on the first day, people mail a
blank paper to themselves and then retain that unopened letter with the date on the postmark. Charley has
inherited the hobby and the collection from his grandfather.
A letter from Sam - One day while fidgeting with his stamp collection, Charley comes across a letter that
was not there earlier. It bears the postmark on a faded six-cent stamp with a picture of the President Garfield.
The envelope was sent on July18, 1894 to Charley's grandfather in Galesburg and is addressed to Charley.
The letter reads that Sam has reached Galesburg and is having whale of a time there. He also invites Charley
and Louisa to Galesburg. When Charley goes to the stamp and coin store, he is apprised of Sam's exchanging
eight hundred dollars for the old currency bills to establish his business of hay feed and grain in Galesburg.
The letter was written by Sam Weiner, who was Charley's psychiatrist!
RTCs
1. “Yes, I’ve taken the obvious step: I talked to a psychiatrist friend of mine, among others”
a. Name the lesson and the author
b. Why is talking to a Psychiatrist an obvious step?
c. What was the Psychiatrist’s name?
d. What did the Psychiatrist say?
Ans. a. The Third Level by Jack Finney
b. When he visits the third level of New York Central, based in 1894 though he lives in 1990s and the
Presidents of New York Central swear that there are only 2 levels
c. Sam Wetner, his friend was also his psychiatrist
d. Sam said it was a waking dream wish fulfillment as Charley was unhappy in the modern world which was
full of insecurity, fear, war, worry and all the rest of it and that he just wanted to escape.
2. “He said I was unhappy. That made my wife kind of mad, but he explained that he meant the modern world
is full of insecurity, fear, war, worry and all the rest of it, and that I just want to escape.”
a. Who is the ‘he’ and why does he say ‘I’ is unhappy?
b. What is the wife’s name and why was she mad?
c. Where did ‘I’ escape to according to ‘he’?
d. What did ‘he’ say about the experience?
Ans a. Sam said Charley was unhappy in the modern world which was full of insecurity, fear, war, worry and
all the rest of it and that he just wanted to escape.
b. Louisa was angry because when Sam said Charley was unhappy, she thought he meant because of her.
c. Charley said that he went to the third level of New York Central station, which was based in 1894; a
simpler and more peaceful time and he even tried to buy tickets to go to Galesburg in1894
d. Sam said it was a waking dream wish fulfillment as Charley was unhappy in the modern world which was
full of insecurity, fear, war, worry and all the rest of it and that he just wanted to escape.
3. Sometimes I think Grand Central is growing like a tree, pushing out new corridors and staircases like roots.
a. Name the lesson and the author
b. Who is the ‘I’? Where is he at this time?
c. Why does he say this statement?
d. Where did he go that day
Ans. a. The Third Level by Jack Finney
b. ‘I’ is Charley. He is in the Grand Central Railway Station of New York city
c. He says this because he is remembering how he found the Third level and explaining that he frequently got
lost in the station just like he did that day
d. He ducked into a corridor which began angling left and slanting downward and took him into the Third
level.
4. I could buy tickets that would take Louisa and me anywhere in the United States we wanted to go in the
year 1894. And I wanted two tickets to Galesburg, Illinois.
a. Name the lesson and the author
b. Who is the ‘I’ and where could he buy the tickets?
c. Why did he want to go to Galesburg with his wife?
d. Did he buy the tickets?
Ans. a. The Third Level by Jack Finney
b. ‘I’ is Charley and he could buy the tickets at the Third level of New York Central, which was based in
1894.
c. Because it was a wonderful town with big old frame houses, huge lawns and huge trees and in 1894 it was
more peaceful and quiet. He wanted to be back there with both the World Wars still years away
d. Charley could not buy the tickets as he did not have old style money and the teller threatened to call the
police because he thought Charley was trying to cheat him.
5. You can buy old money at almost any coin dealer’s, but you have to pay a premium. My three hundred
dollars bought less than two hundred in old-style bills, but I didn’t care.
a. Who is the speaker?
b. Why did he buy old money?
c. Was he successful in his aim?
d. Why didn’t the speaker care that three hundred dollars bought less than two hundred in old-style bills?
Ans. a. Charley is the speaker
b. He had discovered the Third level based in 1894 and wanted to go to Galesburg then; so he needed old
money to buy the tickets
c. No Charley could not find the Third Level again so he was not able to buy tickets to get to Galesburg in
1894
d. He knew that in 1894. The 200 dollars would buy much more as in 1894 things were much cheaper then.
6. My friend Sam Weiner disappeared! Nobody knew where, but I sort of suspected because Sam’s a city boy
and I used to tell him about Galesburg — I went to school there — and he always said he liked the sound of
the place. And that’s where he is, all right. In 1894.
a. Who is Sam Weiner?
b. Why did he always like the stories about the speaker’s childhood in Galesburg?
c. Why does the speaker think that he is in 1894?
d. Do you think Sam was in 1894?
Ans. a. Sam was Charley’s Psychiatrist
b. Sam would like Charley’s stories about his childhood in Galesburg because though he was a city boy, but
he also was an escapist from all the stress of the modern world and he too wanted to get away from it.
c. Charley got a letter from Sam in a First Day cover. In it Sam told him he had found the Third Level and
travelled to Galesburg in 1894
7. …..he always said that’s what he really wished he could do, and he certainly can’t go back to his old
business. Not in Galesburg, Illinois, in 1894.
a. Who is the ‘he’? What did he always wish to do?
b. What was his old business and why could he not go back to it in 1894?
c. Why does the speaker think he is in 1894?
d. Where did ‘he’ hear about Galesburg and why did he want to go there?
Ans. a. He is Sam Weiner, Charley’s Psychiatrist. He always wanted to have a hay, feed and grain business
b. Sam was Charley’s Psychiatrist. He could not be a Psychiatrist in 1894 as people did not need a psychiatrist
in that peaceful and quiet time.
c. Charley got a letter from Sam in a First Day cover. In it Sam told him he had found the Third Level and
travelled to Galesburg in 1894
d. Sam liked Charley’s stories about his childhood in Galesburg. He was a city boy, but he used to say that he
wanted to go to Galesburg to probably escape from all the stress of the modern world.
HOTS
1. How does Jack Finney create the atmosphere of late nineteenth century in the story?
Ans- things looked different at third level’ , The World’ newspaper, the lead story t6alked about President
Cleveland , newspaper in the public library dated11 june 1894, dressing style old , ancient locomotive,
houses- big old frame , tremendous trees and huge lawns , a world without stress and
Wars
2. What did Charley learn about Sam from the stamp & coin store?
ANS- Charley learnt that he had bought eight hundred dollars worth currency, that would have set him up
in a nice little hay, feed and grain business. Charley knew that psychiatry would not have helped him in
Galesburg in 1894.
3. How did Sam reach Galesburg? What did he advise Charley to do?
ANS- Sam used Charley’s experience to his own advantage and reached Galesburg via third level .
Imagination proved a good escape route to him from his present worries and stress. He was fascinated with
the life of Galesburg , advised Charley to keep looking for it
4. Why did Charley suspect that Sam had gone to Galesburg?
ANS- Charley’s friend & his psychiatrist had disappeared. One night going through his first-day covers
Charley found one dated 1894 with his grandfather’s address written on it. On opening the letter,he found
inside a letter from Sam addressed to him. He also found out from a stamp and coin store that Sam had
bought 800 dollars worth currency.
Questions & Answers- Short Questions -2marks
1. How did Charley reach the third level of the Grand Central Station?
Grand Central Station, New York, has only two levels. One evening Charley reached this station and then
walked down the second level to catch an early train to his home. While he was on the second level, he
strangely happened to notice a doorway down. He followed the steps and reached the third level which was
never heard or seen by anyone. In the third level Charley saw a hundred year old world and people.
2. What was Charley’s strange experience at the Grand Central Station?
The Grand Central Railway Station, New York, has only two levels. It is a common fact. A simple, normal,
man, Charley, once took an unknown way down to the third level of this station. He got lost in a 100 year old
world there. People, fashion, currency and dressing were different there. Even though it was difficult for
Charley to believe what was happening, he had no other choice than believing the reality. He thought of living
there, a world behind his time, because the 1894 world was more peaceful, fragile, innocent and secure. He
tried to get two rail tickets to his hometown Galesburg; one for his wife, indeed. But Charley failed to get the
tickets as the clerk at the ticket counter suspected him and his currency notes. Charley ran away, got out of the
third level and finally reached the present world and got home.
3. How did The World help Charley to confirm his doubts regarding the existence of a third level?
The World was a popular newspaper which stopped its publication before 1994. Having reached the third
level of the Grand Central Station, Charley noticed that the World was still available. He saw that day’s
edition of the World and the date, June 11, 1894 and confirmed that he was back in 1894.In the beginning,
when he reached the third level, Charley was confused. Whatever he saw in the third level told him that he
had travelled back to the past. This was confirmed when he saw The World, a newspaper of the past that was
no more published. The lead story said something about President Cleveland and it was printed June 11, 1894.
4. How did Charley ascertain that he had reached the 1894 world?
Charley reached the third level of the Grand Central Railway Station, New York. Amidst his fresh
amazement, Charley could not relate the possibility of being in a hundred year old world. But when Charley
observed the dim gas lamps, brass spittoons, old styled costumes of men and women, moustaches and beards
generally worn by men, string-watches and so on, Charley began to doubt that he had become part of the old
world yet he still didn’t know which year it was. Charley got it resolved only at the sight of The World, the
newspaper that bore the date of 1894 with a piece of news of President Cleveland.
5. Why did Charley run away from the third level?
Charley was greatly amazed when he reached the hundred year old third level and was planning to buy two
rail tickets to Galesburg where he had spent his childhood. But when he took out his money to pay the fare,
the clerk found out that his notes were fake and thought that Charley was attempting to fool him. He warned
him that he would call the police. Seeing that there was nothing good about police and jail in the hundred year
old Galesburg, Charley ran away.
6. What was Sam’s answer to Charley’s dilemma?
Charley met his psychiatrist friend Sam and told him about this experience. The psychiatrist interpreted it as a
mental disorder. Indicating his hobby of stamp collection and this sort of experiences, Sam explained his
abnormality to be ‘escaping from the struggles of life by fantasizing.’ Soon his friends and wife began to
consider Charley as a mental patient. But how! Charley was no abnormal. He was a happy man who loved his
wife and friends and stamps. But the rest of the world believed Charley was abnormal, a dreamer.
7. How did Charley’s friends relate his stamp collecting habit to his being abnormal?
Charley had a collection of stamps. When he told his friends of his peculiar experience at the Grand Central
Station, all his friends believed that he was not mentally well. They said that he was worried as anyone in the
modern world and by spending time with his stamps he was escaping from realities.
8. Does Charley agree that stamp collecting habit is a way of escapism? Why?
No, Charley doesn’t agree with this claim of his psychiatrist friend. Charley’s grandfather was a stamp
collector yet he was a happy man and he never ran away from any reality. Another stamp collector was
President Roosevelt, the American President who won the World War II. From these two people Charley
believed that stamp collecting habit does not mean escapism.
9. Why did the narrator meet a psychiatrist? (2 Marks)
(Ans) The narrator met a psychiatrist because he was sure he had been on the third level of the Grand Central
Station. He was also aware of the fact that only two levels of the station existed and the presidents of the rail
road would even swear on a stack of timetables to prove this point. The need to meet a psychiatrist became
urgent because he was in a dilemma.
10. What, according to the psychiatrist, was Charley’s problem?
(Ans) Charley told the psychiatrist about his belief in the existence of the third level at the Grand Central
Station but was told that it was only a waking- dream wish fulfillment. The third level was the work of his
mind, his desire and fantasy. The psychiatrist also added that Charley was unhappy because of the insecurity,
fear, war, worry and that he just wanted to escape just like everyone else. And the third level offered him that
escape just like his hobby of collecting the stamps which was interpreted as ‘ a temporary refuge from the
reality’.
11. What does Charley think of Grand Central?
((Ans) Charley thought that Grand Central was growing like a tree, pushing out new corridors and stair cases,
like roots. According to him, the grand central was so big that it could lose his way very easily and each time
discovered some new part of it suggesting its meandering ways. Charley thought that there was probably a
long tunnel that nobody knew about, feeling its way under the city, on its way to Times Square, and maybe
another to Central Park. He thought Grand Central had been an exit, a way of escape.
12. What was the most shocking and disturbing discovery/ revelation made by Charley?
(Ans) The most shocking and disturbing discovery Charley made was that the note had been sent by his
friend Sam who had recently disappeared. Charley found out that he had exchanged a large sum of present
time dollars and bought eight hundred dollars worth of old-style currency which he wanted to invest in the
business in 1894 at Galesburg. He also admitted that Sam was his psychiatrist who could not go back to his
‘old business’ (psychiatry) in 1894. It was shocking because Sam had initially dismissed charley’s claims of
third level as a ‘waking dream fulfillment’ whereas his letter in the end becomes the clenching evidence of the
third level.
13. What was Charley’s argument when the psychiatrist told him that the stamp collecting was a
temporary refuge from reality?
(Ans) Charley argued that his own grandfather lived at a time when things were pretty nice and peaceful and
he was the one who had actually started his collection of stamps. Charley refused to believe that his stamp
collection was ‘a temporary refuge’ from reality. He considered third level to be true. He further gave the
example of the President Roosevelt who also shared his hobby and was far removed from any desire to
escape.
14. What idea did Charley have about the tunnel and why didn’t he tell the psychiatrist about it?
(Ans) Charley felt there was a tunnel that nobody knew about, which was feeling its way under the city at
that moment too, on its way to Times Square, and maybe another to Central Park. Grand Central, he felt, was
like an exit, a way of escape and perhaps that’s how he got into the tunnel. He didn’t want to tell the
psychiatrist, for he would not have believed him and would have wanted to treat him it as it would further
prove that charley was imagining the third level since he nurtured a desire to escape.
15. Describe briefly the scene at the station as seen by Charley.
(Ans) Charley noticed that everyone at the station was dressed like eighteen-ninety something. He never saw
so many beards, side burns, and fancy moustaches in his life. A woman he saw was wearing a dress with leg-
of-mutton sleeves and a skirt to the top of her high-buttoned shoes. On the tracks, he saw a locomotive, a very
small Currier and Ives locomotive with a funnel shaped stack. The open gaslight and brass spittoons at the
third level clearly gave it a look of 1894.
16. Why did Charley go to the newsboy? Or How did charley confirm that he has been to the third
level? (same answer)
(Ans) Charley had walked up to the newsboy to confirm what he thought was true, i.e. the third level of the
Grand Central as he saw existing in the year 1894. He saw the newsboy selling the newspaper, The World,
which hadn’t been published for years and which carried the lead story about President Cleveland. Later, he
found a copy of the same newspaper in the Public Library Files dated June 11, 1894.
17. Describe Galesburg, as it existed in the year 1894?
(Ans) Galesburg was a wonderful town with big old frame houses, huge lawns, and tremendous trees whose
branches met overhead and roofed over the streets. In 1894, summer evenings were twice as long, and people
sat on their lawns, the men smoking. It was the peaceful and tranquil place without wars and worry.
18. In which context did Charley say, “eggs were thirteen cents a dozen in 1894”?
(Ans) Charley had got his three hundred dollars out of the bank and got them changed into old-style currency
so that he could go back to the third level and buy the tickets to Galesburg. For his three hundred dollars he
had got only two hundred dollars old-style currency but he didn’t mind that. The only consolation was that in
the year 1894, the two hundred dollars would have more value, as things were much cheaper than they were
now.
19. What did Charley suspect when his friend Sam Weiner disappeared?
(Ans) Despite Charley’s efforts to go to the third level, he was unable to find it again. He shared his
experience with his wife, who got worried. He went back to his stamps. His friend Sam had disappeared and
nobody knew where he was but Charley was certain that he had found the third level and gone there.
Charley’s description of the place had fascinated him and he had gone there, in 1894.
20. What was written on the paper that Charley found inside the envelope?
(Ans) Charley read the note that said the fact that the third level existed, was true. The note signed by Sam
also read that he had been at Galesburg for two weeks and was enjoying himself there. Sam had urged
Charley and his wife Louisa to keep looking for the third level till they could find it and join him. It was worth
the effort.
21. What happened when Charley went to buy the tickets?
(Ans) The clerk at the ticket counter stared hard at Charley and also glanced at his fancy hat bands. But he
figured the fare. When Charley was about to pay the fare for two tickets, he told him that it wasn’t money and
if Charley tried to cheat him, he wouldn’t get far. Charley went away from there as fast as he could.
22. Do you think that the third level was a medium of escape for Charley? Why?
(Ans) According to Charley’s psychiatrist Sam, it was just a waking dream wish fulfillment and provided
escape from modern day fear, insecurity, worry, etc. On the other hand, the vivid description that Charley
provides indicates that the place really existed and later Sam exchanging money, disappearing and sending a
letter in the first day cover perhaps prove that it was not an escape but a reality.
HOTS
1.How does Jack Finney create the atmosphere of late nineteenth century in the story?
Ans- things looked different at third level’ , The World’ newspaper, the lead story t6alked about President
Cleveland , newspaper in the public library dated11 june 1894, dressing style old , ancient locomotive,
houses- big old frame , tremendous trees and huge lawns , a world without stress and
Wars
2.What did Charley learn about Sam from the stamp & coin store?
ANS- Charley learnt that he had bought eight hundred dollars worth currency, that would have set him up
in a nice little hay, feed and grain business. Charley knew that psychiatry would not have helped him in
Galesburg in 1894.
3.How did Sam reach Galesburg? What did he advise Charley to do?
ANS- Sam used Charley’s experience to his own advantage and reached Galesburg via third level .
Imagination proved a good escape route to him from his present worries and stress. He was fascinated with
the life of Galesburg , advised Charley to keep looking for it
4. Why did Charley suspect that Sam had gone to Galesburg?
ANS- Charley’s friend & his psychiatrist had disappeared. One night going through his first-day covers
Charley found one dated 1894 with his grandfather’s address written on it. On opening the letter,he found
inside a letter from Sam addressed to him. He also found out from a stamp and coin store that Sam had
bought 800 dollars worth currency.
LONG ANSWERS- 5 Marks
1. What do you infer from Sam’s letter to Charley?
(Ans) Charley, the main character of Jack Finney’s ‘The Third Level’ gave up hope of ever finding the third
level again. He resumed his stamp collecting to pass his time. It was then that he noticed a first day cover
which he had not seen before and should not have been there. It bore the stamp of July 18, 1894 and had been
posted from Galesburg, Illinois. As Charley read the contents of the letter, he was shocked and surprised to
read that it was Sam, his friend who had posted it to him. Earlier he had only hoped that Charley was right
about the third level but now he actually believed in it. He had found it and had been there for two weeks. He
admired the place as it was peaceful, people were warm and friendly. He urged Charley and Louisa to
continue their search for the place and not to give up.The letter brought out the difference between the two
worlds –the peaceful one of the pre-world war era and the modern world full of stress, worry and insecurities.
People led a life of fun, enjoyment and little pleasures meant a lot to them in 1894. The letter also
corroborates charley’s belief in the third level.
2. ‘The Third Level’ written by Jack Finney is a story that illustrates an intersection of time and space.
Elaborate.
(Ans) In ‘The Third Level’, Jack Finney treats his favourite subject ‘Time’ in a new dimension. The Third
Level is a point where the past and the present meet.Charley, the protagonist loses his way. He finds himself
in what he thinks is the third level of the Grand Central Station in New York. He realizes that something is
different and discovers that he has somehow reached the year 1894.It is the period Finney would want to be
in. The responses and happiness of the three characters in the story revolve around the third level. Charley is
excited and wants two tickets for Galesburg, a peaceful town in the pre-war period. Sam, Charley’s
psychiatrist friend attributes it to his desire to escape from the stress of life. Later on, Sam drew all his life’s
savings from the bank and exchanged it for 1894 currency. He was able to cross time and reach a quieter,
more peaceful past where his services as a psychiatrist were not required. Louisa did not believe that one
could cross over the time dimension till Charley received a letter from Sam. Jack Finney leaves the readers
wondering what ‘The Third Level’ really is. Even though Charley is able to find proof and make the transition
back and forth in time, Sam, his friend is already there and enjoying himself. The reader gets transported into
the shadowy, eerie world of dreams, desires and reality.
Important Interpretations-
1. First day cover
2. Waking dream wish fulfilment
3. Complexed state of mind of the modern man
4. How is the ending of "The Third Level" by Jack Finney ironic?
5. Significance of the symbol of the third level
6. Charley symbolically represents the modern man
Activity:
1. Compare the 20th century life with 19th century
I9th century (Charley strays into) 20th century (Charlley e lives in)
2. Say yes or no
a. A postmarked letter proves Sam has travelled back in time.
b. Charley wants to travel to Galesburg.
c. The third level is a figment of Charley’s imagination.
d. Sam’s letter is an intersection of time and space.
e. Sam transports him to Galesburg in 1994
f. Charley yearns to escape from stress and pressures of modern times.
