HE THIRD LEVEL i —Jack Finney Jndduction ie : declares that th Third Level is a story that weaves together a psychological journey of the narrator into past, presen and moves towards future. Ther The story, ‘The Third Level’ clearly explores the science fiction genre of ‘time travel’. Jack Finney, the recipient of the World Fantasy Award, interweaves fantasy with reality in his Projection of time travel. Charley, the protagonist wishes to be transported to the third level, the world of Galesburg, Illinois, 1894, which is supposed to be 4 mach happier and quieter place to be in. The story also dwells on the theme of escapism as a psychological refuge from the grim {fltes of the present day world along with a desire to stay with the past—a desire that Charley's wife Louisa does not conte: st. Sam has also happily escaped, with no desire to return ‘ohis old profession. The story exposes the vulnerable side of the common man. Surrounded by myriad Problems, we humans, Sometimes experience a craving for peace and serenity, and look for Possible escapes. This story is about time intersection, an illusion, a kind of long dream that we do not experience during our sleep. "Mh Chiaractovast Luis Also it opre tego gree pene Se Caney Charley is a thirty-one year old man ina tan gabardine suit and a straw hat, One night, onh 's way back from work, he decides to take the subway at the Grand Central Station, which everyone know s, has two levels. Preoccupied and in a hurry, Charley discovers an unknown “xit that takes him through a long corridor, into the third level, ; : 2 is a vieti t SeCUPILY aNd fea natley is a true representative of modern man, He is a victim of stre ear, 4nd wants to run away from reality, He is an esc harsh Tealities, and wan s to escape from the world } Literature Textbooks ... 3Sora Weiner is Charley's friend, and psychiatrist, and the next most important characty in the story. He concludes that the third level it a figment of ¢ harley's imagination, induced 5, the pressures of modern living by Charley's description of € lawns, tremendous trees hinks of escaping to the salesburg, Illinois, as a wonderful to He is also affected by the pulls any Sam gets fascinated peaceful world of Galesburg of 1304 with big old frame houses, huge pressures of modern life that he t penn wo +5 wife Louisa was initially angry with Sam's suggestion that Charley was unhappy nen Charney volta Hin about hia sGjoubi to tie third level Okthe Grad Comers Staion ie iy York. Then, Sam explains that not marital unhappiness, but dissatisfaction and disconten, with modern day living with its insecurity, fear, war and worry. To escape from these pressures, Charley's mind had sought refuge in the idyllic world of the third level. Louisa’s conviction in the existence of the third level is affirmed only when she sees the note sent by Sam himself, from Galesburg, Illinois, dated July 18, 1894. Since then, Louisa has been actively involved in looking for the third level, along with her husband, Charley. mmar ‘The story Yevolves around the key instance where protagonist, Charley, chanced upon a third level at the Grand Central Station, New York. Even though he has been there hundreds of times, he was always discovering new tunnels and doorways, so he kept on when he found a new level where he knew should've been only two. To him, Grand Central was always growing like a tree, pushing out new tunnéls and corridors. To his surprise, the third level was completely different and old-fashioned. He noticed that the locomotive, the brass spittoons and the naked gaslight belonged to eighteen-ninety something. Women’s fashion further confirmed his doubt. He now desired to visit Galesburg for he saw it as his chance to go back to a peacefiil time. However, he was called out for trying to pay the fare with money that was completely different from the one used in those days. Charley thus, ran back out into the present. He never found the third level again. that it must be him looking appy. Ironically, his psychiatric friend disappeared and dressed to him from 1894, he learned how happy his When he told his psychiatrist friend, the latter told Charley for an escape and suggested he was unh: when Charley found a note from him, a friend Sam was living in the 1800s. e resent and into the past: Ont 6. The third leyel refers to a medium of escape from the here there a7 day, Charley wanders down into a third level at Grand Central Station WI only two, and finds himself in the year 1894.charley ever go back to the ticket : jould Charley eve ‘ounter on the thi ? 2 we imself and his wife to Galesburg? ‘nd level to buy two tickets Y te * ~ ya atal fact, there is no third level, Charley may continue hiss na ver be a 7 + 5 ” sve dot think he would ever be able to find the condor a ae to “sand Central Station. So there is no : Possibility of his going back y of his to on the third leyel and buying two tickets for him and his ee toG ‘ ‘arch for a while, but o the third level at the ticket-counter dalesburg, geadin ee Do you think that the third level ns. 2. ig into tunnels and ent entirely new so, we can say that, the thi indeed. What do you infer from Sam’s letter to Charley? ans. Charley discovered Sam’s letter among hi 's first-day covers. The envelope bore an old stamp. It was genuine as it was racer the letter appears to be Charley's esc ¢ modern world is full of ins. ways in which we attempt to over ecurity, fear, war, ‘come them? fe attempt to escape into a world! teal or imaginary inlorder to fel secure and safe. Many people read books, some write fantasy novels, others take to painting. Quite a few also find shelter in music, others undertake a hobby to divert their mind fom their present-day world. worry and stress.” What are the Do you see an intersection of time and space in the story? Ans. There is no doubt about a definite intersection goes to the third level. He travels back in tim yet it appears to have a different setting. It is a Galesburg, not a modern Galesburg, through space and time. of time and space in the story. Charley . Even though the place is the same, is it was in 1894, Likewise, Sam reaches but the Galesburg of 1894, Thus, he transcends ee Apparent illogicality sometimes turns out to be a futuristic Projection. Discuss. There is no doubt that whatever man has achieved began with an idea, Every idea, in the beginning, started with what seemed to be a far-fetched dream, however, later it became a reality. Nowadays, man can travel to other planets but in the old days this would have been a highly unrealistic vision. It was only a Hight of agination to BBo a , it is a reality. H.G. Wells any person anywhere in the world a few years ago but today, it isa l giv ae ‘dda of Thane Machine icseents illogical, but it may be possible to travel back in time in future. : Rs Philately helps keep the past alive. Discuss other ways in eae a ove betwee! 5 dopo think of the human tendency to constantly m (Constructed Response —) and the future? vhich have i hy. The photos w Fast is kepeialive: by mignys waYss Ons] aa nue nie ert Od monument captured people or scenes of nature tell us how things wet Bea ae pas. Disses have been preserved. In museums, we keep thing: “OIns ar TV‘ ve ways in which the past can be i .d as well. There are several other ways in and coins are preserve : é Preserved for the future generations to ch Sone 2 Ans, Ans, Literature TeAns. 9 % extracts given below and answer the questions that follow. (4 Marks each) The clerk figured the fare - he glanced at my fancy hatband, but he figured the fare ~and I had enough for two coach tickets, one way. But when I counted out the money and looked up, the clerk was staring at me. He nodded at the Bills. “That ain’t money, mister,” he said, “and if you’re trying to skin me, you won't get very far,” and he glanced at the cash drawer, beside him. Of course the money was old-style bills, half again as big as the money we use nowadays, and different looking. (CBSE Question Paper, Code 1/2/1; 2022-23) (a) Why did Charley ask for two tickets? () Complete the sentence by choosing the correct option: When Charley offered money to the booking clerk, the latter stared at Charie; because the booking clerk - (®) thought it wasn’t money. (ii) did not trust Charley. (ti) thought Charley was trying to tease him. (w) thought that Charley had given him less money. (©) Select the option that best describes Charley in this extract. He is: (i) a cheat (tt) gullible (i) an opportunist s (w) an-escapist (d) ‘If you’re trying to skin me’ suggests f (a) Charley asked for two tickets that would take him and his wife Louisa to Galesbu: in Illinois. (4) (ii) thought Charley was trying to tease him. (c) @) gullible (d) to cheat someone iweene toonets «fog fn ee