THE THIRD LEVEL

Summary:
The protagonist of the story, Charley, is a 31-year-old man living in New York. One evening, while hurrying home
from work, he discovers a mysterious third level at Grand Central Station. This third level doesn't exist in reality;
the station only has two levels. However, Charley finds himself transported back in time to the year 1894. The world
around him is simpler, quieter, and free from the stress of modern life.
Charley is excited about this discovery and tells his wife, Louisa, and his psychiatrist friend, Sam. However, they
believe that Charley's experience is just a hallucination caused by stress and his desire to escape from the pressures
of modern life. Sam even suggests that Charley should accept the reality and not dwell on this fantasy.
Despite this, Charley is determined to find the third level again and escape permanently to 1894. He even tries to
buy old currency to use in the past. However, he is never able to find the third level again.
In a twist at the end of the story, it is revealed that Sam, the psychiatrist, has himself found the third level and has
sent a letter to Charley from 1894, describing his new life there.

Themes:
1. **Escapism**: The story highlights how modern life, with its stress and complexities, can make people yearn for
a simpler past. Charley’s desire to escape to 1894 represents a common human longing to avoid the harsh realities of
the present.
2. **Reality vs. Fantasy**: "The Third Level" blurs the line between reality and fantasy, leaving readers to wonder
whether Charley's experience was real or just a figment of his imagination.
3. **Nostalgia**: The story reflects a deep sense of nostalgia for the past, a time that is perceived as being more
peaceful and less complicated.

Analysis:
- **Character of Charley**: Charley is portrayed as a typical modern man who feels overwhelmed by the pressures
of life. His discovery of the third level symbolizes his desire to escape from these pressures.
- **Symbolism of the Third Level**: The third level of the station is symbolic of a gateway to another world or
time, representing the idea of escapism and the human desire to find solace in a simpler time.
- **The Role of Sam**: Sam's eventual acceptance of the third level and his escape to 1894 adds a layer of irony to
the story, as the character who initially dismisses Charley's experience as a fantasy ends up believing in it and taking
the plunge himself.
This story leaves readers with an open-ended question about the nature of reality and the possibility of alternate
worlds or dimensions existing alongside our own.

VELAMMAL BODHI CAMPUS

ENGLISH WORSHEET – THE THIRD LEVEL

### 1. Where does Charley discover the mysterious third level?

a) Penn Station
b) Grand Central Station
c) Union Station
d) New York Central Station

### 2. What year does Charley find himself in when he discovers the third level?
a) 1890
b) 1900
c) 1894
d) 1888
### 3. What does Charley want to do after discovering the third level?
a) Forget about it
b) Return to the present
c) Move to the past permanently
d) Warn others about it

### 4. Who is Sam in the story?

a) Charley’s brother
b) Charley’s co-worker
c) Charley’s psychiatrist friend
d) A random stranger Charley meets

### 5. How does Charley try to prepare for life in 1894?

a) By buying old clothes
b) By learning about history
c) By purchasing old currency
d) By building a time machine

### 6. How does Sam communicate with Charley from the past?
a) Through a telegram
b) By sending a letter
c) Through a phone call
d) In a dream

### 7. What does the third level at Grand Central Station symbolize?
a) A passage to another world
b) A hidden treasure
c) The complexity of modern life
d) An exit from reality

### 8. What does Charley's wife, Louisa, think about his experience at the third level?
a) She believes it completely
b) She is worried and skeptical
c) She wants to go there too
d) She dismisses it as a joke

### 9. Which of the following best describes the genre of "The Third Level"?
a) Historical fiction
b) Science fiction
c) Fantasy
d) Mystery
### 10. What is the main theme of "The Third Level"?
a) Adventure
b) Nostalgia and escapism
c) Friendship
d) Justice
Here are some assertion and reason statements related to “The Third Level”:

### Assertion and Reason 1

**Assertion:** Charley discovers a hidden third level at Grand Central Station.
**Reason:** The third level is a manifestation of Charley’s desire to escape the complexities of modern life.

### Assertion and Reason 2

**Assertion:** Charley’s wife, Louisa, is supportive of his quest to return to the past.
**Reason:** Louisa believes that the third level is a real and accessible escape from their current life.

### Assertion and Reason 3

**Assertion:** Sam, the psychiatrist, initially dismisses Charley’s experience as a hallucination.
**Reason:** Sam is a rationalist who believes that Charley’s experience is due to stress and not a real phenomenon.

### Assertion and Reason 4

**Assertion:** The third level symbolizes a gateway to an idealized past.
**Reason:** It represents the human longing for a simpler, more peaceful time away from modern pressures.

### Assertion and Reason 5

**Assertion:** Charley tries to buy old currency to prepare for his life in 1894.
**Reason:** He believes that having authentic money from the past will help him blend into the 1894 society.

Here are the true or false statements without answers:

1. **Charley discovers the third level in Penn Station.**
2. **The year Charley finds himself in is 1894.**
3. **Charley’s wife, Louisa, fully supports his desire to live in the past.**
4. **Sam, the psychiatrist, initially believes that Charley’s experience is a real phenomenon.**
5. **Charley tries to buy old currency to use in 1894.**
6. **The third level symbolizes an escape from modern life.**
7. **Sam eventually finds the third level and writes a letter to Charley from the past.*
8. **Charley finds the third level repeatedly and decides to live there permanently.**
9. **The story’s genre can be categorized as historical fiction.**
10. **The main theme of the story is about the complexity and stress of modern life.**

Here are the answers to the MCQs:

### 1. Where does Charley discover the mysterious third level?

**b) Grand Central Station**
### 2. What year does Charley find himself in when he discovers the third level?
**c) 1894**
### 3. What does Charley want to do after discovering the third level?
**c) Move to the past permanently**
### 4. Who is Sam in the story?
**c) Charley’s psychiatrist friend**
### 5. How does Charley try to prepare for life in 1894?
**c) By purchasing old currency**
### 6. How does Sam communicate with Charley from the past?
**b) By sending a letter**
### 7. What does the third level at Grand Central Station symbolize?
**d) An exit from reality**
### 8. What does Charley’s wife, Louisa, think about his experience at the third level?
**b) She is worried and skeptical**
### 9. Which of the following best describes the genre of “The Third Level”?
**c) Fantasy**
### 10. What is the main theme of “The Third Level”?
**b) Nostalgia and escapism**

Here are the answers to the assertion and reason statements:

### Assertion and Reason 1

**Assertion:** Charley discovers a hidden third level at Grand Central Station.
**Reason:** The third level is a manifestation of Charley’s desire to escape the complexities of modern life.
**Answer:** Both the assertion and the reason are correct. The reason correctly explains why the third level
appears to Charley.

### Assertion and Reason 2

**Assertion:** Charley’s wife, Louisa, is supportive of his quest to return to the past.
**Reason:** Louisa believes that the third level is a real and accessible escape from their current life.
**Answer:** The assertion is incorrect. Louisa is skeptical and worried about Charley’s experience. The reason is
also incorrect because Louisa does not believe the third level is a real escape.

### Assertion and Reason 3

**Assertion:** Sam, the psychiatrist, initially dismisses Charley’s experience as a hallucination.
**Reason:** Sam is a rationalist who believes that Charley’s experience is due to stress and not a real phenomenon.
**Answer:** Both the assertion and the reason are correct. Sam does dismiss Charley’s experience initially and
attributes it to stress.

### Assertion and Reason 4

**Assertion:** The third level symbolizes a gateway to an idealized past.
**Reason:** It represents the human longing for a simpler, more peaceful time away from modern pressures.
**Answer:** Both the assertion and the reason are correct. The third level does symbolize an idealized past and
reflects the desire for simplicity.

### Assertion and Reason 5

**Assertion:** Charley tries to buy old currency to prepare for his life in 1894.
**Reason:** He believes that having authentic money from the past will help him blend into the 1894 society.
**Answer:** Both the assertion and the reason are correct. Charley purchases old currency to fit in with the 1894
setting.

Here are the answers to the true or false statements:

1. **Charley discovers the third level in Penn Station.**

**False**
2. **The year Charley finds himself in is 1894.**
**True**
3. **Charley's wife, Louisa, fully supports his desire to live in the past.**
**False**
4. **Sam, the psychiatrist, initially believes that Charley’s experience is a real phenomenon.**
**False**
5. **Charley tries to buy old currency to use in 1894.**
**True**
6. **The third level symbolizes an escape from modern life.**
**True**
7. **Sam eventually finds the third level and writes a letter to Charley from the past.**
**True**
8. **Charley finds the third level repeatedly and decides to live there permanently.**
**False**
9. **The story’s genre can be categorized as historical fiction.**
**False*
10. **The main theme of the story is about the complexity and stress of modern life.**
**True**