- Identify the concept of the third level at Grand Central Station.
- Analyze the significance of the third level as a medium of escape.
- Discuss the themes of nostalgia and the desire to return to a simpler time.
- Evaluate the role of philately in preserving history and personal memories.
- Compare and contrast the modern world with the world of 1894 as depicted in the story.
- Explore the psychological implications of the protagonist's experiences and his interactions with his psychiatrist.
The Third Level
Learning Objectives
Detailed Notes
The Third Level
Overview
- Author: Jack Finney
- Theme: Exploration of escape from modern life's insecurities through a fantastical third level of Grand Central Station.
Key Concepts
- Third Level: A metaphorical and literal escape from reality, representing a desire to return to a simpler, more peaceful time.
- Characters:
- Charley: The protagonist who discovers the third level.
- Sam: Charley's psychiatrist friend who disappears into the past.
- Louisa: Charley's wife, concerned about his obsession with the third level.
Important Events
- Charley describes his experience of finding the third level at Grand Central Station, which is filled with people dressed in 1890s attire and old-style currency.
- He discovers a letter from Sam, indicating that he has found the third level and is living in 1894.
- Charley attempts to buy tickets to Galesburg, Illinois, but is unable to due to the old-style currency he possesses.
Themes and Analysis
- Escape from Reality: Charley's journey reflects a common desire to escape the pressures of modern life.
- Nostalgia: The story evokes a longing for the past, contrasting it with the complexities of contemporary existence.
Discussion Questions
- Do you think that the third level was a medium of escape for Charley? Why?
- What do you infer from Sam's letter to Charley?
- How do we attempt to overcome modern insecurities, fear, and stress?
- Discuss the intersection of time and space in the story.
- How does apparent illogicality sometimes turn out to be a futuristic projection?
Conclusion
- The narrative invites readers to reflect on their own desires for escape and the ways in which they might seek refuge from the complexities of modern life.
Practice & Assessment
Multiple Choice Questions
A.
A modern, bustling train station with digital displays
B.
A quiet, dimly lit area with open-flame gaslights and old-fashioned attire
C.
A futuristic space with advanced technology and holograms
D.
A deserted, abandoned platform with no signs of life
Correct Answer: B
Solution:
The third level is described as being dimly lit with open-flame gaslights and people dressed in 1890s attire, indicating a setting from the past.
A.
It was a rare collectible item.
B.
It contained a letter from his grandfather.
C.
It was mailed from the year 1894.
D.
It had a map to the third level.
Correct Answer: C
Solution:
The first-day cover was significant because it was mailed from the year 1894, providing proof of the third level's existence.
A.
It was a letter from his future self.
B.
It was a letter from Sam, confirming the existence of the third level.
C.
It was a letter from a famous historian.
D.
It was a letter from a long-lost relative.
Correct Answer: B
Solution:
The letter was from Sam, confirming that he found the third level and was living in 1894.
A.
It highlights the technological advancements of the past.
B.
It emphasizes the contrast between past and present.
C.
It showcases the architectural beauty of the station.
D.
It reflects the chaotic nature of modern life.
Correct Answer: B
Solution:
The description of the third level, with its old-fashioned elements like gaslights and period clothing, emphasizes the contrast between the peaceful past and the chaotic present.
A.
He plans to start a new business in the present.
B.
He intends to travel back to 1894.
C.
He is collecting historical artifacts.
D.
He is investing in rare currencies.
Correct Answer: B
Solution:
Sam buys old-style currency to set himself up in a business in 1894, indicating his intention to live in that time period.
A.
Charley is planning a historical reenactment.
B.
Charley believes he can use the currency to travel back in time.
C.
Charley is investing in rare collectibles for future profit.
D.
Charley is attempting to start a business in the modern world.
Correct Answer: B
Solution:
Charley's purchase of old-style currency suggests he believes he can use it to navigate or interact with the past, specifically to travel back to 1894.
A.
To visit a modern city.
B.
To escape to a peaceful time before the World Wars.
C.
To attend a business conference.
D.
To meet his psychiatrist friend.
Correct Answer: B
Solution:
Charley wanted to buy tickets to Galesburg, Illinois, to escape to a more peaceful time before the World Wars.
A.
His stamp collection
B.
Reading historical novels
C.
Listening to music
D.
Traveling to different places
Correct Answer: A
Solution:
Charley's stamp collection is described as a 'temporary refuge from reality,' providing him an escape from the modern world's stress.
A.
It is a literal time travel to the past.
B.
It is a psychological escape from modern life's stresses.
C.
It is an elaborate hoax played by his psychiatrist friend.
D.
It is a hallucination caused by sleep deprivation.
Correct Answer: B
Solution:
The psychiatrist explains that Charley's experience is a 'waking-dream wish fulfillment,' indicating that it is a psychological escape from the insecurities and stresses of modern life.
A.
A modern, bustling train station
B.
A nostalgic, peaceful place from the past
C.
A futuristic, high-tech terminal
D.
A chaotic, crowded marketplace
Correct Answer: B
Solution:
The third level is depicted as a place from 1894, with features like open-flame gaslights and people dressed in period clothing, evoking nostalgia and peace.
A.
He has physical evidence from the past.
B.
He read about it in a historical document.
C.
He was told about it by a friend.
D.
He saw a news report about it.
Correct Answer: A
Solution:
Charley finds a first-day cover with a postmark from 1894, which serves as physical evidence of the third level's existence.
A.
He bought a ticket to Galesburg
B.
He left and withdrew money to buy old-style currency
C.
He immediately took a train to Galesburg
D.
He talked to the station master
Correct Answer: B
Solution:
After finding the third level, Charley left and withdrew money to buy old-style currency.
A.
He was discouraged by his psychiatrist
B.
He couldn't find the corridor again
C.
He was afraid of getting lost
D.
His wife Louisa was worried about him
Correct Answer: D
Solution:
Charley stopped looking for the third level because his wife Louisa was worried about him.
A.
It is a profitable investment strategy.
B.
It serves as a connection to his grandfather.
C.
It is a temporary refuge from reality.
D.
It is a way to document historical events.
Correct Answer: C
Solution:
Philately serves as a temporary refuge from reality for Charley, offering him an escape from the modern world's stresses.
A.
A literal place that exists only in Charley's imagination.
B.
A symbolic representation of Charley's desire to escape modern life's pressures.
C.
An actual historical location that Charley accidentally discovers.
D.
A metaphor for the intersection of time and space.
Correct Answer: B
Solution:
The third level serves as a symbolic representation of Charley's desire to escape from the modern world's insecurity, fear, and stress, as suggested by his psychiatrist.
A.
He returned to his old job.
B.
He started a new business in Galesburg.
C.
He traveled to the future.
D.
He became a historian.
Correct Answer: B
Solution:
After finding the third level, Sam started a new business in Galesburg, as he bought old-style currency to set up a hay, feed, and grain business.
A.
The third level is a modern art installation.
B.
The third level is a historical reconstruction.
C.
The third level is a figment of Charley's imagination.
D.
The third level is an undiscovered part of the station.
Correct Answer: C
Solution:
The presence of old-fashioned elements suggests that the third level is a figment of Charley's imagination, representing his longing for a simpler past.
A.
It was a modern newspaper with today's date.
B.
It was The World, a newspaper that hasn't been published for years.
C.
It was a fictional newspaper created for a movie.
D.
It was a newspaper from the future.
Correct Answer: B
Solution:
Charley discovered that the newspaper was The World, which had not been published for years.
A.
A literal place in the train station
B.
A metaphorical escape from reality
C.
A historical reenactment
D.
A new subway line
Correct Answer: B
Solution:
The third level symbolizes a metaphorical escape from the modern world's stress and insecurity, as suggested by Charley's psychiatrist.
A.
He physically travels to the future.
B.
He finds a portal to a different dimension.
C.
He mentally escapes to a past era.
D.
He discovers a hidden historical society.
Correct Answer: C
Solution:
Charley's experience at the third level allows him to mentally escape to the past, reflecting the theme of time travel as a form of psychological refuge.
A.
To start a collection of antique money.
B.
To use it in a historical reenactment.
C.
To buy tickets to Galesburg in 1894.
D.
To gift it to his friend Sam.
Correct Answer: C
Solution:
Charley bought old-style currency to buy tickets to Galesburg in 1894, as he believed he could travel back in time to that era.
A.
To take a train to Galesburg
B.
To escape from his daily routine
C.
To get home to his wife, Louisa
D.
To meet a friend
Correct Answer: C
Solution:
Charley intended to take the subway from Grand Central because it was faster than the bus, and he wanted to get home to Louisa, his wife.
A.
A banker
B.
A psychiatrist
C.
A musician
D.
A historian
Correct Answer: B
Solution:
Sam was Charley's psychiatrist before he disappeared.
A.
It represents a technological advancement.
B.
It offers a literal escape route to a different time.
C.
It is a metaphor for Charley's mental state.
D.
It is a place for social gatherings and events.
Correct Answer: B
Solution:
The third level serves as a literal escape route to 1894, a simpler time, reinforcing the theme of escapism from the complexities of modern life.
A.
It serves as proof that the third level exists.
B.
It is a rare collectible item with high monetary value.
C.
It contains a hidden message from Charley's grandfather.
D.
It is a symbol of Charley's childhood memories.
Correct Answer: A
Solution:
The first-day cover serves as proof that the third level exists because it is postmarked July 18, 1894, and addressed to Charley's grandfather, suggesting a connection to the past.
A.
Charley is content with his current life.
B.
Charley is experiencing a mental breakdown.
C.
Charley is seeking an escape from the stresses of modern life.
D.
Charley is confused about his identity.
Correct Answer: C
Solution:
The psychiatrist's suggestion of wish fulfillment implies that Charley is using the third level as a mental escape from the insecurities and stresses of modern life.
A.
It was a one-time supernatural event.
B.
It was a figment of his imagination.
C.
It was a dream that he cannot recall.
D.
It was a deliberate choice to stop searching.
Correct Answer: B
Solution:
Charley's inability to find the third level again suggests that it was a figment of his imagination, a psychological escape rather than a physical reality.
A.
It is a real place that exists in another dimension.
B.
It is a waking-dream wish fulfillment.
C.
It is a result of stress and overwork.
D.
It is a shared hallucination with his friend Sam.
Correct Answer: B
Solution:
Charley's psychiatrist suggests that the third level is a waking-dream wish fulfillment, indicating that Charley is trying to escape from the pressures of modern life.
A.
He was confused and thought he was lost.
B.
He immediately recognized it as a time portal.
C.
He was scared and wanted to leave immediately.
D.
He felt a sense of nostalgia and peace.
Correct Answer: A
Solution:
Charley's initial reaction was confusion, as he thought he was lost and had ended up on the wrong level.
A.
He wanted to start a new business in the present.
B.
He planned to travel back in time to 1894.
C.
He was investing in rare collectibles.
D.
He was trying to deceive Charley.
Correct Answer: B
Solution:
Sam's purchase of old-style currency suggests he intended to live in the past, specifically in 1894, as it aligns with his wish to start a hay, feed, and grain business.
A.
He is planning to start a new business in the modern world.
B.
He is skeptical about the existence of the third level.
C.
He believes in the existence of the third level and plans to escape to the past.
D.
He is conducting an experiment on time travel.
Correct Answer: C
Solution:
Sam's purchase of old-style currency suggests that he believes in the existence of the third level and plans to escape to the past, as indicated by his desire to start a hay, feed, and grain business in 1894.
A.
It was crowded with people
B.
It had modern electric lights
C.
It had open-flame gaslights and people dressed in 1890s attire
D.
It was brightly lit with neon signs
Correct Answer: C
Solution:
Charley noticed the third level had open-flame gaslights and people dressed in 1890s attire, which was unusual for his time.
A.
They were speaking in an unknown language.
B.
They were dressed in 1890s fashion.
C.
They were all carrying modern gadgets.
D.
They were all wearing uniforms.
Correct Answer: B
Solution:
Charley noticed that the people on the third level were dressed in 1890s fashion, which was unusual for his time.
A.
By presenting a scientific explanation for time travel.
B.
Through Charley's actual physical journey to the past.
C.
By using the third level as a metaphorical gateway to the past.
D.
Through a detailed historical account of 1894.
Correct Answer: C
Solution:
The story explores the theme of time travel by using the third level as a metaphorical gateway to the past, where Charley imagines escaping to a simpler time.
A.
He stops because he is convinced it was a dream, but resumes after finding Sam's letter.
B.
He stops due to his wife's concerns, but resumes after finding proof of Sam's disappearance.
C.
He stops because he loses interest, but resumes after a conversation with his psychiatrist.
D.
He stops due to financial constraints, but resumes after inheriting his grandfather's collection.
Correct Answer: B
Solution:
Charley initially stops looking for the third level due to his wife's concerns, but resumes after finding proof of Sam's disappearance, which suggests the third level's reality.
A.
By depicting it as a place where modern technology is prevalent.
B.
By showing it as a destination for time travel adventures.
C.
By illustrating it as a peaceful retreat from the chaos of modern life.
D.
By describing it as a place of financial opportunity.
Correct Answer: C
Solution:
The third level is depicted as a peaceful retreat from the chaos and stress of modern life, serving as a metaphor for escapism.
A.
Sam planned to start a new life in the past.
B.
Sam intended to invest in rare currency for profit.
C.
Sam was conducting a psychological experiment on Charley.
D.
Sam was attempting to prove the existence of the third level.
Correct Answer: A
Solution:
Sam's purchase of old-style currency and his disappearance suggest he intended to start a new life in the past, aligning with his wish to open a hay, feed, and grain business in 1894.
True or False
Correct Answer: False
Solution:
Initially, Louisa was worried and Charley stopped looking, but they both resumed searching for the third level after receiving proof of its existence.
Correct Answer: True
Solution:
Sam purchased $800 worth of old-style currency to start a business in Galesburg, as he could not return to his old profession there.
Correct Answer: False
Solution:
Charley attempted to buy tickets with modern currency, but the clerk did not accept it, recognizing it as not being valid money for the time.
Correct Answer: False
Solution:
The third level is described as having open-flame gaslights, not modern electric lighting.
Correct Answer: True
Solution:
Charley suspected that Sam disappeared to Galesburg in 1894 after receiving a letter from him.
Correct Answer: True
Solution:
Charley's psychiatrist friend suggested that the third level was a waking-dream wish fulfillment, indicating Charley's desire to escape modern life's stresses.
Correct Answer: True
Solution:
Charley's psychiatrist friend suggested that the third level was a waking-dream wish fulfillment, a form of escape from modern stress.
Correct Answer: False
Solution:
Charley found a newspaper called The World, which had not been published for years.
Correct Answer: True
Solution:
Charley suspected that Sam disappeared to Galesburg in 1894 after he vanished without a trace.
Correct Answer: True
Solution:
Sam Weiner disappeared after buying old-style currency, which Charley suspected was for setting up a business in 1894.
Correct Answer: True
Solution:
Charley discovered the third level at Grand Central Station, which seemed to be a portal to the year 1894.
Correct Answer: False
Solution:
Initially, Louisa was worried and did not want Charley to look for the third level anymore.
Correct Answer: False
Solution:
Sam bought old-style currency, not modern currency, to start a business in Galesburg.
Correct Answer: False
Solution:
Charley attempted to buy tickets to Galesburg, but the clerk did not accept his old-style currency, so he could not purchase the tickets.
Correct Answer: True
Solution:
Charley described entering a corridor that angled left and slanted downward, leading him to the third level.
Correct Answer: True
Solution:
Philately is discussed as a means of preserving history and connecting with the past.
Correct Answer: True
Solution:
The letter from Sam was indeed postmarked July 18, 1894, and was found among Charley's grandfather's collection.
Correct Answer: True
Solution:
The note Charley found was indeed dated July 18, 1894, as indicated by the postmark.
Correct Answer: True
Solution:
The psychiatrist suggested that Charley's stamp collecting was a 'temporary refuge from reality.'
Correct Answer: True
Solution:
Sam bought eight hundred dollars' worth of old-style currency to start a hay, feed, and grain business in 1894.
Correct Answer: True
Solution:
Sam, the psychiatrist, explained that the third level was a waking-dream wish fulfillment due to the modern world's stress and insecurity.
Correct Answer: True
Solution:
Charley found a newspaper called The World at the third level, which mentioned President Cleveland.
Correct Answer: False
Solution:
Charley's psychiatrist suggested that the third level was a waking-dream wish fulfillment, indicating he did not believe it was a real place.
Correct Answer: True
Solution:
Charley suspected that Sam Weiner disappeared to Galesburg in 1894 after he found a letter from him.
Correct Answer: False
Solution:
Charley's psychiatrist friend believed the third level was a waking-dream wish fulfillment, not a real place.
Correct Answer: False
Solution:
Charley's psychiatrist friend believed the third level was a waking-dream wish fulfillment, not a real place.
Correct Answer: True
Solution:
Charley found a letter from Sam among his first-day covers, postmarked July 18, 1894, confirming Sam's presence in that time.
Correct Answer: True
Solution:
Charley's psychiatrist friend suggested that the third level was a waking-dream wish fulfillment due to Charley's desire to escape from the modern world's stress.
Correct Answer: True
Solution:
Charley found a letter postmarked July 18, 1894, which was sent to his grandfather in Galesburg.
Correct Answer: False
Solution:
Charley was never able to find the corridor to the third level again, despite trying often.
Correct Answer: False
Solution:
Initially, Charley stopped looking for the third level due to Louisa's concerns, but they both resumed their search after finding proof of its existence.
Correct Answer: True
Solution:
Charley mentioned getting lost in Grand Central Station often because of its numerous corridors and staircases.
Correct Answer: False
Solution:
Although Charley initially stopped looking for the third level, he and Louisa resumed their search after finding proof that it still existed.
Correct Answer: True
Solution:
The third level was described as having open-flame gaslights and brass spittoons, indicating its old-fashioned setting.
Correct Answer: True
Solution:
The third level was described as having dim, flickering open-flame gaslights and a wooden information booth.
Correct Answer: False
Solution:
Charley and Louisa continued to search for the third level every weekend after Sam's disappearance.
Correct Answer: False
Solution:
Sam, Charley's psychiatrist, suggested that the third level was a waking-dream wish fulfillment rather than a real place.
Correct Answer: True
Solution:
Charley found a first-day cover among his stamp collection that was postmarked July 18, 1894, which was sent to his grandfather.
Correct Answer: True
Solution:
Charley found a first-day cover postmarked July 18, 1894, which was addressed to his grandfather in Galesburg.
Correct Answer: False
Solution:
Sam Weiner could not continue his psychiatric practice in Galesburg, Illinois, in 1894, as it was not a feasible profession for that time period.
Correct Answer: True
Solution:
The presidents of the New York Central and the New York, New Haven and Hartford railroads insisted that there are only two levels at Grand Central Station.
Correct Answer: False
Solution:
Charley was unable to use modern currency to buy tickets at the third level because it was not recognized as valid money.
Correct Answer: True
Solution:
The excerpt mentions that Charley found a first-day cover with a postmark from July 18, 1894, which was addressed to his grandfather.
Correct Answer: False
Solution:
Charley attempted to buy tickets to Galesburg, but the clerk did not accept his modern currency, mistaking it for counterfeit.
Correct Answer: True
Solution:
Sam Weiner suggested that Charley's experiences were a result of his desire to escape the insecurities and worries of the modern world.
Correct Answer: True
Solution:
Charley describes his experience of finding the third level at Grand Central Station, where the surroundings and people were reminiscent of the 1890s.
Correct Answer: False
Solution:
Charley attempted to buy tickets to Galesburg at the third level, but the clerk did not accept his modern currency.
Correct Answer: False
Solution:
Charley mentioned that he wasn't trying to escape from anything; he just wanted to get home to his wife, Louisa.
Correct Answer: False
Solution:
The third level at Grand Central Station was lit by open-flame gaslights, not modern electric lighting.