The Third Level

by Jack Finney

Discussion of background

information and vocaubulary

Setting of the story: Grand Central Station in New York

• Grand Central Station

officially opened on February 2, 1913. So it celebrated its 100th

birthday this year!!

• In 1908, the excavation of Grand Central Station began in New York City.

• This is a view of the balcony in Grand

Central Station taken

between 1913 and 1930. This is where the Apple Store is located

today.

• This is a view of one of the many arched

corridors in Grand

Central Station taken in

1912.

• The main character,

Charley, walked down

one of these corridors on his way to the “third level”.

• Another arched

corridor.

• The man in the black clothes is wearing a

derby hat.

• In the background to the left, you see more corridors and arches.

• On the right, you see the old ticket station.

• An interesting feature of this picture is the ghostly feel of the people. It was taken in 1912.

• The picture was taken in 1919, and it is an outside view of the

terminal from

Vanderbilt Avenue and

42nd Street. This is

where Charlely entered the station in the story.

The 20th Century Limited was an express passenger train that ran between Grand

Central Terminal and LaSalle Street Station in Chicago. It was operated by the New

York Central Railroad from 1902 until 1967.

• Metro North commuter arrive at New York’s Grand Central Terminal

on January 11, 1996.

• The clock above the Grand Central Terminal

Information Booth still ticks off the time 100 years after it was built. The world’s largest

terminal covers 49 acres with 33 miles of track. Over 700,000 people pass

through the terminal

everyday and it operates over 700 trains per day.

• Members of the

National Guard watch

commuters as they walk

through the main

concourse on January

25, 2013.

• The images on the ceiling of the main

concourse depict the

constellations and are

made of gold leaf.

• This photo shows

construction of a new

line that will open

connecting the Long Island Rail Road with a new concourse

underneath Grand

Central Terminal.

Vocabulary for “The Third Level”

psychiatrist (noun) medical doctor specializing in illnesses of the mind.

People will visit a psychiatrist to get help with their emotional problems.

• Arched – (adjective) curved

• There are many arched doorways or passages in the old churches of Europe.

• Spittoons (noun) jarlike container into which people would spit.

• There were spittoons in Grand Central but they do not exist today.

• Derby hat (noun) old fashioned hat used by men in the past.

• Derby hats were considered very fashionable in the beginning of the 20th century.

leg of mutton

sleeves (noun) --

sleeves that puff

out toward the

shoulder .

A leg of mutton

sleeve needs a lot

fabric to make.

• Currency (noun) – money.

• Today ’s currency is different from what was used in the past.

• Preminum (noun)- an additional charge or cost.

• Some customers are reluctant to pay a premium for organic fruit.

Jack Finney in his older years.

Famous books written by Jack Finney

Galesburg, Illinois