The Third Level - Short Story Quiz

A mysterious and fictional level within Grand Central Station, described as a place of escape from modern worries.

The story's narrator, who experiences a strange phenomenon related to the Third Level.

A term used to describe a desire to avoid or escape from the stresses of modern life, as suggested by the psychiatrist.

Activities or hobbies considered a way to temporarily avoid reality's problems.

A way of escape mentioned in the story, suggesting a desire for a simpler, less complicated time.

A mental health professional consulted by the narrator to understand his experience.

The main setting of the story, a significant transportation hub in New York City.

The narrator's journey on the subway, which leads him to his encounter with the Third Level.

The protagonist's psychiatrist, who is also a figure from the past who has found peace and happiness on the Third Level.

The past, an escape from the present's stress and anxieties.

Stamp collecting, a way to connect with the past and escape the anxieties of the present.

The story's main character who experiences the 'Third Level.'

A large and sprawling transportation hub in New York City known for its intricate network of corridors and subway tunnels.

The author's experience of getting lost in Grand Central's complex network of tunnels and corridors.

The feeling of being disoriented and unsure of one's surroundings, often experienced in unfamiliar or complex environments.

The author's perception of Grand Central as a constantly evolving structure, with new passages and staircases appearing over time.

The author's speculation that Grand Central's extensive network of tunnels might extend beyond the known limits, possibly reaching Times Square and Central Park.

The author's idea that Grand Central's complex network of tunnels serves as a way of escape or a means to leave behind the everyday world.

The author's decision to keep his unusual experience at Grand Central a secret from his mental health professional.

The sense of isolation and loneliness experienced by the author during his journey through the tunnels.

The sound of the author's footsteps echoing in the empty tunnel, creating a sense of isolation and suspense.

A location within Grand Central Station that appears older and less modern than the rest of the station, with dim lighting and gaslights.

A place that appears to be in an alternate reality, existing as a 19th-century section of Grand Central Station.

The narrator's friend who went missing. Sam is believed to have traveled to Galesburg in 1894 via the Third Level.

The narrator's method of escaping to a simpler time and seeking solace in the past.

The narrator's attempt to validate the existence of the Third Level by finding a first-day cover addressed to his grandfather in Galesburg dated 1894.

A stamp collector's term for an envelope mailed on the first day a new stamp is issued, with the stamp attached and a postmark showing the date.

A town mentioned in the story, said to be a more peaceful place from the past, where the narrator's friend Sam disappeared.

The narrator's attempt to find the Third Level in Grand Central Station, a place from the narrator's past.

The narrator's reason for traveling to the Third Level, a desire to escape the anxieties and complexities of modern life.

The narrator's choice to use old-style currency as a method of blending in and feeling a sense of belonging in the Third Level's time period.

The narrator is the main character of the story, and he's experiencing a strange phenomenon that leads him to the Third Level.

The year 1894 represents a simpler, more peaceful time in American history, before the First World War and the complexities of the 20th century. It symbolizes a longing for simpler times and a break from modern anxieties.

The story is set in Grand Central Station, a significant transportation hub in New York City. This location adds to the story's realism and highlights the complexity of modern life juxtaposed with the simpler past.

The narrator visits a psychiatrist, likely hoping to understand the unusual experience he had on the Third Level. However, the psychiatrist's explanation suggests that the Third Level is a form of wish fulfillment - a way to temporarily escape the stresses of modern life.

The narrator describes Galesburg, Illinois, as a charming town with big houses and peaceful summer evenings. By wishing to travel there in 1894, he's highlighting his yearning for simpler times and the beauty of a slower pace of life.

The narrator is seeking refuge from the stresses of his present-day life. He wishes to escape the worries of modern times and experience the calmness and tranquility of a time before the complexities of the 20th century.

The Third Level represents a metaphorical escape from reality. It allows the narrator to temporarily forget his anxieties by stepping back into a different time, seeking a moment of peace in a world that feels increasingly chaotic.