Peter Pan | Study Guide

J.M. Barrie

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Study Guide
Contents
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Course Hero. "Peter Pan Study Guide." Course Hero. 1 Mar. 2019. Web. 28 June 2022. <https://www.coursehero.com/lit/Peter-Pan/>.

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Course Hero. (2019, March 1). Peter Pan Study Guide. In Course Hero. Retrieved June 28, 2022, from https://www.coursehero.com/lit/Peter-Pan/

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Course Hero. "Peter Pan Study Guide." March 1, 2019. Accessed June 28, 2022. https://www.coursehero.com/lit/Peter-Pan/.

Footnote

Course Hero, "Peter Pan Study Guide," March 1, 2019, accessed June 28, 2022, https://www.coursehero.com/lit/Peter-Pan/.

Overview

Author

J.M. Barrie

Year published

1911

Type

Children's Book

Genre

Adventure, Fantasy

Perspective and Narrator

Most of Peter Pan is written in third-person omniscient narration. The unnamed narrator sometimes addresses readers directly using the second-person you, and even on occasion refers to himself in the first person. However, it isn't until near the end of the book that the narrator actually identifies himself as the author. Until then, it is not clear who the narrator is.

Tense

The book is written in a mix of the present and the past tenses.

About the Title

When it was first published in 1911, this book was known as Peter Pan and Wendy. It is a novelization of a hit stage play first performed in London in 1904 titled Peter Pan or The Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up. This longer version of the title vividly captures the essence of the story, both in book and play form. The story of Peter Pan concerns a fantasy character who chooses to remain a boy forever. He is always searching for a girl to act as a mother to him.

Diagrams

Surrogate mother Rivals Archenemies Stalker Mother Spouses Father Unrequited love Rivals Unrequited love Enemies turned allies Peter Pan Magical boy who refuses to grow up Wendy Darling Nurturing young girl Tinker Bell Fiercely loyal fairy companion Captain Hook Fearsome but haunted pirate leader Mrs. Darling Devoted but silly mother Mr. Darling Anxious father obsessed with money and appearances Tiger Lily Princess of Neverland's native tribe Crocodile Giant persistent predator
Character Map
timeline
Timeline
plot-diagram
Plot Diagram

Summary

This study guide for J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan offers summary and analysis on themes, symbols, and other literary devices found in the text. Explore Course Hero's library of literature materials, including documents and Q&A pairs.

Characters

Peter Pan Wendy Darling Captain Hook Tinker Bell Mrs. Darling Tiger Lily Mr. Darling

Symbols

The Ticking Crocodile Mrs. Darling's Kiss The Ability to Fly

Themes

Glorification of Childhood Ambivalence about Mothers Relationship between Reality and Fantasy
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Context
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