Peter Pan
“You see, Wendy, when the first baby laughed for the first time, its laugh broke into a thousand pieces, and they all went skipping about, and that was the beginning of fairies."
Tedious talk this, but being a stay-at-home she liked it.
“And so,” he went on good-naturedly, “there ought to be one fairy for every boy and girl."
“Ought to be? Isn’t there?”
“No. You see children know such a lot now, they soon don’t believe in fairies, and every time a child says, ‘I don’t believe in fairies,’ there is a fairy somewhere that falls down dead.”
Really, he thought they had now talked enough about fairies, and it struck him that Tinker Bell was keeping very quiet. “I can’t think where she has gone to,” he said, rising, and he called Tink by name. Wendy’s heart went flutter with a sudden thrill.
“Peter,” she cried, clutching him, “you don’t mean to tell me that there is a fairy in this room!”
“She was here just now,” he said a little impatiently. “You don’t hear her, do you?” and they both listened.
“The only sound I hear,” said Wendy, “is like a tinkle of bells."
“Well, that’s Tink, that’s the fairy language. I think I hear her too."
The sound came from the chest of drawers, and Peter made a merry face. No one could ever look quite so merry as Peter, and the loveliest of gurgles was his laugh. He had his first laugh still.
“Wendy,” he whispered gleefully, “I do believe I shut her up in the drawer!”
He let poor Tink out of the drawer, and she flew about the nursery screaming with fury. “You shouldn’t say such things,” Peter retorted. “Of course I’m very sorry, but how could I know you were in the drawer?”
Wendy was not listening to him. “O Peter,” she cried, “if she would only stand still and let me see her!”
“They hardly ever stand still,” he said, but for one moment Wendy saw the romantic figure come to rest on the cuckoo clock. “O the lovely!” she cried, though Tink’s face was still distorted with passion.
Based on the extract above, write a detailed response answering the following questions:
- Explain the meaning of the phrase "Tedious talk this, but being a stay-at-home she liked it" in relation to Peter's explanation of fairies. What does this tell us about Wendy's character and upbringing?
- What is the consequence for a fairy if a child stops believing in them, according to Peter? What does this reveal about the essential nature and fragility of fairies in the Neverland universe?
💡 Writing Tips
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For part 1, break down the phrase. Consider what 'tedious' means and then connect it to 'stay-at-home.' Think about how a child who rarely leaves home might react differently to stories than others. For part 2, locate the specific sentence that describes the consequence. Then, think about what this rule implies about the relationship between human belief and the existence of magical beings.
📝 Sample Answer
- The phrase "Tedious talk this, but being a stay-at-home she liked it" means that for most people, Peter's long explanation about the origin and nature of fairies might be boring or overly detailed. However, Wendy, described as a 'stay-at-home,' found it interesting and enjoyable. This tells us that Wendy is likely curious, imaginative, and perhaps sheltered, leading her to appreciate stories and fanciful explanations that might bore more worldly children. Her upbringing has made her receptive to such fantastical tales.
- According to Peter, if a child says, 'I don’t believe in fairies,' then 'there is a fairy somewhere that falls down dead.' This consequence reveals that the very existence and life of fairies in the Neverland universe are dependent on human children's belief. Their nature is inherently fragile, sustained by faith and imagination. Without belief, they simply cease to exist, highlighting a profound link between the real world (children's belief) and the magical world (fairy life).
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