Learning to Fly
from Peter and Wendy
by Sir James Matthew Barrie (Roots)
Start Here
Fantasy involves things that cannot happen in real life - it describes people and situations which are imaginary or not true. Are you familiar with any fantasy stories?
Read the lines given below and say if the situations are real or imaginary.
1. One spring, in the city of Vienna, money started to grow on trees.
= Imaginary.
2. The television woke up from its nap, looked at Mr Mehta, and yelled, "Watch me!"
= Imaginary.
3. Binu got up from her seat at the dining table and made a cup of tea.
= Real.
4. Alice was amused to see the white rabbit run towards her with a pocket-watch in its hand.
= Imaginary.
5. As Moin went to sleep, his toy soldiers came alive and started marching across the room.
= Imaginary.
Comprehension
Read and answer
1. Write True or False again each statement.
a. Peter came to the nursery window to see Wendy.
= False.
b. Wendy was pleased to be asked to come to Neverland.
= True.
c. Peter taught the children to fly by thinking wonderful thoughts.
= True.
d. Mr and Mrs Darling caught the children before they could fly away.
= False.
2. Use this organizer to summarize the story. Remember to use simple phrases.
Somebody : Who is the main character?
= Peter.
Wanted : What did the character want?
= Peter wanted to take Wendy to Neverland to tell the other boys stories.
But : What was the problem?
= Wendy wanted to take her brothers Michael and John with her. None of them could fly like Peter to reach Neverland.
So : How did they solve the problem?
= Peter taught them to fly while thinking wonderful thoughts.
Then : What was the resolution to the story?
= Wendy along with her two brothers - Michael and John overcame their fear and hesitation and learnt a new skill to fly and set off to visit a new world of Neverland.
Reference to context
3. "You see, I don't know any stories. None of the lost boys in Neverland know any stories."
a. Who is the speaker in these lines? Whom is he talking to?
= Peter Pan is the speaker in these lines.
He is talking to Wendy.
b. What kind of a place might Neverland be?
= Neverland might be a place isolated from the earthly things. It might be a land of magic and fascinating things like mermaids and pirates. Lost boys live there. They can fly. They can talk to the stars. Stars are their friends. They do not know much about the stories which the children of the earth know.
4. "How could she resist? "Of course it's awfully fascinating!" she cried. "Peter, would you teach John and Michael to fly too?"
a. Who is 'she'? What could she not resist?
= 'She' is Wendy.
She could not resist herself from learning flying and going to Neverland.
b. Who are John and Michael?
= John and Michael are the brothers of Wendy.
c. Does Peter agree to teach John and Michael to fly?
= Yes, Peter agrees to teach John and Michael to fly.
5. "They would have reached the nursery in time had it not been that the little stars were watching them. They blew the window open, and the smallest star of all called out: "Look out, Peter!"
a. Who does 'they' refer to in the first line?
= 'They' refers to Mr and Mrs Darling in the first line.
b. What did Peter do after hearing the star's warning?
= After hearing the star's warning, Peter did not waste a moment and soared out at once into the night, followed by John and Michael and Wendy.
Reflect and write
6. Write a character sketch for Peter Pan. Use clear examples from the story to support your answer.
= Peter Pan is a boy from Neverland. He also has the interest to listen to stories like other children. He came to the nursery window not to see Wendy, but to listen to stories.
Peter has the quality of being a friend and make friends. He insists Wendy and agreed to take her along with her two brothers to Neverland. He agrees to teach Wendy and her two brothers how to fly.
Peter is intelligent. He tried his best to teach them how to fly. But he failed. Still he did not lose hope. Then he got the idea that no one can fly unless the fairy dust has been blown on him. Fortunately, one of his hands was messy with it. He blew some on each of them, with the most superb results. He also did not waste time as soon as the smallest star warned him.
7. In your opinion, which event was the main twist in the story's plot? Why do you think so?
= I think the moment Peter blew some of the fairy dust on Wendy, John and Michael, is the main twist in the story's plot.
Peter is a boy from the Neverland. He came to the nursery window to listen to story. Wendy informed that she knows many other stories. Peter asked her to come to Neverland with him to tell stories to the other lost boys of Neverland. But Wendy did not know how to fly. Peter agreed to teach Wendy and her two brother to fly. He tried his best. But they failed to fly. Then Peter recalled that no one can fly unless the fairy dust has been blown on him. Fortunately, on of his hands was messy with fairy dust. He blew some on each of them, with the most superb results. Is this did not happen, they never could fly and become ready to go to the Neverland with Peter Pan.
8. List the different elements of fantasy in 'Learning to Fly' by by giving specific examples.
= First of all the idea of the Neverland and the lost boys in Neverland is the main element of fantasy. The boys of that land along with Peter could fly.
The Neverland consists of mermaid and pirates. The mermaids are with long tails. The Neverland is a billion miles far from the nursery. Peter has covered such long distance flying and talking to the stars.
Then the mention of fairy dust is one of the most important element of fantasy. No one can fly unless the fairy dust has been blown on him.
Last the but not the least is that the smallest star warned Peter while Mr and Mrs Darling were approached upstairs.
9. In the lesson, Peter teaches the Darling siblings to fly. Imagine you are trying to learn something new (swimming, playing the guitar or cycling) but despite your best efforts you are failing. What would you do?
a. Take a break till you feel better and come back later. [ ]
b. Stop all the other activities you enjoy and only focus on the new task. [✓]
c. Take up a new activity which suits you better. [ ]
d. Ask a grown-up to help you. [ ]
Think about how you feel when a certain task is not easy, and how the emotions that come from failing can sometimes be overpowering, and affect out ability to make sensible decisions.
About the Author :
Sir James Matthew Barrie (1860-1937), born in Scotland, was a playwright and novelist. Barrie was greatly influenced by his mother's interest in literature and art. He went on to study at the University of Edinberg and then write for a local newspaper. He moved to London to earn his living as a writer. There, he published a series of successful novels and plays. he was then inspired to create his most famous literary work, Peter Pan. Disney adapted the play into an animated movie in the early 1950s.