Peter Pan

Barrie presents Neverland as an imaginary world where impossible things can happen. Explain what aspects you believe to be real and imagined in the book. In what ways is the plot of the book nonsensical and in what ways does the book reflect reality? Which of the characters are real and which are imagined? Consider how the protagonists’ ages might impact the story, why you believe Barrie chose to write about children rather than adults, and why the characters aren’t allowed to visit Neverland after they grow older.

Teaching Suggestion: It might be helpful for students to assess the novel chronologically before answering the questions, perhaps with the aid of graphic organizer like a plot triangle. Students may find it easier to contribute ideas if they record their analysis prior to sharing an oral response. Depending on your group of readers, students may have difficulty discerning fact from fiction; it may be a good idea to discuss elements of the novel that could have happened based on the student’s personal experience, then consider asking students to decipher the elements of the novel that seem unlikely. Students may also benefit from a t-chart to list imagined incidents on one side and factual incidents on the other.