The Scottish writer, J.M. Barrie, created the character of Peter Pan and the story of Peter and Wendy Darling. Though the character of Peter Pan first appeared in chapters from The Little White Bird (1902) and subsequently published as “Peter Pan in Kensington Garden”(1906) it was in Barrie’s 1904 play Peter Pan, Or the Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up that the character and story fully took place.
The play premiered in London and was such a big hit, that a year later it opened in New York as well.
Barrie continually tinkered with the text of the play, the character of Peter and the overall story over the years, subsequently publishing the novel version of Peter and Wendy, now generally just known as Peter Pan, in 1911.
The script of the play was eventually published in 1928.
In this module, we will be looking at the original Barrie text of the play and novel and will explore various interpretations of this story and character and consider how this story, like Alice in Wonderland, became a staple of children’s literature and popular culture.
Where did you first encounter Peter Pan? What do you remember about the story? Comment below!
16 thoughts on “Peter Pan”
The first time I remember encountering Peter Pan was through the animated Disney film. I remember the characters such as Peter Pan himself, Wendy, John, Michael, The Lost Boys, Captain Hook, Mr.Smee and the one and only Tinker Bell. I also distinctly remember what each of these characters wore in the film. From the story that I remember, Peter Pan took Wendy, Michael, and John, and flew them over to Neverland. There lived The Lost Boys and Captain Hook along with his pirates. Additionally, I remember Tinker Bell having a major crush on Peter Pan and out of jealousy, convinced The Lost Boys to shoot Wendy.
Honestly, the first time I heard about Peter Pan was when I watched the Tinker Bell film. Before that I think I might have heard of the name, but no specific person had come to mind.
I had the same experience. I never truly read, heard or seen the full story of Peter Pan. I just know of him from TinkerBell and other cultural references.
The first time I encountered Peter Pan was when I was probably in elementary school, but I don’t really remember any specifics on it. Since then I have watched parts of the Disney animated movie whenever my siblings or cousins would watch it but I don’t think I have seen the film in it’s entirety since I was much younger.
I first encountered Peter Pan on an Arabic TV channel called Spacetoon. This was like the Disney channel but for Arabic speakers. It is amazing how they showed us everything the western world watched and I never missed anything. I was addicted to this channel like crazy. Even the little match girl I watched it from Spacetoon but this class taught me how, where did these stories come from and how they were passed on? Peter Pan was not my favorite as a child and I think until now. Peter Pan I remembered it had a lot of colors and songs they sang. It was funny and they were all on boats. Children signing.
I first encountered Peter Pan when I was younger, and watched the movie. I remember enjoying the movie a lot, and it being very well known . I don’t remember much from the movie, I just remember Peter from the movie and maybe reading the book.
The first time i encountered Peter Pan was in the Disney film Peter Pan and also ive seen Peter Pan in tinker bell. I dont remember much form the movie since i watched it a long time ago but i know it had something to do with a girl named Wendy and pirates and the Northern star.
The first time I have encountered Peter Pan was when I watched Disney’s animation. I think it was during elementary school that my teachers would play it during school. I remember liking Tinker Bell very much and I also remembering having her stickers and other merchandise. I don’t currently remember much from the story plot but I do recall them living in a world where animals could talk.
Like mostly everyone else my first time encountering Peter Pan was through the Disney Film. I never watch the entire movie. I’ve seen Tinkerbell and saw Peter Pan through other medias such as merchanidse.
My first time encountering Peter Pan was through the disney animated film I think, however I used to love watching the Peter pan movie from 2003, it used to be one of my favorites.
I remember Peter Pan from the Tinker Bell movie, which I saw while I was in elementary school. I don’t recall reading a Peter Pan book.
I first encountered Peter Pan when I was like 8. I saw the a live action version that I’m not sure was from Disney. What I remember from the story is that he wanted to help people go to Neverland and he knew how to fly.
The first time I encountered Peter Pan was from the Disney film. It has been a long time since I have watched it so I barely can remember much from the film.
On rainy days, my elementary school would keep students in the auditorium during recess and we would watch Disney movies or other kid friendly movies. One rainy day, my school showed us Disney’s Peter Pan and that was the first time I ever watched the movie. Honestly, I was more excited to find out that Tinker Bell was a part of the movie than anything else. Unfortunately, we never got to finish the movie but I understood the premise of the story.
My first encounter with Peter Pan was the Disney film. I just remember that there were children that took an adventure at nighttime.
Like many of the other comments my first encounter with Peter Pan was most likely the Disney film. Although I’ve never watched the Disney film of Peter Pan, I do remember seeing him in a few Tinker Bell movies. All I remember of Peter Pan is that he is a magical boy how lives in a mysterious land where he never grows up. I think when I was little I thought he was a fairy like Tinker Bell.