Peter Pan Summary: Plot, Characters and Ending
Peter Pan is the story of a boy who will never grow up. One night he flies into the nursery of Wendy Darling and her brothers and takes them to Neverland, where they live with the Lost Boys, meet fairies, mermaids and pirates and battle the villainous Captain Hook.
J. M. Barrie first told the story as a stage play before writing it as a novel.
| Character | Who they are |
|---|---|
| Peter Pan | Boy who refuses to grow up |
| Wendy Darling | Eldest Darling child |
| John and Michael | Wendy's younger brothers |
| Tinker Bell | Jealous fairy devoted to Peter |
| Captain Hook | Pirate captain with an iron hook |
| The Lost Boys | Boys who fell out of their prams |
| Tiger Lily | Princess Peter rescues |
| Nana | Newfoundland dog who serves as nurse |
How does Peter meet Wendy?
Peter has been visiting the Darling nursery in London to listen to Mrs. Darling's stories. When Nana catches him, he loses his shadow. He comes back for it, and Wendy sews it on for him. He invites her to Neverland to be the Lost Boys' mother. Sprinkled with fairy dust, Wendy, John and Michael fly out of the window, following the stars toward Neverland.
↑ Back to the topWhat happens in Neverland?
Tinker Bell, jealous, tells the Lost Boys that Peter wants them to shoot the Wendy bird, and Tootles fires an arrow. Wendy is saved because it hits an acorn button Peter gave her. The boys build her a little house. Peter rescues Tiger Lily from the pirates at Marooners' Rock. Captain Hook hunts Peter, who cut off his hand and fed it to a crocodile that now follows Hook, ticking from a clock it swallowed.
↑ Back to the topHow does Hook strike?
After a while the Darling children want to go home, and the Lost Boys want to come too. Hook's pirates attack, capture the children and take them to the ship. Hook leaves poison in Peter's medicine. Tinker Bell drinks it to save him and begins to fade. Peter calls on children everywhere who believe in fairies to clap, and she recovers.
↑ Back to the topHow is Hook defeated?
Peter sneaks aboard the Jolly Roger, ticking like the crocodile to frighten Hook. He frees the boys and fights Hook. Defeated, Hook jumps overboard into the waiting jaws of the crocodile.
↑ Back to the topHow does Peter Pan end?
The children fly home, and the Darlings adopt the Lost Boys. Peter refuses to stay and grow up. He promises to take Wendy back to Neverland each spring for cleaning, but he soon forgets. Wendy grows up, marries and has a daughter, Jane. When Peter finally returns, he is upset to find Wendy grown, and he takes Jane instead. Later Jane's daughter Margaret goes with him and so it will go on for as long as there are children.
↑ Back to the topMore about Peter Pan
This summary reveals the whole plot, including the ending.