Lesson 3: Neverland & Wonderland
Hi students!! I hope you are ready for a new adventure because today we will be traveling to two magical lands that go beyond our imagination and our craziest dreams!! Please take your wands out and welcome to Neverland and Wonderland!!
Neverland
“The second star to the right, and straight on till morning!”, these are the directions that Walt Disney’s Peter Pan gives the Darling siblings, Wendy, John, and Michael, in order to arrive to Neverland.
“Faith, Trust and Pixie Dust” is all you need! And the only way to get in Neverland is, of course, flying! Tinker Bell will aid you with that since her magical dust will make you fly, but you have to be very careful because she is very sensible! One little mistake or if she doesn’t like you she will not share her dust, easy as that! All girls have to take extreme precautions because she can be jealous (especially if she perceives that you are getting along with Peter Pan!) and may make your life difficult! You have been warned!!
Peter Pan and Neverland come from the novels of Scottish author J. M. Barrie. Neverland is depicted as the place of eternal childhood where people cannot, or refuse to, grow up from kids to adulthood.
“Faith, Trust and Pixie Dust” is all you need! And the only way to get in Neverland is, of course, flying! Tinker Bell will aid you with that since her magical dust will make you fly, but you have to be very careful because she is very sensible! One little mistake or if she doesn’t like you she will not share her dust, easy as that! All girls have to take extreme precautions because she can be jealous (especially if she perceives that you are getting along with Peter Pan!) and may make your life difficult! You have been warned!!
Peter Pan and Neverland come from the novels of Scottish author J. M. Barrie. Neverland is depicted as the place of eternal childhood where people cannot, or refuse to, grow up from kids to adulthood.
Inhabitants in Neverland
In Neverland we can find the following creatures:
* Birds: In the novels, the birds from “Bird’s Island” bring babies to Mainland (this is the way our world is called in Neverland). Parents send paper boats with instructions written on how they want their baby (if they want a boy, a girl, if they want it thin or small or tall, etc.) These boats are received by the birds who know which species to send back and transform into human children.
* Fairies: Fairies are an important part in Neverland. Magical by nature, fairies can produce and release “fairy dust”, which is used to help the characters of the story fly. Fairies are allies of The Lost Boys and enemies of the Pirates. They also guide characters into their travel to Neverland, and also collect abandoned or lost babies from Mainland and bring them into Neverland. Fairies have a very cute birth, because when a baby laughs for the first time, its laughter breaks into pieces, and all the pieces that survive the trip to Pixie Hollow, will turn into fairies and learn their specific talent! Fairies are not immortal and they can die if children stop believing in them, however this can always be reversed if you honestly and truthfully say “I do believe in fairies, I do, I do”.
* Lost Boys: As you may imagine from the information above, the Lost Boys are “children who fall out of their prams when the nurse is not looking”, and if these boys are not claimed in seven days, they will be collected by the fairies and bring them to Neverland. The Lost Boys wear animal skins and live in trees and caves. Peter Pan won’t allow them to fly, but they are loyal to him and they call him father, but they also long for a mother.
* Mermaids: These beautiful creatures live in the lagoon, but do not let their beauty fool you because they are frivolous, arrogant and mischievous, and the only person they respect is Peter Pan. They like to sing and play “mermaid’s games” like blowing bubbles, but what they enjoy the most is “combing their hair in a lazy way”.
* Native Americans: The “Redskins” or the Piccaninny tribe inhabit Neverland. Their leader is Great Big Little Panther, and his daughter is Tiger Lily, the princess. The Piccaninny tribe and Captain Hook and his Pirates are always making war to each other, but it seems that once they capture each other they will always release the captives, as if they were just playing a game.
* Pirates: They ride a ship called “Jolly Roger”, and their leader is Captain James Hook. The pirates are feared throughout Neverland and we don’t know how they arrived there. Captain Hook wants to capture Peter Pan and his Lost Boys in order to avenge the loss of his hand, which was cut off by Peter Pan and fed to the crocodile.
* Stars: They are living creatures that stand between Mainland and Neverland and watch over both worlds. Stars act as a map to reach Neverland, and although they are beautiful, it is said that their existence is sad because they were punished for a crime they can’t remember, and they were condemned to stand on the skies and look on forever.
* Birds: In the novels, the birds from “Bird’s Island” bring babies to Mainland (this is the way our world is called in Neverland). Parents send paper boats with instructions written on how they want their baby (if they want a boy, a girl, if they want it thin or small or tall, etc.) These boats are received by the birds who know which species to send back and transform into human children.
* Fairies: Fairies are an important part in Neverland. Magical by nature, fairies can produce and release “fairy dust”, which is used to help the characters of the story fly. Fairies are allies of The Lost Boys and enemies of the Pirates. They also guide characters into their travel to Neverland, and also collect abandoned or lost babies from Mainland and bring them into Neverland. Fairies have a very cute birth, because when a baby laughs for the first time, its laughter breaks into pieces, and all the pieces that survive the trip to Pixie Hollow, will turn into fairies and learn their specific talent! Fairies are not immortal and they can die if children stop believing in them, however this can always be reversed if you honestly and truthfully say “I do believe in fairies, I do, I do”.
* Lost Boys: As you may imagine from the information above, the Lost Boys are “children who fall out of their prams when the nurse is not looking”, and if these boys are not claimed in seven days, they will be collected by the fairies and bring them to Neverland. The Lost Boys wear animal skins and live in trees and caves. Peter Pan won’t allow them to fly, but they are loyal to him and they call him father, but they also long for a mother.
* Mermaids: These beautiful creatures live in the lagoon, but do not let their beauty fool you because they are frivolous, arrogant and mischievous, and the only person they respect is Peter Pan. They like to sing and play “mermaid’s games” like blowing bubbles, but what they enjoy the most is “combing their hair in a lazy way”.
* Native Americans: The “Redskins” or the Piccaninny tribe inhabit Neverland. Their leader is Great Big Little Panther, and his daughter is Tiger Lily, the princess. The Piccaninny tribe and Captain Hook and his Pirates are always making war to each other, but it seems that once they capture each other they will always release the captives, as if they were just playing a game.
* Pirates: They ride a ship called “Jolly Roger”, and their leader is Captain James Hook. The pirates are feared throughout Neverland and we don’t know how they arrived there. Captain Hook wants to capture Peter Pan and his Lost Boys in order to avenge the loss of his hand, which was cut off by Peter Pan and fed to the crocodile.
* Stars: They are living creatures that stand between Mainland and Neverland and watch over both worlds. Stars act as a map to reach Neverland, and although they are beautiful, it is said that their existence is sad because they were punished for a crime they can’t remember, and they were condemned to stand on the skies and look on forever.
Places to Visit
In our visit to Neverland we will be traveling to all these interesting places, but we must be very careful because not all of them are safe!
- Neverwood: In J. M. Barrie’s novels, Neverwood is the main set in Neverland. Most of the action takes place in here: the Lost Boys fight the pirates and “Red Skins”, and they also build “Wendy House”.
- Hangman’s Tree: The secret place of Peter Pan and the Lost Boys. It is a large and dead tree with many trap doors and secret passages.
- Mermaid Lagoon: As you may have already guessed, this lagoon is where the mermaids live. In here you can also find “Marooner’s Rock” or “Skull Rock”.
- Skull Rock: This is thought to be the most dangerous place in Neverland. Even Peter Pan almost drowned once when he was trapped here. In Disney’s adaptation of the story, Skull Rock is the place where Captain Hook brings Tiger Lily to interrogate her and attempt to capture Peter Pan.
- Indian Camp: Where Tiger Lily, his father Great Big Little Panther, and the rest of the tribe, live. It is filled with tepees.
- Jolly Roger: The boat that Captain Hook and his pirates ride.
- Crocodile Creek: The place where the crocodile that ate Captain Hook’s left hand lives. It is said that in here there is also a hidden treasure.
- Neverpeak Mountain: According to the novels, when a child is on top of this mountain, s/he will see beyond belief and will be able to see over anything.
- The Maze of Regrets: According to the novels, this maze is where the mothers of the Lost Boys go in order to find their children.
- Pixie Hollow: Where all the fairies in Neverland live. Fairies are born here and they learn their talent.
Wonderland
After this travel to Neverland, we will start another journey to another land of magic! Should I believe it or not? Is it a dream or not? In this fantastic world “nothing is as it is supposed to be and everyone is what it isn’t supposed to be”. Your craziest dreams may seem pretty normal after our visit to this place! Just be careful with what you eat! Welcome to Wonderland!!!
Arriving to Wonderland
Wonderland is the main set for Lewis Carroll’s book Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. A Disney film adaptation for this book has also been made. The main character of this story is Alice, a little curious girl who one good day decides to follow a White Rabbit into a Rabbit Hole, discovering the magical entrance to Wonderland!
Wonderland is an underground land which is located somewhere beneath the County of Oxfordshire, in England. Entering to Wonderland is pretty easy, but there is no guarantee that you will exit as easy as you entered! So take your precautions! Once you pass the Rabbit Hole you will reach a dark tunnel and then you will fall! During your fall you will see the walls covered with wardrobes, bookshelves, maps, paintings, etc., but you mustn’t take anything!
After you continue falling for an undetermined amount of time, you will reach a hall that leads to a room with many doors, including one that is very little and that it’s hiding behind a curtain. All of these doors are closed, but fear not because you will see a crystal table with a golden key on it. These key will open the smallest door. Although you may have been able to open the door, you will also face another obstacle: the door is too small that you won’t be able to pass!! The solution for this is simple but you will experience many changes! Eating and drinking will make you short and make you grow, just find the perfect formula and you will be able to pass that door! Once you do it, you will be in Wonderland!!
In Wonderland you will see lots of woods and mushrooms. You will also see gardens, houses and a seacoast. One peculiarity of this land is that all food seems to have a secondary effect on human beings. One little bite or one little drink and you will find yourself as tall as a giraffe or small as a mouse! So think it twice before eating or drinking anything!
Wonderland is ruled by the King and Queen of Hearts, who are despotic and long to sentence everyone to death by beheading them. The main population are playing cards that are divided the following way: The Royal Family are Hearts, the Courtiers are Diamonds, the Soldiers are Clubs, and the Servants are Spades. Besides these you will also find many strange creatures and talking animals!!
Wonderland is an underground land which is located somewhere beneath the County of Oxfordshire, in England. Entering to Wonderland is pretty easy, but there is no guarantee that you will exit as easy as you entered! So take your precautions! Once you pass the Rabbit Hole you will reach a dark tunnel and then you will fall! During your fall you will see the walls covered with wardrobes, bookshelves, maps, paintings, etc., but you mustn’t take anything!
After you continue falling for an undetermined amount of time, you will reach a hall that leads to a room with many doors, including one that is very little and that it’s hiding behind a curtain. All of these doors are closed, but fear not because you will see a crystal table with a golden key on it. These key will open the smallest door. Although you may have been able to open the door, you will also face another obstacle: the door is too small that you won’t be able to pass!! The solution for this is simple but you will experience many changes! Eating and drinking will make you short and make you grow, just find the perfect formula and you will be able to pass that door! Once you do it, you will be in Wonderland!!
In Wonderland you will see lots of woods and mushrooms. You will also see gardens, houses and a seacoast. One peculiarity of this land is that all food seems to have a secondary effect on human beings. One little bite or one little drink and you will find yourself as tall as a giraffe or small as a mouse! So think it twice before eating or drinking anything!
Wonderland is ruled by the King and Queen of Hearts, who are despotic and long to sentence everyone to death by beheading them. The main population are playing cards that are divided the following way: The Royal Family are Hearts, the Courtiers are Diamonds, the Soldiers are Clubs, and the Servants are Spades. Besides these you will also find many strange creatures and talking animals!!
Places to Visit
When in Wonderland we must be sure to visit the following places! Please follow me carefully and stay close because we don’t want to get lost!
I bet you are very tired after our journey to these lands of magic and craziness! Please rest for a while and then you may continue with your assignment!
- Tulgey Wood: As depicted in Disney’s animated film, Tulgey Wood is an immense forest with many paths to follow. If you don’t know the forest you will surely get lost! In Tulgey Wood you will find lots of bizarre creatures like Hammer Birds, Cymbal Frogs, Drum Frogs, Cage Birds, Horn Ducks, Accordion Owls, Mirror Birds, Mome Raths (colorful and hairy creatures which form and arrow to help Alice find her way back home), Pencil Birds, Shovel Birds, Umbrella Vultures, and Sweeping Dogs.
- The White Rabbit’s House: A beautiful house for a rabbit if you ask! This is the place where the White Rabbit that Alice followed to Wonderland lives. In here the White Rabbit keeps his precious gloves safe and also grows his own carrots. This house almost gets burned and destroyed when Alice gets stuck after eating a cake that made her grow. After some failed attempts by Bill the Lizard to get her out through the chimney, Dodo thinks that the best solution (to the White Rabbit’s dismay!) is to burn the house while Alice, or “the monster”, is still inside. Fortunately, Alice eats a carrot that shrinks her and manages to escape.
- Caterpillar Mushroom: Here it is where the obnoxious Hookah-Smoking Caterpillar stands. He is three inches tall, which according to him “is a very good height indeed”. When he speaks to Alice he is rude and asks her difficult questions, often confusing her. However, in Disney’s film he is also the one (in an angry way by the way) that tells Alice that one side of the mushroom will make her grow large and the other side will make her grow small. This Caterpillar loves grammar and recitation, and is easily tempered.
- Garden of Living Flowers: In Disney’s animated film, this garden is located close to the White Rabbit’s House. In here, all the Flowers of Wonderland are planted, and like everything in Wonderland, these flowers also talk. But besides talking they can also sing! Among the flowers we can find are: roses, iris, tulips, daisies, pansies, blue bonnets, violets, lilacs, chrysanthemums, morning glories, daffodils, dandelions, thistles, and sweetpeas. We also see “bread and butterflies”, and a “rocking horsefly”. The flowers in this garden are very beautiful but they are also very rude and discriminate Alice when they find out that she is not a flower and confuse her for a weed.
- The Duchess’ Palace: In Carroll’s novel, this is the place where the Duchess of Wonderland lives with her Cook and her baby. The Duchess is generally respectful and friendly to Alice, however, the Cook is always mad! She throws all kind of kitchen utensils (and doesn’t mind about the fact that someone can get hurt!) and is addicted to pepper, causing everyone to sneeze. The Duchess’ baby is crying all the time and then it turns into a pig! This is the place where Alice meets The Chesire Cat for the first time. We better leave now. Careful, a spoon is coming!
- Mad Houses – The March Hare and the Mad Hatter: This pair is mad, and entering to any of their houses will drive you crazy! Along with the Dormouse, they love to have tea parties and celebrate “Unbirthdays”. Having a cup of tea is impossible because they are always changing seats, but they surely know how to have fun! In Carroll’s novel, the Mad Hatter was sentenced by the Queen of Hearts to death for murdering time, but he escaped execution, however, Time kept him and the March Hare stuck at 6:00 pm forever.
- The Seacoast: In Carroll’s novel, the Seacoast is where The Mock Turtle and the Gryphon are found. The Mock Turtle is always sad and melancholic because he used to be a real turtle. In here, both characters discuss with Alice about the education system, and tell their stories. At the end, they show Alice how they dance their famous “Lobster Quadrille”. Music please!
- The Chesire Cat’s Tree: In Disney’s animated film, the Chesire Cat finally turns useful and shows Alice the way to get into the Queen of Heart’s Palace. The entrance is right inside this tree! Let’s take a closer look!
- The Queen of Heart’s Palace: This is the place where the King and Queen of Hearts live! They have their own croquet field and in here all the trials are held, trials in which the sentence always comes before anything else. You will find many animated playing cards and rose gardens! If you see any white roses, please grab some paint and help me to paint them red! The Queen of Hearts loves them red and we want her to be happy to avoid trouble! Careful, there she comes! Please show some respect!
I bet you are very tired after our journey to these lands of magic and craziness! Please rest for a while and then you may continue with your assignment!
Sources:
- http://disney.wikia.com/wiki/Never_Land
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neverland
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wonderland_(fictional_country)
- http://disney.wikia.com/wiki/Wonderland
- http://es.aliceinwonderland.wikia.com/wiki/El_Bosque_Turgal
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_minor_characters_in_the_Alice_series