The Tale Of Peter Rabbit Short Story Analysis With Summary And Theme

The Tale Of Peter Rabbit – This article will tell you the short story entitled, “ The Tale Of Peter Rabbit” by Beatrix Potter with story analysis, summary and theme in English. What is the theme, summary, plot, setting, character and point of view of The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter?

The Tale Of Peter Rabbit Short Story Analysis With Summary And Theme
The Tale Of Peter Rabbit Short Story Analysis With Summary And Theme

The Tale Of Peter Rabbit

ONCE upon a time there were four little Rabbits, and their names were— Flopsy, Mopsy, Cotton-tail, and Peter.

They lived with their Mother in a sand-bank, underneath the root of a very big fir tree.

“NOW, my dears,” said old Mrs. Rabbit one morning, “you may go into the fields or down the lane, but don’t go into Mr. McGregor’s garden: your Father had an accident there; he was put in a pie by Mrs. McGregor.”

“NOW run along, and don’t get into mischief. I am going out.”

THEN old Mrs. Rabbit took a basket and her umbrella, to the baker’s. She bought a loaf of brown bread and five currant buns.

FLOPSY, Mopsy, and Cottontail, who were good little bunnies, went down the lane to gather blackberries;

Peter Rabbit gateBUT Peter, who was very naughty, ran straight away to Mr. McGregor’s garden and squeezed under the gate!

FIRST he ate some lettuces and some French beans; and then he ate some radishes;

AND then, feeling rather sick, he went to look for some parsley.

BUT round the end of a cucumber frame, whom should he meet but Mr. McGregor!

MR. McGREGOR was on his hands and knees planting out young cabbages, but he jumped up and ran after Peter, waving a rake and calling out, “Stop thief!”

PETER was most dreadfully frightened; he rushed all over the garden, for he had forgotten the way back to the gate.

He lost one of his shoes among the cabbages, and the other shoe amongst the potatoes.

AFTER losing them, he ran on four legs and went faster, so that I think he might have got away altogether if he had not unfortunately run into a gooseberry net, and got caught by the large buttons on his jacket. It was a blue jacket with brass buttons, quite new.

Peter Rabbit gooseberry nextPETER gave himself up for lost, and shed big tears; but his sobs were overheard by some friendly sparrows, who flew to him in great excitement, and implored him to exert himself.

MR. McGREGOR came up with a sieve, which he intended to pop upon the top of Peter; but Peter wriggled out just in time, leaving his jacket behind him.

AND rushed into the toolshed, and jumped into a can. It would have been a beautiful thing to hide in, if it had not had so much water in it.

MR. McGREGOR was quite sure that Peter was somewhere in the toolshed, perhaps hidden underneath a flower-pot. He began to turn them over carefully, looking under each.

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Presently Peter sneezed— “Kertyschoo!” Mr. McGregor was after him in no time,

AND tried to put his foot upon Peter, who jumped out of a window, upsetting three plants. The window was too small for Mr. McGregor, and he was tired of running after Peter. He went back to his work.

PETER sat down to rest; he was out of breath and trembling with fright, and he had not the least idea which way to go. Also he was very damp with sitting in that can.

After a time he began to wander about, going lippity— lippity—not very fast, and looking all around.

HE found a door in a wall; but it was locked, and there was no room for a fat little rabbit to squeeze underneath.

An old mouse was running in and out over the stone doorstep, carrying peas and beans to her family in the wood. Peter asked her the way to the gate, but she had such a large pea in her mouth that she could not answer. She only shook her head at him. Peter began to cry.

Peter Rabbit in wheelbarrow THEN he tried to find his way straight across the garden, but he became more and more puzzled. Presently, he came to a pond where Mr. McGregor filled his water-cans. A white cat was staring at some gold-fish; she sat very, very still, but now and then the tip of her tail twitched as if it were alive. Peter thought it best to go away without speaking to her; he had heard about cats from his cousin, little Benjamin Bunny.

HE went back towards the toolshed, but suddenly, quite close to him, he heard the noise of a hoe—scr-r-ritch, scratch, scratch, scritch. Peter scuttered underneath the bushes. But presently, as nothing happened, he came out, and climbed upon a wheelbarrow, and peeped over. The first thing he saw was Mr. McGregor hoeing onions. His back was turned towards Peter, and beyond him was the gate!

PETER got down very quietly off the wheelbarrow, and started running as fast as he could go, along a straight walk behind some black-currant bushes.

Mr. McGregor caught sight of him at the corner, but Peter did not care. He slipped underneath the gate, and was safe at last in the wood outside the garden.

Peter Rabbit hung coat shoes. Mr. McGregor hung up the little jacket and the shoes for a scare-crow to frighten the blackbirds.

PETER never stopped running or looked behind him till he got home to the big fir-tree.

He was so tired that he flopped down upon the nice soft sand on the floor of the rabbit-hole, and shut his eyes. His mother was busy cooking; she wondered what he had done with his clothes. It was the second little jacket and pair of shoes that Peter had lost in a fortnight!

I AM sorry to say that Peter was not very well during the evening.

His mother put him to bed, and made some chamomile tea; and she gave a dose of it to Peter!

“One table-spoonful to be taken at bed-time.”

BUT Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cotton-tail had bread and milk and blackberries, for supper.

The Short story entitled, “The Tale Of Peter Rabbit,” is from americanliterature.com

The Tale Of Peter Rabbit Story Analysis

The story of an hour analysis is a precise analysis of the story to further understand its underlying message. Allow us to indulge ourselves by delving into the great story analysis.

TitleThe Tale Of Peter Rabbit
AuthorBeatrix Potter
Publication Date1902
ThemeIt is important for kids to understand the real dangers in the adult world and the idea that actions often have consequences. (Animals and humans, Coincidence, Cause/effect)
GenreShort story for Children’s Literature
CharactersPeter Rabbit, Mrs. Rabbit, Flopsy, Mopsy, Cotton-Tail, and Mr. McGregor
SummaryPeter Rabbit, who is more adventurous than his three siblings. Their mother advises children not to go to Mr. McGregor’s garden since their father had a “accident” and ended up in a pie. The mischievous Peter squeezes under the garden fence to eat Mr. McGregor’s veggies, while the others stroll up the path to pick blackberries. Mr. McGregor discovers Peter near the cucumber frame and chases him across the garden, losing his shoes and his small blue jacket. Peter returns home, scared but wiser, after finding the gate. Mrs. Rabbit makes chamomile tea for Peter, but bread, milk, and blackberries for his siblings.
The Tale Of Peter Rabbit Story Analysis

The Tale Of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter

English children’s book author Beatrix Potter, in full Helen Beatrix Potter (born July 28, 1866 in South Kensington, Middlesex [now in Greater London], England; died December 22, 1943, Sawrey, Lancashire [now in Cumbria]), was the creator of Peter Rabbit and other animal characters.

Beatrix Potter - Books, Movie & Peter Rabbit - Biography
Beatrix Potter

Potter, the only daughter of cotton wealth heirs, spent her youth in Scotland or the English Lake District, where her love of animals and imaginative watercolor sketches were nurtured by long vacations. It was on one of these holidays in Scotland, at the age of 27, that she wrote and sent an illustrated animal story to the sick kid of a former governess.

She was so pleased with the response to her illustrated letter that she decided to publish it as The Tale of Peter Rabbit privately (1901). Frederick Warne & Company released it commercially in 1902 to great acclaim.

The Tale Of Peter Rabbit Theme

It is important for kids to understand the real dangers in the adult world and the idea that actions often have consequences. (Animals and humans, Coincidence, Cause/effect)

The Tale Of Peter Rabbit Genre

The genre of the short story The Tale Of Peter Rabbit is Children’s Literature. According to Britannica.com, children’s literature are picture books and easy-to-read stories written exclusively for children, and fairy tales, lullabies, fables, folk songs, and other primarily orally transmitted materials.

It is the body of written works and accompanying illustrations produced in order to entertain or instruct young people. The genre encompasses a wide range of works, including acknowledged classics of world literature.

The Tale Of Peter Rabbit Characters

Time needed: 2 minutes

Here are the characters of The Tale Of Peter Rabbit.

  1. Peter

    Peter is a mischievous rabbit who defies his mother’s commands. He is the youngest of the family.

  2. Mrs. Rabbit

    Mrs. Rabbit is the responsible mother of Peter, Flopsy, Mopsy and Cotton-Tail.

  3. Flopsy

    Peter’s sister, Flopsy, is a sweet rabbit who lives in the family home. There are four siblings, and she is the oldest one.

  4. Mopsy

    Peter’s sister, Mopsy, is a rabbit who always follows her mother’s orders.

  5. Cotton-Tail

    Cotton-Tail, Peter’s brother, is a lovable rabbit. She is, in fact, as soft as a sheet.

  6. Mr. McGregor

    Mr. McGregor has a beautiful garden full of tasty fruits and vegetables that he cares for every day. Peter’s father was put into a pie by Mrs. McGregor.

The Tale Of Peter Rabbit Summary

Peter Rabbit, who is more adventurous than his three siblings. Their mother advises children not to go to Mr. McGregor's garden since their father had a "accident" and ended up in a pie. The mischievous Peter squeezes under the garden fence to eat Mr. McGregor's veggies, while the others stroll up the path to pick blackberries. 

Mr. McGregor discovers Peter near the cucumber frame and chases him across the garden, losing his shoes and his small blue jacket. Peter returns home, scared but wiser, after finding the gate. Mrs. Rabbit makes chamomile tea for Peter, but bread, milk, and blackberries for his siblings.

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The Tale Of Peter Rabbit Short Story Analysis With Summary, Characters, and Theme is a presentation of the beautiful work of Beatrix Potter. We could quite see how eloquent and precise her work is, and she is purposefully showing creativity in Children’s Literature. There is a lot to like about this story since it combines humor and adventure with an important moral, and the text is complimented by gorgeous watercolors.

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