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Fifty-One Tales · Chapter

The Death of Pan explained

Travellers from London enter Arcady and lament the death of Pan, finding him stiff and still.

What happens

Travellers from London enter Arcady and lament the death of Pan, finding him stiff and still. As they stand mournfully by his body, Arcadian maidens arrive and laugh at the sight, causing Pan to leap up and pursue them, filling Arcady with sounds of pursuit.

Themes in this chapter

  • The Power of Myth and Imagination

    The travellers' belief in Pan's death is overturned by the maidens' laughter, which revives the god and reaffirms the enduring power of myth.

  • Nature vs. Civilization

    The travellers from London represent civilization entering the wild Arcady, where the natural god Pan is initially thought dead but ultimately proves vibrant and untamed.

Characters to notice

  • Pan

    Found stiff and still by travellers, but leaps up at the laughter of Arcadian maidens.

  • Unknown

    Implied narrator observing the scene and recounting the events.

Key passages

  • “Horned Pan was still and the dew was on his fur; he had not the look of a live animal.”

    Pan lay motionless, with dew on his fur, appearing lifeless.

    Describes the initial appearance of Pan's death.

  • “And at the sound of their laughter Pan leaped up and the gravel flew from his hooves.”

    The maidens' laughter caused Pan to spring up, kicking gravel with his hooves.

    The pivotal moment when Pan is revived by laughter.

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