Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes

When Peter resists Professor Cake’s offer, he claims, “I’m just a criminal” (64). Why is Cake looking for a boy with “criminal” qualities? Why would a well-behaved child not make a successful hero?

Peter “came into this world with no name at all” (3-4). What is the significance of Peter’s name? How does it define his identity and self-worth?

How should we interpret the fact that the emerald eyes restore Peter’s sight? Is this ending a betrayal of a hero who has not needed sight to succeed? Why or why not?

Why does the king keep the children enslaved rather than just feeding them Devil’s Dram and making them docile? According to the novel, what is the key difference between children and adults?

What moral lessons does Peter Nimble have for its readers?

Water is an important symbol in the novel, a powerful force of nature that both destroys and cleanses. How and why does the novel use water imagery?

What is the relationship between magic and science in the novel? Which prevails and why?

Why is it important for the king to keep his subjects compliant and ignorant? Why do all tyrants use fear and lies to stay in power?