Excerpt

Excerpt from Five Children and It, by E. Nesbit

'Now,' said Cyril,"of course there's some risk; we'd better fly
straight down the other side of the tower and then flutter low
across the churchyard and in through the shrubbery. There doesn't
seem to be anyone about. But you never know. The window looks out
into the shrubbery. It is embowered in foliage, like a window in
a story. I'll go in and get the things. Robert and Anthea can
take them as I hand them out through the window; and Jane can keep
watch - her eyes are sharp - and whistle if she sees anyone about.
Shut up, Robert! she can whistle quite well enough for that,
anyway. It ought not to be a very good whistle - it'll sound more
natural and birdlike. Now then - off we go!'

I cannot pretend that stealing is right. I can only say that on
this occasion it did not look like stealing to the hungry four, but
appeared in the light of a fair and reasonable business
transaction. They had never happened to learn that a tongue -
hardly cut into - a chicken and a half, a loaf of bread, and a
syphon of soda-water cannot be bought in shops for half-a-crown.
These were the necessaries of life, which Cyril handed out of the
larder window when, quite unobserved and without hindrance or
adventure, he had led the others to that happy spot. He felt that
to refrain from jam, apple turnovers, cake, and mixed candied peel
was a really heroic act - and I agree with him. He was also proud
of not taking the custard pudding - and there I think he was wrong

• because if he had taken it there would have been a difficulty
  about returning the dish; no one, however starving, has a right to
  steal china pie-dishes with little pink flowers on them. The
  soda-water syphon was different. They could not do without
  something to drink, and as the maker's name was on it they felt
  sure it would be returned to him wherever they might leave it. If
  they had time they would take it back themselves. The man appeared
  to live in Rochester, which would not be much out of their way
  home.

Everything was carried up to the top of the tower, and laid down on
a sheet of kitchen paper which Cyril had found on the top shelf of
the larder. As he unfolded it, Anthea said, 'I don't think THAT'S
a necessity of life.'

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Explanation

Detailed Explanation of the Excerpt from Five Children and It by E. Nesbit

Context of the Source

Five Children and It (1902) is a classic children’s fantasy novel by Edith Nesbit, a pioneering author in the genre. The story follows five siblings—Cyril, Anthea, Robert, Jane, and their baby brother, the Lamb—who discover a Psammead, a magical sand-fairy that grants them one wish per day. However, their wishes often backfire in humorous or unexpected ways, leading to adventures and moral lessons.

In this excerpt, the children have wished for wings to fly, but their adventure takes a mischievous turn when they decide to "borrow" food from a larder (pantry) to satisfy their hunger. The scene captures their childlike logic, moral ambiguity, and playful justifications for their actions.

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Themes in the Excerpt

1. Childhood Morality & Justification of Wrongdoing

   • The children rationalize their theft as a "fair and reasonable business transaction" rather than stealing.
   • Their naivety is evident—they don’t realize the true value of the food they’re taking (a tongue, chicken, bread, soda-water) and believe it could be bought for half-a-crown (a small sum).
   • The narrator ironically distances themselves from condoning theft ("I cannot pretend that stealing is right") while still sympathizing with the children’s perspective.

2. Hunger & Survival Instinct

   • The children are desperate for food, framing their actions as a necessity rather than greed.
   • Cyril’s selective morality is humorous—he proudly resists taking jam and cake (seeing it as "heroic") but justifies taking the soda-water syphon because it can be returned.

3. Class & Entitlement

   • The children come from a middle-class background (they know about china pie-dishes and Rochester, a town in Kent).
   • Their casual attitude toward property (taking food but debating over a paper sheet) reflects a child’s lack of understanding of ownership and consequences.

4. Adventure & Rule-Breaking

   • The heist-like planning (Cyril’s instructions, Jane’s lookout role) makes the scene playful and exciting.
   • The lack of guilt in their actions aligns with the fantasy tone of the book—children in Nesbit’s world often bend rules without severe repercussions.

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Literary Devices & Stylistic Choices

1. Irony & Narratorial Voice

   • The omniscient narrator judges but also humorously defends the children:
     • "I cannot pretend that stealing is right. I can only say that on this occasion it did not look like stealing..."
     • "He was also proud of not taking the custard pudding—and there I think he was wrong..."
   • This winking tone makes the reader complicit in the mischief, softening the moral dilemma.

2. Childlike Logic & Absurd Justifications

   • The children debate what counts as "necessities" (food = yes, kitchen paper = no).
   • Cyril’s selective honesty (not taking cake but taking soda-water because it’s returnable) is illogical yet charming.
   • The soda-water syphon is treated like a borrowed library book—they assume the manufacturer will get it back, showing their faith in systems (and ignorance of theft).

3. Imagery & Sensory Details

   • The larder window is described as "embowered in foliage, like a window in a story"—this fairy-tale imagery reinforces the magical, almost justified nature of their theft.
   • The list of stolen goods (tongue, chicken, bread, soda-water) is specific and mouthwatering, making the reader sympathize with their hunger.

4. Dialogue & Character Dynamics

   • Cyril is the leader, giving detailed instructions (fly down, flutter, whistle if someone comes).
   • Robert is interrupted ("Shut up, Robert!"), showing his tendency to complain or argue.
   • Jane’s whistle is practical but imperfect—it should sound "birdlike" to avoid suspicion, adding to the playful spy-mission vibe.
   • Anthea’s objection to the kitchen paper shows her moral scruples, though they’re inconsistently applied.

5. Humor & Understatement

   • The matter-of-fact tone about stealing is funny:
     • "They had never happened to learn that a tongue... cannot be bought in shops for half-a-crown."
     • "No one, however starving, has a right to steal china pie-dishes with little pink flowers on them."
   • The absurdity of their reasoning (returning a soda syphon but not a pie dish) is delightfully illogical.

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Significance of the Scene

1. Moral Ambiguity in Children’s Literature

   • Unlike moralistic Victorian children’s stories, Nesbit doesn’t harshly punish the children for stealing.
   • Instead, she explores their thought process, making the reader question whether their actions are truly wrong in context.

2. Realism in Fantasy

   • Even in a magical story, Nesbit grounds the children’s behavior in realistic child psychology—they’re hungry, impulsive, and creative in justifying their actions.

3. Social Commentary on Class & Privilege

   • The children assume they can take what they need because they don’t fully grasp property rights.
   • Their casual attitude toward theft reflects middle-class entitlement—they expect things to work out (like returning the syphon).

4. Adventure vs. Consequences

   • The lack of immediate consequences (no one catches them) keeps the tone lighthearted, but the narrator’s gentle judgments remind readers that actions have moral weight.

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Conclusion: Why This Excerpt Matters

This passage is a perfect example of Nesbit’s genius—she blends fantasy with realism, moral questions with humor, and childlike logic with adult irony. The children’s theft isn’t glorified, but it’s understood through their perspective, making the reader laugh, cringe, and reflect on how children navigate right and wrong.

The scene also foreshadows later adventures—the children’s wishes often lead to trouble, but their ingenuity and teamwork (even in mischief) make them lovable protagonists. Nesbit doesn’t preach; she invites readers to think, making Five Children and It a timeless, thought-provoking classic.

Would you like any further analysis on specific elements, like the Psammead’s role or how this connects to other parts of the book?