Given thatPeanutswas a long-running comic strip, all the way from 1950 to 2000, it is no surprise thatPeanutsincluded many pop culture references, including to classic literature. From capturing theHarry Potterfervor that was present in the late ’90s to referring to some of the most famous and popular children’s books,Peanutsgave readers of the past and present a window into what kids were reading at the time.
Well, for the most part, as Rerun at one point refers to quite the surprising novel, which is not the most child-friendly. Regardless,Peanutsusually focuseson the qualities of their characters and their interactions with others, as well as their reactions to situations. As a result, there were not always a lot of references to things like movies, music, and books in the comic strips. However, there still were enough comic strips referencing classic books to please any bibliophile, all of which tickle the funny bone.
10"One Word a Day"
March 28th, 1972
Snoopy has made it his life’s mission to read the bookWar and Peaceby Leo Tolstoy, choosing to do so one word at a time. That’s right: not one page at a time, not even one sentence, but one word at a time.War and Peaceis a dictionary-sized Russian novel that is one of the longest books ever written. Consequently, reading the book at all is quite the undertaking, but reading it word by word is a task that anyone, like Linus in this strip, would find perplexing.
Snoopy’s favorite author is supposedly Albert Payson Terhune.
However, Snoopy cannot see himself reading the book any other way, with him liking to really soak in and think of the single word he just read.Peanutsmay have stopped making new strips, but it is safe to say that Snoopy is still readingWar and Peacedecades later.
9"Now, Charlie Brown, You’re an Ugly Beast"
A French fairy tale published in the 18th century,Beauty and the Beastis a tale as old as time to many that are familiar with the renowned book.Beauty and the Beasthas been the subject of a number of plays and movies, with Lucy wanting to do her own version of the fairy tale. Casting the project herself, she chooses herself as Beauty and gives Charlie Brown the not-so-flattering role of the Beast.
Lucy really nails the point home to Charlie Brown that the Beast is ugly and adds insult to injury by saying that when the Beast turns into a handsome prince, the role will be switched to her crush Schroeder. If there is something Lucy is going to do, it’s insult Charlie Brown for no reason.
8"Have You Ever Heard of a Cheshire Cat?"
April 19th, 1967
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderlandis an 1865 novel by Lewis Carroll that has seen countless adaptations, the most famous being the 1951 Disney version,Alice in Wonderland. Thanks to the popularity of both the book and its animated version, many are familiar with the character of the Cheshire Cat and his remarkable and surreal ability to make himself invisible.
When Linus talks to Patty about the Cheshire Cat and his ability to make himself disappear except for his grin, Linus' pal notes that she enjoys that habit of the cat’s but deems it completely impossible. Little does she know that Snoopy, in his Cheshire Beagle persona, has that fantastical ability as well, with only his grin visible.Snoopy’s Cheshire Beagle personareally just involves him doing the disappearing trick, but it’s impressive nevertheless and a cool nod to a classic children’s story.
7"Dr. Beagle and Mr. Hyde"
March 19th, 1980
A seminal work in the gothic horror genre,Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde’sstory is very well known, even by those who have never read the book by Robert Louis Stevenson. Following a respectable doctor turned into a murderous criminal,Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hydeoften appears in popular culture and has even popularized the idea of “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” referring to someone who seems nice but is secretly bad.
Garnering a reference inPeanuts,Snoopy nabs the leadof the put-together Dr. Jekyll in a stage play of the story while poor Olaf is stuck playing the ugly and horrible Mr. Hyde. Playing Mr. Hyde will no doubt not help Olaf’s self-image after already being the winner of an Ugly Dog contest.
6"Old Sport"
May 21st, 1998
The author F. Scott Fitzgerald specialized in tales of the Jazz Age, with his most highly regarded work beingThe Great Gatsby,which has been labeled by some as “The Great American Novel.” The character of Jay Gatsby is one of the most famous examples of the rags-to-riches trope in literature. Jay Gatsby inspires a new Snoopy persona in a strange twist of events.
When Snoopy tags along to Charlie Brown’s school dance, he goes as his new alter ego, “The Scott Fitzgerald Hero.” As his new alter ego, he calls people Old Sport, like Jay Gatsby does, and acts very sophisticated, dressing the part as well. Snoopy, as his worldly persona, ends up dancing withCharlie Brown’s unrequited love, Little Red Haired Girl.
5"Dear Harry Potter"
November 8th, 1999
TheHarry Potterbook series is a massive success that has gathered fans of all ages since the publication of the first book in 1997. Being a phenomenon so widespread that evenPeanutsfactored the iconic character into one of their comic strips,Harry Potterhas been ingrained into popular culture. In the wizarding-themed comic strip, Sally writes a letter to Harry Potter as if he is a real person, telling him what a big fan she is, and invites him over for dinner.
Charlie Brown has to bethe messenger and deliver the hard news that Harry Potter is a fictional character, which bums Sally out greatly and causes her to table her dinner invitation. It is not easy when a kid learns that their favorite character is not real, with Sally being a relatable figure for any kid who went through a similar situation.
4"He’s So Unreasonable"
March 30th, 1972
It is a well acknowledged characteristic of Snoopy that he is readingWar and Peace, doing so one word at a time. Given that he has already started the behemoth of a novel, it would be a huge ask if someone wanted him to start over. However, his reading strategy has ensured that Snoopy is only on the fourth word. But that is already way too far for Snoopy, scoffing at Woodstock’s request to read him the story from the beginning.
The bookish beagle is not willing to hear anything of the sort, thinking that his buddy is very unreasonable to ask such a massive favor of him.Snoopy lives in his ownlittle world, which is usually not a problem for him, but its less beneficial side is shown when he has to deal with others who just don’t get it.
3"Tess of the D’Urbervilles"
November 6th, 1999
Tess of the D’Urbervillesby Thomas Hardy is a major literary work of the 19th century that was controversial for its portrayal of sexual behavior in Victorian England. As a result,Tess of the D’Urbervillesis not a book that one would think would be referenced inPeanuts. However, a very precocious Rerun does just that in this comic strip, both surprising readers and making them laugh.
Rerun does not call Charlie Brown Charlie, instead calling him Charles.
Charlie Brown, Linus, and Rerun are all hanging out on the couch when Charlie Brown mentions that “sports are all fathers and sons talk about.” Linus reasons that there really is not anything else to talk about. Rerun offers an interesting topic of conversation, especially considering he is a very young child:Tess of the D’Urbervilles.While Rerun’s suggestion is interesting, it does not seem like one that will go over well with the kids' fathers.
2"More?"
January 11th, 1988
When Snoopy takes a page from a Charles Dickens classic and asks for more food, Charlie Brown brings up the unfortunate event that happened to Oliver Twist when he asked for more food: solitary confinement. Snoopy leaves without a second helping and is left with annoyance for the “stupid kid” Oliver Twist, who “ruined it” for everyone else who has ever wanted more food.
Oliver Twistby Dickens is the tale of an orphan who undergoes hardship and joins a gang of pickpockets before meeting some kind people who help him. The “asking for more” scene inOliver Twistis arguably the most famous part of the work, with many parodies and references to the scene throughout pop culture.Peanutsgets in on the funwith its own homage toOliver Twist, albeit one that involves Snoopy being royally irritated by the titular character.
1"As Sure as I am Sitting at This Desk"
Reciting a part of Rudyard Kipling’s poem,The Ballad of East and West, Peppermint Patty goes on to write that Mark Twain wroteHuckleberry Finn. Marcie questions her, since Peppermint Patty is so frequently wrong, but Peppermint Patty is very confident, saying that she is as sure of her answer as she is that she is sitting at her desk. Unfortunately for her, she topples down from her desk right when she says that.
She gives one piece of evidence of why it is important to be careful with one’s choice of words. Peppermint Patty references two major literary figures, Kipling and Twain, in one comic strip, making an English Lit major’s day with thisPeanutsentry. WhilePeppermint Patty is not the best student, her knowing the author ofHuckleberry Finnis a step in the right direction.
Peanuts
Created by Charles M. Schulz, Peanuts is a multimedia franchise that began as a comic strip in the 1950s and eventually expanded to include films and a television series. Peanuts follows the daily adventures of the Peanuts gang, with Charlie Brown and his dog Snoopy at the center of them. Aside from the film released in 2015, the franchise also has several Holiday specials that air regularly on U.S. Television during their appropriate seasons.
