It is said to have been inspired by A Midsummer Night's Dream (published 1908) with illustrations by the British painter Arthur Rackham (1867-1939), while also being influenced by Puck of Pook's Hill (published 1906) by the equally British novelist Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936). The dotted motif at the beginning, as if representing the dance of Puck the fairy, is presented lightly and capriciously (measures 1-17) (Musical Example 1). In the middle section, through a two-beat dance with appoggiaturas (measures 18-31) followed by a three-beat dance (measures 32-48), a soft and gentle atmosphere is emphasized rather than comicality (Musical Example 2). The opening motif, after a fragmentary presentation (measures 57-62), is recapitulated in its complete form at measure 63, but a transitional passage not present at the beginning is inserted, showing free development. From measure 87, a coda recalling the opening motif begins, and Puck vanishes with an ascending scale.

Musical Example 1: Beginning

Musical Example 2: Two-beat dance, measures 16-20