Why read ‘the Chronicles of Narnia?
Before the hype for these films start, it might be a good idea to follow Lewis’ lead and read his own fantasy tale: The Chronicles of Narnia. More than mere fairy tales, they are an imaginative and captivating account of Christian salvation history. Lewis did not set out to write an allegory about Christianity.
What does the Wardrobe symbolize in the Chronicles of Narnia?
C.S. Lewis writes in such a way that there are layers of meaning in THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA, as explained in the book NARNIA BECKONS. Clothes, for instance, have various different meanings. By putting on the robes in the wardrobe, the children are clothing themselves in effect in their future royal robes.
What is the Christian element of Narnia?
“At first there wasn’t even anything Christian about them; that element pushed itself in of its own accord.” This Christian element revolves around his idea of how redemption would take place in a world of talking beasts called Narnia. Lewis believed that Christ would become a talking beast just as he became a man in our world.
What are the consequences of ringing the bell in Narnia?
Throughout the whole of the book, we see Digory experiencing the consequences of ringing the bell and bringing Jadis to Narnia, a new world that had already been defiled just when it was made. Also, at the beginning of the book, we see Polly also had a consequence for taking a ring by Uncle Andrew and starting some of the mess.
What was the meaning of Narnia?
an imaginary land of strange people/ˈnɑːniə/ /ˈnɑːrniə/ an imaginary land of strange people and talking animals in a series of seven children's books (sometimes called the Narnia Chronicles) by C S Lewis.
What lessons does Narnia teach?
7 Discipleship Lessons from The Chronicles of NarniaFind your identity in Christ. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. ... Embrace childlike faith. Prince Caspian. ... Persevere until the end. ... Remember the spiritual disciplines. ... Obedience often brings more difficulties. ... Satan is a liar. ... This is not our home.
What is the spiritual meaning of Narnia?
“The whole Narnia series is about Christ,” said Ward. “The first, second and seventh book is a major comparison of the life of Christ. In these novels, Christ is depicted as Creator, Redeemer and Judge.”
What is the main message of The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe?
Theme: Betrayal and Forgiveness He is willing to betray his own family in exchange for the promise of power. Peter, Susan, and Lucy reveal the symbol of forgiveness in their decision to love him despite his actions. Aslan supports this theme when he asks the children to never speak of Edmund's betrayal again.
What does The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe represent?
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, by C.S. Lewis, an enchanting story of the White Witch, a lion, and four brave children, is an example of a Christian allegory, or a story about Jesus' triumph over evil through His death on the cross.
What do the kids represent in Narnia?
The four Pevensie children parallel the four apostles of Jesus, close confidants called by him to help carry out his mission. Throughout "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe," the children are referred to as the sons of Adam and the daughters of Eve.
Who does Mr Tumnus represent in the Bible?
Mr. Tumnus represent Judas. He betrayed Aslan at first because he want to kidnapped Lucy. But later Aslan came to him in the fire, then looses his life when he was frozen.
Who does Peter represent in Narnia?
He is a representation of St. Peter in the Christian tradition, leads the armies at Aslan's appointment, and is crowned as High King over Narnia at the end of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Peter's courage, maturity, and deep respect for Aslan (who represents Christ) make him the ideal leader for Narnia.
What does the lamppost represent in Narnia?
The Disney adaption of The Lion, the Witch and The Wardrobe portrays the lamp-post as an aging thing. C S Lewis based the Lamp-post on those he saw in Malvern, UK, while he was at school. Examples can still be found around the town to this day.
Who does the fox represent in Narnia?
The fox represents people who do not seem to be religious but when tested are proved to be very pious and like the fox, willing to give up their lives for the sake of their beliefs. Aslan is symbolic to Jesus, God, and the goodness of the world. C. S.
What does the stone table represent in Narnia?
C.S. Lewis often incorporates Christian themes and symbols into the Narnian stories. The Stone Table itself (and not the hill) is one of these symbols: it is symbolic of the cross of Jesus, and the killing of Aslan on it for the sin (treachery) of Edmund Pevensie, alludes to the crucifixion of Christ.
Is Narnia religious?
The Narnia books have a large Christian following, and are widely used to promote Christian ideas. Narnia 'tie-in' material is marketed directly to Christian, even to Sunday school, audiences.
How can the Narnia stories help children?
The Narnia stories can help our children grow in the same ways. Think of all the fears and frights of Narnia as Lewis� attempt to pass on to your children the real prize: courage. And think of courage in children�s literature as another word for faith.
What does Edmund try to make himself believe?
Blame-shifting: When caught in his lie, rather than feeling sorry, Edmund tries to make himself believe that his siblings are self-righteous pigs. Can your kids relate to this tendency?
Did Lewis have real fears?
As a veteran of both world wars, Lewis was intimately acquainted with real-world fears. (In fact, during the World War II bombings in London, several children did come to stay in his home at the Kilns.) Here are some suggestions of what to say, and what not to say:
Is the book The Bombings a passing reference?
Though the book makes only a passing reference to the war that led to the children being sent away from London, the movie plays this up more, even showing the family cowering during an aerial raid. Today, our kids are growing up in a world of widespread fear of terrorism and war. Kids might be frightened by the movie's depiction of the bombings and some might even connect the scene to the fears they encounter in their lives. How should I handle this?
What is the message of Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe?
I think the overall message of The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe is belief because all throughout the book the character are learning to believe in things they never thought existed. Especially with the older character as in Peter and Susan, who wants to act responsible and mature for their younger siblings they have to learn to believe in Lucy and Aslan and to trust the beavers even if they just came into a new world. They also have to learn to believe in themselves. For example at the end of the book when he has to go to battle by himself because he thinks Aslan is dead. He has to learn to believe that he can lead the battle even with no help from others. Lucy shows them how to believe during the course of the book and eventually, they believe in Narnia as firmly as they believed in any land.
What is the message of the Magician's Nephew?
I think the overall message of The Magician's Nephew is "Consequences for your actions." Throughout the whole of the book, we see Digory experiencing the consequences of ringing the bell and bringing Jadis to Narnia, a new world that had already been defiled just when it was made. Also, at the beginning of the book, we see Polly also had a consequence for taking a ring by Uncle Andrew and starting some of the mess. Digory's consequence is that he has to go and get the apple for Aslan from the tree and not falling for the temptation. He would have to learn that he has to clean up his own mess. You also see the opposite of the moral where because Digory did not fall for the temptation made by Jadis, he can bring an apple home to his mother to cure her.
What is the message of the horse and his boy?
I think the overall message of "The Horse and his Boy" (as mentioned in the podcast) is Humility and to realize your own self-esteem as it is and not as you think. For example, Bree and Aravis have the same problem of thinking that they are more than is actually of them. They struggle with pride and learn a powerful message of humility during the book. Shasta and Hwin are quite the opposite. They are both humble, shy, and modest at the beginning of the book, but by the end of the book, they learn that they have to speak for what is right and learn they are more than what they are because of their humility. Lastly, I want to mention Rabadash. He learns humility because his consequence at the end of the book is because of his pride.
What does the star signify in the Bible?
And throughout the Bible the stars are seen as ‘signs’ – most notably at Bethlehem, signifying the birth of Christ – and sometimes as a celestial court or angelic choir.
What does Saturn give Saturday?
Saturn gives Saturday its name, the Sun Sunday’s, the Moon Monday’s, and so on.”. As such, Lewis’ use of medieval cosmology falls well outside the scope of what modern-day Christians would condemn as astrology. Widespread praise.
What is the story of the Chronicles of Narnia?
Lewis. Illustrated by Pauline Baynes and originally published between 1950 and 1956, The Chronicles of Narnia has been adapted for radio, television, the stage, film and computer games. The series is set in the fictional realm of Narnia, a fantasy world of magic, mythical beasts and talking animals. It narrates the adventures of various children who play central roles in the unfolding history of the Narnian world. Except in The Horse and His Boy, the protagonists are all children from the real world who are magically transported to Narnia, where they are sometimes called upon by the lion Aslan to protect Narnia from evil. The books span the entire history of Narnia, from its creation in The Magician's Nephew to its eventual destruction in The Last Battle .
Where did the name Narnia come from?
The name Narnia is based on Narni, Italy, written in Latin as Narnia. Green wrote:
What is the magician's nephew about?
Completed in February 1954 and published by Bodley Head in London on 2 May 1955, The Magician's Nephew serves as a prequel and presents Narnia's origin story: how Aslan created the world and how evil first entered it. Digory Kirke and his friend Polly Plummer stumble into different worlds by experimenting with magic rings given to them by Digory's uncle. In the dying world of Charn they awaken Queen Jadis, and another world turns out to be the beginnings of the Narnian world (where Jadis later becomes the White Witch ). The story is set in 1900, when Digory was a 12-year-old boy. He is a middle-aged professor by the time he hosts the Pevensie children in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe 40 years later.
How many copies of The Chronicles of Narnia have been sold?
The Chronicles of Narnia is considered a classic of children's literature and is Lewis's best-selling work, having sold over 100 million copies in 47 languages.
Why is Lewis and the Chronicles so controversial?
Most allegations of sexism centre on the description of Susan Pevensie in The Last Battle when Lewis writes that Susan is "no longer a friend of Narnia" and interested "in nothing nowadays except nylons and lipstick and invitations".
When was the last book of the Narnia series written?
Although Lewis originally conceived what would become The Chronicles of Narnia in 1939 (the picture of a Faun with parcels in a snowy wood has a history dating to 1914), he did not finish writing the first book The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe until 1949. The Magician's Nephew, the penultimate book to be published, but the last to be written, was completed in 1954. Lewis did not write the books in the order in which they were originally published, nor were they published in their current chronological order of presentation. The original illustrator, Pauline Baynes, created pen and ink drawings for the Narnia books that are still used in the editions published today. Lewis was awarded the 1956 Carnegie Medal for The Last Battle, the final book in the saga. The series was first referred to as The Chronicles of Narnia by fellow children's author Roger Lancelyn Green in March 1951, after he had read and discussed with Lewis his recently completed fourth book The Silver Chair, originally entitled Night under Narnia.
How many episodes are there in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe?
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe was first adapted in 1967. Comprising ten episodes of thirty minutes each, the screenplay was written by Trevor Preston, and directed by Helen Standage.
What are the Chronicles of Narnia about?
If in "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" we have a retelling of Christ's suffering, death, and resurrection, the subsequent Narnia stories tell about the children's adventures in Narnia--their adventures , that is, during the time between Aslan's redemption of Narnia, and his final victory.
Why did the Passion of Aslan move people more than the real story of the Gospels?
"The reason why the Passion of Aslan sometimes moves people more than the real story of the Gospels is," replied Lewis, "...that it takes them off their guard. In reading the real story the fatal knowledge that one ought to feel a certain way often inhibits the feeling."
Is the White Witch's magic more powerful?
And Aslan explains that while the White Witch's magic is powerful, there is a deeper, truer, more powerful magic at work--and now that an innocent and willing victim was killed in the intended victim's place, "Death itself would start working backward.".
Is The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe a Christian book?
This may be one reason that "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" continually delights and startles Christian readers. For the novel not only offers an emotionally engaging retelling of the crucifixion story. It also gets at the essence of the wonderful, strange, remarkable fact of God's incarnation as a human being.
What happens in the first book of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe?
This is what happens in the first book, THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE, which tells the story of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ through Aslan the lion, and its effect on Edward’s regeneration, redemption and salvation as well as the healing of Narnia from the curse of the White Witch.
What did Aslan send to the dark island?
In the book, during the visit to the Dark Island, Aslan continues this comparison with Jesus by sending an albatross that at first “looked like a cross” to lead them out of the darkness and into the light.
What is the name of the mouse that travels to Aslan's country?
There’s also the example of Reepicheep the Adventurous Mouse. Reepicheep longs to actually travel to Aslan’s “country” beyond the sea, the representation of Heaven in the Narnia Chronicles. Aslan tells him and the others, however, that, once they go to Aslan’s country, they cannot return. Thus, Reepicheep, who sails alone atop a giant blue wave to enter Aslan’s country, is like Elijah, the great prophet who didn’t die but entered Heaven in bodily form.
What does Aslan say to Lucy and Edmund?
At the boundary between Narnia and Aslan’s country, Aslan tells Lucy and Edmund that he exists in their world too. “But there I have another name,” he says. “You must learn how to know me by that name.
What does the dragon scales on Eustace remind us of?
The image of the dragon scales covering Eustace remind us visually of his, and our, grotesque sinful nature.
What does the Church look at reality?
The church used to look at reality in terms of many different levels, such as: the kerygma or message, which is presented clearly here in this movie; the incarnational, which is the presence of God as manifested in Aslan; and, the sacramental, which is an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace.
What is Edmund's character like in Narnia?
Once Edmund enters Narnia, when he followed Lucy, his character changes from being a “Doubting Thomas” to resembling Judas Iscariot. This is most prominent after Edmund meets the White Witch and especially when he is at the Beavers’ house with all of his siblings.
What does the White Witch tell Edmund about Turkish delight?
The White Witch even tells Edmund that it is magical Turkish Delight, and offers him more of the taste should he do as she says. For me, it is interesting to examine these parallels, as it allows us to look at the books from a different perspective. Report this Content.
Why did Edmund leave the meal?
Just as Judas leaves the meal to betray Jesus, Edmund leaves during the meal to betray his siblings to the White Witch. Another similarity between the two could be the form of payment for the act of betrayal. In the Bible it says that Judas was given silver coins as payment for betraying Jesus, and in Edmund’s case, ...
What is the Turkish delight offered to Edmund?
Edmund can also be compared to the downfall of Adam and Eve. The Turkish Delight which is offered to him by the White Witch, could be representative of the forbidden fruit that was found on the tree of knowledge. Just as the devil took a different form and tempted Adam and Eve with all of the wonders which the fruit would provide if they were to eat it, so too does the witch tempt Edmund with the Turkish Delight. The White Witch even tells Edmund that it is magical Turkish Delight, and offers him more of the taste should he do as she says.
