QUESTIONS TO TALK ABOUT

COMPREHENSION AND RECALL

1. Why do the children have to leave London? (Because of the air raids.)

2. Who is Mr. Tumnus and where does he take Lucy? (He is a faun who takes Lucy home for tea; he explains about the White Witch.)

3. What curse is Narnia under? (It is always winter, never Christmas.)

HIGHER LEVEL THINKING SKILLS

4. Why does the professor's house seem like a place where one could slip into a magical world? (It is full of interesting rooms with unusual objects, like a harp and a suit of armor. It has an important history; visitors always want to come see it.)

5. What does Christmas mean to Christians? Why is it sad for it to be “always winter and never Christmas?” (Christmas is a joyous holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus. Delay of Christmas puts off a time of happiness and fun.)

6. On the sledge why does the White Witch sit up higher? (Her high seat indicates her high status)

7. Why is it significant that the White Witch's sledge is pulled by reindeer? (This image, traditionally associated with Santa Claus, is a cruel reminder that it is never Christmas.)

8. Why can't Edmund get enough Turkish Delight? (It is a magical candy that creates rather than satisfies hunger.)

LITERARY ELEMENTS

9. Literary allusion: There is a looking glass on the wardrobe. What famous English children's fantasy does this remind you of? (This alludes to Lewis Carroll's tales of Alice in Through the Looking Glass. Through this image, Lewis pays homage to a writer who clearly inspired him. Consider reading a bit of this tale to the children one day.)

10. Simile: The Queen makes Edmund a hot drink out of magical drops on the snow: “Edmund saw the drop for a second in midair, shining like a diamond.” What figure of speech does Lewis use? (He uses a simile.)

PERSONAL RESPONSE

11. Why do you think Lucy cries when the other children doubt her story about Narnia?

12. In Narnia the children aren't sure at first whom to trust. Edmund introduces this idea because the White Witch had been so “nice” to him. Why can it be difficult to know whom to trust? Why doesn't Edmund notice that the White Witch's smile “isn't so nice?” Why doesn't he notice what's happening to him?

QUESTIONS TO TALK ABOUT

COMPREHENSION AND RECALL

1. Where is the Beavers' house? (It is in the middle of a dam.)

2. What will happen to the White Witch once two Sons of Adam and two Daughters of Eve come to rule at Cair Paravel? (The Witch's reign will come to an end and she will die.)

3. Who is Aslan? (He is the Lord of the whole wood.)

HIGHER LEVEL THINKING SKILLS

4. At the Beavers' house the children look up the river. Edmund notices two small hills that make him think of Turkish Delight and being king. Why? (The White Witch lives somewhere in the area between the two hills and thoughts of her hold the promise of rule and of more magical candy.)

5. What is the feeling of the meal the children eat at the Beavers' house? Look closely at the details. Why does each person feel “contentment” at the end of the meal? How does this sort of food compare to the effect of Turkish Delight? (The mood of their little house is snug and cozy; the food they eat is satisfying, unlike Turkish Delight.)

6. When the children learn of Aslan, they are filled with wonder and excitement, but Edmund “felt a sensation of mysterious horror.” Why? (Because Aslan sounds powerful, and Edmund is on the side of the White Queen.)

7. Is Father Christmas different from the way we think of Santa Claus? Why do the children feel “solemn” in his presence? (Father Christmas is strange and impressive-looking. He is not jolly, exactly, but “big and glad and real.”)

8. Outside the Queen's castle Edmund sees many animal statues, including a lion on whom he draws a mustache and spectacles, in order to make fun. Still, he doesn't “get any fun out of jeering at it.” What does this suggest about Edmund? (Edmund is probably not so bad at heart.)

9. Why does the Queen hate to hear Aslan's name? (She is afraid of his power.)

LITERARY ELEMENTS

10. Foreshadowing: How do we get the idea that a battle is coming? (Father Christmas gives the children gifts that foreshadow a coming battle.)

11. Paradox: When the children see Aslan they understand that something can be “good and terrible at the same time.” How could this be? (Something good may need to be very powerful and impressive given that evil exists. This sort of apparent contradiction that contains a truth nonetheless is called a paradox.)

PERSONAL RESPONSE

12. In the story, Sons of Adam go before animals. Do you think human beings are more important than animals? Why or why not?

QUESTIONS TO TALK ABOUT

COMPREHENSION AND RECALL

1. Why does the Witch want to kill Edmund? (Without Edmund, four humans cannot be crowned at Cair Paravel. She is protecting her rule.)

2. What is the law about traitors according to the Deep Magic? (All traitors must be handed over for blood revenge or Narnia will perish.)

3. Why does Aslan allow himself to be killed? (He has exchanged his life for Edmund's.)

HIGHER LEVEL THINKING SKILLS

4. After Aslan and Edmund speak, Aslan brings him back to his siblings and says “... there is no need to talk to him about what is past.” What sort of talk does Aslan want the children to avoid? (Aslan guides the children away from blaming Edmund. Aslan's conversation with him is enough.)

5. When an ogre shaves Aslan, the crowd jeers at him. At first he looks different to Susan and Lucy, but moments later he appears “brave, and more beautiful, and more patient than ever.” Why does Aslan, even in such a terrible position, still look strong? (Because Aslan has inner strength and dignity.)

6. Why is it important that Edmund does a good job in the battle against the Witch? (Because it reassures us that he really understands that she is evil.)

7. When Aslan slips away, Mr. Beaver explains that you cannot hold Aslan down. He says, “He's wild, you know. Not like a tame lion.” Where in the story do we see evidence of the fact that Aslan is “wild?” (He likes to roar, and when he comes back to life, he loves running around.)

LITERARY ELEMENTS

8. Structural device: Why do you think the author has the characters return to the real world at the end of the book? (He ends the book in this way as a structural device to make the reader feel that the characters have come full circle.)

PERSONAL RESPONSE

9. How did you feel when Aslan died?

10. Explain what “fate” is and ask students if the children were “fated” to become Kings and Queens. Ask them if they believe in fate.

11. Which character did you like the best? Why?