The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

Transcript of my PowerPoint presentation

Introduction
“I am almost inclined to set it up as a canon that a children's story which is enjoyed only by children is a bad children's story. The good ones last.” C. S. Lewis has certainly fulfilled his requirements for children’s literature. His Chronicles of Narnia have been in constant circulation for over 40 years. The seven books combine to create not only entertaining and engrossing fantasy, but also a penetratingly accurate spiritual allegory.

The Magician’s Nephew
Digory and his neighbor Polly stumble into another world by way of magic rings obtained from Digory’s uncle Andrew. The world is Narnia, and it is just being created by Aslan the lion. Aslan speaks into existence all the plants and animals of this new world, as Polly and Digory look on. But through Digory’s mistake, an evil witch enters the world with them, and she becomes destined to plague Narnia for all of its existence ever after.

The correlations between the Bible’s story of the garden of Eden and this beginning of Narnia are apparent. Aslan is presented as the son of the emperor across the sea, drawing comparisons to God and His Son, Jesus Christ. Aslan’s ultimate power and innate goodness, too, add to the allegorical nature of this book.

The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe
Four children, sent out of London during the air raids of the second World War, discover the way into Narnia through an enchanted cabinet. There, the entire world has been overtaken by the evil witch. With Aslan’s help, they conquer her and take back the land. Aslan establishes a kingdom and appoints the four children as rulers over it.

Here the polarization of the natures of the witch and Aslan is the central element of the book. She bears the qualities of Satan in the Bible, as she attempts to subvert and control all the inhabitants of Narnia. But Aslan’s death and resurrection, which redeem Narnia from the witch’s power, show his love and consequentially give a biblical parallel.

The Horse and His Boy
A slave boy from south of Narnia escapes his master upon a talking horse. He falls in the company of a runaway girl and they strike out towards Narnia. Along the way, they learn of a plot against Narnia, and so they ride to warn the rulers there of an impending attack.

This book is a detailed account of the ultimate purpose Aslan has for all events that occur in Narnia, reflecting a similar biblical principle. “For all things work according to good for those who are called according to His purpose.” The slave boy discovers that he was born into a kingly Narnian family, but lost at sea while an infant. Aslan saved him and took him to shore, placing him in the care of the man who would enslave him. But this was to be for a greater good, as the boy would eventually save his native land from destruction, because of his enslavement.

Prince Caspian
The kingship of Narnia falls into evil hands as Prince Caspian’s uncle rules the country. Caspian learns he is the rightful heir to the throne after his father’s death, not his uncle. Caspian gathers remnants of the old days of Narnia and wages war against his uncle. He calls for the four children from the previous story to assist him, and they prevail.

One of the more obscure but nonetheless intriguing points made by this story is that a person does not have to be known by what their family or people has done. They can rise above wrongful actions committed by those associated with them, and can rectify those.

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
Prince Caspian, now older, has undertaken a voyage to the unexplored far east. Three children end up joining him. They encounter many peculiar lands and peoples, rescuing stranded sailors and eventually reaching the end of the Narnian world.

The inner change of Eustace, one of the children, is a major plot twist. He begins the voyage ornery, prideful, and narcissistic, but ends a much humbler and subsequently mature boy. An encounter with Aslan (which provides an illustration to 2 Corinthians 5:17) revolutionizes Eustace’s worldview and inspires in him newfound nobility, humility, and the ability to think of others before himself.

The Silver Chair
Two children being bullied are suddenly cast into the world of Narnia. There a meeting with Aslan informs them of a task they must complete. They embark, traveling throughout Narnia and eventually rescuing Caspian’s son from the witch who had captured him 10 years before. This book largely deals with mistakes. Jill, one of the children, initially acts prideful and so wrecks the first portion of Aslan’s task. Caspian’s son Rilian is wooed by the evil witch, not heeding the warning of a friend. As Aslan says, “To know what would have happened…? No, nobody is ever told that.” However, the children are still able to finish the task successfully, and Rilian is liberated from her control at the end. Aslan shows that mistakes in the past can be worked through.

The Last Battle
An ape sets up a donkey in a skin as a false Aslan, tricking the peoples of Narnia. The king of Narnia implores Aslan for help, and he sends Jill and Eustace. They valiantly attempt to unveil the deception to the Narnians, but to no avail. The world is destroyed as the children look on. This book by far is the most allegorical. It depicts the last days of Narnia much as the last days of Earth are presented in the Bible. An antichrist appears, and a climactic struggle ends in the destruction of the world. Nevertheless, the faithful escape to Aslan’s country, to dwell forevermore.

Conclusion
It is hard to do justice to C. S. Lewis’ masterpiece. He wove so many spiritual threads into these books that one would have to take up nearly the length of the series to chronicle them all. Suitable writing that teaches as well as entertains is scarce.