The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is the second book in The Chronicles of Narnia series by C.S. Lewis. It was published in 1950 and has since become a classic of children's literature. The story follows four siblings - Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy - who are sent to live in the countryside during World War II. While exploring their new home, Lucy discovers a magical wardrobe that leads her into the enchanted world of Narnia.
Lucy, the youngest, is berated for telling lies about a magical wardrobe by her brother Edmund, who is eventually captured by the White Witch for his own deceits). Thousands of magical creatures side with what is right and prepare to battle the evil witch. But Lewis' morality never comes off as heavy handed or didactic. The good humor of the talking animals found around every tree and cave in Narnia, and the rich descriptions of this new world, throw a cloak of majesty over the four British children's arguments and smallest minutiae of being a kid.
Tumnus clops by and drops his groceries in surprise at seeing a human a human, he soon recognizes, who is one of the four destined to overthrow the evil White Witch. Lewis dedicated the first book to his goddaughter Lucy Barfield and gave her name to the fictional Lucy Pevensie, who with her siblings Peter, Susan, and Edmund figures as a character in the series.
While exploring their new home, Lucy discovers a magical wardrobe that leads her into the enchanted world of Narnia. Narnia is a land frozen in perpetual winter, ruled by the White Witch. With the help of a talking faun named Mr.
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (The Chronicles of Narnia series)
Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy evacuate London during the Blitz of World War II to live in a Professor Kirke's house on the English countryside. One rainy, dull day, while playing hide and seek in the house, Lucy falls through the back of the wardrobe in which she chose to hide, and into a snowy forest clearing. A faun named Mr. Tumnus clops by and drops his groceries in surprise at seeing a human(a human, he soon recognizes, who is one of the four destined to overthrow the evil White Witch). Though Lucy returns to her brothers and sister with this regal news, they shrug her off as a liar. The four soon all stumble upon Narnia, and rise to the challenge of rallying the creatures of Narnia to battle for freedom.
The characters serve as metaphors for Lewis' strong convictions of good and evil (
Lucy, the youngest, is berated for telling lies about a magical wardrobe by her brother Edmund, who is eventually captured by the White Witch for his own deceits). Thousands of magical creatures side with what is right and prepare to battle the evil witch. But Lewis' morality never comes off as heavy handed or didactic. The good humor of the talking animals found around every tree and cave in Narnia, and the rich descriptions of this new world, throw a cloak of majesty over the four British children's arguments and smallest minutiae of being a kid.
While reading the book, put your children to work in the kitchen and have them come up with their own version of Turkish Delight (Brits: most Americans don't know of the candy! It's fun to see their versions from just the description in the book.). Readers can follow TLTWATW with the book's prequel, which was published later, The Magician's Nephew, as the sixth in the series, or the whole of the books in the Chronicles of Narnia series: Prince Caspian: The Return to Narnia, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, The Silver Chair, The Horse and His Boy, The Magician's Nephew, and The Last Battle. Kids who love adventure will eat up the whole series. Many will advance to J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy, which bears similar magical tones but clashing themes, as the two authors often exchanged and debated ideas.
Reviewed by : CH.
Themes : BATTLES AND WAR. FANTASY. MAGIC & MAGICIANS. WITCHES.
Tumnus, Lucy learns about the prophecy that states four human children will one day defeat the White Witch and restore Narnia to its true ruler, the lion Aslan. As the story progresses, Edmund betrays his siblings and aligns himself with the White Witch. The remaining children join forces with the talking animals of Narnia, including the beavers, and set out on a perilous journey to find Aslan. Along the way, they encounter various obstacles and have to make difficult choices. They meet other mythical creatures, such as the mythical lion Aslan, who sacrifices himself to save Edmund. However, he is resurrected and leads the forces of good in a climactic battle against the White Witch. In the end, the children fulfill the prophecy and defeat the White Witch. Aslan is crowned the rightful ruler of Narnia, and spring finally returns to the land. The children become the Kings and Queens of Narnia and rule for many years before returning to their own world. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe explores themes of bravery, sacrifice, faith, and the battle between good and evil. It is praised for its richly imaginative world and memorable characters. The book has been adapted into various film and television adaptations, further cementing its status as a beloved children's classic..
Reviews for "Narnia Through the Ages: Examining the Lion, Witch, and Wardrobe Series in Different Time Periods"
1. Emily - 2/5 stars - I was really disappointed with the Lion Witch Wardrobe series. I had heard so many good things about it, but I found the story to be incredibly slow and boring. The characters didn't capture my interest either, and I felt like there was a lack of depth to their development. Overall, it just didn't live up to the hype for me.
2. David - 1/5 stars - I don't understand why people love the Lion Witch Wardrobe series so much. The plot seemed disjointed and confusing, and I couldn't connect with any of the characters. The writing style also didn't engage me, and I found myself skimming through paragraphs just to get through it. It's a shame because I had high hopes for this series, but I was sorely disappointed.
3. Sarah - 2.5/5 stars - The Lion Witch Wardrobe series had an interesting premise, but it fell flat for me. The pacing was off, with some parts dragging on while others felt rushed. The dialogue also felt forced and unrealistic at times. Additionally, I didn't find the world-building to be very immersive, and I struggled to visualize the settings. Overall, it was an okay series, but I wouldn't recommend it to others.
4. Michael - 2/5 stars - I struggled to get through the Lion Witch Wardrobe series. The writing felt juvenile, and the story lacked complexity. I also didn't find the fantasy elements to be very imaginative, and I felt like I had read similar plots before. The characters were forgettable and I couldn't connect with any of them. Unfortunately, this series just didn't capture my attention or spark my imagination.