The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Plot summaryThe story begins in 1940 during World War II, when four siblings—Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy Pevensie—are evacuated from London to escape the Blitz. They are sent to live with Professor Digory Kirke, who lives in a country house in the English countryside.
While the four children are exploring the house, Lucy looks into a wardrobe and discovers a doorway to a magical world named Narnia. There she meets a faun named Mr Tumnus. He invites her to have tea in his home. There he confesses he planned to report her to the pretend queen of Narnia, otherwise known as the White Witch but has thought better of it. Upon returning to our world, Lucy's siblings do not believe her story about Narnia. Her older brother Edmund enters the wardrobe and meets the White Witch, who befriends him and offers him magical Turkish delight which enchants him. She encourages him to bring his siblings to her in Narnia, with the promise that he shall rule over them. Edmund returns with Lucy to the Professor's house, having met her in Narnia. But after returning he lies to Peter and Susan: he denies Lucy's claim that Narnia lies behind the wardrobe.
Eventually all four of the children enter Narnia together while hiding in the wardrobe. They meet Mr. and Mrs. Beaver, who invite them to dinner. The beavers recount a prophecy that the witch's power will fall when two Sons of Adam and two Daughters of Eve fill the four thrones at Cair Paravel. The beavers tell of the true king of Narnia, a great lion named Aslan who has been absent for many years but is now "on the move again."
Edmund sneaks away to the White Witch. Her castle is filled with stone statues--enemies she has petrified. The beavers realize where Edmund has gone and abandon their home, leading the children to Aslan. As they travel, they notice that the snow is melting, indicating that the White Witch's spell is breaking. A visit by Father Christmas confirms this. Father Christmas gives the three children and the beavers presents. Peter receives a sword and shield, Susan a horn and bow, Lucy a vial of magical healing liquid, Mrs. Beaver a sewing machine and Mr. Beaver's dam was finally finished.
The children and the Beavers meet with Aslan and his army. Peter engages in his first battle, killing a wolf who threatens Susan.
The Witch approaches to speak with Aslan, insisting that according to "deep magic from the dawn of time" she has the right to execute Edmund as a traitor. Aslan speaks with her privately and persuades her to renounce her claim on Edmund's life. That evening, Aslan secretly leaves the camp, but is followed by Lucy and Susan. Aslan has bargained to exchange his own life for Edmund's. The Witch ties Aslan to the Stone Table and then kills him with a knife. The following morning Aslan is restored to life.
Aslan allows Lucy and Susan to ride on his back as he hurries to the Witch's castle. There he breathes upon the statues, restoring them to life. Peter and Edmund lead the Narnian army in a battle against the White Witch's army but are losing. Aslan arrives with the former statues as reinforcements. The Narnians rout the evil army, and Aslan kills the Witch.
The Pevensie children are named kings and queens of Narnia: King Peter the Magnificent, Queen Susan the Gentle, King Edmund the Just and Queen Lucy the Valiant. Several years later, now adults and mounted on horseback, the siblings go hunting for a White Stag. They see the lamppost and go towards it. Just beyond the lamppost, branches become coats. The siblings are back in the wardrobe and are children again. They reenter the Professor's house.
Summary
Not only do all the people, objects and events in the story seem to have symbolic meanings, but the plot and chronology of the story seem to portray the history, fall, and plan unfolding in the world as well. We all start out in an imaginary innocent world oblivious to the real picture of what is going on here, unless by faith, in Christ, who is the only Door =(The wardrobe) we enter into and are illuminated, revealing the kingdom of God. The best way to enter is as Lucy does in simple childlike faith, however, most enter kicking and resisting all the way, as Edmund, failing continually until the end when we meet Christ. Like the much theologically deeper "Pilgrim's Progress" by John Bunyan, not only do the Chronicles of Narnia help us understand individual struggles and events relative to the spiritual kingdom, but they give us an overview of history including apocalyptic events. The "Lion the witch and the wardrobe", after simply setting the stage, quickly moves to the central event of human history- the crucifixion of Jesus.(As capsulated in the "Passion of the Christ" by Mel Gibson).
Further, the chronology, paralleling the world, is one: Narnia exists and was here before our individual lives began, and it had likewise fallen into a long winter ruled by the forces of evil. Further, When we are saved, we enter in through the wardrobe of faith, we begin to understand and become part of what is unfolding. In this we realize, that the world was cursed, Christ (Aslan in the story) came, died for us and will come back again. This is so beautifully demonstrated when Aslan (Christ) has a gentle talk with Edmund (us) after Edmund repented, was rescued, and Christ knew he had to be sacrificed to save. The story also shows how we are to presently use the gifts God has given us in our war of faith (See Ephesians 6) against the rulers of darkness, and the great battle that will also occur at the end called the battle of "Armageddon" and the final victory of Christ.
The story definitely brings to the forefront, the importance of each of us choosing our sides, and standing for our faith to the end.
One more thought: To read the Chronicles of Narnia or view the film without appreciation or realization of the underlying meaning is a lot like the way many people go through life. However, according to scripture, for one to miss the meaning of life and God's plan of redemption has eternal consequences. This seems most clearly stated in Romans chapter one, where the Apostle Paul wrote concerning the wrath of God, what could be called the "Great indictment". Written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit it says that "The invisible things of God from the creation of the world are clearly seen, because they are understood by the things that are made- even His eternal power and Godhead so they are without excuse. Because when they knew him" (By all the things that He had made) "they glorified Him not as God neither were thankful, but became vain in their imaginations and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing themselves to be wise they became fools"
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Plot summaryThe story begins in 1940 during World War II, when four siblings—Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy Pevensie—are evacuated from London to escape the Blitz. They are sent to live with Professor Digory Kirke, who lives in a country house in the English countryside.
While the four children are exploring the house, Lucy looks into a wardrobe and discovers a doorway to a magical world named Narnia. There she meets a faun named Mr Tumnus. He invites her to have tea in his home. There he confesses he planned to report her to the pretend queen of Narnia, otherwise known as the White Witch but has thought better of it. Upon returning to our world, Lucy's siblings do not believe her story about Narnia. Her older brother Edmund enters the wardrobe and meets the White Witch, who befriends him and offers him magical Turkish delight which enchants him. She encourages him to bring his siblings to her in Narnia, with the promise that he shall rule over them. Edmund returns with Lucy to the Professor's house, having met her in Narnia. But after returning he lies to Peter and Susan: he denies Lucy's claim that Narnia lies behind the wardrobe.
Eventually all four of the children enter Narnia together while hiding in the wardrobe. They meet Mr. and Mrs. Beaver, who invite them to dinner. The beavers recount a prophecy that the witch's power will fall when two Sons of Adam and two Daughters of Eve fill the four thrones at Cair Paravel. The beavers tell of the true king of Narnia, a great lion named Aslan who has been absent for many years but is now "on the move again."
Edmund sneaks away to the White Witch. Her castle is filled with stone statues--enemies she has petrified. The beavers realize where Edmund has gone and abandon their home, leading the children to Aslan. As they travel, they notice that the snow is melting, indicating that the White Witch's spell is breaking. A visit by Father Christmas confirms this. Father Christmas gives the three children and the beavers presents. Peter receives a sword and shield, Susan a horn and bow, Lucy a vial of magical healing liquid, Mrs. Beaver a sewing machine and Mr. Beaver's dam was finally finished.
The children and the Beavers meet with Aslan and his army. Peter engages in his first battle, killing a wolf who threatens Susan.
The Witch approaches to speak with Aslan, insisting that according to "deep magic from the dawn of time" she has the right to execute Edmund as a traitor. Aslan speaks with her privately and persuades her to renounce her claim on Edmund's life. That evening, Aslan secretly leaves the camp, but is followed by Lucy and Susan. Aslan has bargained to exchange his own life for Edmund's. The Witch ties Aslan to the Stone Table and then kills him with a knife. The following morning Aslan is restored to life.
Aslan allows Lucy and Susan to ride on his back as he hurries to the Witch's castle. There he breathes upon the statues, restoring them to life. Peter and Edmund lead the Narnian army in a battle against the White Witch's army but are losing. Aslan arrives with the former statues as reinforcements. The Narnians rout the evil army, and Aslan kills the Witch.
The Pevensie children are named kings and queens of Narnia: King Peter the Magnificent, Queen Susan the Gentle, King Edmund the Just and Queen Lucy the Valiant. Several years later, now adults and mounted on horseback, the siblings go hunting for a White Stag. They see the lamppost and go towards it. Just beyond the lamppost, branches become coats. The siblings are back in the wardrobe and are children again. They reenter the Professor's house.
Summary
Not only do all the people, objects and events in the story seem to have symbolic meanings, but the plot and chronology of the story seem to portray the history, fall, and plan unfolding in the world as well. We all start out in an imaginary innocent world oblivious to the real picture of what is going on here, unless by faith, in Christ, who is the only Door =(The wardrobe) we enter into and are illuminated, revealing the kingdom of God. The best way to enter is as Lucy does in simple childlike faith, however, most enter kicking and resisting all the way, as Edmund, failing continually until the end when we meet Christ. Like the much theologically deeper "Pilgrim's Progress" by John Bunyan, not only do the Chronicles of Narnia help us understand individual struggles and events relative to the spiritual kingdom, but they give us an overview of history including apocalyptic events. The "Lion the witch and the wardrobe", after simply setting the stage, quickly moves to the central event of human history- the crucifixion of Jesus.(As capsulated in the "Passion of the Christ" by Mel Gibson).
Further, the chronology, paralleling the world, is one: Narnia exists and was here before our individual lives began, and it had likewise fallen into a long winter ruled by the forces of evil. Further, When we are saved, we enter in through the wardrobe of faith, we begin to understand and become part of what is unfolding. In this we realize, that the world was cursed, Christ (Aslan in the story) came, died for us and will come back again. This is so beautifully demonstrated when Aslan (Christ) has a gentle talk with Edmund (us) after Edmund repented, was rescued, and Christ knew he had to be sacrificed to save. The story also shows how we are to presently use the gifts God has given us in our war of faith (See Ephesians 6) against the rulers of darkness, and the great battle that will also occur at the end called the battle of "Armageddon" and the final victory of Christ.
The story definitely brings to the forefront, the importance of each of us choosing our sides, and standing for our faith to the end.
One more thought: To read the Chronicles of Narnia or view the film without appreciation or realization of the underlying meaning is a lot like the way many people go through life. However, according to scripture, for one to miss the meaning of life and God's plan of redemption has eternal consequences. This seems most clearly stated in Romans chapter one, where the Apostle Paul wrote concerning the wrath of God, what could be called the "Great indictment". Written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit it says that "The invisible things of God from the creation of the world are clearly seen, because they are understood by the things that are made- even His eternal power and Godhead so they are without excuse. Because when they knew him" (By all the things that He had made) "they glorified Him not as God neither were thankful, but became vain in their imaginations and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing themselves to be wise they became fools"