The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that the plot and writing, although superior, are somewhat dated, and the art is small and simplistic. The language is simple but precise, and the main characters act valiantly to help save Narnia from the White Queen's enchantment (though one is initially caught under her sway). Contains bits of British culture and Christian allegory.
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Mark Nichol
Unlike the works of his friend and colleague J. R. R. Tolkien, author of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, C. S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia series does not stand up as well to the test of time. Written a half-century ago, this novel, occurring in an imaginary realm visited by children, is full of storyteller's asides and precious English children, and features an odd mix of childish adventure and bloody battles.
The devout Lewis was an imaginative writer--advanced adolescent readers may be intrigued by his odd but vivid Space Trilogy, which begins with Out of the Silent Planet -- but here his sometimes heavy-handed Christian allegory (Aslan sacrifices his life for the wayward Edmund and is resurrected) can get overwhelming: One particularly disturbing scene has the two girls witnessing Aslan being trussed, sheared, and beaten by evil, gloating creatures, a nod to the indignity suffered by Christ before his crucifixion.
Young children who are read this story may enjoy the fairy-tale aspects, but older kids who are not fans of fantasy may be put off by the almost laughable repetition of scenes in which the children are comforted by the sudden availability of tea, and the way the forces of good seem to have too easy a time of it in vanquishing their foes.
Other stories in the series are somewhat more fun -- try The Voyage of the Dawn Treader or The Magician's Nephew. Hans Christian Andersen's The Snow Queen shares plot elements, including the title character's villainy. An older child-centered adventure that is slow but more appealing is The Princess and the Goblin by George Macdonald, who was an important influence on Lewis.
From The Book
People who have not been to Narnia sometimes think that a thing could not be good and terrible at the same time. If the children had ever thought so, they were cured of it now. For when they tried to look at Aslan's face they just caught a glimpse of the golden mane and the great, royal, solemn, overwhelming eyes; and then they found they couldn't look at him and went all trembly.
Plot Summary:
Young siblings discover that a wardrobe in an old country house is a portal to the magical land of Narnia. There, Edmund meets the evil White Witch and is lured into betraying his siblings, but the plot fails.
The lion Aslan, lord of Narnia, returns to the land, heralding the end of a long, joyless winter, and the children, who continue to elude the witch's grasp, meet with him.
The witch demands an audience with Aslan and announces that Edmund, exposed as a traitor, must die. Unknown to the others, Aslan agrees to take Edmund's place and submits to execution. However, he comes back to life and summons anarmy of woodland creatures and mythical characters in time to help Peter and the other children, including a repentant Edmund, defeat the witch's forces and bring peace to Narnia.
After years of ruling Narnia, the children return through the wardrobe to find that time has stood still.
Related Books:
Other Books in This Series:
The Voyage of the DawnTreader
The Magician's Nephew
C. S. Lewis Also Wrote:
Out of the Silent Planet
Books with Similar Themes:
The Gammage Cup
The Hobbit
The Lord of the Rings
The Snow Queen
The Princess and the Goblin
| Content | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CS | adults | kids | ||
Sexual Content |
 |
|
|
|
ViolencePeter kills a wolf that attacks his sisters. The White Witch kills Aslan, though he is resurrected. A battle occurs, and combatants are killed or injured. The witch treats Edmund cruelly; the girls watch as her minions torment Aslan, who has allowed hims |
 |
|
|
|
Language |
|
|
|
|
Message |
|
|
|
|
Social BehaviorEdmund, said by his siblings to be difficult, resents his older brother and aids the witch to spite the other children. The gender roles among the children are traditional, as when the girls are told they must avoid getting involved in an impending battle |
 |
 |
|
|
Commercialism |
|
|
|
|
Drug/Alcohol/Tobacco |
|
|
|
|
