book review narnia lion witch wardrobe

A Summary and Analysis of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by CS Lewis

By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University)

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe , published in 1950, was the first of the seven Chronicles of Narnia to be published. The book became an almost instant classic, although its author, C. S. Lewis, reportedly destroyed the first draft after he received harsh criticism on it from his friends and fellow fantasy writers, including J. R. R. Tolkien.

How should we analyse The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe : as Christian allegory, as wish-fulfilment fantasy, or as something else? Before we embark on an analysis of the novel, it might be worth briefly recapping the plot.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe : summary

The novel is about four siblings – Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy Pevensie – who are evacuated from London during the Second World War and sent to live with a professor in the English countryside. One day, Lucy discovers that one of the wardrobes in the house contains a portal through to another world, a land covered in snow.

Soon after arriving there, she (quite literally) bumps into a faun (half-man, half-goat) named Mr Tumnus, who takes her to his house and gives her tea while he tells her about the land she has wandered into. Its name is Narnia, and it is always winter (but never Christmas) ever since the White Witch cast a spell over the land. Indeed, Tumnus confesses to Lucy that he should report Lucy’s presence in Narnia to the White Witch, but he can’t bring himself to do it. Instead, he helps her find her way back to the portal so she can return home.

When Lucy gets back and tells her three siblings about her adventure in Narnia, none of them believes her – although Edmund, intrigued, follows her into the wardrobe when she goes back there and finds himself in Narnia, where he meets the White Witch. She gives him Turkish Delight and he tells her about himself and his brother and sisters. She tells him she will make him a prince if he persuades his other siblings to come with him to Narnia.

However, when Edmund talks to Lucy about where they’ve been, and he learns that the White Witch is bad news, he denies that Narnia even exists when Lucy is telling Peter and Susan about it. He accuses her of lying. But eventually all four of them go through the wardrobe into Narnia. When Lucy takes them to visit Mr Tumnus, however, they find that he has been arrested.

The children are befriended by Mr and Mrs Beaver, from whom they learn more information about Narnia. There is a prophecy that when two boys and two girls become Kings and Queens of Narnia, the White Witch will lose her power over the land; this is why the White Witch was so keen to lure the children to Narnia, with Edmund’s help, so she can destroy them and ensure the prophecy does not come true. The Beavers also tell the children that Aslan, the great lion, is on the move, and that he is due to return.

Edmund slips away from them and goes to the White Witch, telling her everything he knows. She takes him to the Stone Table, where Aslan is due to reappear, and orders her servants (wolves) to track down Edmund’s siblings and kill them so the prophecy cannot come true. Mr and Mrs Beaver take the other three children to the Stone Table to meet Aslan.

The snow in Narnia is melting, and Father Christmas appears: proof that the White Witch’s spell over the land is losing its power. Father Christmas gives Lucy, Peter, and Susan presents which will help them in their quest. They arrive at the Stone Table and meet Aslan. The White Witch’s wolf captain Maugrim approaches the camp and attacks Susan, but Peter, armed with the sword Father Christmas gave him, saves his sister and kills the wolf.

The White Witch arrives, and she and Aslan discuss her right to execute Edmund for treason, invoking ‘Deep Magic from the Dawn of Time’. Edmund is spared, but that night the children witness the White Witch putting Aslan to death on the Stone Table. Aslan has gone willingly to his death, in order to save Edmund.

However, the children are surprised and relieved when, the following morning, Aslan comes back to life, citing ‘Deeper Magic from before the Dawn of Time’, which means that a willing victim who sacrificed himself in place of a traitor can be brought back from death. Aslan and the children march to battle against the Witch, with Aslan raising additional troops for his army by breathing on the stone statues in the White Witch’s castle courtyard: traitors she had turned to stone with her magic.

Many years pass. The four Pevensie children have grown into young adults, and have been Kings and Queens of Narnia (reigning jointly) for many years. One day, while they are out hunting the White Stag (which, when caught, can grant wishes), they ride to the lamppost where Lucy first met Mr Tumnus: the location of the portal leading to and from their (and our) world.

Without realising this, the four of them pass through the portal and find themselves back in the wardrobe in the professor’s house. They are children again, as they were before they left all those years ago: time hasn’t passed in our world while they have been away.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe : analysis

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is a classic children’s novel which looks back to both earlier fantasy fiction by Victorian writers like William Morris and George MacDonald (the latter a particular influence on C. S. Lewis) as well as pioneering children’s novels by E. Nesbit.

Indeed, the Pevensie children were partly inspired by Nesbit’s Bastable children, who feature in a series of her novels, including The Story of the Treasure Seekers . Nesbit, however, had also written portal fantasy novels (as had George MacDonald, such as his 1895 novel Lilith ) involving children leaving our world behind for a fantastical other world: see her novel The Magic City , for example.

Say ‘ Chronicles of Narnia ’ or ‘ The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe ’ and many people will say, ‘Oh, the C. S. Lewis book(s) that are Christian allegory, right?’

But C. S. Lewis didn’t regard them as allegory: ‘In reality,’ he wrote, Aslan ‘is an invention giving an imaginary answer to the question, “What might Christ become like if there really were a world like Narnia, and He chose to be incarnate and die and rise again in that world as He actually has done in ours?” This is not allegory at all.’

In short, Lewis rejects the idea that his Narnia books are allegory because, for them to qualify as allegorical, Aslan would have to ‘represent’ Jesus. But he doesn’t: he is Jesus, if Narnia existed and a deity decided to walk among the people of that world. We might think of this as something like the distinction between simile and metaphor: simile is like allegory, because one thing is like something else, whereas in metaphor, one thing is the other thing.

Aslan is not like Jesus (allegory): he is Jesus’ equivalent in Narnia. Perhaps this is a distinction without a difference to many readers, but it’s worth bearing in mind that if anyone should know what allegory is, it’s C. S. Lewis: he wrote a whole scholarly work, The Allegory of Love , about medieval and Renaissance allegory.

Readers might quibble over Lewis’s categorisation here, and decide that what he is outlining is a distinction without a difference (perhaps clouded by his Christianity, and his unwillingness to see his children’s books as ‘mere’ allegory for Christianity, but instead as something more direct and powerful).

But if we stick with mid-twentieth-century fiction and animals for a moment, we can find an example of unequivocal allegory: George Orwell’s Animal Farm (1945), which we have analysed here . Certainly, there are subtle differences between Orwell’s novel in which animal characters ‘stand in’ for human counterparts, and what Lewis is doing with Aslan in the Chronicles of Narnia .

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is, nevertheless, a novel in which Lewis draws on the Christian story of salvation through a godlike figure (Aslan’s sacrifice on the Stone Table, and subsequent resurrection, are clearly meant to summon the Crucifixion and subsequent Resurrection of Jesus Christ), in order to promote the Christian story. But what if we aren’t ‘sold’ on the Christian aspect of the story? Does the novel’s only value lie in its power as an allegory – or whatever term we might employ instead of allegory?

Part of the reason for the novel’s broader appeal, even in an increasingly secular age, is that it provides escapism and wish-fulfilment aplenty. The whole idea of a portal to another world symbolises the children’s literal escape from a dreary wartime world (where the danger of being bombed during the Blitz has given way to a rather dull life in the countryside with a professor) into a world of crisp snow, magic, and adventure.

Although The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe was published five years after the end of the Second World War, children in the early 1950s were still living through a time of rationing and austerity. Even that Turkish Delight that Edmund is given – his thirty pieces of silver to betray his siblings, of course – must have seemed like an almost unattainable treat to Lewis’s original readers.

Even the device with which the novel ends, by which the four children learn that during the years they have spent in Narnia, no time has passed back home, recalls the force of a powerful dream whereby we feel we have ‘lived’ an intense, and intensely long, experience only to wake up and discover it’s only the next morning after all.

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5 thoughts on “A Summary and Analysis of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by CS Lewis”

Fascinating post. Curious that a modern counterpart Philip Pullman loathes and detests the works of C S Lewis.

Read it as a kid, and remains a favorite. As a kid, I never saw the Jesus connection, it wasn’t until I was an adult that I realized it. I love Turkish delight and can understand why Edmund was so tempted. I enjoyed this post.

I think this story must have combined with The Stream that stood Still and Alice in Wonderland to give me the inspiration for my new “Penny ” books as these are also a portal to another land stories with a time slip. Instead of a Christian background I have an ecological one but hope children will find them just as exciting.”Penny down the Drain” is out now and “Penny and the Poorly Parrot,” ( inspired by the pandemic) will be followed by “Penny and The Creeping Weed.” Amazon seem determined to ignore a self published author but I shall renew my marketing efforts with book 2 after the lockdown.

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You’re absolutely right to point out that this isn’t allegory. It is a fictional story featuring Jesus in another world setting which is exactly what Lewis does with the ‘Out of the Silent Planet’ trilogy too – where he attempts to move the traditional Earth-centric ideology of the Christian world into our solar system. How would Christ behave with aliens, is the question Lewis poses there.

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Book Review | The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

Without a doubt, reading it with little people listening has reawakened me to the magic of C.S.Lewis’ simple sounding tale, as well as to the layered depths within each. Indeed, reading the stories with my girls (ages 5 and 8) has shown me how the story plays for the target audience. These are stories written for children, and yet, it’s often clear that Lewis, for all his efforts sometimes seems to forget who his audience is. But has he? Or is he, like a master teacher, layering multiple elements into his tale to allow each student to learn what he, or she, is ready to learn? Even as my girls lean forward eagerly as the Stone Table cracks and squeal in excitement as Aslan reappears, I see another lesson about Deeper Magic, the Emperor Beyond the Sea, the power of Aslan’s breath on stone animals, and so many other plot points. They are only story–until they are not, until they are metaphor of something closer to home, closer to the transcendent.

So while my daughters hear story about an evil witch, an heroic lion, and an adventure to another world, I hear a parable about our journey here to Earth, a place where we learn and grow, face our fears and demons, and, ultimately, are redeemed by an act of sacrifice by one who is both innocent and does not merit the stripes he bears on our behalf. It’s a multi-tiered story, one which unfolds only as look for the layers.

In short, I loved rereading what was only a straightforward adventure to me as a boy and finding, again, meaning that is not exactly hidden so much as in a language I had not yet learned to understand. Does nostalgia and resonance from my childhood experience play a part in this? Without a doubt–but I somehow wonder if this is exactly what Lewis was playing on as he wrote The Chronicles of Narnia . It is not a new story of his own invention; rather, it is a story as old as the Christianity that Lewis had discovered late in his own life and for which Lewis was an ardent apologist. His power was in finding ways to make the lessons of the gospel come alive to a world that no longer spoke the language of the Old and New Testaments, and yet needed them still.

I was surprised at the depths in The Magician’s Nephew , and The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe did not disappoint either. It was more than an added bonus that my littles enjoyed the story for its ability to excite their imaginations, and I look forward to reading The Horse and His Boy  with them soon.

Four adventurous siblings—Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy Pevensie—step through a wardrobe door and into the land of Narnia, a land frozen in eternal winter and enslaved by the power of the White Witch. But when almost all hope is lost, the return of the Great Lion, Aslan, signals a great change . . . and a great sacrifice.

Journey into the land beyond the wardrobe! The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is the second book in C. S. Lewis's classic fantasy series, which has been captivating readers of all ages for over sixty years. This is a stand-alone novel, but if you would like journey back to Narnia, read The Horse and His Boy , the third book in The Chronicles of Narnia .

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The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe: The Chronicles of Narnia | Book Review

Book Review of  The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe: The Chronicles of Narnia The Children’s Book Review

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe: The Chronicles of Narnia

Written by C.S. Lewis

Ages: 8+ | 206 Pages

Publisher: HarperCollins | ISBN-13: 978-0060234812

What to Expect: Fantasy, Classic Literature, Adventure, Mythical Creatures, and Enchanted Landscapes.

C.S. Lewis’s timeless classic, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe , is a captivating tale that weaves together the magic of a hidden world, the trials of courage, and the ultimate triumph of good over evil. Initially inspired by the wartime circumstances that brought three young girls into Lewis’s care, the narrative unfolds as a fantastical escape into the enchanting land of Narnia.

The story revolves around four siblings – Peter, Edmund, Lucy, and Susan – who stumble upon a mysterious wardrobe in the professor’s old country house. What begins as a simple exploration transforms into a grand adventure as the wardrobe reveals itself to be a portal into the mystical realm of Narnia. Here, they encounter a world gripped by the icy reign of the malevolent White Witch, setting the stage for a timeless battle between good and evil. Lewis masterfully crafts an immersive experience, seamlessly blending fantasy elements with a touch of reality. The juxtaposition of the ordinary and the extraordinary enhances the story’s appeal, inviting readers of all ages into the magical escapade.

As each sibling grapples with their unique challenges and discovers inner reservoirs of strength, the character development is both poignant and relatable. Tension escalates as the plot unfolds, reaching a crescendo when the White Witch accuses Edmund of treachery, leading to a fateful encounter with the majestic lion, Aslan. A symbol of courage and nobility, Aslan becomes the linchpin in the siblings’ quest to liberate Narnia from the grips of eternal winter. Lewis skillfully imbues the narrative with moral lessons, seamlessly interwoven with the unfolding events laden with suspense, offering a gripping climax that leaves readers on the edge of their seats.

The enduring appeal of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe lies in its ability to resonate with readers on multiple levels—the narrative not only entertains with its magical escapades but also imparts timeless wisdom about the triumph of virtue over vice. Profound themes and well-crafted characters make it a literary gem that continues to captivate readers across generations.

In conclusion, C.S. Lewis’s The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe stands as a testament to the enduring power of storytelling. Its seamless blend of fantasy and reality, coupled with rich character development and moral depth, ensures that the tale remains a cherished classic. Whether it’s your first journey into Narnia or a nostalgic return, this enchanting narrative promises an unforgettable adventure that transcends time and captivates the heart.

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About the author.

Clive Staples Lewis was one of the intellectual giants of the twentieth century and arguably one of the most influential writers of his day. He was a Fellow and Tutor in English Literature at Oxford University until 1954 and was unanimously elected to the Chair of Medieval and Renaissance Literature at Cambridge University, a position he held until his retirement.

Lewis wrote more than thirty books, allowing him to reach a vast audience, and his works continue to attract thousands of new readers every year. His most distinguished and popular accomplishments include Mere Christianity , Out of the Silent Planet , The Great Divorce , The Screwtape Letters , and the universally acknowledged classics The Chronicles of Narnia . To date, the Narnia books have sold over 100 million copies and have been transformed into three major motion pictures

What to Read Next if You Love The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe: The Chronicles of Narnia

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Bianca Schulze reviewed  The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe: The Chronicles of Narnia . Discover more books like  The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe: The Chronicles of Narnia by reading our reviews and articles tagged with Fantasy , Classics , Fairy Tales , Folklore , and Myths .

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Bianca Schulze is the founder of The Children’s Book Review. She is a reader, reviewer, mother and children’s book lover. She also has a decade’s worth of experience working with children in the great outdoors. Combined with her love of books and experience as a children’s specialist bookseller, the goal is to share her passion for children’s literature to grow readers. Born and raised in Sydney, Australia, she now lives with her husband and three children near Boulder, Colorado.

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THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE

From the chronicles of narnia series , vol. 1.

by C.S. Lewis & illustrated by Pauline Baynes ‧ RELEASE DATE: Nov. 6, 1950

Although metaphysical rumblings may disturb adults, this wily symbolism-studded fantasy should appeal to children of an imaginative turn. While exploring an old English mansion, the four children—Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy—discover through passing into a wardrobe, the strange land of Narnia, where it is winter without ever becoming Christmas. The children soon are swept up in the terror of the rule of the White Witch, fighting with the other subjects—all animals—and the glorious Lion, Asian, who brings spring and hope with him. In spite of the White Witch's terrific enslavement of Edmund, her horrid power, which changes living things to stone, and the sacrificial death of Aslan, the forces of light win, the children are made kings and queens, and Asian returns to life. The plot thickens to a pretty heavy pudding at the end, but the prose is witty and the novel action is fast-moving. Not recommended for adults!

Pub Date: Nov. 6, 1950

ISBN: 978-0-06-171505-1

Page Count: -

Publisher: Macmillan

Review Posted Online: April 9, 2012

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 1950

CHILDREN'S RELIGIOUS FICTION

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by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow ; illustrated by Ebony Glenn ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 3, 2018

With a universal message of love and community, this book offers a beautiful representation of a too-often-overlooked...

From a debut author-and-illustrator team comes a glimpse into a young American Muslim girl’s family and community as she walks around in “Mommy’s khimar,” or headscarf.

The star of this sunny picture book is a young girl who finds joy in wearing her mother’s khimar, imagining it transforms her into a queen, a star, a mama bird, a superhero. At the core of the story is the love between the girl and her mother. The family appears to be African-American, with brown skin and textured hair. The girl’s braids and twists “form a bumpy crown” under the khimar, which smells of coconut oil and cocoa butter. Adults in her life delight in her appearance in the bright yellow khimar, including her Arabic teacher at the mosque, who calls it a “hijab,” and her grandmother, who visits after Sunday service and calls out “Sweet Jesus!” as she scoops her granddaughter into her arms. Her grandmother is, apparently, a Christian, but “We are a family and we love each other just the same.” The illustrations feature soft pastel colors with dynamic lines and gently patterned backgrounds that complement the story’s joyful tone. The words are often lyrical, and the story artfully includes many cultural details that will delight readers who share the cheerful protagonist’s culture and enlighten readers who don’t.

Pub Date: April 3, 2018

ISBN: 978-1-5344-0059-7

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Salaam Reads/Simon & Schuster

Review Posted Online: Feb. 2, 2018

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2018

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ZARA'S RULES FOR RECORD-BREAKING FUN

From the zara's rules series , vol. 1.

by Hena Khan ; illustrated by Wastana Haikal ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 19, 2022

A charming contemporary story with a classic feel.

A 10 ¾-year-old girl weathers changes in her social circle—and her sense of self.

Dubbed “Queen of the Neighborhood” by beloved neighbor Mr. Chapman, who has sadly left Maryland for balmy Florida, Zara is apprehensive when a family with two kids moves into his house, potentially upsetting the delicate social balance. Readers familiar with Khan’s Zayd Saleem, Chasing the Dream books, set a few years after this series opener, will recognize the bustling Pakistani American Muslim household. Assertive, organized Zara and rambunctious 7-year-old Zayd live with their Mama and Baba; the siblings’ grandparents and uncle are integral parts of their daily lives. Zara and Zayd enjoy playing outside with their friends—Black sisters Jade and Gloria, White Alan, and Chinese American Melvin. Mr. Chapman always said that Zara knew how to “rule with grace and fairness,” but new arrivals Naomi and Michael, Jewish kids who are eager to engage socially, put this to the test. When Jamal Mamoo, Mama’s brother, brings over his Guinness World Records book, Zara decides that becoming a world-record holder is the boost her social status needs. Her humorous (and futile) attempts to make her mark ultimately lead her to being a more patient and understanding big sister and more flexible and supportive companion to friends old and new. Strong pacing, fluid prose, engaging hijinks, and heartwarming scenes of family life and outdoor play are complemented by expressive illustrations.

Pub Date: April 19, 2022

ISBN: 978-1-5344-9759-7

Page Count: 144

Review Posted Online: July 12, 2022

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2022

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Book Review

The lion, the witch and the wardrobe — “the chronicles of narnia” series.

• Adventure , Christian Fiction , Fantasy

Readability Age Range

• HarperCollins Children's Books, a division of HarperCollins, is the publisher

Year Published

This book has been reviewed by Focus on the Family’s marriage and parenting magazine . It is the first book in “The Chronicles of Narnia,” (but not chronologically). Although it was written first, the events in The Magician’s Nephew , another book in this series, chronologically take place before the events in this book.

Plot Summary

Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy Pevensie are sent to live in Professor Kirke’s home in the English countryside during Word War II. As the children explore the house, Lucy discovers an old wardrobe in a spare room. The wardrobe is actually a passage to Narnia, a world filled with magic. Lucy goes through the wardrobe and meets a goat-legged man named Mr. Tumnus. She learns that Narnia is ruled by the evil White Witch who keeps Narnia under an eternal winter.

When Lucy returns to Professor Kirke’s house, she discovers that though she spent hours in Narnia, no time has passed in her world. Her siblings do not believe her story about Narnia because the wardrobe’s portal doesn’t work when they try to go through it. A few days later, when the children are playing hide-and-seek, Lucy hides in the wardrobe, and Edmund follows her into Narnia. Edmund meets the White Witch, who introduces herself as the Queen of Narnia. The Witch feeds Edmund an enchanted form of Turkish delight and asks him to bring his brother and sisters to her.

Edmund and Lucy return home, but Edmund lies about having been to Narnia, which deeply hurts Lucy. Peter and Susan seek advice from Professor Kirke, who tells them that Lucy may be telling the truth about finding a magical country. When Professor Kirke’s housekeeper gives a tour of the house, all four children hide in Lucy’s wardrobe and are able to enter Narnia together. They find Mr. Tumnus’ home empty and read a notice saying he’s been arrested for high treason against the White Witch. The children want to help Mr. Tumnus, but a talking animal named Mr. Beaver tells them they are in danger and must come with him to safety. At the Beavers’ dam, the children are told that Aslan the Lion, the true king of Narnia, has been seen and that he will put a stop to the White Witch’s evil rule. The children also learn that they will play a part in the Witch’s downfall because a prophecy says that when four humans sit in the thrones at the castle of Cair Paravel, the Witch will die.

Edmund runs away from his siblings to meet the White Witch, and the Beavers take the remaining children to a hiding place to protect them from her. The next morning, Father Christmas arrives at their new hiding place and gives the children presents. He says the Witch’s magic is weakening. When Edmund reaches the Witch’s house, she is angry that he has come alone until he tells her that his brother and sisters are at the Beavers’ house. The Witch dispatches wolves to kill everyone at the Beavers’ house, but they find no one there. The Witch takes Edmund with her as she journeys to an ancient landmark called the Stone Table. As they travel, the eternal winter thaws into spring. Meanwhile, the other Pevensies reach the Stone Table where Aslan and a large group of Narnians welcome them. A wolf sent by the White Witch attacks the company, and Peter kills it with his sword.

The White Witch decides to kill Edmund, but a rescue party sent by Aslan saves Edmund and brings him back to the Narnians at the Stone Table. The White Witch demands that Aslan allow her to kill Edmund because traitors are her lawful victims. That night, Susan and Lucy wake and find Aslan leaving the Narnian camp. They follow him. Aslan goes to the White Witch’s camp, where she and her servants mock, then tie up Aslan before killing him. Susan and Lucy are heartbroken, but rejoice when Aslan comes to life again the next day. Aslan takes the girls to the Witch’s castle, where he breathes on the stone statues, including the one of Mr. Tumnus, and restores them to life. Aslan leads the resurrected Narnians to the battlefield where the Witch fights Peter’s army. Aslan kills the Witch, the good Narnians win the battle and the four Pevensies are taken to Cair Paravel to be crowned. The children rule Narnia until they are adults. A hunting trip through the woods leads them back into their own world, where no time has passed and they are children again. Professor Kirke tells them they will all return to Narnia someday, but not through the wardrobe.

Christian Beliefs

Aslan is a mighty lion, and his character is representative of Jesus Christ. Simply hearing Aslan’s name creates a different, powerful sensation in each of the children: It horrifies Edmund, makes Peter feel brave, comforts Susan and gives Lucy hope. Aslan is called King, Lord and the son of the Emperor-beyond-the-Sea . He is killed in Edmund’s place and is resurrected the following day.

Some old books in Professor Kirke’s house are said to be bigger than a Bible. When Mr. Tumnus is first seen carrying some packages, Lucy thinks he looks like he’s been Christmas shopping. Tumnus emphasizes that one of the worst things about the constant winter is that the White Witch prohibits Christmas.

Human children are called either Sons of Adam or Daughters of Eve. Mr. Beaver exclaims, “Lord love you.”

Other Belief Systems

Mr. Tumnus is a faun, a demigod creature from Roman mythology. Two of the titles on Mr. Tumnus’ bookshelf are “The Life and Letters of Silenus” (the Roman god of wine) and “Nymphs and Their Ways.” Tumnus tells Lucy stories that involve figures from Greek and Roman mythology. At the Stone Table, the children see centaurs, a bull with a human head and a unicorn.

The White Witch’s magic keeps the seasons from changing. She works magic through her wand and can make objects appear by pouring drops of magic liquid into the snow. The Turkish delight she produces for Edmund is enchanted to make him desperate for more. Mr. Beaver says the Witch is a descendant of a Jinn named Lilith who was Adam’s first wife, and the other side of her family are giants. When the Witch summons her army, she lists giants, werewolves, ghouls, boggles, ogres, minotaurs, cruels, hags and specters as allies.

The implication is that the trees in Narnia are conscious. Mr. Tumnus says that some trees are spies for the White Witch, and Mr. Beaver says that the trees are always listening. Some would be willing to betray the children.

Professor Kirke suggests that many other worlds besides Earth exist, each with its own separate flow of time. Father Christmas (Santa Claus) exists in Narnia. It’s implied that the four children enter the wardrobe together because some element of magic in Professor Kirke’s house wants them to go to Narnia. Susan wonders if the resurrected Aslan is a ghost. The White stag is supposed to give wishes to anyone who catches him.

Authority Roles

The Pevensies’ parents are rarely mentioned. When Lucy is distraught, she tells her siblings that they can write to their mother and tell her about the situation but she won’t change her mind about Narnia being real. Peter says that Professor Kirke will write to their father if he thinks Lucy is in need of medical attention.

Professor Kirke is likable, and the children are fond of him. He lets them do whatever they want in his house. When Peter and Susan believe Lucy is mentally unstable, they go to Professor Kirke to explain their situation and ask for advice. He listens without interruption and asks them questions about Lucy and Edmund to help them determine which child is telling the truth.

Mrs. Macready is Professor Kirke’s housekeeper. She dislikes children and tells the Pevensies to stay out of her way when she is leading a tour of guests through Professor Kirke’s house.

Peter is the substitute head of his family. He’s an enthusiastic advocate of exploring and having adventures. He is willing to believe Lucy when she first mentions Narnia, but when she’s seemingly proven wrong, he advises her to stop playing her practical joke. When Edmund persists in mocking Lucy, Peter angrily corrects him, and his harsh response makes Edmund resentful. Peter is disgusted with Edmund when he discovers that his brother has been lying. Peter acknowledges to Aslan that his disapproval and anger may have pushed Edmund into further wrongdoing. Peter kills a wolf that is attacking his sisters, and later leads an army against the White Witch. When he grows to adulthood, he is described as a great warrior.

Susan takes on a motherly role, and Edmund accuses her of acting like their mother when she tells him it is past his bedtime. She asks Peter and Edmund to stop arguing and is motivated to keep her siblings safe and comfortable. Susan recommends that they leave Narnia at the first sign of danger, but she eventually agrees that they must stay to help Mr. Tumnus. As an adult queen of Narnia, she is gracious and gentle.

Edmund resents Peter’s and Susan’s attempts at leadership, and since he only has authority over Lucy, he corrects her frequently. The narration calls him spiteful, and he doesn’t seem to tire of hurting Lucy’s feelings. Edmund dislikes his lack of power and is vulnerable to the White Witch’s offer to make him a prince over Narnia. Peter believes that Edmund enjoys bullying anyone smaller than himself. After his rescue from the White Witch, Edmund destroys her wand in battle. As an adult, Edmund is more solemn and quiet than Peter and has a reputation for being wise.

Mr. Tumnus is an adult faun, and he convinces Lucy to come to his house and have tea with him. He feeds her, entertains her with Narnian stories and plays on a magic flute to put her to sleep. The White Witch hired Mr. Tumnus to kidnap human children and bring them to her. Mr. Tumnus doesn’t want to betray Lucy and repents for his actions. Mr. Tumnus says his own father would not have worked for the White Witch.

The White Witch currently rules Narnia. She does not value the lives of those she rules and frequently turns her subjects into stone statues.

Mr. and Mrs. Beaver act as advisers and guides to the children. They offer their hospitality, serve the children supper and shepherd them to safety.

Profanity & Violence

Queer is used to describe something unusual. Peter often calls Edmund a beast , and Edmund says his siblings are prigs. Hang it all, shut up, by Jove, and brat are also used.

Mr. Tumnus says that if the White Witch finds out he helped Lucy, she will cut off his tail, saw off his horns, pull out his beard and maybe even turn him into stone. Father Christmas gives Peter, Susan and Lucy weapons but tells the girls they are not meant to fight in the upcoming battle. The girls must only use their weapons to defend themselves. Aslan pointedly tells Peter to wipe the blood off his sword after killing the wolf. During the battle, Edmund is wounded and covered with blood.

Sexual Content

Discussion topics.

Get free discussion questions for this book and others, at FocusOnTheFamily.com/discuss-books .

Additional Comments

Alcohol: Mr. Tumnus says that in times past, Bacchus would come to the Narnian woods, and the streams would turn to wine. Mr. Beaver drinks beer at dinner and smokes a pipe.

Drugs: The Witch’s Turkish delight has an addictive effect on Edmund, but it never satisfies him. It is said that if people have enough Turkish delight, they will continue eating it until they die from overindulgence.

Slang: Some of the British slang and idioms may be difficult for American readers to understand at first glance.

Safety: The book notes on four separate occasions that children should never go inside a wardrobe and shut the door behind them. When Edmund shuts the wardrobe door, the book again mentions that this is a very unwise idea, which could help younger readers avoid locking themselves inside closets while trying to reach Narnia.

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Book reviews cover the content, themes and worldviews of fiction books, not their literary merit, and equip parents to decide whether a book is appropriate for their children. The inclusion of a book’s review does not constitute an endorsement by Focus on the Family.

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The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis - review

Four children – Lucy, Peter, Susan and Edmund all enter Narnia – a magical world where animals talk and the White Witch who reigns as Queen makes it always winter and never Christmas. They enter at different times, but from the same place – the old Wardrobe. Lucy enters first and encounters the Faun who is in the pay of the White Witch and tries to kidnap her. Edmund, who enters second, finds the White Witch and thinks she's kind and caring, only to later discover that she is a cruel, evil and untrustworthy woman. Susan and Peter enter together and find Lucy and Edmund. They all meet Mr. and Mrs. Beaver who invites them to lunch at their cottage. During lunch they realize that Edmund (who had fought and was angry with the other three) had left to join forces with the White Witch whom he believed would make him Prince. The Beavers along with the three children set off on a long and perilous journey to find Aslan – the King and Lord of Narnia – and rescue Edmund. Together, the children join forces with Aslan's army against the heartless and wicked White Witch.

I loved how Lewis created Narnia, a land of magical creatures and adventure. Lewis describes his characters, writing about them in the form that children aged nine and above, and even some adults would enjoy. I liked Lucy best because she is a curious, truthful and kindhearted girl whom I could relate to. This book taught me two important lessons; that looks can be deceiving and that two wrongs don't make a right. Lewis has a clear and vivid writing style, which makes it easy for the reader to follow and remain engrossed. My favourite part in the book was when Aslan was un-stoning the statues and everything came to life. It made me feel as if all the un-stoned animals were right there in front of me, beckoning me to join them. I now understand why The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe is a children's classic. It is a must read for us all!

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Emerging Scholars Blog

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Review: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe

Gregory Rummo has shared several reviews of C.S. Lewis books on the blog this summer. This is his last, the first of C.S. Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia. Spoiler Alert : Because the book is familiar to many, Rummo includes discussion of the plot outcome. If you are new to the Narnia stories, you may wish to refrain from reading this review until after you’ve read the book.

The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe is the first [1] of C. S. Lewis’s seven-part series, The Chronicles of Narnia . It is a fantasy story about four siblings, Lucy, Susan, Edmund and Peter Pevensie who are sent to the countryside to an estate of an eccentric professor to escape the bombings in London during the Second World War. Upon arrival, they meet Mrs. Macready, the housekeeper who obviously dislikes children. After an uncomfortable introduction, the children are warned not to bother the professor. They set out to explore their new surroundings by playing a game of hide and seek. Lucy, the youngest hides in a wardrobe among hanging fur coats. As she backs up, deeper into the wardrobe, the coats slowly become snow-covered pine trees. She ultimately finds herself standing in snow next to a lamppost in another world, which she soon learns is called Narnia. She meets Mr. Tumnus, a faun, who addresses her as “daughter of Eve.” He takes her to his home in a cave where, over tea and a light snack, he explains that Narnia is under the spell of the White Witch and it is always winter but never Christmas. He warns her that he is under orders from the White Witch to report sightings of any children (sons of Adam or daughters of Eve). Lucy returns to the lamppost, escorted by Mr. Tumnus. She finds the portal from Narnia back into the wardrobe, emerging through the doors mere seconds after leaving, virtually no time having elapsed in her world. 

None of the other three siblings believe Lucy, who shortly ventures back. Her younger brother Edmund follows her and he meets the White Witch, who offers him a steaming cup of some beverage to warm him along with his favorite candy, Turkish Delight, in exchange for information about his brothers and sisters and the promise to bring them back with him. When Lucy meets Edmund, she warns him what Mr. Tumnus told her about the White Witch, that she is evil— “a perfectly terrible person,” with no right to call herself the Queen of Narnia and that she is hated by all and capable of turning people “into stone and do all kinds of horrible things” (43). [2] Edmund plays dumb and the two go back through the wardrobe portal.

Upon their return, despite Edmund now having been in Narnia, he accuses his younger sister of making it all up. Edmund’s worst character traits have been magnified by his proximity to the White Witch. He has morphed into both a liar and a traitor [3] to his own family something that will later become an uglier betrayal. Peter accuses Edmund of bullying his younger sister similarly to the younger children he has bullied at school.

The four finally visit the professor for insight. He asks them why they would think their sister, Lucy, is lying since she has always told the truth in the past. But Peter and Susan are thinking something worse, that Lucy has gone mad. The professor however remains open to there being another world around the corner and explains it could exist in a temporal time warp.

The mansion was such a unique place it had become a tourist attraction. During one such tour, led by the fearsome Mrs. Macready, the children, upon hearing the sound of approaching voices seemingly coming from all directions run into the Wardrobe Room to hide. In the ensuing panic, the voices growing louder and louder, they all enter the Wardrobe and close the door behind them. 

The children find themselves in Narnia, and they don the fur coats in the wardrobe to ward off the cold. They quickly discover that Mr. Tumnus has been arrested and at Lucy’s urging, they press on, determined to find out what happened. They are led by a bird to a place where they meet two Beavers who address them as Sons of Adam and Daughters of Eve. The Beavers explain that “Aslan is on the move,” but none of the children know who Aslan is or what this means but suddenly, “everyone felt quite different” (74).

Over dinner in the Beaver’s den, the children learn that Aslan is a lion and the King of Narnia, “the Lord of the whole wood” (85) and the “son of the great Emperor-beyond-the-sea” (86). As the discussion continues, the children learn that Aslan has returned and they are the only humans that have ever come to Narnia. But even more intriguing, they learn they are the fulfillment of a prophecy that one day, the four thrones in Cair Paravel, the castle by the sea, would be occupied  by two Sons of Adam and two Daughters of Eve, thus ending the reign of the White Witch. In the middle of this discussion, the children suddenly realize that Edmund, still under the Witch’s spell from having eaten the Turkish Delight, has slipped away. The others quickly surmise that he will tell the White Witch of their plans to meet Aslan at the Stone Table. Fearing that the White Witch will capture the children before they can fulfill the prophecy, Mr. Beaver warns, “We must all get away from here. There’s not a moment to lose” (94). And so, they flee the Beaver’s den, in search of Aslan.  

Meanwhile Edmund finds his way to the White Witch’s castle where, in the courtyard, he comes across stone statues of various figures including a lion. He steps over what he thinks is a stone statue of a large wolf only to realize too late it is merely asleep. It is Maugrim, the Chief of the White Witch’s Secret Police. Maugrim summons the White Witch who invites Edmund inside. “How dare you come alone!” (106) She screams at Edmund. He apologizes and then explains that he has indeed brought the others “quite close” (107). After revealing their location, he adds that he learned Aslan has returned. 

This is unsettling to the White Witch who summons her sledge and together with Edmund and one of her dwarves, takes off in search of the three other children. But her spell over Narnia has slowly begun to break. The snow begins to melt. More birds begin to sing. [4] There is a brief visit of Santa Claus to the three children bringing three gifts [5] that will shortly turn out to be very important. It is Christmas, albeit briefly, in Narnia once again.

Peter, Lucy and Susan press on until finally arriving at a great open green space where they can see the sea in the distance. And there in the middle of the hilltop is the Stone Table, an encampment close by, and a pavilion with tents and flags blowing in the breeze. Standing in the middle of it all is Aslan, surrounded by a myriad of his loyal followers.

A feast is prepared for the children during which Aslan reveals more details about the prophecy. Their conversation is interrupted by an attack from the White Witch’s wolves. Susan climbs a tree to escape from one of them, which Peter kills using the sword he received as a gift from Santa Claus. The rest of the wolves scatter and are followed by Aslan’s army knowing they will lead them back to the White Witch and allow Edmund to be rescued.

The rescue party returns to Aslan’s encampment with Edmund. Shortly after breakfast, Aslan and Edmund take a walk together and have a private conversation about something that is never revealed by any of the characters or the narrator. [6] “It was a conversation which Edmund never forgot” (152) and that Aslan cautioned there was “no need to talk to him about what is past” (153).

Edmund apologizes to his siblings and they forgive him. The meeting is interrupted by a leopard with a message from the White Witch who requests an audience with Aslan. She confronts Aslan telling him he simply cannot forgive Edmund because his sin was against her and she reminds Aslan, according to the Deep Magic written on the Stone Table, “Every traitor belongs to me [7] as my lawful prey and that for every treachery I have a right to a kill” [8] (155). Aslan agrees to go to the Stone Table to die in Edmund’s place as a substitutionary death, his blood for Edmund’s. [9] The White Witch agrees, thinking she has finally won. 

Aslan begins the journey to the Stone Table. Susan and Lucy sense there is a great weight of sadness that they don’t quite understand. They follow him through the woods until he confronts them. They offer him some comfort along the way. [10] Arriving at the Stone Table, the White Witch is waiting with her hordes of demon-like creatures. [11] They shear Aslan’s mane. They muzzle him. And the White Witch taunts,

And now who has won? Fool! Did you think by all this you would save the human traitor? Now I will kill you instead of him as our pact was and so the Deep Magic will be appeased… Understand, you have given me Narnia forever, you have lost your own life and you have not saved his. In that knowledge, despair and die. (170)

And with one swift motion, the White Witch plunges the knife into Aslan, killing him. After the hordes leave. Lucy and Susan [12] are left alone to attend to the limp body of Aslan. They kneel and kiss his cold face, and stroke his beautiful fur (172). It isn’t long before something magic begins to happen. The sky begins to lighten. Mice appear and begin to gnaw away at the cords that had held him fast to the Stone Table. One by one, the birds begin to sing. As the girls walk off heartbroken, they hear the sound of a huge crack. Turning to look back they see the Stone Table has been split in two and Aslan has disappeared. Suddenly Aslan appears in the light of the bright morning sun. “What does it all mean?” (178) Susan asks Aslan who explains,

Though the Witch knew the Deep Magic, there is a magic deeper still which she did not know. Her knowledge goes back only to the dawn of time. But if she could have looked a little further back, into the stillness of the darkness before Time dawned, [13] she would have read there a different incantation. She would have known that when a willing victim who had committed no treachery was killed in a traitor’s stead, the Table would crack and Death itself would start working backward.  

The girls and Aslan go to the White Witch’s castle and Aslan frees all the creatures who had been turned to stone. He then leads them all back to the encampment, where a fierce battle between the forces of good and evil is being waged. In the final battle scene, Aslan falls on the White Witch, destroying her once and for all [14] , as the few surviving enemy hordes flee in terror.   

The Pevensie children are crowned and with much fanfare, assume their thrones fulfilling the prophecy. Years later, as adults, while pursuing a White Stag through the woods, they come upon a place that is vaguely familiar. Dismounting, they discover the lamppost. And then they remember. Following the trail, they come across the portal back into the Wardrobe where they return to their world, as the children they were when they left.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is unmistakably a Christian allegory rich in Bible symbolism. It is a brilliant example of Lewis’s characterization of “a children’s story [being] the best art-form for something you have to say.” [15] We are all sons of Adam and daughters of Eve, living in an alternate reality—to us it is our temporal reality—yet there exists another dimension, [16] a spiritual realm that Scripture characterizes as a battle against “cosmic powers …and spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” Eph. 6:12. As the Earth “groans in travail” (Rom 8:22) for the return of Jesus so did Narnia for the return of Aslan. Edmund might be thought of as an archetype of Judas Iscariot for betraying his siblings for [30?] Pieces of Turkish Delight. But as far as we know, unlike Edmund, Judas was not offered an opportunity for repentance and forgiveness. Edmund is a better representation of humankind as we all are under the curse of sin. The White Witch is an archetype of Satan and Aslan of Christ. Aslan had committed no treachery and therefore could die in Edmund’s place, satisfying not only the Deep Magic but the “magic deeper still.” Lucy and Susan remind the reader that it was women who comforted Jesus along the way to the cross and who were the first to visit the empty tomb. The one major flaw in the allegory is that Edmund had sinned against the White Witch, yet, our sin is against Christ, not Satan.  

[1] Although Lewis wrote The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe first, he wanted The Magician’s Nephew to be read as the first installment of The Chronicles of Narnia .

[2] C. S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe , Harper Trophy, a Division of Harper Collins, New York, N.Y., 1950, 1978.

[3] “Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him.” Matt. 26:14-16

[4] “[F]or behold, the winter is past; the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.” – Song of Solomon 2:11-12

[5] “And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.” Matt. 2:11

[6] “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9

[7] “We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.” 1 John 5:19

[8] “Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.” Heb. 9:22

[9] “[T]he blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7b

[10] Reminiscent of the women on the Via Dolorosa who offered comfort to Jesus as he carried the cross. 

[11] The Disney adaptation captures this scene with horrifying imagery. I watched the movie after reading the book. It is a very disturbing scene and illustrative of the demonic forces that poured out their filth and horror on Jesus as he hung on the cross, bearing our sin—the other filth and horror: “He who knew no sin was made sin…”. 2 Cor. 5:21

[12] “And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, [the women] went to the tomb.” Mark 16:2

[13] “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1

[14] “And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea. And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them.” Rev. 20:7-9

[15] C. S. Lewis, “On Three Ways of Writing for Children,” Of Other Worlds, Essays and Stories , First Harvest, 1975.

[16] Gregory J. Rummo, “Are We Living in a Christ-Animating Simulation?” Minding the Campus , September 16, 2022.

About the author:

Gregory Rummo

Gregory J. Rummo, M.B.A., M.S. is a Lecturer of Chemistry in the School of Arts and Sciences at Palm Beach Atlantic University and an Adjunct Scholar at the Cornwall Alliance for the Stewardship of Creation. He is currently a DMin student at Knox Theological Seminary in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

• Gregory Rummo https://blog.emergingscholars.org/author/gregory-rummo/ Book Review: The Great Divorce
• Gregory Rummo https://blog.emergingscholars.org/author/gregory-rummo/ Book Review: The Problem of Pain
• Gregory Rummo https://blog.emergingscholars.org/author/gregory-rummo/ Summary and Reflection: A Life Observed
• Gregory Rummo https://blog.emergingscholars.org/author/gregory-rummo/ Book Review: According to Plan

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The Lion The Witch And The Wardrobe by CS Lewis (The Chronicles of Narnia: Book 2)

Heralded as one of the most enchanting and well written stories of our time The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe was the first published story about the magical land of Narnia.

Set in London in the Blitz in 1950 four children are sent out of the city and into the country while the war effort is fought by their parents. Staying with an old and mysterious professor the youngest Lucy finds herself falling through a wardrobe and stepping out into the magical world of Narnia. A land blanketed with snow and ice, inhabited by mystical and magical creatures Narnia has fallen under the spell of the White Witch, the self proclaimed queen of the land.

Lucy meets a faun by the name of Mr Tumnus and the pair become instant friends over tea. Unable to betray Lucy to the white witch the fawn returns Lucy to the wardrobe and makes her promise not to tell anyone about what she has seen. Upon her return she tells her sister and two brothers who refuse to believe her seemingly tall story.

Several days later Lucy returns to Narnia and is secretly followed by her spiteful brother Edmund. Losing Lucy in the snow, Edmund is found by the white witch who treats him kindly and makes him promise to return with his brother and two sisters with the promise of making him king and all the Turkish delight he can eat.

Several days later all four children find themselves forced into the wardrobe and into Narnia. They are met by Mr and Mrs Beaver who take them to meet Aslan, the great lion, who will assist the children in defeating the white witch and restoring peace to the land of Narnia.

For years the story of Wardrobe has been criticized and studied for its supposed religious allegory, stating that the tale of Aslan is the story of Jesus. Lewis always defended this stating that it was never written with any religious alignment or values set in his mind. If people choose to draw that conclusion from it they can.

Lewis has an outstanding ability to be able to write just enough to give the reader a description of the setting, scene and characters and leave the rest to your imagination. This is a technique that is hard to master and he always manages to pull it off seamlessly. This is one of the best things about his writing technique and makes Wardrobe a lot of fun to read and interpret.

Arguably one of the finest stories in English literature from the 20th Century C.S Lewis cemented himself as a master story teller and perfected a novel that would survive the test of time and still entertain and educate children and adults everywhere to this day. Alaisdair Dewar, 10/10

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is the second book in C.S. Lewis's Narnia Chronicles and was first published in the U.K. in 1950.

Lucy steps into the Professor's wardrobe - but steps out again into a snowy forest. She's stumbled upon the magical world of Narnia, a land of unicorns, centaurs, fauns ... and the wicked White Witch, who terrorises all. Lucy soon realises that Narnia, and in particular Aslan, the great Lion, need her help if the country's creatures are ever going to be free again.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is the most memorable book amongst the entire Narnia Chronicles. When someone is asked about CS Lewis this is the book that immediately springs to mind. Lewis’s Christian beliefs are in the book but I do not feel that this is overplayed. There is plenty of humour and courage and these inhabitants of Narnia will stay with the reader for a long, long time.

The is terrific fantasy for the young adult, young readers of both genders will be able to see a part of themselves in one of the four children. An essential read for the young fantasy reader. Floresiensis, 9.5/10

"We've fallen on our feet and no mistake. This is going to be perfectly splendid. That old chap will let us do anything we like," said Peter to Susan, Edmund and Lucy. The old professor certainly did seem to live in a world of his own, so the children set about finding their own entertainment in the huge old house set miles from anywhere in the heart of the country. First there was the thrilling business of exploring the house - long corridors, endless spare bedrooms, series of rooms lined with books, and one very bleak enormous room that had nothing in it but a very large wardrobe. This, thought Lucy, was worth examining. As she was pushing her way through the rows of coats hanging up inside, she felt something soft and powdery and extremely cold. Then she noticed something cold and soft falling on her, and she found she was standing in the middle of a wood at night-time with snow under her feet and snowflakes falling through the air. Lucy had arrived in the strange, magical land of Narnia.

10/10 An essential read for the young fantasy reader.

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Reviews by Alaisdair Dewar and Floresiensis

13 positive reader review(s) for The Lion The Witch And The Wardrobe

68 positive reader review(s) in total for the The Chronicles of Narnia series

CS Lewis biography

Amelia Reed from USA

The Chronicles of Narnia is one of my favorite book series. Both Disney and BBC did a great job making the books into movies, This is a great book for people who like Harry Potter, Hunger Games, Game Of Thrones, and many more, the books are also good for younger kids my rating is 100,000,000,000/10.

Alex from UK

I don't really like it but i would recommend it for kids.

Maria from Pakistan

I surely like this book. The lion,the witch and the wardrobe is the best book from the whole series of chronicles of narnia! The beginning might be a little dull....but you just hang in there for the end! This is a recommended book!😁😁

Holly from United Kingdom

You have to read this book it the best book you have ever read =)

Dolcie Walton from USA

I like the part where the Lion comes to help the country of Narnia and free the animals from the horrible witch I love the End. I decided to use this book for my project report.

Daniel from Israel

An instant classic. Original, captivating and so fun to read. Even the Christian subtexts (Aslan rises from his grave, etc.) doesn’t interfere with the greatness of the story and the wonderful timeless adventure.

Gabriella from Indonesia

I love this book so much!!! I'm using this book for my book project at school!!

Wendy from America

Great book.

Kelly Richards from Australia

Lovely use of words and has a interesting way of putting things together.

Lana from Notgoingtotellyou

Dogukan from London

This book is very exciting. With its up's and down's due to a little traitor, Edmund. The magical land of Narnia never get's old/boring and never will. The series will carry on, while the 4 children seek out new adventure's and also meet new characters. This book made me feel like I was actually in the beautiful world of Narnia and I hope C.S. Lewis will carry on writing these amazing books. :D

Howard from North America

This is the best book in the world! It never gets boring, even when you read it 1,000,000 times!

Sarah from Stroud

An absolute must-read in my opinion. The Christian analogy is strong but not over-riding. A victory for good over evil set in a magical land. Edmund is a little sneak but even he comes good in the end.

9.5 /10 from 14 reviews

All CS Lewis Reviews

• The Chronicles of Narnia
• The Magician's Nephew (The Chronicles of Narnia: Book 1)
• The Lion The Witch And The Wardrobe (The Chronicles of Narnia: Book 2)
• The Horse And His Boy (The Chronicles of Narnia: Book 3)
• Prince Caspian (The Chronicles of Narnia: Book 4)
• The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (The Chronicles of Narnia: Book 5)
• The Silver Chair (The Chronicles of Narnia: Book 6)
• The Last Battle (The Chronicles of Narnia: Book 7)

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The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (The Chronicles of Narnia) Mass Market Paperback – May 24, 2005

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There are a thousand stories in the land of Narnia, and the first is about to be told in an extraordinary motion picture, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe , from Walt Disney Pictures and Walden Media.

In the never-ending war between good and evil, The Chronicles of Narnia set the stage for battles of epic proportions. Some take place in vast fields, where the forces of light and darkness clash. But other battles occur within the small chambers of the heart and are equally decisive.

Journeys to the ends of the world, fantastic creatures, betrayals, heroic deeds and friendships won and lost -- all come together in an unforgettable world of magic. So join the battle to end all battles.

The second volume in The Chronicles of Narnia® The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

Narnia .... a land frozen in eternal winter ... a country waiting to be set free.

Four adventurers step through a wardrobe door and into the land of Narnia -- a land enslaved by the power of the White Witch. But when almost all hope is lost, the return of the Great Lion, Aslan, signals a great change ... and a great sacrifice.

• Book 2 of 7 Chronicles of Narnia
• Print length 194 pages
• Language English
• Grade level 3 - 6
• Dimensions 5.25 x 0.75 x 7.75 inches
• Publisher HarperCollins
• Publication date May 24, 2005
• ISBN-10 0060764899
• ISBN-13 978-0060764890
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• Publisher ‏ : ‎ HarperCollins (May 24, 2005)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Mass Market Paperback ‏ : ‎ 194 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0060764899
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0060764890
• Reading age ‏ : ‎ 6+ years, from customers
• Grade level ‏ : ‎ 3 - 6
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 6.4 ounces
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.25 x 0.75 x 7.75 inches
• #2,240 in Classic Action & Adventure (Books)
• #18,671 in Contemporary Literature & Fiction
• #35,807 in Classic Literature & Fiction

About the authors

CLIVE STAPLES LEWIS (1898-1963) was one of the intellectual giants of the twentieth century and arguably one of the most influential writers of his day. He was a fellow and tutor in English Literature at Oxford University until 1954 when he was unanimously elected to the Chair of Medieval and Renaissance English at Cambridge University, a position he held until his retirement. He wrote more than thirty books, allowing him to reach a vast audience, and his works continue to attract thousands of new readers every year. His most distinguished and popular accomplishments include Mere Christianity, Out of the Silent Planet, The Great Divorce, The Screwtape Letters, and the universally acknowledged classics, the Chronicles of Narnia. To date, the Narnia books have sold over 100 million copies and been transformed into three major motion pictures.

Pauline Baynes

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The chronicles of narnia: the lion, the witch and the wardrobe, common sense media reviewers.

Timeless classic faithfully rendered; some battle scenes.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Making the ultimate sacrifice to protect others is

The children begin fearful, and one brother is gre

Little people are cast in stereotypical roles as f

Opening scene of WWII bombing in London. A boy is

In one scene, a character calls their sibling an i

Professor smokes a pipe.

Based on C.S. Lewis' classic series The Chronicles of Narnia , this adaptation centers around four children who find the magical land of Narnia through the portal of an unexpected wardrobe. Though harrowing, this mythical tale includes some violent scenes, including a WWII bombing of London, children separated…

Positive Messages

Making the ultimate sacrifice to protect others is a major theme. Trust, redemption, and forgiveness are also vital to the story.

Positive Role Models

The children begin fearful, and one brother is greedy and selfish, but they learn to trust one another and work together. In Narnia, a fawn chooses staying loyal over deception. Aslan shows how sacrifice can serve a greater good. Narnia teaches the main characters courage, compassion, and strength.

Diverse Representations

Little people are cast in stereotypical roles as fantasy "dwarves" in the films, at first only seen as servants for the evil witch, but later included in the fight for Aslan. All human characters are White. The two main female characters are largely powerless and uninvolved in the central war that takes place in the film. Instead, they sit in mourning as the kingdom turns to chaos. The witch plays into stereotypical fears about women in power. While some mythical diversity exists among ogres, fawns, and warlocks, any deeper themes about inclusion, or of celebrating differences, are absent.

Did we miss something on diversity? Suggest an update.

Violence & Scariness

Opening scene of WWII bombing in London. A boy is imprisoned and abused by an evil witch. Often intense (but pretty bloodless) battles involving animals, mythical creatures, and kids who use bows and arrows, swords, and spears. Severe injuries and deaths. Animals are killed at close range, and a woman is mauled by a lion off camera. Children are separated from their mother.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

In one scene, a character calls their sibling an idiot and selfish.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Parents Need to Know

Based on C.S. Lewis' classic series The Chronicles of Narnia , this adaptation centers around four children who find the magical land of Narnia through the portal of an unexpected wardrobe. Though harrowing, this mythical tale includes some violent scenes, including a WWII bombing of London, children separated from their mother, an evil witch who imprisons and tortures people, and swordplay where some characters suffer severe injuries, sometimes dying. While not overt, the movie includes Christian imagery (a martyred, Christlike lion, a rebirth from magic water) and allegorical storylines. The children overcome their fears by learning the power of teamwork and bravery. Together they become a valiant force, led by compassion, and poised to rule. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

Where to Watch

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Community Reviews

• Parents say (1)
• Kids say (2)

Based on 1 parent review

What's the Story?

Based on C.S. Lewis ' beloved novel, THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE begins when the Pevensie children—Peter ( William Moseley ), Edmund (Skandar Keynes), Susan (Anna Popplewell), and Lucy ( Georgie Henley )—are sent away from the dangers of World War II to live in the country with Professor Kirke ( Jim Broadbent ). While playing hide and seek, the children discover a magical wardrobe that serves as a portal to Narnia, a kingdom under the power of the evil White Witch ( Tilda Swinton ). When 6-year-old Lucy first meets the faun Mr. Tumnus ( James McAvoy ), her siblings won't believe her. But soon all four children have tumbled through the portal into Narnia and find they must rescue Edmund, who's been enticed (and kidnapped) by the Witch. While the Witch holds Narnia under a wintry sway, she dreads the return of Aslan the lion (voiced by Liam Neeson ), the character C.S. Lewis endows with savior-like properties. The Pevensies discover their own strengths, as they learn of a prophecy declaring them crucial to saving Narnia. After accepting their destiny to save the kingdom, with Aslan's help, they set out to challenge the witch's reign and return warmth to Narnia.

Is It Any Good?

This thrilling adaptation of a classic tale makes a case for love among siblings by granting them a common enemy. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe has a lush forest full of animals and mythical creatures that recall the Lord of the Rings franchise. Including everything from cheetahs and horses and centaurs to Aslan's crew of ogres, dwarves, and minotaurs, Narnia gathers a diverse group of mythical creatures. While the story was initially written as a Christian allegory, none of the Christian elements are obvious, and viewers could watch the movie without realizing any of this. This riveting tale of redemption is likely to warm audiences' hearts.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about the bonds among the four siblings in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe . How do they comfort and provoke one another while away from their mother and fearful about the war? How is Narnia a fantasy born of this combination of supporting one another and concern about their future?

How do the animals and creatures in Narnia represent different aspects of the children's daily lives—their courage , fear, and desires? How do characters demonstrate teamwork and compassion ?

Did you notice any Christian iconography in the film? Does the film's allegorical story affect your viewing experience? If so, in what way?

Movie Details

• In theaters : December 9, 2005
• On DVD or streaming : May 27, 0016
• Cast : Tilda Swinton , Georgie Henley , Skandar Keynes , William Moseley , James McAvoy
• Director : Andrew Adamson
• Inclusion Information : Female actors, Female writers
• Studio : Buena Vista Pictures
• Genre : Family and Kids
• Topics : Magic and Fantasy , Book Characters , Brothers and Sisters , Great Boy Role Models , Great Girl Role Models
• Character Strengths : Compassion , Courage , Teamwork
• Run time : 143 minutes
• MPAA rating : PG
• MPAA explanation : battle sequences and frightening moments
• Last updated : December 5, 2023

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Suggest an Update

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A Book Review Website

The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe book review

This The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe review is about, this book for children, by C. S. Lewis that brings us back to Narnia, where all can happen.

Best known for his fictional work, Clive Staples Lewis (1898 – 1963) was a British writer, lay theologist, broadcaster, and Christian apologist. He was an academic from Oxford and Cambridge Universities.

C S Lewis is famous for being the author The Chronicles of Narnia.

( read article )

In 1940, four children are evacuated from London to escape the German attack on the city. They are sent to live with Professor Digory Kirke, who lives in the countryside.

In a rainy day, the children start exploring around the house and Lucy finds a wardrobe in an empty room. The wardrobe is a door to a snow-covered magical world.

There she meets the faun, Mr. Tumnus, that tells her about Narnia and its ruler, Jadis, the White Witch, who makes has turned all season into winter… winters with no Christmas at Narnia.

Lucy takes the wardrobe back to London, but none of her siblings believe in her adventures.

Days later Edmund follows Lucy into the wardrobe and they end up in Narnia. Edmund fails to catch up with Lucy and, instead,  encounters a pale lady (the White Witch) that introduces herself as the Queen of Narnia.

She enchants him with magical Turkish delight and promises to turn him Prince and, in time, King of Narnia if he brings the other children to her castle.

After the witch carries on, Lucy finds Edmund in the forest and they return together through the wardrobe.

Edmund betrays Lucy denying to his siblings ever having been in Narnia.

A few days later, all four children hide inside that wardrobe and are transported to Narnia. Lucy guides them to Mr. Tumnus’s cave, but they find out that Mr. Tumnus has been arrested.

A pair of talking beavers shelters the children and they describe an ancient prophecy in which the sorceress’ power will fail when two Sons of Adam and two Daughters of Eve sit on the four thrones at Cair Paravel.

The beavers then tell them that the true king of Narnia, a great lion called Aslan, has been absent for many years, but is now on the move to return.

Edmund runs away to the witch’s castle and the others, realizing they were fooled by Edmund, set off to find Aslan.

A repenting Edmund is freed just as the witch is about to kill him. Calling for a truce, the witch demands that Edmund should be returned to her, as an ancient law gives her possession of all traitors.

Aslan bargains himself to replace Edmund and the witch accepts the trade and sacrifices the king-lion.

Aslan is brought back to life by an ancient  Deeper Magic that will bring back to life anyone who is blameless willingly offers to die on behalf of the guilty.

In a final conflict, the witch is defeated by Aslan that kills her. The children become kings and queens of Narnia and spend fifteen years reigning there.

When they return to London through the wardrobe, they find themselves, children again. Their years in Narnia have taken no more than a few seconds of time on this side of the door.

They explain their adventures to the Professor, who tells them that they would return to Narnia one day.

“The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe” has biblical allusions, where Aslan is a Christ-like figure who suffers a death of atonement and returns to life, in a way comparable to Christ’s execution and rebirth. That can also be seen even more clearly in the book  The Magician’s Nephew , also written by Lewis.

This is absolutely a must-read book. It makes you want to read all the books from the series, “Chronicles of Narnia”.

The main characters are the Pevensies, Lucy, Edmund, Peter, Susan, and also Jadis (the White Witch), Aslan (the lion), Mr. Tumnus (a Faun).

Please leave a comment about  The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe .

• cultural relevance
• entertainment
• readability
• Our personal rating

This is a classic fantasy story for children written by C. S. Lewis. It runs in the realm of Narnia, a fantastic place where all things are possible.

User Review

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8 thoughts on “ The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe book review ”

Hello, Roberto and Caito! Congratulations on this new journey! I hope you can reach a lot of people with this new website!

I love C. S. Lewis. Do you plan on writing more reviews about his books?

Thanks for the great website!

Hello, Camila!

Long time, no see! Thanks for your kind words. We do expect to achieve a lot of readers with this newly formatted book review website. Our idea is to bring an even more pleasing experience for our visitors.

About your questiom, the answer is YES! In fact, we already have some C. S, Lewis reviews in line to be transferd here.

Meanwhile, check out the other one we already have here, The Magician’s Nephew .

Hi this is a lovely review about one of my favourite book series’. I appreciate one of the Amazon which states she is reading the book to her kids who are 5 and 8. I was wondering when I could start reading it to my own children who are 5 and 7. Perhaps now is a good time to start! Aslan was always one of my favourite book characters. I never made the Christian connection, but now it really makes sense! Thanks, Kris

Hello, Kris,

Thank you for your support. I guess classisc books aren’t called like that without a reason, right? The Narnia series is wonderful for kids that age, but who doesn’t enjoy it at any age? I certainly do.

This is a very interesting book review. The novel seems to be fantastic. I hear that the saga can be read following 2 different sequences. Is that true?

Thanks for the article, btw.

Hello, Denis,

You heard somewhat correctly. The books were originally written and published for the first time in a non-chronological sequence. The new publications follow it on a linear timeline. Take a look at this C. S. Lewis mini-bio for a view of them both. Cheers!

From a young age I’ve been fascinated with the chronicles of Narnia. I’ve read the books, watched the old series and the modern movies. I liked your review and how you made us look at the story from a different perspective by comparing it to elements of the bible. I’ve never thought about the great lion Aslan bearing resemblances to Christ until you pointed it out. Anyone that hasn’t read the books should definitely do so. Thanks Jay

Hello, Jay,

Thanks for sharing your opinion and support. Cheers!

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Movie Reviews

Tv/streaming, collections, great movies, chaz's journal, contributors, 'narnia' finds universe next door.

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C. S. Lewis, who wrote the Narnia books, and J.R.R. Tolkien, who wrote the Ring trilogy, were friends who taught at Oxford at the same time, were pipe-smokers, drank in the same pub, took Christianity seriously, but although Lewis loved Tolkein’s universe, the affection was not returned. Well, no wonder. When you’ve created your own universe, how do you feel when, in the words of a poem by e. e. cummings:: "Listen: there's a hell/of a good universe next door; let's go."

Tolkien's universe was in unspecified Middle Earth, but Lewis' really was next door. In the opening scenes of "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe," two brothers and two sisters from the Pevensie family are evacuated from London and sent to live in a vast country house where they will be safe from the nightly Nazi air raids. Playing hide-and-seek, Lucy, the youngest, ventures into a wardrobe that opens directly onto a snowy landscape where before long Mr. Tumnus is explaining to her that he is a faun.

Fauns, like leprechauns, are creatures in the public domain, unlike Hobbits, who are under copyright. There are mythological creatures in Narnia, but most of the speaking roles go to humans like the White Witch (if indeed she is human) and animals who would be right at home in the zoo (if indeed they are animals). The kids are from a tradition which requires that British children be polite and well-spoken, no doubt because Lewis preferred them that way. What is remarkable is that this bookish bachelor who did not marry until he was nearly 60 would create four children so filled with life and pluck.

That's the charm of the Narnia stories: They contain magic and myth, but their mysteries are resolved not by the kinds of rabbits that Tolkien pulls out of his hat, but by the determination and resolve of the Pevensie kids -- who have a good deal of help, to be sure, from Aslan the Lion. For those who read the Lewis books as a Christian parable, Aslan fills the role of Christ because he is resurrected from the dead. I don't know if that makes the White Witch into Satan, but Tilda Swinton plays the role as if she has not ruled out the possibility.

The adventures that Lucy has in Narnia, at first by herself, then with her brother Edmund and finally with the older Peter and Susan, are the sorts of things that might happen in any British forest, always assuming fauns, lions and witches can be found there, as I am sure they can. Only toward the end of this film do the special effects ramp up into spectacular extravaganzas that might have caused Lewis to snap his pipe stem.

It is the witch who has kept Narnia in frigid cold for a century, no doubt because she is descended from Aberdeen landladies. Under the rules, Tumnus ( James McAvoy ) is supposed to deliver Lucy ( Georgie Henley ) to the witch forthwith, but fauns are not heavy hitters, and he takes mercy. Lucy returns to the country house and pops out of the wardrobe, where no time at all has passed and no one will believe her story. Edmund ( Skandar Keynes ) follows her into the wardrobe that evening and is gob-smacked by the White Witch, who proposes to make him a prince.

But Peter ( William Moseley ) and Susan ( Anna Popplewell ) don’t believe Lucy until all four children tumble through the wardrobe into Narnia. They meet the first of the movie's CGI-generated characters, Mr. and Mrs. Beaver (voices by Ray Winstone and Dawn French ), who invite them into their home, which is delightfully cozy for being made of largish sticks. The Beavers explain the Narnian situation to them, just before an attack by computerized wolves whose dripping fangs reach hungrily through the twigs.

Edmund by now has gone off on his own and gotten himself taken hostage, and the Beavers hold out hope that perhaps the legendary Aslan (voice by Liam Neeson ) can save him. This involves Aslan dying for Edmund's sins, much as Christ died for ours. Aslan's eventual resurrection leads into an apocalyptic climax that may be inspired by Revelation. Since there are six more books in the Narnia chronicles, however, we reach the end of the movie while still far from the Last Days.

These events, fantastical as they sound, take place on a more human, or at least more earthly, scale than those in "Lord of the Rings." The personalities and character traits of the children have something to do with the outcome, which is not being decided by wizards on another level of reality but will be duked out right here in Narnia. That the battle owes something to Lewis' thoughts about the first two world wars is likely, although nothing in Narnia is as horrible as the trench warfare of the first or the Nazis of the second.

The film has been directed by Andrew Adamson , who directed both of the " Shrek " movies and supervised the special effects on both of Joel Schumacher's " Batman " movies. He knows his way around both comedy and action, and here combines them in a way that makes Narnia a charming place with fearsome interludes. We suspect that the Beavers are living on temporary reprieve and that wolves have dined on their relatives, but this is not the kind of movie where you bring up things like that.

C.S. Lewis famously said he never wanted the Narnia books to be filmed because he feared the animals would "turn into buffoonery or nightmare." But he said that in 1959, when he might have been thinking of a man wearing a lion suit, or puppets.

The effects in this movie are so skillful that the animals look about as real as any of the other characters, and the critic Emanuel Levy explains the secret: "Aslan speaks in a natural, organic manner (which meant mapping the movement of his speech unto the whole musculature of the animal, not just his mouth)." Aslan is neither as frankly animated as the Lion King or as real as the cheetah in " Duma ," but halfway in between, as if an animal were inhabited by an archbishop.

This is a film situated precisely on the dividing line between traditional family entertainment and the newer action-oriented family films. It is charming and scary in about equal measure, and confident for the first two acts that it can be wonderful without having to hammer us into enjoying it, or else. Then it starts hammering. Some of the scenes toward the end push the edge of the PG envelope, and like the "Harry Potter" series, the Narnia stories may eventually tilt over into R. But it's remarkable, isn't it, that the Brits have produced Narnia, the Ring, Hogwarts, Gormenghast, James Bond, Alice and Pooh, and what have we produced for them in return? I was going to say "the cuckoo clock," but for that you would require a three-way Google of Italy, Switzerland and Harry Lime.

Roger Ebert

Roger Ebert was the film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 until his death in 2013. In 1975, he won the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished criticism.

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Film credits.

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)

143 minutes

Tilda Swinton as White Witch

Georgie Henley as Lucy Pevensie

Skandar Keynes as Edmund Pevensie

William Moseley as Peter Pevensie

Anna Popplewell as Susan Pevensie

Liam Neeson as Aslan

Ray Winstone as Mr. Beaver

Dawn French as Mrs. Beaver

Rupert Everett as Mr. Fox

Directed by

• Andrew Adamson
• Ann Peacock
• Christopher Markus
• Stephen McFeely

Based on the books by

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The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe Book Review

Its been made into a major motion picture by Disney, but originally it was the second book in C.S. Lewis Chronicles of Narnia book series. Get the book review for The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.

It may not be as intense as The Lord of the Rings trilogy, but C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia spin a fantastical tale of magic and wonder . The second book in the series, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe has been made into a feature film by Disney . Get the scoop on the book the movie is based on !

The Land of Narnia

The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe is the tale of the four Pevensie children , sent to the country to live with their uncle during the second world war . London is being bombed by the Nazis and to keep the children safe they are shipped out of the city . While living with their uncle, Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy explore their uncle's giant, old house. One day, while playing a game of hide and seek, they all stumble upon a magical land called Narnia hidden at the back of an old wardrobe .

Family Ties

Lucy Pevensie is actually the first one to find Narnia, but her siblings don't believe her magical story . One night, when she can't sleep, she decides to return to Narnia and is followed by her brother Edmund. Edmund loses Lucy's trail but quickly runs into the White Witch, who claims she is the queen of the land . She offers Edmund the chance to be king, if he will just bring the rest of his siblings to her. When all four Pevensie children wind up in Narnia, Edmund forgets his loyalties fast and ditches his brother and sisters to set off for the witch's castle. He'd rather outshine his older brother than help save a world inhabited by talking animals.

Battle of the Century

Peter, Susan and Lucy have many obstacles to overcome before they can even come close to saving Edmund. Luckily, they meet the great Aslan, who has come back to Narnia to help them on their quest to defeat the White Witch . Aslan is a giant, talking Lion who originally created Narnia. Aslan sends some of his followers to take save Edmund from the grips of the witch's henchmen . When the four Pevensie children are reunited, a battle to end the 100-year winter begins, with Peter leading the way!

The Bottom Line

People of all ages - from your little sister to your grandpa - will enjoy the story of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. There's magic , adventure and a heart-warming lesson . The perfect story to read as a family or on your own, curled up by the fire in the cold winter months !

Related Stories:

• Chronicles of Narnia Movie Review
• The Penultimate Peril Book Review
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Book Review
• More Magical Stories...

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The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Reviews

The film captures the essence of the novel, which succumbing to the 2000s tendency to lean into fight scenes and CGI (puppets look good, though!). The kids are well cast, but this adaptation feels bloated and padded at nearly 2.5 hrs.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/5 | Dec 30, 2022

Despite its generic swords-and-sorcery storyline, it's amusingly padded with extensive fantasy elements, making it a must-see for those itching for magic-doused adventure.

Full Review | Original Score: 6/10 | Sep 29, 2020

A wonderfully realised and pleasant feature.

Full Review | Original Score: 7/10 | Apr 19, 2020

Tilda Swinton as the ice queen... is so good and so scary.

Full Review | Original Score: B+ | Jun 18, 2019

Swinton digs into the icy heart of her character with a chameleon-like prowess that is simply amazing.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/4 | Jun 5, 2019

Incredibly engrossing but intermittently so. It holds you, but the grip could have been even more firm.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | Jan 9, 2019

Adamson eschews the big look-isn't-it-magical gestures of the Potter/Tim Burton approach, but he manages to convey the sense of wonder a wartime evacuee might feel at such transportation.

Full Review | Jan 25, 2018

There isn't a single moment in this film, front to end, that rings true.

Full Review | Aug 24, 2017

It is a handsome production, an epic fantasy for younger audiences with a spiritual message, and it was followed by two more films in the series. This one remains the most satisfying and inspiring.

Full Review | Nov 18, 2016

It's not really the religious stuff that does the film in - though the combination of fantasy and allegory does have the presumably unintended effect of making belief systems in general seem downright hallucinatory.

Full Review | Nov 6, 2014

Because it is a children's story about children it is occasionally a bit precious, but only occasionally. For the most part it is an extremely well-designed piece of fantasy that doesn't try to overwhelm the audience.

Full Review | Original Score: 8/10 | Mar 18, 2011

Timeless classic faithfully rendered.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Dec 17, 2010

So digitalized that the images start to suggest chintzy old superimpositions

Full Review | Sep 1, 2009

Once I ignored the religious aspects, it was a very good film...

Full Review | Apr 29, 2009

The story never quite lives up to the grandeur of the visuals, and the narrative tends to drag, especially in the first half.

Full Review | Jul 8, 2008

It is marked by a peculiarly English celebration of the Church Militant. That noted, it's also a ripping yarn.

Full Review | May 17, 2008

A slow, cold first half is followed by a lively, sunny second half.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | May 13, 2008

The bigger the scope gets, the less we really care.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | Mar 26, 2008

The good news is Director Andrew Adamson and gang have done an impressive job of adapting Lewis' admittedly simple and somewhat thin tale into a big scale motion picture, delivering impressive production values and few solid action sequences.

Full Review | Jan 15, 2008

Certainly a feast for the eyes; once the story moves to Narnia, the film is never dull to look at.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | Jul 14, 2007

Screen Rant

Greta gerwig's chronicles of narnia reboot must overcome one harsh reality of the series.

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How Greta Gerwig's Chronicles Of Narnia Reboot Can Avoid The Disney Movies' Biggest Mistake

Does praetorian jack die in furiosa: a mad max saga, why channing tatum's patrick swayze movie remake is much harder than road house.

• Greta Gerwig's Narnia adaptations face a major challenge in living up to the success of "Barbie."
• The first book in the Narnia series is rated highest, making it tricky to maintain quality in future movies.
• Gerwig may consider starting the series with "The Magician's Nephew" for a fresh take on the beloved franchise.

Greta Gerwig's adaptations of The Chronicles of Narnia have some immense challenges to overcome, with one standing out above the rest. Gerwig is best known as the filmmaker behind Barbie , the 2023 movie that grossed over $1 billion at the box office. Shortly after the film's enormous success, she signed on with Netflix to make two Chronicles of Narnia movies , which will bring C.S. Lewis's beloved fantasy novels to life for the first time since Disney's series in the 2000s . There are few details about her plans for the franchise, though filming is expected to begin in 2024.

Disney's Chronicles of Narnia films are beloved adaptations by some, but they aren't perfect. They arrived shortly after Peter Jackson's adaptations of The Lord of the Rings in a wave of Hollywood fantasy movies, though they've never been perceived as being as definitive or impalpable as the LOTR trilogy. Therefore, there's plenty of room for an incredible talent like Greta Gerwig to give the Narnia stories a newfound popularity . After many fantasy TV shows have struggled, the Chronicles of Narnia movies could be exactly what the fantasy genre needs .

The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe Is Always The Best Narnia Story

The chronicles of narnia franchise risks going downhill after the first movie.

The biggest challenge with adapting The Chronicles of Narnia is that the first book is the best. The first Disney adaptation of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is the clear standout of the three movies they made, and it's partially because it's the most compelling story. Out of the seven Narnia novels, the first book has by far the highest rating from audiences on GoodReads, with 4.24/5 stars. The novel has the most clear, engaging character arcs from the four Pevensie children and magically introduces the world of Narnia with an action-packed climax and conclusion.

None of the Narnia books are bad, and everyone has different favorites, but it's hard to deny that The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is the most fluid to adapt into the film medium . Moreso than any other novel in the series, the first has a direct sense of adventure and character-driven narrative. This creates a conflict when adapting the series into movies, as starting with the best and continuing to drop off in quality would likely lead to the series not being completed again.

Greta Gerwig's Chronicles Of Narnia Shouldn't Start With The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe

The magician's nephew would be an alternate first movie option.

The order in which Greta Gerwig's Chronicles of Narnia movies should go is an interesting discussion on its own. The Disney movies have already started with The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe , and they have covered most of the bases of how that story could look. When adapting a children's book that's not even 200 pages, it's difficult to bring out a feature film's length of material without making significant changes. That leaves two options: starting from a different point or vastly changing the tone and aesthetic from the way the previous movie played out.

Greta Gerwig described the Narnia books as "euphorically dreamlike,"

In an encouraging interview about the Narnia adaptations , Greta Gerwig described the Narnia books as "euphorically dreamlike," which could imply a drastic difference in her approach to the tone, as opposed to the standard blockbuster look of the Disney adaptations. Alternatively, she could start the series with The Magician's Nephew , which is the first book chronologically and in C.S. Lewis's intended reading order, despite not being the first book in the series to be released. This could differentiate her adaptations from the get-go, though it comes with its own risks, as the book doesn't feature any continuous characters.

Gerwig's Chronicles Of Narnia Movies Need To Make Every Story Stand Out

The challenge with the narnia movies is making each story compelling in film format.

While The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is the most popular and widely read, there's immense value in every book in the Narnia series . The benefit of having a top-quality filmmaker like Greta Gerwig is that each book in the saga will hopefully have the creative backing to bring out the most from it. Not every book, whether it's Narnia or something else, translates well to film, and the key to adaptation is to make an entertaining movie while remaining faithful to core textual elements.

With Greta Gerwig's Chronicles of Narnia movies in the works at Netflix, there are critical mistakes made by the 2000s Disney versions to examine.

As for the other Chronicles of Narnia books, Greta Gerwig's task will be to find ways to elevate the elements that might not translate as naturally . That doesn't mean changing the story but finding ways to heighten aspects of characterization, provide distinct visuals, and pace the narrative in a way that suits the film medium. All this can be accomplished while maintaining C.S. Lewis's thematic values, creating Chronicles of Narnia movies that draw new audiences into his beloved world.

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

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