Narnia

Known to his friends as Jack and commonly known as C S Lewis, Clive Staples Lewis was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland on 29 November 1898 and died on 22 November 1963. News of his death was almost completely overshadowed by the media coverage of the assassination of President John F Kennedy, which occurred on the same day, as did the death of Aldous Huxley, author of Brave New World.

Wikipedia describes Lewis as an academic, medievalist, literary critic, essayist, lay theologian and Christian apologist. Apart from The Chronicles of Narnia, other works include The Screwtape Letters and The Space Trilogy.

Lewis studied and later taught at Magdalen College, Oxford, which is where Anna Popplewell, the actress who played Susan Pevensie, is currently studying English Literature!

Lewis was a close friend of J R R Tolkien, author of Lord of the Rings.

Children take the central role in each of the books and, with the exception of The Horse and His Boy, they are magically transported to Narnia where there are talking animals, magic is not unusual and of course good battles evil. As a child who had already discovered a love of Greek Mythology, I was delighted to read about characters such as fauns, centaurs and satyrs. I also had a feeling that there were religious undertones, particularly after I had read The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe but as a 10 year old, I did not give it much thought.

The reading order of the books is different to the order in which they were published. At first Lewis felt he had done all he could with the central theme, following the publication of The Voyage of the Dawn Treader.

He wrote in answer to a question from a fan:

When I wrote The Lion I did not know I was going to write any more. Then I wrote P. Caspian as a sequel and still didn't think there would be any more, and when I had done The Voyage I felt quite sure it would be the last, but I found I was wrong.

When questioned about the underlying Christian them, he said:

Some people seem to think that I began by asking myself how I could say something about Christianity to children; then fixed on the fairy tale as an instrument, then collected information about child psychology and decided what age group I'd write for; then drew up a list of basic Christian truths and hammered out 'allegories' to embody them. This is all pure moonshine. I couldn't write in that way. It all began with images; a faun carrying an umbrella, a queen on a sledge, a magnificent lion. At first there wasn't anything Christian about them; that element pushed itself in of its own accord.

Quotes from Wikipedia

As a child of ten I was first introduced to the magical stories of Narnia by my teacher who would read Prince Caspian to us on a Friday afternoon. I clearly remember how much I enjoyed the story and how each week I would look forward to Fridays so I could hear the next chapter

So entranced was I about the tale of a brave young prince and his four friends from another world, that I proceeded to work my way through all the books. As a child my parents found it very hard to make ends meet, so much of my reading was done using books borrowed from the travelling library that would visit our small village once a week.

However, I would save up my pocket money or ask for book tokens for Christmas and birthdays and eventually I was able to buy the whole set. With the exception of Prince Caspian, which fell to bits only recently, I still have the books.

Now my own children are just as enthusiastic about Narnia as I was. The only difference being that not only can they read the books, but they can watch the first two stories stories in glorious big screen colour and we are looking forward to the release of The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, currently in production.

The Magician's Nephew begins in London in 1900 and takes us back to the dawn of Narnia where we learn how Aslan created the world and how evil first entered it.

Digory Kirke and his friend Polly Plummer stumble into different worlds by experimenting with magic rings made by Digory's uncle (the would be "magician" of the title), encounter an evil sorceress Jadis (The White Witch, who re-appears in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe), along with talking animals, and a collection of fauns, satyrs, dwarves and naiads and watch as Aslan creates Narnia. A London lampost gets planted as well.

Digory is given an apple by Aslan that, on his return to London, he plants in his garden. Many years later the tree is blown down in a storm and Digory has the wood made into a wardrobe, which he keeps in a room in the old country house that he lives in when he is an elderly professor.

This is the only story in the Narnia series where actions in the fantasy world of Narnia and other worlds have a direct impact on events in our own world. Ideally the book should be read AFTER anyone has read The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, or it could spoil the plot!

WARNING ON AMAZON: Reading this book leads to the compulsive reading of at least six other books!

Characters
Digory
Jadis
Polly Plummer
Andrew Ketterley
Strawberry
Frank
Helen
Talking Beasts
Sarah
Mabel Kirke
Letitia Ketterley
Mrs. Lefay
Jackdaw
Col
Aslan

Module photo: Statue of Digory Kirke (C S Lewis' alter ego) looking into the Wardrobe, in Belfast, by Genvessel reproduced under a Creative Commons License 2.0

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Set in 1940, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, tells the story of Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy Pevensie who are evacuated out of London during World War II to live in an old country house with an elderly Professor.

During a game of Hide and Seek Lucy discovers a wardrobe and through it enters the land of Narnia, where she meets Mr Tumnus the faun. He tells her about the White Witch, who has kept Narnia in a permanent state of for 100 years.

The witch lives in fear of a prophecy that "two sons of Adam" and "two daughters of Eve" will come to Narnia and help Aslan (which is the Turkish word for Lion) to overthrow her.

When Lucy tells her brothers and sister about her adventure, they refuse to believe her and even after Edmund finds his way in to Narnia, he lies to Peter and Susan about it. But eventually all four children end up in the wardrobe, when hiding from the Professor's dreaded Housekeeper "The Macready" and find themselves in Narnia and caught up in a classic battle between good and evil.

The Pevensie children help Aslan and his army save Narnia from the White Witch, and they become Kings and Queens of Narnia where they rule for many years before tumbling back through the wardrobe as children again.

Characters
Peter Pevensie
Susan Pevensie
Edmund Pevensie
Lucy Pevensie
Aslan
The Professor
Mrs Macready
Ivy
Margaret
Betty
Mr Tumnus
The White Witch
Maugrim
Mr Beaver
Mrs Beaver
Fox
Father Christmas
Rumblebuffin
The White Stag
Ginarrbrik

Some trivia:
2005 Academy Award for Best Make Up

2005 Nominated for Academy Awards for Best Achievement in Sound Mixing and Best Achievement in Visual Effects

The film took $23 million USD in 3,616 theatres on its opening day in the USA on December 9, 2005

No real lions were used in the film, because the Director wanted the actors to be able to touch Aslan

The danger in going to see the film of a book you have loved is that you will be disappointed. However, the film kept very close to the original story about The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe as well as dwelling longer on some scenes than C S Lewis did. In the book we are told it is wartime and that the Pevensie children are to be evacuated to the countryside. There is not much detail and this part of the story unfolds in just a few paragraphs.

However, the film opens with emotional scenes of the London bombings and then the children having to leave their mother. I found it all very moving - far more so than when I read the book.

Narnia was exactly how I imagined it and all of the children portrayed their characters very well - including "Lucy". This was a huge relief to me as the girl who acted the part in the BBC TV series (1988-90), irritated the life out of me at times!

The best actor for me was Tilda Swinton as the White Witch. Her cold, but almost laid back evil was very menacing, which made it all the more effective when she switched into icy hysteria.

Liam Neeson's voice is perfect for Aslan and brought an essential dignity to the role. If Aslan had not worked then the film would have been a failure but for me, there were no worries on that score.

The film is long - 2 hours and 10 minutes, but the pace and action kept us riveted the whole time. My children loved it - this big kid did as well!

The action in The Horse and His Boy occurs during the reign of King Peter, Queen Susan, King Edmund and Queen Lucy, during The Lion the Witch and The Wardrobe and before Prince Caspian. The story starts in Calormen a country to the south of Narnia.

Bree, a talking horse meets a young boy named Shasta, who was found as a baby by a fisherman. Shasta overhears the fisherman agreeing to sell him as a slave to the nobleman who owns Bree. To Shasta's surprise the horse speaks to him and suggests they run away to Narnia and freedom.

They meet another pair of escaping travellers, Aravis, a young Calormene aristocrat who is fleeing an enforced marriage, and her talking horse, Hwin. On their journey they discover that the Calormenes are about to invade Archenland, and they alert King Lune who is an ally of Narnia and friend of Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy.

Of course at the end of the tale it is discovered that Shasta is the long lost son of someone but I wont tell you who as it will spoil the story!

Walden Media currently retain the film rights.

Characters
Arsheesh
Shasta
Breehy-hinny-brinny-hoohy-hah
Aravis
Hwin
Peridan
Prince Corin
Sallowpad
Lasaraleen Tarkheena
Rabadash
Tisroc
Ahoshta
Hermit of the Southern March
Lune
Darrin
Dar
Duffle
Rogin
Bricklethumb
Chervy the Stag
Thornbut
Tran
Shar
Cole
Colin
Alimash
Anradin
Lapsed Bear of Stormness
Kidrash Tarkaan
Bar
Aslan
Peter Pevensie
Susan Pevensie
Edmund Pevensie
Lucy Pevensie
Mr Tumnus

Chronicles of Narnia
Double-sided poster
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Prince Caspian tells the story of the Pevensie children's second trip to Narnia. The Blitz is over. It is 1941 and they are back in London. While they wait for a train to go to school, they are drawn back by the power of Susan's magical horn, (a gift she received in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe) which has been blown by Prince Caspian hoping to summon help.

At first they do not realise where they are as they explore a ruined castle, which turns out to be Cair Paravel, some 1300 years after they first visited!

Caspian has fled into the woods to escape his uncle, Miraz, who had killed his father and wants Caspian dead so his own newborn son will become heir to the throne. Once again Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy set out to save Narnia, this time from invasion by Miraz and his army.

Caspian becomes King of Narnia but before they return home, Peter and Susan are told by Aslan that they will never visit Narnia again.

Characters
Aslan
Peter Pevensie
Susan Pevensie
Edmund Pevensie
Lucy Pevensie
Caspian
Trumpkin
Miraz
Queen Prunaprismia
Cornelius
Trufflehunter
Nikabrik
Bulgy Bear
Glenstorm
Reepicheep
Glozelle
Sopespian
Nurse
Pattertwig
Clodsley Shovel
Camillo
Hogglestock
Mentius
Obentinus
Dumnus
Voluns
Voltinus
Girbius
Nimienus
Nausus
Oscuns
Old Raven
Wimbleweather
Bacchus
Silenus
River-god
Gwendolen
Miss Prizzle
Nurse's Nephew
Peepiceek
Seven Brothers of Shuddering Wood
Pulverulentus Siccus
Destrier
Puddleglum
Uvilas
Lilygloves
Erimon
Caspian I
Caspian VIII
Caspian IX

Although the film of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe broke box office records when it was released in the run up to Christmas in 2005, Walden Media changed the release date for Prince Caspian to the summer. This may have been influenced by the fact that the release of Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince was scheduled to be released in November 2008.

Subsequently, the Harry Potter release was postponed and Walden Media were left to rue their decision as Prince Caspian, although very successful, did not repeat the success of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. However, it was still one of the Top 10 grossing films of 2008.

Although the general plot stayed true to the book, the Director Andrew Adamson makes changes to the characters and what motivates them. C S Lewis does not spend too much time on characterisations but I think Adamson develops the characters as Lewis may have done, had he been writing the stories in modern times.

Two young men, one a King and one a Prince. Both leaders. There's bound to be some testosterone fuelled exchanges! One pretty teenaged Queen and of course the handsome Prince is bound to notice her. I thought these underlying emotions added to the story rather detracted from it and I did not hear any objections from my children.

We loved Prince Caspian and are looking forward to the next film.

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader is the most popular book in the Narnia series. Edmund and Lucy Pevensie, along with their extremely unpleasant cousin, Eustace Scrubb, return to Narnia via a huge painting of a ship. They find that only three years have passed since their last visit and they are reunited with Caspian on board his ship The Dawn Treader.

Edmund, Lucy and a protesting Eustace Scrubb join Caspian's voyage to find the seven lords who were friends of Caspian's father who were banished when Miraz took over the throne. During this dangerous journey they face many perils and discover many wonders as they sail toward Aslan's country at the end of the world.

It is also during this journey that Eustace is transformed into a dragon and as the result of his experiences becomes a much nicer person. At the end of the book Edmund and Lucy are told by Aslan that they will never return to Narnia.

Characters
Aslan
Edmund Pevensie
Lucy Pevensie
Caspian
Reepicheep
Eustace Clarence Scrubb
Harold Scrubb
Alberta Scrubb
Rynelf
Rhince
Drinian
Pug
Bern
Gumpas
Octesian
Chief Duffer
Clipsie
Coriakin
Anne Featherstone
Marjorie Preston
Rhoop
Revilian
Argoz
Mavramorn
Ramandu's Daughter
Ramandu
Master Bowman
Old Sailor
Pittencream
Eastern Sea People
Sea King
Sea-girl
Restimar

Filming of The Voyage of the Dawn Treader is underway, in Queensland, Australia and is being directed by Michael Apted. There have been various pre-production "tussles" and 20th Century Fox replace Disney as the film's distributors.

The same cast returns to play the same characters in the previous films.

This module will be updated as filming progresses.

The Silver Chair is the first Narnia book C S Lewis wrote without Peter, Susan, Edmund or Lucy. In their place, Aslan calls Eustace Scrubb back to Narnia together with his classmate Jill Pole.

Eustace and Jill are given the task of finding the very elderly Caspian's son, Prince Rilian, who was kidnapped ten years earlier while searching for a green serpent that killed his mother. With the help of Puddleglum the Marsh-wiggle and many other great characters, Eustace and Jill face many dangers before finding Rilian, who has lost his memory due to enchantment by The Lady of the Green Kirtle.

Characters
Caspian
Trumpkin
Eustace Clarence Scrubb
Drinian
Jill Pole
Edith Jackie
Glimfeather
Rilian
Harfang Giants
Prince
Lady of the Green Kirtle
Golg
Earthmen
Warden of the Marches of Underland
Spivvins
Mullugutherum
Cloudbirth
Carter
Aslan

The Last Battle chronicles the end of the world of Narnia and brings all the children featured in the previous books back to Narnia: Peter, Edmund, Eustace, Lucy, Jill, Polly and Digory. The only exception is Susan who no longer believes in Aslan. All the other main characters from the previous books appear as well.

Characters
Aslan
Peter Pevensie
Edmund Pevensie
Lucy Pevensie
Digory, The Professor
Caspian
Glenstorm
Reepicheep
Eustace Clarence Scrubb
Jill Pole
Polly Plummer
Shift
Puzzle
Jewel the Unicorn
Tirian
Roonwit
Tash
Griffle
Emeth
Erlian
Wraggle
Water Rat
Swanwhite
Stonefoot
Slinkey
Rishda Tarkaan
Poggin
Moonwood
Harpha
Ginger

As an "amateur" producer I have never worked with animals (although I have sometimes been tempted to give a walk on part to my beautiful dog - see Autumn at AJs for pics) but I have worked in shows that have involved up to 43 children - yes, I know I am mad.

What interested me about the production issues for the films The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and Prince Caspian was that the crew were working with four young people who had to live away from home and their families for six months at a time. I remember seeing an interview with the Director, Andrew Adamson, who was very sensitive to these issues and he said he wanted to create a family atmosphere for the children to work in.

When I was working on an Amateur production of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat", I remembered what Andrew Adamson said and although it was a lot more difficult with so many children (33), my Crew and I set out to try to keep to a family ethos. It worked most of the time, but I am sure that the boys who started what amounted to a punchup at the start of Act 2 of the dress rehearsal, probably ended up more frightened of me than their own Mothers!