The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, by C.S. Lewis - Free Book Summary
Introduction to The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe is first book of the legendary series by C.S. Lewis – The Chronicles of Narnia. The adventures of young Lucy, her brave brother Peter, and their siblings Edmund and Susan have captured the imagination of generations and became a classic children’s fantasy. It seems as if no childhood is complete without meeting Narnia’s majestic ruler, the lion Aslan, and his evil rival the White Witch, who has cast an evil spell on Narnia. Are you ready to go into the wardrobe? "Dear Ruth, Many Thanks for this wonderful book summary :)" One rainy day, in a large house in the English countryside, Lucy Pevensie entered the enchanted world of Narnia through a magical wardrobe. The four Pevensie children were visiting the professor’s old house to escape the bombs of World War II that were devastating London. Like all children, they were curious, and decided to explore the many rooms of the house. Lucy, the youngest, came across the wardrobe at the end of a long, bare room. Oddly enough, she couldn’t feel the back of the wardrobe with her hands. Somewhere in the distance a dim light glowed, and as she followed it, the fur coats in the wardrobe slowly turned to trees. The light turned out to be an ordinary lamppost. However, Lucy discovered the land of Narnia was anything but ordinary when a faun, half man and half goat, hurried past carrying books and parcels. He invited Lucy to tea, and she accepted. They had such a pleasant time until the faun reluctantly explained that he was under orders to turn any children appearing in Narnia over to the White Witch. He sensed Lucy was a good person, though, and helped her return. At last Lucy found herself safe in the spare room. Though it seemed as if she had been gone for a very long time, no one had even missed her. They also didn’t believe her story. During a game of hide and seek on another rainy day, Lucy and Edmund both hid inside the wardrobe, and suddenly they both found themselves in Narnia. Lucy started off to visit her friend, Mr. Tumnus, leaving Edmund behind. As he surveyed the area, Edmund came face to face with the White Witch. Knowing a child’s weakness, she fed him the sweetest and best candy in the world, Turkish Delight. Edmund ate and ate. The more he devoured, however, the more he wanted to eat, and as he did the White Witch got him to reveal much about his brother and sisters. She seemed particularly interested in knowing that there were four children in all. When the Turkish Delight was finally gone, Edmund greedily asked for more. But the Witch gave him a sweet smile—and commanded him to bring his brother and sisters to her castle between the two hills on the Western horizon. Only then could he have more; in fact, he could have as much as he wanted. Later, all the children found themselves in Narnia via the wardrobe in the spare room. Peter lashed out at Edmund for being nasty to Lucy. After this unpleasant scene, Lucy suggested they all go and see her friend, Mr. Tumnus. But as they reached the mouth of the faun’s cave, they were horrified at the destruction they saw. Mr. Tumnus’ door had been ripped off its hinges and the contents of the cave were strewn about and broken. There was no sign of the dear faun, but a note left behind stated that Mr. Tumnus, guilty of high treason against the Queen of Narnia, had been arrested, taken before the Queen, and turned to stone. The note was signed by Fenris Ulf, a huge and terrifying wolf, and Captain of the Secret Police. Lucy hated to think of her good friend standing as a cold, lifeless statue in the palace of the White Witch. There was only one thing to do: the faun had saved her life, now she must save his. Susan and Peter were ready to join her, but Edmund had no intention of doing any such thing; he could only think of Turkish Delight. Still, he decided to tag along; it would be difficult finding the White Witch all by himself. This free book summary of The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, the first of the legendary series by C.S. Lewis – The Chronicles of Narnia, is complimentary from the www.free-book-summary.com website. Want to say Thanks? Tell about the book summary to your friends, link to it from your blog, or include a link to it in a book report forum. Cheers! The children encountered a beaver who was expecting them. He told them how they might find the faun, and about a legend of four children who would sit on the Four Thrones, ending the reign of the White Witch. “And another thing,” he added, “Aslan is on the move.” The children felt so much power and dignity at the sound of the name, and eagerly listened to Mr. Beaver recite another old prophecy about the great lion Aslan: “Wrong will be right, when Aslan comes in sight, at the sound of his roar, sorrows will be no more, when he bares his teeth, winter meets its death and when he shakes his mane, we shall have spring again.” “Ooh!” said Susan, “Is he safe? I feel quite nervous about meeting a lion.” “Safe?” said Mr. Beaver. “Who said anything about safe? ’Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you. Word has been sent that you are to meet him, tomorrow if you can, at the Stone Table.” For hours the children and Mr. Beaver discussed Aslan and their plans to rescue the faun. Suddenly, they noticed that Edmund was gone! Mr. Beaver said he saw treachery in Edmund’s eyes from the start; he must have eaten of the White Witch’s Turkish Delight and was under her spell. “We’ve not a moment to lose,” the beaver cried. “The White Witch will be here as soon as she gets word from Edmund and will try to cut us off from the Stone Table.” Meanwhile, Edmund had indeed located the Witch and had told her everything he knew about his siblings, Mr. and Mrs. Beaver, and Aslan. At once she sent Fenris Ulf and his best deputy to storm the party at the home of the beavers. In the meantime, she planned to keep them from reaching the Stone Table. Taking Edmund along for the ride, she and her dwarves headed out in her sled, pulled by reindeer with bells attached to their harness. Peter, Susan, Lucy, and the beavers had already snatched up a few belongings and were traveling along the frozen river bed that led to the Stone Table. They pressed forward through the intricate patterns of shadow, snow, and ice shining in the moonlight, hoping the falling snow would cover their tracks and mask their scent from the Witch’s ferocious wolves. When Lucy finally could go no further, they hid in a secluded cave. There, in the cave’s safety and warmth, they slept, but were suddenly awakened by the sound of bells in the stillness of the night. They all held their breath in fear, thinking the Witch had detected them. It was joyful relief to find that it was only Father Christmas! This meant the Witch’s spell was breaking! Calling the children “Sons of Adam and Daughters of Eve,” Father Christmas presented each of them with a special present. Peter received a sword and shield, and Susan a quiver and bow, along with a horn that would always summon help. And then he placed in Lucy’s hand a shining diamond vial containing an elixir that would miraculously heal any wounds. This free book summary of The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, the first of the legendary series by C.S. Lewis – The Chronicles of Narnia, is complimentary from the www.free-book-summary.com website. Want to say Thanks? Tell about the book summary to your friends, link to it from your blog, or include a link to it in a book report forum. Cheers! The snow began to melt, which slowed the Witch’s sled. The children were able to reach Aslan and the Stone Table in safety. Face to face with Aslan, the children were at first afraid to approach the great lion. After some nervous discussion, they decided the eldest of the Sons of Adam, Peter, should speak to him. He drew his sword, raised it to a salute, and said, “We have come—Aslan.” Aslan’s regal, yet gentle, voice boomed in reply. “Welcome, Peter, son of Adam.” Surrounded by a half circle of centaurs and leopards, with a host of other good creatures nearby, he had prepared a festival of music and delicious food. Aslan sent his swiftest centaurs to recapture Edmund. But the White Witch wasn’t going to lose the kingdom of Narnia without a fight. That night she visited Aslan under the white flag of truce to play her final, most sinister hand. First, she demanded the death of Edmund, according to the laws of the “Deep Magic Since the Dawn of Time.” This Deep Magic declared that every traitor belonged to her as lawful prey; for every treachery committed, she had a right to kill, to exact her justice. Some of Aslan’s followers gasped in disbelief; others challenged the Witch to try taking Edmund from them. Susan, utterly horrified, turned to Aslan for guidance: “Isn’t there something you can do to work against the Deep Magic?” “Work against the Emperor’s magic?” he replied, with something of a frown on his face. Then Aslan gave out a stern warning: “Fall back, all of you, and I will talk to the Witch alone.” Minutes later, he returned to announce that the Witch had consented to renounce her claim on Edmund’s life. Everyone cheered in great relief. Lucy and Susan were unable to sleep that night, worrying and wondering. In the morning, they decided to go to Aslan. At first they couldn’t find him; then Susan pointed toward the trees at the edge of their camp. A lion with his head bowed low was trudging, slowly, heavily, toward the Hill of the Stone Table. When he spied them, the great lion turned and said, “Oh, children, children, why are you following me?” Lucy responded in earnest: “We couldn’t sleep. Please, may we come with you—wherever you are going?” Seeing the love in the children’s eyes, Aslan could not refuse them: “I will be glad to have company tonight. Yes, you may come, but you must promise to stop when I tell you, and after that leave me to go on alone.” The girls promised. They walked on through the darkness, stroking the glorious fur of Aslan’s golden mane to comfort him. Then it was time for him to proceed alone. But Lucy and Susan just couldn’t return to camp; something awful was about to happen. Hiding in the bushes, they witnessed the saddest, most horrible scene of their entire lives. Aslan made his way to the Stone Table where the Witch and all her evil army were waiting. Revelling, mocking voices filled the air as the White Witch tied Aslan to the table and plunged her sharpened knife into his side. Lucy and Susan buried their faces in their hands, unable to watch. When it was over, the Witch and her host of evil demons scuttled off to find the four children, and to kill those who had been faithful to Aslan. Lucy and Susan went to the great lion, whose massive body lay slain on the table. They put their arms around him and wept at his side all that night, until a faint light began to appear on the eastern edge of the sky, and they turned to leave. Then they heard a great cracking sound coming from behind them. They turned to see the table, split into two huge pieces, and Aslan’s body gone. “Who’s done it?” cried Susan. “What does it mean? Is it more magic?” “Yes!” announced a great voice. “It is more magic.” Aslan appeared, alive again, his mane glistening in the dawning sun. There was “Deeper Magic from Before the Dawn of Time,” he explained, of which the White Witch had no knowledge. “When a willing victim who had committed no treachery was killed in a traitor’s place, the table would crack and Death itself would start working backward.” The children rode swiftly on Aslan’s back to the Witch’s castle to set the stone captives free. Lucy and Mr. Tumnus were so happy to be together again! They lost no time celebrating as they all ran to battle against the White Witch and her foul army. They arrived just in time to relieve Peter’s weary forces and save Narnia. Edmund, sorry for the trouble he had caused, had fought most bravely and managed to destroy the Witch’s powerful wand. But he had been wounded severely. Lucy administered the elixir from the diamond vial and healed him, while Aslan eliminated the wicked White Witch once and for all. The children ruled Narnia for many years, until the day they came across a rusted lamppost in the forest. In the next moment, they appeared in the professor’s bedroom, the very moment they had first stepped into the wardrobe. The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe – Plot Summary Context Having read The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe for the first time at the age of 10, I later kept looking for secret doors into Narnia for quite a while. The simple language has swept me into the adventures of the four kids as if I was right there with them. To this day, I still review this wonderful book as a masterpiece, and I avoid watching the films made out of it. C.S. Lewis (1898–1963) was a devout atheist for nearly his entire adult life, until converting into Christianity, and “grownups” view his writings as expressing great faith. His defense of Christianity rests on what he considered the indisputable fact of the resurrection of Christ. Therefore, it is widely accepted that in the first book of the Chronicles of Narnia, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Lewis has retold the story of the resurrection of Christ using an emotional religious allegory. The Complete Book Lewis, C.S. The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe.
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