Plot: Four children discover a secret world through a wardrobe. In their adventure, one of the characters, Edmund, battles the temptation that leads to evil, while the other children, with the help of a brave Lion-king/savior--Aslan--battle the evil that threatens the magical land of Narnia.

Theme: This allegorical tale of C.S. Lewis' serves on two levels, thereby presenting two themes. The basic theme is the generic fight for good to prevail over bad with hope, belief, and the retaining of childhood sensibilities (imagination), while the underlying theme is that of Christianity/Jesus (Aslan) prevailing over evil/Satan (ie: Lillith residing in the White Witch).

Literary Devices Style and theme are strong literary devices in this book. Lewis' style is such that children of a Christian background can see evidence of their beliefs in the story, therefore finding even more meaning in an already wonderful tale. Children of a non-Christian belief system are also treated to an enjoyable story. Few writers can accomplish what Lewis has; his style remains untainted by overt didacticism, except in the playful narrative inserts of not shutting the doors of wardrobes when one is inside. The first theme of good winning over evil is evident in the various plights of Tumnus, the Beavers, the children, and Aslan when they come in contact with the White Witch. As usual, the good have to struggle, but in the end, Aslan rises from the dead and avenges Edmund's torture, ends the never-ending Winter, and places the children in the royal positions that they are meant to have in Narnia. Lewis' writing is consistent throughout the book; never does the reader doubt that the White Witch is purely evil--she is expected to lose. On the deeper level, the reader who finds the biblical allusions knows that Aslan, representative of Jesus, will triumph, though the White Witch makes the same statement that Satan would be expected to "[h]e knows that unless I have blood as the Law that all Narnia will be overturned and perish in fire and water" (139). The resurrection scene gives even more credence to Lewis' underlying theme of Christianity ending Satan's reign; "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 backwards" (160).

Personal Evaluation: I enjoyed this novel and would recommend it to the age group (10 and up), whatever their beliefs. The story is entertaining on whichever level one may read it on.



Recommended: Yes