The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe · Terms + Chapters 1–17
5th Grade · River Ridge / Frilot · From teacher KEY packet
Devoutly Christian author of LWW; imaginative and great with language. After an ideal childhood with his brother, his mother died and he was sent to boarding school (he hated it, returned home, later another school, and enlisted in WWI).
Literature with magical lands often entered through portals; characters meet witches, elves, fairies, talking animals; they go on a quest of good versus evil.
Sequence of events in a story, broken into 5 parts: Exposition (WWII evacuation; portal to Narnia; White Witch’s eternal winter); Rising Action (prophecy; Edmund betrays; Aslan’s secret deal); Turning Point (Witch sacrifices Aslan; deeper magic resurrects him; statues rescued); Falling Action (battle; Edmund smashes wand; Aslan kills Witch; Lucy’s cordial); Resolution (golden age; adults stumble back through wardrobe; no time passed).
1940s England during WWII AND the eternal-winter fantasy land of Narnia ruled by the White Witch.
How an author shows what a character is like — e.g. Lucy, Edmund, Peter, Susan, Aslan, White Witch.
Good can overcome evil through sacrifice (Aslan) and redemption (Edmund). Humans can be corrupted by greed and betrayal (Edmund). Leadership requires responsibility and standing up for what is right.
Opposing forces — internal (man vs. self: Edmund’s struggle) or external (man vs. man: Aslan’s forces vs. Witch; man vs. nature: Edmund in the cold).
Q: Why did the 4 children go live with the Professor?
A: Evacuated from London to be safe from WWII air raids.
Q: Why couldn’t they explore outside the next morning?
A: It was raining.
Q: Why did Lucy go into the wardrobe?
A: Curious — wanted to inspect the fur coats.
Q: What did she find there?
A: Coats, mothballs, and a snowy land with a lamppost where she met Mr. Tumnus.
Q: Who is Mr. Tumnus?
A: A nice faun (half-human, half-goat) who befriends Lucy.
Q: Where did he take Lucy?
A: His cozy cave; he serves her tea.
Q: What did Lucy learn about Narnia?
A: The White Witch is feared; it is always winter.
Q: What did Mr. Tumnus almost do?
A: Kidnap Lucy (as the Witch ordered).
Q: Why did he change his mind?
A: He realized how cruel it would be once he knew Lucy as a sweet child.
Q: What upset Lucy after returning?
A: Siblings didn’t believe her and thought she was lying.
Q: How did Edmund show he is spiteful?
A: Teased her about the “made-up” world to make her feel bad.
Q: What caused Edmund to enter the wardrobe?
A: Hide-and-seek — hiding and following Lucy.
Q: Who did he meet?
A: The White Witch, calling herself Queen of Narnia.
Q: What question did the Queen keep asking?
A: Whether he was a son of Adam.
Q: Why more Turkish Delight?
A: Enchanted candy — addiction.
Q: What promise did she make?
A: Make him prince, then king, if he brings his siblings.
Q: Why didn’t Edmund feel well later?
A: Ate way too much enchanted Turkish Delight.
Q: What nasty thing did Edmund do to Lucy?
A: Lied to Susan and Peter that they were only pretending Narnia was real.
Q: What did Peter and Susan decide?
A: Talk to the Professor about whether Lucy was losing her mind.
Q: Does the Professor believe Lucy?
A: Yes — Lucy is more honest than Edmund and in her right mind; logic says Narnia exists.
Q: What put all 4 back in the wardrobe?
A: Avoiding Mrs. Macready and sightseeing tourists.
Q: Why did Susan agree to coats?
A: Freezing; not stealing if coats are returned later.
Q: How did Edmund give himself away?
A: Blurting directions to the lamppost.
Q: What at Mr. Tumnus’s cave?
A: Wrecked; notice of arrest for high treason.
Q: What decision must they make?
A: Go home safely or try to rescue Mr. Tumnus.
Q: What was mysterious about the robin?
A: Seemed to intentionally lead them through the woods.
Q: How did they know the Beaver was safe?
A: Held up Lucy’s handkerchief (given to Mr. Tumnus).
Q: Who was “on the move”?
A: Aslan.
Q: Why was new snow after dinner good?
A: Covered footprints from the Witch and spies.
Q: What most likely happened to Mr. Tumnus?
A: Taken to the Witch’s house and turned to stone.
Q: Who is Aslan?
A: A lion — the true King of Narnia.
Q: Where should Mr. Beaver take them?
A: Stone Table to meet Aslan.
Q: What about Edmund?
A: Left for the White Witch’s castle.
Q: Why get to Aslan?
A: Save Edmund, defeat the Witch, fulfill four-thrones prophecy at Cair Paravel.
Q: How did Edmund feel at Aslan’s name?
A: Mysterious horror.
Q: Why bad mood at the castle?
A: Cold, tired, hungry; Witch angry he came alone; no Turkish Delight.
Q: What did he do to the stone lion?
A: Drew mustache and spectacles with a pencil.
Q: What info angered the Witch?
A: Aslan had arrived; siblings meeting at the Stone Table.
Q: Mrs. Beaver’s odd packing?
A: Insisted on bringing her sewing machine so the Witch wouldn’t destroy it.
Q: Why travel by the riverbank?
A: High banks hid them from spies on open plains.
Q: Who did they meet?
A: Father Christmas (Santa Claus).
Q: Gifts?
A: Peter: shield & sword; Susan: bow, arrows, horn; Lucy: dagger & healing cordial.
Q: Why a good sign?
A: Witch’s magic weakening — “always winter and never Christmas” breaking.
Q: When did Edmund see the Witch’s true cruelty?
A: Stale bread instead of Turkish Delight; treated like a prisoner.
Q: Why upset about Father Christmas?
A: Proved her power was failing.
Q: Why walk instead of sledge?
A: Snow melting to muddy slush — reindeer couldn’t pull.
Q: How did they know Witch’s plans failed?
A: Magic spring began to flow.
Q: Who approached Aslan first?
A: Peter (salute with sword; responsibility for Edmund).
Q: Why take Peter aside?
A: Show Cair Paravel; prepare him as High King.
Q: Peter’s special honor?
A: High King among the four thrones.
Q: Why fight a wolf?
A: Fenris Ulf cornered Susan; she blew her horn; Peter defended sisters.
Q: Honor after the fight?
A: Sir Peter Wolf’s-Bane.
Q: What did the Witch want with Edmund?
A: Execute him — prophecy: four humans on thrones end her reign.
Q: How did Edmund escape?
A: Aslan’s assault group ambushed; unbound him; Witch & dwarf disguised as boulder/stump.
Q: Aslan’s directions about Edmund?
A: “All past is past” — forgive; don’t mention mistakes.
Q: Why did Witch claim Edmund?
A: Deep Magic / Stone Table — right to every traitor.
Q: What is Deep Magic?
A: Emperor-beyond-the-Sea’s law: treachery punished by death; traitors’ blood belongs to Witch; breaking it destroys Narnia.
Q: Why didn’t she leave with Edmund?
A: Aslan’s secret deal — substitute sacrifice on the Stone Table.
Q: Aslan’s mood?
A: Sad, quiet, heavy-hearted (unlike usual majestic confidence).
Q: Susan & Lucy that evening?
A: Couldn’t sleep; followed; walked with him until told to leave.
Q: What did they observe?
A: Binding, mocking, muzzling, and sacrifice of Aslan on the Stone Table.
Q: First thing with Aslan’s body?
A: Cried; kissed him; removed the muzzle.
Q: Why mice on his body?
A: Freeing him from bonds (not disrespect).
Q: When girls turned back?
A: Stone Table cracked; Aslan gone, then alive and more magnificent.
Q: Deeper Magic the Witch didn’t know?
A: Willing innocent victim in a traitor’s place → Table cracks; Death works backward.
Q: Where did Aslan take them?
A: Witch’s castle to rescue stone statues.
Q: What at the castle?
A: Breathed life into statues; broke open gates for the army.
Q: Who did Lucy find?
A: Mr. Tumnus (stone, red wool scarf) — then restored.
Q: Why go to the castle?
A: Rescue victims; gather reinforcements — Peter’s forces outnumbered.
Q: When Aslan arrived at battle?
A: Charged; overwhelmed Witch’s army; Aslan pinned the Witch.
Q: How did Edmund prove he changed?
A: Smashed the Witch’s wand (not for glory) — saved many lives.
Q: How Lucy helped?
A: Healing cordial on wounded, including Edmund.
Q: What Aslan did for Edmund?
A: Knighted him on the battlefield; later crowned him.
Q: Next day at Cair Paravel?
A: Crowned: Peter the Magnificent, Susan the Gentle, Edmund the Just, Lucy the Valiant.
Q: Why hunt the White Stag?
A: Grants wishes to whoever catches it.
Q: How back to the Professor?
A: Hunting Stag → lamppost → thickets become coats → out of wardrobe.
Q: Amazing discovery?
A: No time passed — children again; guests still talking in hallway.
Q: “Once a king or queen…” meaning?
A: Wisdom, bravery, honor, and royal nobility remain part of who they are.