The Magician's Nephew
by C.S. Lewis
Grades 5-7; Genre - Fantasy; GRL T; AR pts. 6.0
Digory and Polly discover a secret passage that links their homes, and they are taken into the World of Charn, where they wake up the evil Queen Jadis. There, they witness the creation of the Land of Narnia as it is sung into being by the Great Lion, Aslan.
Comprehension Questions
Chapter 1
- Summarize this chapter. We learn about Digory and Polly and how they meet; they tried to explore their attics and wound up in Digory’s uncle’s study; Uncle Andrew invited Polly to a gold ring and when she touched it, she disappeared p.3
Chapter 2
- How does Digory feel about his uncle? Why? He’s beastly, uncaring, selfish, greedy; he learned he only cares for himself and his experiment and not for those that are trapped in it p.25
Chapter 3
- Explain how the rings work. The yellow rings draw to the world with the pools and the green rings draw away from the world with the pools p.42
Chapter 4
- Describe the world and room Polly and Digory found themselves in. Abandoned; desolate courtyards; strange light; the room had many wax people dressed in magnificent clothing that looked new; there is a bell and a message p.44
Chapter 5
- Describe Jadis. Has been asleep and was awakened by the bell; Beautiful; enchanting; arrogant; killed her sister for the throne; greedy; magical; tall p.58
Chapter 6
- What is the title to this chapter? Explain why this is fitting. The Beginning of Uncle Andrew’s Troubles; the witch only noticed him and has started to order him around p.76
Chapter 7
- Describe what the witch did when she went out into London. She captured a buggy and horse and rode on top, making the horse and everyone around her mad
Chapter 8
- Summarize this chapter. Digory and Polly get the Witch off their world; Uncle Andrew, the horse and the cabby go with them since they were all touching; Digory and Polly try to go back home but everyone ends up in a new world; they hear singing and the world starts to be created; they see Aslan p.100
Chapter 9
- Who is Aslan a symbol of? Jesus Christ
- What’s created in this chapter? Grass, trees, bushes, animals p.112
- What did Aslan do to the chosen plants, beasts and water? Gave them walking, speech, and divinity p.126
Chapter 10
- Why is Uncle Andrew so afraid of the Talking Beasts? because of who he was; he didn’t understand them and thought they were growling at him and we’re going to eat him p.138
Chapter 11
- Why was Aslan so harsh to Digory? He made bad choices and brought the witch to the new world p.146
- Who’s the new king and queen of the world? The cabby and his wife p.150
Chapter 12
- How does the tree of protection from evil compare to the Garden of Eden in our creation? Adam and Eve had the Tree of Life protected by angels to prevent them from dying in their sin; Aslan sent Digory on a mission to collect an apple to plant that will grows into a tree, that will prevent Narnia from the evil Witch for many years p.154
Chapter 13
- On page 163, Fledge comments that Aslan likes to be asked for things. How does that compare to Jesus Christ? Jesus likes us to ask for what we need and waits for us to ask for what we need and want p.163
- Do you think the children Should be alarmed by what they saw that night? Listen to your child’s answer p.166
Chapter 13
- Did Digory make the correct decision when speaking with the witch? Why, or why not? Yes, she was trying to make him think of himself and his mother instead of what Aslan wanted p.179
Chapter 14
- Why is it different that Digory plucked an apple from the tree in Narnia from when he thought of taking an apple when it was within the walls? Aslan gave him permission when the tree has grown in Narnia p.191
Chapter 15
- Summarize the conclusion to this story. Digory’s mother retained her health; the tree Digory planted grew, but blew down later and a ward robe was made from the wood; his father received an inheritance that included a big home in the country; the witch is the witch in the Lion, the Witch and the Ward Robe p.195