The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

By C.S. Lewis

Grades 5-7; Genre – Fantasy; GRL T; AR pts: 6.0

Air-raids over London during WWII compel four siblings – Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy – to be sent away from the city to the house of a kindly but remote Professor “who lived in the heart of the country.” There is much to discover in the country, but the children will soon discover that the Professor’s large house, staffed by three servants, holds even more mystery, including a room which holds nothing but a large wardrobe, which Lucy opens one rainy day, never dreaming that the wardrobe is a passageway into a place called Narnia.

Vocabulary Words

Writing Prompts

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

1. Why did the children get sent to this big house in the country? It was during WWII and all of the children were sent away from the city to the country for protection p. 3
2. How did Lucy find the dark snowy world with the lamp post? She went into the wardrobe and kept feeling for the grain of the wood that should have been the back of it and instead she found herself touching branches and cold air with snow falling on her p.8
3. Describe a Faun to me. A strange person, a little taller than Lucy, from the waist up a man, but his legs were shaped like a goat’s with goat hoofs for feet, he had a tail, pleasant face with pointed beard, curly hair and two horns one on each side of his forehead p.9

Chapter 2

1. What did it mean when the Faun asked Lucy if she was a Daughter of Eve? If she was a human; Did she come from earth where Adam and Eve were the first parents p.11
2. What did Mr. Tumnus need to do for the White Witch? If he saw a Daughter of Eve or Son of Adam he needed to hold onto them and give them to her p.19
3. What happened to Lucy? Mr. Tumnus decided he couldn’t turn her over to the White Witch, so helped her get back to the lamp post and she found her way to the wardrobe p.22

Chapter 3

1. Why was Lucy so unhappy about her brothers and sister thinking she was making up her story about Narnia? She was an honest person and she didn’t like people to think she was lying p. 26
2. What happened to Edmund in this chapter? He saw Lucy go into the wardrobe, followed her, and found himself in Narnia. He couldn’t find Lucy, but heard sleigh bells and met a woman on the sleigh who called herself the queen p.28

Chapter 4

1. Who is the woman on the sledge? The White Witch p.34
2. What did the queen do to help Edmund feel comfortable? Wrap him in her mantle, gave him a warm drink, gave him Turkish Delight p.42
3. What do you think made Edmund sick? The Turkish Delight; knowing he was on the side of the White Witch; having to tell his siblings the truth about Narnia p. 43

Chapter 5

1. Describe to me the part of the story when Peter and Susan go talk to the Professor about Lucy. He listened and then asked, “how do you know your sister’s story isn’t true?”; he gave them a few reasons to help them understand Lucy: she’s lying, she’s mad or she’s telling the truth; he told them all to mind their own business p.51
2. What made all the children climb into the wardrobe? Mrs. Macready was giving a tour of the house to some visitors and they were supposed to stay out of the way; that was the only place they could hide until the tourists were out of the Wardrobe Room p.53

Chapter 6

1. When the children got to Mr. Tumnus’ house what did they find? The door torn off the hinges and broken into bits; dishes broken; like it hadn’t been lived in for days; a note saying he had been taken by the queen for treason p.57
2. What was Edmund’s concern as the children followed the robin? If the robin was helping them or leading them into a trap p.61

Chapter 7

1. How did the children know the beaver was a friend? he gave them the same white handkerchief to them that Lucy had given to Mr. Tumnus p.67
2. Who do you think is Aslan? Listen to your child’s answer p.67
3. Tell me about Edmund. He is grumpy; feels picked on by Peter; is mean and selfish p.70
4. How do you think the children felt about being in the home of the Beavers’? happy, full, content, safe p.75

Chapter 8

1. Who is Aslan? The King; the Lord of the whole wood; he’ll take care of the White Witch; the great Lion p.78
2. Why is it so important for the children to go to the Stone Table and meet Aslan? To begin doing things; to help Mr. Tumnus; to help get rid of the White Witch p.80
3. Why would Edmund betray them all? He is under the White Witch’s spell; he wants Turkish Delight and to be a King p.85

Chapter 9

1. Tell me about Edmund’s journey to the White Witch’s castle. It was snowing, cold and the sky grew dark; it was slippery, rocky and he tripped over tree stumps; the snow stopped falling and it got windy, but the moon came out so Edmund could see. He finally made it and didn’t want to go in, but knew he couldn’t’ go back at this point p.88
2. Why do you think the White Witch turned the creatures in her courtyard to stone?  Listen to your child’s answer; they had displeased her p.96
3. What did Edmund tell the queen when he was brought to her? His siblings were at the Beaver’s home; Aslan has returned p.99

Chapter 10 

1. Why was it important for them all to see Father Christmas? What did it mean? That Aslan is on the move; the witch’s magic is weakening p.107
2. What were the presents Father Christmas shared with the children? Peter a sword and shield; Susan a horn and bow with arrows; Lucy a cordial and dagger p.108
3. Why didn’t Father Christmas want Susan or Lucy to be a part of the battle? Battles are ugly when women fight p.109

Chapter 11

1. Why weren’t the wolves able to find the children or the Beavers’ during the night? The scent was cold and snow had covered up their tracks p.113
2. What happened to the merry party eating a feast when the witch and Edmund rode up in the sledge? The Witch turned them to stone for being traitors p.116
3. What was happening to the world around them as Edmund, the dwarf and the witch were walking to the Stone Table? It was turning to spring; birds were chirping; flowers were blooming; grass was growing p.120

Chapter 12

1. Describe to me what the Stone Table looked like. Large slab of gray stone that was supported by four upright stones; it was cut all over with strange lines and figures that might have been letters to an unknown language.125
2. What made Susan blow her horn? They were being attacked and needed Aslan and Peter to come back p.130
3. Why were the wolves attacking them? The witch had ordered them to kill the children p.131

Chapter 13

1. How did the Witch and dwarf escape from Aslans’ rescue party? They turned into a stump and boulder p.138
2. When the Witch came and spoke with Aslan and the others, what did she demand? That she has a right to have Edmund since he had been a traitor p.142
3. What do you think Aslan and the Witch spoke about when he asked everyone to back up so he could speak to her alone? Listen to your child p.143

Chapter 14

1. Why weren’t Susan and Lucy able to sleep at the first of the chapter? They had a horrible feeling p.147
2. Who was all gathered at the Stone Table that night? Crowd of people; ogres; wolves; bull-headed men and other creatures; the White Witch p.150
3. Tell me what happened to Aslan at the Stone Table? The White Witch had him tied up and had his mane shaved off; the creatures spit on him, kicked him, hit him, jeered at him; the White Witch killed him p.154

Chapter 15

1. What did the mice do to help free Aslan from the cords? They chewed them loose p.159
2. What brought Aslan back to life? A deeper magic than the Witch’s magic; He knew that the spell she cast to kill him meant the Stone Table would crack and death would work backward since he had willingly given up his life p.163
3. Did you imagine yourself riding on a lion with silent padded feet, going faster than a horse, flying in the wind? What do you think it would be like? Listen to your child’s answers p.165

Chapter 16

1. How did Aslan bring the statues back to life? He breathed on them p.167
2. Who was Lucy most excited to see come back to life? Mr. Tumnus p.171
3. When Aslan reached the battle, who did he attack first? The White Witch p.177

Chapter 17

1. How did Edmund smash the Witch’s wand? He defeated 3 ogres to get to her and used his sword to smash her wand p.178
2. What did Lucy’s cordial do for Edmund and others that were wounded from the battle with the Witch’s army? Heal them p.179
3. Why did Susan feel that she nor Lucy should tell Edmund what Aslan did for him? It would make him feel terrible p.180
4. How did the children come upon the old lamp post? They were chasing a white stag p.185