Bring on the tough stuff - there’s not just one right answer.
- Do you think that our world is a battleground for the forces of Good and Evil in the same clear-cut way that Narnia is the site of contention between Aslan and the Witch? Why might it be more difficult to understand what is "right" or "good" in our world than it is in Narnia?
- Why are children the main characters in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe? Why couldn't adults travel to Narnia, fight for Aslan, and be crowned Kings and Queens at Cair Paravel?
- Can non-Christian readers appreciate The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe? Do readers need to agree with C.S. Lewis's religious views in order to enjoy the story? Why or why not?
- Which of the four Pevensie children are you most like – Peter, Susan, Edmund, or Lucy? Why?
- Why do you think C.S. Lewis chose to depict his allegorical version of Jesus Christ as a lion? What symbolic associations or connotations does the lion have that make it a useful figure in this context? (Bible School Bonus: find a Biblical passage that refers to Christ as a lion.)
- Why does the narrative of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe follow Aslan, Lucy, and Susan as they rescue the people turned into statues, leaving Peter and Edmund to fight the battle "offstage"? What makes the rescue party more interesting and important to C.S. Lewis than the army? What happens to the story when adaptations make the battle more important? (Film Buff Bonus: compare the descriptions of the battle in Chapters 16-17 with the battle scene in the 2005 film adaptation.)
- What kinds of creatures and animals are always good in Narnia? Which ones are always bad? Which seem to have free will? Why does C.S. Lewis create all these associations?
- How is Aslan's sacrifice similar to Christ's crucifixion? How are they different? What do you make of the differences? (Try comparing and contrasting Chapter 15 of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe with Mark 15-16 or one of the other Biblical accounts of the crucifixion.)
- Why is the Witch pale and cold? Why does she bother to make it always winter in Narnia?
- What do you think of Father Christmas's claim that "battles are ugly when women fight"? Do you agree with the gender roles assigned to the Pevensie children in Narnia – Peter and Edmund as soldiers, Susan and Lucy as aides and comforters?