How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Page)
Quote #1
She now realized that Scrubb had some excuse for looking white, for no cliff in our world is to be compared with this. Imagine yourself at the top of the very highest cliff you know. And imagine yourself looking down at the very bottom. And then imagine that the precipice goes on below that, as far again, ten times as far, twenty times as far. (1.15)
Lewis pulls this move over and over again in The Silver Chair: Think of the ____ thing you know from our world and then make it bigger/taller/grander/scarier. It's a classic maneuver used by fantasy writers since the beginning of the genre. Why? Because they're creating a world that no one has ever experienced before, so there really are no comparison. At this moment, Jill's bravado isn't going to hold up. That's one high cliff.
Quote #2
Some huge, brightly colored animal had rushed to the edge of the cliff. It was lying down, leaning over; and (this was the odd thing) blowing. Not roaring or snorting, but just blowing from its wide-opened mouth [… Jill] was lying still because she couldn't get up. She was nearly fainting; indeed, she wished she could really faint, but faints don't come for the asking. (1.17)
If you've read the other books in the Chronicles of Narnia, you might be so familiar with the idea of Aslan that you're not so bowled over by him now. But if you put yourself in Jill's shoes, you might see why she'd like to forget what she's seeing. Aslan is not just any lion; he's a big as a "young elephant" and has a way of getting right to a person's soul with his gaze. Awe is a good word in this scenario, especially if you recall that it can also mean dread.
Quote #3
On the far side of the lawn, its weather-vanes glittering in the light, rose a many-towered and many-turreted castle; the most beautiful castle Jill had ever seen. (3.33)
Narnia is a classic fairy tale land, so we would be disappointed not to see a beautiful castle. Since Jill is from England and has probably seen her share of cool castles, Lewis had to up the ante and make Cair Paravel the most beautiful one in existence.