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4
Lesson 4
Chapter 2: What Lucy Found There
Reading Directions:
For today's lesson, read Chapter 2
("What Lucy Found There")
of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
Mixing Myths:
Considering the remarkable situation in which she has suddenly found herself, Lucy behaves with great composure and confidence. She has just stumbled into a strange new world, through a wardrobe, and found herself face-to-face with a fanciful creature. Instead of recoiling in horror, she treats the Faun with courtesy and respect, and soon strikes up a pleasant conversation.
Hold on--before we go any further: what, exactly, is a Faun?
A Faun is a magical woodland creature from Roman mythology. They have the upper body of a human, but the legs, hoofs, and tail of a goat. Oh, and two horns on their head.
Lucy soon learns the Faun's name is Mr. Tumnus, and that he is just as surprised to see her (calling her a "Daughter of Eve") as she is to see him. The Faun invites her back to his home, and soon they are sharing a pleasant tea.
Tumnus the Faun is just one of the many mythical creatures C. S. Lewis weaves into the world of Narnia. As you learned, Lewis was a literary scholar, a Professor of Medieval and Renaissance Literature, and was especially fond of classical mythology. In his story, Mr. Tumnus mentions magical aspects of Narnia that are drawn from Greek and Roman mythology: nymphs, dryads, and Bacchus, a classical Greek god who promoted civilization, agriculture, and general merrymaking. As you continue to read The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, be on the lookout for more classical references.
What does Mr. Tumnus mean when he refers to Lucy as a “Daughter of Eve”? Clearly, Mr. Tumnus is not used to seeing human beings in the land of Narnia. He even has a book on his shelf entitled Is Man a Myth? As this whimsical title indicates, Narnia is a magical world in which the typical order of things is reversed. In our world, a Faun is considered a mythical creature: you would certainly be surprised if you ran into one tomorrow morning. But in Narnia, it is humans who are the object of myth.
From Realization to Repentance:
As he gets deeper and deeper into his story, Mr. Tumnus begins to tell Lucy about the White Witch. Weeping, Mr. Tumnus confesses that he was supposed to spy for the evil White Witch, and turn Lucy in to her. But now that he has met a Daughter of Eve, and been treated so well, Mr. Tumnus changes his mind.
After talking with Lucy, and realizing what he was about to do, Mr. Tumnus becomes overwhelmed with guilt and breaks down. After fully grasping the consequences of his plan, Mr. Tumnus feels deeply sorry, and decides to change his mind. Has this ever happened to you? Can you think of a moment when you finally realized what you had done (or were about to do), and then repented of your actions?
In the Psalms, David confesses similar feelings, saying, “My guilt has overwhelmed me like a burden too heavy to bear.” (
Psalm 38:4) Like David, Tumnus realizes that he is in error, and humbles himself in repentance.
Map of Narnia
Click to enlarge
Parents and teachers are always encouraging us to be polite and treat others with courtesy and respect. This can get tiresome, especially when we are upset or cranky, but it is always important. In Lucy’s case, her polite behavior not only won her a new friend, but also saved her from a treacherous plot. What lesson can we learn from this? Can you think of a time when you realized how important it is to be courteous?
After wishing Mr. Tumnus a pleasant evening, Lucy returns through the wardrobe, having been gone for quite some time. She worries that her siblings will be very concerned about finding her, and rushes back, announcing: “’I’ve come back, I’m all right.’”
Creating maps of Narnia is a favorite pastime of C. S. Lewis enthusiasts. You can view the official map above.
Now that you’ve seen what Narnia looks like, take some time and make a map of your own. For this assignment, you have two choices (you can choose either—or both!)
- Using the official map as a guide, draw your own Map of Narnia. If you’ve read the stories before, and can figure out the lay of the land, fill in some of the other events you’re familiar with.
- Create a “magical land” of your own, and draw a map of it. Be sure to give your land a name, and label all of the parts of it: mountain ranges, seas, lakes, roads—you get the idea.
