Matt Jones' Random Acts of Verbiage

C.S. Lewis' The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

The other week I continued my read through Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia with The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (See the bottom of this post to my blog posts on all the books of the series).

This is another lovely story from the land of Narnia. This time Lucy and Edmund, along with their cousin Eustace, take an adventrue over the sea with King Caspian. One of the cool things in this book is the transformation of Eustace from a pompus little boy to a courageous friend to Narnia. This book also brings a lovely end to Reepicheep as he sails off into the great East and the Land of Aslan. The Dawn Treader takes many adventures out at sea and meets up with various lands and peoples.

As per usual, there are many great moments that Lewis shares. I want to highlight three.

Read more…

Last night I finished the fourth in the Chronicles of Narnia series: Prince Caspian (see the bottom of this post for links to my blog posts on the other books in the series).

The story takes place some hundreds (even thousands) of years after LWW, at least in Narnia. The Pevensies have aged a year when they are pulled back to Narnia with the call of Susan’s horn to help out Prince Caspian regain control of the land for Old Narnia and cast out the wicked Telmarines who (centuries ago) had gone to war and kicked out those of Old Narnia. The two Kings and two Queens of Old come with the aid of Aslan and wake up many creatures that had been sleeping for ages to win the battle at take back Narnia for those who would rule justly.

I enjoyed the scene before Aslan returns:

Lucy woke out of the deepest sleep you can imagine, with the feeling that the voice she liked best in the world had be calling her name.

Wouldn’t that be a lovely way to wake?

I love the character Reepicheep because (I think like Gimli from LOTR) he thinks he is much larger than he actually is (being a mouse and all). When his tail is cut off in battle his followers offer to do the same to show their love of their commander, Aslan decides to step in:

“Ah!” roared Aslan. “You have conquered me. You have great hearts. Not for the sake of your dignity, Reepicheep, but for the love that is between you and your people, and still more for the kindness your people showed me long ago when you ate away the cords that bound me on the Stone Table, you shall have your tail again.”

After it is affirmed that he is from the same line as the wicked Telmarines, King Caspian talks with Aslan:

“I was wishing that I came of a more honorable lineage.”

“You come of the Lord Adam and the Lady Eve,” said Aslan. “And that is both honor enough to erect the head of the poorest beggar, and shame enough to bow the shoulders of the greatest emperor on earth. Be content.”

More profound words from Jack!

Next up will be The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, but I think I will be taking a break from Narnia to read the second of Stephen King’s Dark Tower series: The Drawing of the Three. Almost Christmas! Whoo hoo!

-Matt Jones

My blog posts on The Chronicles of Narnia series:

After picking up The Chronicles of Narnia series again over the summer, yesterday I finally read The Horse and His Boy, the third in the lovely series. (See the bottom of this post for links to my blog posts on all the books of the series.)

The story centers on Shasta (who is actually Prince Cor of Archenland) and the (Talking) Horse Bree who was kidnapped from Narnia and their journey across the Calormen desert to castle Anvard. This all takes place in the golden age of Narnia during the rule of the two sons of Adam and two daughters of Eve. This is a wonderful story of adventure, growth, and trust. Of course, Aslan brings everything together as someone who is soverign and in control, sometimes when the characters know it and at other times they have no idea.

At one scene Bree was denying the possibility of Aslan’s physical nature as Lion when Aslan then appeared before him:

“Aslan,” said Bree in a shaken voice, “I’m afraid I must be rather a fool.”

[Aslan responds,] “Happy the Horse who knows that while he is still young. Or the Human either.”

Humm, pretty profound I think.

Great book and wonderful addition to Narnia! Now it’s time for Prince Caspian. Go read up.

-Matt Jones

My blog posts on The Chronicles of Narnia series:

I believe that if a writer is writing out of his own truth, then the reader is going to learn from that truth; it need not and should not be didactic, but it is nevertheless teaching, and I am greatful for it… the best way for me to learn has always been in coming across a writer’s shared truth in story. (Madeleine L’Engle in the foreword to Paul Ford’s Companion to Narnia)

I finished Lewis’ The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe late last night and now I am even more ready for the film to come out. I am really glad I read The Magician’s Nephew first as it sets a good foundation for Narnia as well as Aslan. (See the bottom of this post for links to my blog posts for all the books of the series.)

I recommend that everyone go out right now and pick these books up. They are a quick read but filled with lovely imagery and pure truth.

Wrong will be right, when Aslan comes in sight,
At the sound of his roar, sorrows will be no more,
When he bares his teeth, winter meets its death,
And when he shakes his mane, we shall have spring again.

Looks like the setup for a pretty intense story. There is also talk by the children about Aslan that I think I have often expressed about following Jesus.

“Is he – quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion.” [said Susan about Aslan]

“…if there’s anyone who can appear before Aslan without their knees knocking, they’re either braver than most or else justsilly..” [said Mrs. Beaver]

“Then he isn’t safe?” said Lucy.

“Safe?” said Mr. Beaver; “don’t you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”

Walking with Jesus is not safe. He is not safe. His call on us is large. But He is good. He is King.

After the tear jerking moment of the sacrifice of Aslan on the Stone Table we are left with Lucy and Susan looking down on Cair Paravel:

At that moment they heard from behind them a loud noise – a great cracking, deafening noise as if a giant had broken a giant’s plate.

…

The rising of the sun has made everything look so different – all colors and shadows were changed – that for a moment they didn’t see the important thing. Then they did. The Stone Table was broken into two pieces by a great crack that ran down it from end to end; and there was no Aslan

And Aslan was back. This passage makes me think of Mark:

And Jesus uttered a loud cry, and breathed His last. And the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. (Mark 15.37-38)

How is that for authority?

And lastly, one of my favorite passages again comes from Aslan before he rescues the statues and charges into battle:

“And now,” said Aslan presently, “to business. I feel I am going to roar. You had better put your fingers in your ears.”

And they did. And Aslan stood up and when he opened his mouth to roar he face became so terrible that they did not dare look at it. And they saw all the trees in front of him bend before the blast of his roaring as grass bends in a meadow before the wind.

Now come on, how intense is that? (I really look forward to seeing that on the big screen – my imagination isn’t always as good and big and loud as Cinerama )

I really want to contine the series (next up is The Horse and His Boy) but I think I should probably get reading for the Family book and Cd/Dvd exchange! This month I am reading A River Runs Through It by Norman Maclean. Time to get reading!

Shalom

My blog posts on The Chronicles of Narnia series:

It has been many years (since I was a little kid in fact) since I have read C.S. Lewis’ The Chrinicles of Narnia so I picked up Book 1 – The Magician’s Nephew – and read it today. This book is such a beautiful beginning to Clive’s masterpiece. It reminded me a lot of Tolkien’s Silmarillion as far as the Cosmogonic creation narrative goes, very artistic indeed. (See the bottom of this post for links to my blog posts on all the books in the series.)

The age old battle of good versus evil is clearly setup with Aslan as the caring Lion and Jadis as the cruel and self centered sorceress queen. It was also great to see the creation of Narnia, the coronation of the King and Queen, and the creation of the wardrobe. This first installment makes me really excited for reading the next 6 books!

I like how Lewis includes humor in creation as a good thing.

Laugh and fear not, creatures [says Aslan]. Now that you are no longer dumb and witless, you need not always be grave. For jokes as well as justice come in with speech.

Even God appreciates a good joke.

The portrayal of Aslan’s character is exemplified by two passages. The first relates to the young boy, Digory, and his concern for his sick and dying mother.

“But please, please – won’t you – can’t you give me something that will cure mother?” Up till then he had been looking at the Lion’s great feet and the huge claws on them; now, in his dispair, he looked up at its face. What he saw surprised him as much as anything in his whole life. For the tawny face was bent down near his own and (wonder of wonders) great shining tears stood in the Lion’s eyes. They were such big, bright tears compared with Digory’s own that for a moment he felt as if the Lion must really be sorrier about his Mother than he was himself.

Made me cry reading that part, especially when you know how concerned Digory is and realize that Aslan is even more so. The second example comes a few pages before the first.

“You see, friends,” he [Aslan] said, “that before the new, clean world I gave you is seven hours old, a force of evil has already entered it; waked and brough hither by this son of Adam.” The Beasts, even Strawberry, all turned their eyes on Digory till he felt that he wished the gound would swallow him up. “But do not be cast down,” said Aslan, still speaking to the Beasts. “Evil will come of that evil, but it is still a long way off, and I will see to it that the worst falls upon myself.

The allusion to Christ and his sacrifice is obvious, but what I find interesting is that Aslan, as Christ, seems to make that comment in passing. Seems to assume that it is a given that he will carry that burden and suffer the ramifications of the evil brought by man. This is Aslan and really sets up that character for the future books very well.

I went to see Star Wars: Episode III: Revenge of the Sith again at Cinerama but this time was greeted with a wonderful surprise: they played the Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe trailer! I had seen it on the computer, but was just blown away, even got chills, seeing it on the big screen. This movie is going to be a thing a beauty. I might go see Star Wars again just to see the trailer… (and I guess Star Wars was pretty cool too the second time…)

Time for Book 2 – The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
Shalom

My blog posts on The Chronicles of Narnia series: