The Magician's Nephew         Book One
 

Chapter One	The Wrong Door
Chapter Two	Digory and His Uncle
Chapter Three	The Wood Between the Worlds
Chapter Four	The Bell and the Hammer
Chapter Five	The Deplorable Word
Chapter Six	The Beginning of Andrew’s Troubles
Chapter Seven	What Happened at the Front Door
Chapter Eight	The Fight at the Lamp Post
Chapter Nine	The Founding of Narnia
Chapter Ten	The First Joke and Other Matters
Chapter Eleven	Digory and His Uncle are in Trouble
Chapter Twelve	Strawberry’s Adventure
Chapter Thirteen	An Unexpected Meeting
Chapter Fourteen	The Planting of the Tree
Chapter Fifteen	The End of This Story and the Beginning of All Others

 
   Chapter One - The Wrong Door

This story happened long ago.  Polly, a girl from London meets a boy.  Digory is his name.  He has to stay
with his Aunt and "mad" uncle (If his uncle is truly mad I don’t know).  His uncle tries to say something to
him at the end of meals; his aunt doesn’t let his uncle say anything.  His mother is sick.  He thinks that his
uncle keeps someone in his (uncle’s) study.  Digory finds a tunnel.  He discusses things with Polly (who is
never called her).  Polly wrote a story.  They want to go to the abandoned house.  That house is beside
Digory’s house.  Polly’s dad thinks that the house is empty because of the drains. They did a sum to see
how big a house was; (they were in a hurry).  They open a door.  When they opened the door they met an
indoor light (gas).  Polly went in.  There is a strange humming noise.  Polly thinks no one is there.
Digory’s uncle is there.  His uncle sys that he must give a ring to Polly.  Polly says that she must go home
for supper.  The uncle gives Polly a ring.  Polly vanishes.

The following questions and activity together are worth five marks.

       Questions (worth one mark each)

1. Who met a boy?
 
 
 

2. What was his name?
 
 
 

3. Who has the "mad" uncle?
 
 
 

4. Why do you think the book is called "The Magician’s Nephew"?
 
 
 

Activities

Pretend you are Polly.  Write a story about your adventures and one about anything else.
 
 

        Polly is in another world.  Digory’s uncle has a godmother named Mrs. Lefay.  Mrs. Lefay told
Andrew (the uncle) to get her a box.  Mrs. Lefay was thrown in prison.  Andrew said "But of course you
must understand that rules of that sort, however excellent they may be for little boys- and servants- and
women- and even people in general, can’t possibly be expected to apply to profound students and great
thinkers and sages." Digory thought that his uncle was wrong; he was correct.  Andrew was (possibly) the
last man to have a fairy godmother.  The box was from Atlantis.  The box held dust.  Andrew is mean.
Andrew wouldn’t think of going "out of this world", it would be dangerous!" he says.  But he sent Polly
there.  Andrew says "Green rings bring you back"; and that Digory must go.  Digory knows that Andrew is
mean.  Digory goes to Polly.  Polly might be eaten for dinner.  Andrew will tell Polly’s mother that she will
never return if Digory doesn’t go.

       Questions (worth one mark each)
 

1. Where is Polly.

2. What is Uncle Andrew?
 

3. Who knows this?
 

4. Where does Digory go?
 

Activities:

    Make "Rules of that Sort" (Ones that don't need to be obeyed.)
 

    Digory came to the wood.  He could actually feel the trees grow.  "It was rich as plumcake."  Digory
forgot everything.  Polly is there.  They remember each other (like in a dream).  The find a guinea pig.
They remember everything.  They decide to go partway back.  They forgot to change rings.  Digory wants
to go in other pools.  They figure out the wood.  Digory was an explorer.  Polly was not. Polly was going to
shout "Change".  They did it.  They almost forgot to mark the home pool.  They did the ring thing again.
Uncle Andrew knew nothing about the rings.  They went to another world.
 

       Questions (worth one mark each)

1. Where are they?
 
2. What does Andrew know about the rings?

3. What did they almost forget to mark?

4. What did Polly shout?

Activities

Make up your own world. (Like new continents, landforms, etc.)

        They are in another world.  They are in a castle courtyard.  They are in ruins.  There is no life
there.  Digory thinks that Polly is scared.  Polly is not scared.  They must be quiet.  Digory wants to go
back to the wood.  They found statues.  They thought that the statues were people.  Polly took the lead.
The statues looked like kings and queens.  Digory knew that the room was full of magic.  They saw a lot of
statues.  They read some writing.  The writing says: "Make your choice, adventurous stranger; Strike the
bell and bide the danger, or wonder, till it drives you mad, What would have followed if you had."  Polly
doesn’t want to hit the bell.  Digory wants to hit the bell.  Digory hit the bell.  Polly cried.  Polly thought
the adventure was over.  Polly was Wrong.

       Questions (worth one mark each)

1. What is there none of there?

2. What did the writing say?

3. What did they see?

4. What was Polly wrong about?

        Activities

Pretend you are Andrew, write of the adventures so far.
 

        A statue stood up.  She (the statue) asks, "Who has broken the spell?"  She says that Digory isn’t a
great magician.  Digory says it was his uncle who led hem here.  Miss Statue and Digory and Polly leave.
The palace ruins crumble.  She turned the doors to dust. They were outside.  The air was cold and stale.
The sun was dying.  The city they look on was Charn.  The statue’s name is Jadis.  Jadis knew the
deplorable word.  Jadis said the word.  Everyone died.  She said the same as Andrew (read chapter 2 again).
Their world is younger than Charn.  Jadis wants to go to their world.  Jadis wants to take over our world.
Andrew isn’t a king.  They are in the wood.  Jadis is pulling Polly’s hair.
 

       Questions (worth one mark each)

1. Where are they?

2. Who did they meet there?

3. What did she say?

4. Andrew is not a son of a _______.

Activities

Pretend you are Jadis, write your adventures. (the story of __ ).
 

        Jadis is a Witch.  Jadis is pale in the wood.  "Help!" cried Jadis.  Jadis held on to Digory.  Uncle
Andrew stared at Miss Statue (Jadis).  Digory thought that Uncle Andrew wasn’t a magician compared with
the statue.  Uncle Andrew explained to Miss Statue that he was the magician.  Uncle Andrew is scared of
Miss Statue.  Uncle Andrew is not of royal blood.  Uncle Andrew thinks that Polly and Digory were
naughty. Uncle Andrew is a peddling magician.  Miss Statue wants a dragon or whatever is for noble
people.  Miss Statue is ignoring Polly and Digory.  Miss Statue should have brought a whip.  Polly is going
home by the tunnel. Digory is sorry.  Uncle Andrew drank some brandy.  Uncle Andrew got dressed up.
Uncle Andrew loves Miss Statue.  Uncle Andrew is getting money from Aunt Letty.  Uncle Andrew is
entertaining Miss Statue.  Miss Statue came in.
 
       Questions (worth one mark each)

1. Jadis is a  _________.
 

2. Jadis is a __________    in the wood.

3. Uncle Andrew is a  ___________  magician.

4. Why is the book called "The Magician’s Nephew"?

Activities

Compare Miss Statue to other rulers.

        Letty wants to know who Miss Statue is.  Miss Statue tried to turn Letty to dust.  Miss Statue
threw Letty like a mad child would throw a doll.  The cab arrived.  Miss Statue is loose in London.  Letty
fell on a mattress.  Digory thought that the policemen must be dust by now.  Digory watched at the
window.  Polly was grounded for 2 hours.  Polly was in bed.  Digory was tired.  Digory’s mom needs bruit
from the fountain of youth.  Digory saw Miss Statue riding on a carriage.  The horse looked mad.  People
thought this jolly fun.  Uncle Andrew got out of a ruined cab.  Jadis is strong.  Uncle Andrew tries to get
his hat off.  Uncle Andrew wants brandy.  Digory tries to get Miss Statue back to the wood.  The cabby
tries to calm the horse.  The Cabby thinks Jadis wants tea.

       Questions (worth one mark each)

1. Polly was ____________  for ______  hours.
2. Miss Statue tried to turn Letty into _________.
3. Digory tries to get whom back to the wood?
4. Who is Miss Statue?

Activities

Make a fruit salad.
 
 

        Miss Statue bowed.  The people laughed.  Miss Statue hurt Digory.  They went to the wood.
(Including Uncle Andrew, the Cabby, Polly, Digory, Miss Statue, and the horse – Strawberry who took a
drink.) They put on the green rings.  They are not in Charn.  They are in nothing.  They might be dead.
They sang a hymn.  Uncle Andrew wants to leave.  A voice is singing.  There is light.  The singer was a
lion.  It is nice there.  The magic is rings.  The song changed.

       Questions (worth one mark each)

1. What did Miss Statue do?
2. What is the horse’s name?
3. They sang a ________.
4. What is the singer?

Activities

Make up a ruler for your made up country / world.
 

        Grass grew.  Trees grew.  Uncle Andrew tried to steal a ring.  Flowers grew.  The song is out of
the lion’s head.  The witch threw the bar at the lion.  The witch ran from the lion.  The bar did not hurt the
lion.  Strawberry has sense.  Andrew wants to go home.  A Lamp Post grew from the bar.  It was lit.  Uncle
Andrew wanted to make railroads grow there.  Digory wants to help his mother.  Andrew doesn’t like the
lion, Digory does.  The lion is singing.  Animals came from the earth.  The earth was bubbling like boiling
water in a pot.   The animals were noisy.  The lion gathered some animals.  There was silence.  The big
animals grew smaller and the small animals grew larger.  The lion breathed.   The lion said: "Narnia,
Narnia, Narnia, awake, Love.  Think.  Speak.  Be walking trees. Be talking beasts.  Be divine waters."

       Questions (worth one mark each)

1. What grew?
2. The witch threw what at the lion?
3. There was ___________.
4. What did the lion say?

Activities

Make an enemy for your make believe country / world.
 

        "We know." The people said and Strawberry said "But please, we don’t know very much yet." A
jackdaw said "No fear!".  The last statement was in silence.  It was funny.  The jackdaw was the first joke.
The cabby, Digory, and Polly need to talk to Strawberry.  "An evil has entered Narnia." said Aslan.  The
crowd thought that Aslan said than a Neevil or Weevil had entered Narnia.  The rabbit thinks that Polly,
Digory, and the cabby are lettuce.  Strawberry explains.  England was all stones.  Strawberry had to pull a
black thing (a cab) behind him.  Strawberry wants sugar.  The animals sight Andrew.  Digory is going to
see Aslan (the lion).  The animals are going to see Andrew.  Andrew thought that Aslan only roared.
Andrew thought that the beasts were hungry when they laughed.  The animals chased Andrew.  Andrew
might be a Neevil.  Andrew thought that the animals are trying to eat him.  He can’t hear the animals speak.

       Questions (worth one mark each)

1. We  _______.  (The people said)
2. What was the jackdaw?
3. Strawberry wants _________.
4. Who can’t Andrew hear?

Activities

Make up words that rhyme with evil.

        Uncle Andrew doesn’t look like Digory, Polly, or the cabby.  Uncle Andrew fainted.  The warthog
thinks that Andrew is a tree.  The bulldog thinks that the warthog is wrong.  The animals argue about what
Andrew is.  Andrew had tried to speak.  They decide to plant Andrew.  The elephant squirts water on him.
Andrew woke up.  Digory is face to face with Aslan.  Digory brought the witch to Narnia.  Digory told this
to Aslan.  Adam will help heal the hurt of the witch.  Aslan talks to Polly, Digory, and the cabby.  The
cabby wants to live there with his wife.  The cabby’s wife looks nice.  She curtsied.  They are to be king
and queen.  He can rule.  He can raise a garden. He will be king.

       Questions (worth one mark each)

1. Uncle Andrew __________.
2. Who argues about what Andrew is?
3. Andrew _______   ___.
4. The cabby’s wife _______________.

Activities

Make cities for your country / world.

        Digory is ready to undo the wrong he did.  Digory wants Aslan to help his mother.  "I see terribly
big mountains, Aslan, I see this river coming down cliffs in a waterfall. And beyond that cliff, there are
high green hills with forests.  And beyond those there are higher ranges that look almost black.  And then,
far away, there are big snowy mountains all heaped up together" like pictures of the Alps.  And behind
those there is nothing but the sky." Said Digory.  He needs to find a green valley with a blue lake in it,
walled round by mountains of ice.  At the end of the lake there is a steep green hill.  On the top of that hill
there is a garden.  In the center of that garden is a tree.  Pluck an apple from that tree and bring it back to
Aslan.  Fledge (Strawberry) is a winged horse! "Come on, hurrah" said Fledge.  Polly goes with them.  The
elephant doesn’t want to go.  They leave.  They see Narnia and Archenland.  Fledge zigzags.  Polly and
Digory eat toffee.  They heard something.  They planted toffee.
 
       Questions (worth one mark each)

1. ______________ is a winged horse.
2. What did he ( #1) say?
3. They planted __________.
4. They ate ____________.

Activities

Make up heroes for your country / world.
 

        They ate toffee fruit for breakfast.  They flew of on Fledge.  They came to the hill and climbed it.
Digory went into the garden.  Digory was tempted to eat an apple.  The witch knew why he came.  The
apple would heal his mother.  Digory need not take Polly back to earth.  Digory could have been young
always.  He handed Aslan the apple.
 
         Questions (worth one mark each)

1. What did they come to?
2. What did they do to ( #1)?
3. Who would the apple heal?
4. Who does Digory not need to take back to earth?

Activities

Pretend you are Fledge and write the story of your adventures.

        Digory planted the apple.  Uncle Andrew woke up.  The animals tried to feed Uncle Andrew.
Uncle Andrew was called "Brandy" by the animals.  Uncle Andrew is asleep.  The dwarfs and the Moles
make crowns.  The tree from the apple will guard Narnia.  The witch minds the tree because she ate an
apple the wrong way.  Digory’s mother will be well and happy.
 
       Questions (worth one mark each)

1. What did the animals name Uncle Andrew?
2. What did they make for the King and Queen?
3. Who made it?
4. Why can’t the witch come into Narnia?

Activities

Make a "guard" for your country / world.

        They are not evil yet.  They are back in London.  Digory went to his mother.  She ate the apple.
They bury the rings.  They moved to the country.  There was magic in the little tree from the apple
Digory’s mother ate.  Digory made a wardrobe from the wood of the tree.  That wardrobe is the wardrobe
from the Lion (Aslan), the Witch (Jadis), and the Wardrobe (Digory’s Wardrobe).
 
       Questions (worth one mark each)

1. Who did Digory go to?
2. What did (#!) eat?
3. What happened because of (#2)?
4. What did Digory make out of the tree?

Activities

Make a link between your world and this world.