Wednesday, November 28, 2018

The Silver Chair

Book:The Silver Chair
Basic Information : Synopsis : Characters : Expectations : Thoughts : Evaluation : Book Group : New Words: Good Quotes : Table of Contents : References

Basic Information:
Author: CS Lewis
Edition: Paperback
Publisher: Collier Books
ISBN: 0064405044 (ISBN13: 9780064405041)
I have read this book many times.
Start Date: November 21, 2018
Read Date: November 28, 2018
243 pages
Genre: Fiction, Fantasy, Christianity
Language Warning: None
Rated Overall: 4 out of 5


Religion: Christianity
Religious Quality: 4 out of 5
Christianity-Teaching Quality: 4 out of 5


Fiction-Tells a good story: 3 out of 5
Fiction-Character development: 4 out of 5


Synopsis (Caution: Spoiler Alert-Jump to Thoughts):
This is the fourth in the Narnian series of CS Lewis. As such, you have talking beasts and personified evil, along with Aslan. If you are not familiar with Naria, go to the Reference section and look at the Fandom site.

Eustice, who has been in Narnia before, and Jill who has not, are being bullied at a school. They wish to go into Eustace’s other world and then go through a gate and there they are in Narnia, or at least in Aslan’s country. Eustace falls over a cliff leaving Jill before they hear what Aslan’s mission is. Aslan tells Jill-find Prince Rillian and there are four signs which will assist in finding them.

When Aslan blows Jill to where Estace is, they find King Caspain is departing to find Aslan. They missed the first sign. But the owls take them to a marsh-wiggle called Puddleglum. Puddleglum will be their companion throughout this adventure. Puddleglum does have a glum personality, a glass half-empty person.

They head north to the Ruinous City. Along the way, they meet the Geen Lady and a mysterious black knight who does not speak. She advises to seek the gentle giants of Harfang. They are so intent on taking her advice that they no longer pay attention to the second and third signs and miss the Ruinous City.

Inside Harfang, they meet the giants who act amused. But Aslan warns Jill in a dream that they have missed the signs. Then they find the reason why giants are acting gentle is that they are the dinner to a Fall Festival. The three of them make their escape by going back to the Ruinous City and going into a hole.

As they get into the hole, they realize it is a cave. Having no choice about returning, they follow the cave. At one point, they slip and are carried down a long slope into a subterranean cavern. There an army of earthmen capture them and lead them to a knight, who happens to be the Black Knight they had met previously.

The Black Knight is courteous and explains that the Lady is away at the diggings. An army of earthmen are just feet from breaking through to the surface. Then they shall overrun the surface. He shall be the King and the Lady will be his chief advisor-in reality, she will rule in his name. But once a night he needs to be tied to a silver chair as an enchantment takes over his mind.

He tells them to ignore him during that period. But in his insanity, he beseeches them to release him in Aslan’s name. This is the last sign so they release him. He smashes the silver chair. Then informs the three that he is Prince Rillian. The Lady comes back and tries to enchant all four of them, but Puddleglum puts a stop to it by stomping with his bare feet an enchanted fire. The Lady turns into a green serpent and tries to kill them, but they kill the serpent, the same one which killed Prince Rillian’s mother.

They escape and find out that the earthmen have been under enchantment as well and are now free. The four of them go to the diggings and discover a hole which they escape through. Here they make know who they are and the whole kingdom of Narnia rejoices. King Caspian comes back in time to see his son and then dies. Jill and Eustace are returned back to their own world.


Cast of Characters:
Eustace Scrubb
Jill Pole
Aslan
King Caspian X
Trumpkin
Glimfeather
Puddleglum
Black Knight/Prince Rilian
Lady of the Green Kirtle
King and Queen of Harfang
Giants of Harfang


Expectations:
Recommendation: none. I have been a Lewis fan for 45 years. I did not need a recommendation.
When: long time ago
Date Became Aware of Book: same
How come do I want to read this book: read other books in the series. Also my book group is reading it
What do I think I will get out of it? A fun read.


Thoughts:
I have read the Chronicles of Narnia several times over the last forty years. Each time I look forward to it.

Nicholas Hardie, who The Silver Chair is dedicated to, lived across the way from Magdalen College. His father was a classic tutor at Magdalen College. His mother Christian Hardie, his mother, was active in women’s education. Lewis often lunched with the family. Colin Hardie was an Inkling.

Lewis says in a May 24, 1954 letter to a Maryland 5th Grade class that You are mistaken when you think that everything in the book [maybe earlier than Silver Chair] ‘represents’ something in this world…. I said ‘Let us suppose that there were a land like Narnia and that the Son of God, as He became a Man in our world, became a Lion there, and then imagine what would happen.’ Sort of lets you understand that one thing does not represent something, but more how would being someone on God’s side look like in a different world.

Lewis says that the theme of The Silver Chair is the continued war against the powers of darkness. (Letter to Anne Jenkins on March 5, 1961).

His publisher wrote to Lewis about what gender is a Marsh-Wiggle? Apparently Lewis was making Puddleglum gender non-specific. But his publisher notes that there are some discrepancies, particularly when they become persons.


Jill is Given a Task
Jill is now all alone in Narnia. Eustace has fallen off a cliff, so Jill realizes that she does not know what to do and there is now a lion in the picture. So she starts crying. Lewis notes that crying is OK. But then you still are left with what to do with the current situation.

Interesting correspondence here. Aslan has stated that He has called Jill and Eustace to Narnia to accomplish a task. But right before coming over, Eustace and Jill had done some sort of invocation asking Aslan to bring them out of a situation and into Narnia. Lewis notes that it was Aslan who puts this into the children’s mind to call on Him. Is Lewis saying that when we pray, it is in response to God calling us to Him?

Aslan gives Jill four signs to remember and to be hers and Eustace’s guides. They are:
  • The first person Eustace sees in Narnia will be an old friend. He must greet him immediately
  • Go north to the Ruined City
  • You will find writing in the Ruined City which will tell them what to do
  • You will know Prince Rillian because he will be the first person who asks something in Aslan’s name.
Aslan instructs Jill to remember the signs-repeat them in the morning when she wakes up and before you go to sleep. Do not turn from the signs. This is the Christian’s injunction to stay true to God. Read His instruction in the morning and in the evening. Do not turn away from it.


The Sailing of a King
There is a phrase which says that Jill long[ed] for more adventures and [felt] sure that this was only the beginning. This is Lewis being very good at capturing and anticipating what was going to happen. It captures my imagination about what will happen next.

Jill realizes that they have muffed the first sign-seeing an old friend. And now there is not the help they could have gotten from King Caspain. But this is a theme of the book. When we screw up, God compensates for what we have done. It is more important to be God’s tool than it is to be right. We are to be on his path. Doing the right stuff makes the path straighter. But doing it wrongly does not negate God’s plan.


Puddleglum
Jill, upon first sight, thinks of Marsh-Wiggle’s as an “IT”. How do I think about people who are different than I am? What is Lewis bringing to us?

Description of the smoke coming from Puddleglum’s pipe, drops down rather than rises up, Nice description.

Puddleglum is a good character. When Jill says that they need to find a ruined city, Puddleglum asks can they start by looking. Brings a smile to my face.


The Wild Wastelands of the North
Lewis notes that walking after the first break never go on as they were before. So true. You feel either impatient to be moving on or that you do not want to move.


The Hill of the Strange Trenches
How easy it is to no longer be bothered or worse yet just to move through God’s word without comprehension. Jill is tired from their adventure and it being cold. She no longer can be bothered by repeating the signs in the morning and at night. This leads to a near fatal consequence and being unsure of what they are.


The House of Harfang
Aslan re-enters the picture and has Jill repeat the signs. She has forgotten them. It was then that Aslan takes her in her dream to the window and she sees the Ruinous City. The trenches they were following earlier had the message they were looking for UNDER ME.

Puddleglum gives wisdom here: Aslan’s instructions always work: there are no exceptions. But how to do it now-that’s another matter.


Travels Without the Sun
The Black Knight (Rillian) has been deluded by the witch. He is under an enchantment to think she is all good.


In the Dark Castle
There was a review on Goodreads which pointed out what seemed like every sexist thing which Lewis says in the book. (The person still enjoyed the book.) I am sure a statement which Jill makes falls in this category: Where I come from...they don’t think much of men who are bossed about by their wives.

Puddleglum now shows his wisdom. He notes that the Dark Knight had spoke the words of the fourth sign: You will know Prince Rillian because he will be the first person who asks something in Aslan’s name. There is a discussion about should they release him or not? Puddleglum says that That fellow will be the death of us once he’s up, I shouldn’t wonder. But that doesn’t let us off following the Sign. Then there is discussion about will things be all right if they do? Then they release him. Puddleglum argument all along is that our place is to obey. God does not promise to keep us from harm, but to have us follow him. After all, Jesus suffered and died. It is a matter of will-whose will-do we obey.


The Queen of Underland
You can always question things into irrationalness. That is what the queen was doing in their explanations about Narnia and Aslan.

Puddleglum saves the day. First by stomping on the enchanted fire with his bare feet. The pain brought him out of the enchantment. But even more so. Which is it better, to live in a world of rationaliness or in a fantasy world of beauty and truth? Puddleglum takes the latter.

In discussing The Silver Chair with Roger Green, there was the question of would the fire have gone out by Puddleglum stomping on it if it was a wood fire. So Lewis did not specify what kind of fire it was. Note 29 in the third volume of the Letters of CS Lewis.


Underland Without the Queen
Prince Rillian says that when a man is launched on such an adventure as this, he must bid farewell to hopes and fears, otherwise death or deliverance will both come too late to save his honor and his reason. Rillian reminds us that we are not to shirk danger, if we do, then we will lose our way.


The Healing of Harms
At the end, when Aslan appears, Jill remembers her failures. But Aslan’s response is that he will not alway scold, but he is to heal. As I draw nearer to God, I become more conscientious of my failings. But God is greater than them and understands we will fail. He will have nothing stand between us and Him, even our failings. That is our assurance.


Evaluation:
Understand that I consider CS Lewis a hero and mentor of mine (through his books). The Silver Chair is an enjoyable book with Puddleglum being the character which we could sort of wish we could be. Realist and wise. For that character alone, you should read the book. Lewis weaves in this tale how individuals can battle against evil-by doing the part God has called us to. Even without the Christian part, it is a good read and one which is good to reread.

 
Notes from my book group:

Is this book an interesting story? Is there something deeper than another children's story? Was it effective? Was Lewis trying to convey a message to us? What is the message or messages?

When Jill is confronted by Aslan at the beginning of the story, she talks about how they were wishing to go to Eustace’s other world. Aslan says that they would not have done that unless he wanted them there. Does this make sense to you? Does this explain how we can pray true prayers? How we meet God in His intentions, rather than God meeting us?

Jill is given four Signs in Eustace’s and her task to finding the Prince. Why does Aslan have Jill memorize the signs? Why not write down the signs? Why doesn’t Aslan just free the Prince himself?

When Jill first sees Puddleglum from a distance, she says, I suppose we’d better go and speak to it. What does the word “it” say about how Jill viewed Puddleglum at the start? [By the way, Lewis was trying to make Puddleglum non-gender specific.]

As you read about Puddleglum, what roles(s) does he play in the book?

Which signs do Puddleglum, Eustace and Jill get right? What happens when they get a sign wrong? Is there a correspondence to how we live in this world? What is Lewis’ answer to how God treats us when we fail?

When Puddleglum says Aslan’s instructions always work: there are no exceptions. But how to do it now-that’s another matter, How does that translate to you? Is this true?

Why does destroying the Silver Chair wreck the enchantment? Why a chair? Does it represent something?  Shmoop's version of the question:  Why do you suppose Lewis chose to make a silver chair the "vile engine of sorcery" in this work? What is the significance of it?

Who are the villians in this story? How does each have a part to play? Are the earthmen villains? Do Eustace, Jill and Puddleglum consider them villains? How can we know who are villains in our time?

How does the Green Lady transform herself from the killer of Rillian’s mother to an object of his worship?

Lewis says that the theme of The Silver Chair is the continued war against the powers of darkness. (Letter to Anne Jenkins on March 5, 1961). How does Lewis show this to be played out in the book?

Speculation: Who is the Green Lady? Any relationship to the White Witch in The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe or to Jardis in The Magician’s Nephew? Is she evil or bad? What is the nature of evil in this book? Shmoop's question: What is the significance of the continued invasions of witches into Narnia? Why doesn't Aslan just keep them out?

From Shmoops: How does Lewis define courage in The Silver Chair? Which characters most clearly embody these ideals?

Aslan notes that most people have died at the end of the book. What does Aslan mean by that?From Shmoops: What does Aslan mean when he tells the resurrected Caspian that he can't want things that are wrong now that he's died? Why do you suppose it is all right for Caspian to travel into Jill and Eustace's world at the end of The Silver Chair, when he is denied the request before, in life?

In what order would you read the Chronicles of Narnia? Published order? Narnian Chronological order? Or some other order?

From Shmoops: In what ways does being female affect Jill's participation in the quest for Rilian? In what ways is gender an advantage or disadvantage in this work?  One review which I read considered this book sexist (she still enjoyed this book.). As you read the book, where would you say this book does not meet current standards of correctness? Is it better off as a book not having met those standards? Is it more important to meet standards or to write a good book?

Many of these questions are either from or adapted from LitLovers.
  • Why the title of The Silver Chair? Other titles Lewis considered was "The Wild Waste Lands," "Night under Narnia," "Gnomes under Narnia," and "News under Narnia".
  • How does this story work? Children’s book? Instruction to us? Fun, easy read?
  • Did the ending seem fitting? Satisfying? Predictable?
  • Which character did you like?
  • Which character was the most convincing? Least?
    • Which character did you identify with?
    • Which one did you dislike?
  • Every story has a world view. Were you able to identify this story’s world view? What was it? How did it affect the story?
  • In what context was religion talked about in this book?
  • Why do you think the Lewis wrote this book?
  • What would you ask the CS Lewis if you had a chance?
  • What “take aways” did you have from this book?
  • What central ideas does the author present?
    • What implications for you, our nation or the world do these idea’s have?
    • Are these idea’s controversial?
      • To whom and why?
  • How did this book affect your view of the world?
    • Of how God is viewed?
    • What questions did you ask yourself after reading this book?
  • Talk about specific passages that struck you as significant—or interesting, profound, amusing, illuminating, disturbing, sad...?
    • What was memorable?
Questions from Shmoop:
  • Why do you suppose Lewis chose to make a silver chair the "vile engine of sorcery" in this work? What is the significance of it?
  • Consider the villains of this piece, particularly the witch queen and the giants of Harfang. What statements on the nature of evil is Lewis making by way of these characters?
  • In what ways does Puddleglum's declaration that "there are no accidents" actually complicate the situation in Narnia?
  • What is the significance of the continued invasions of witches into Narnia? Why doesn't Aslan just keep them out?
  • Why does Aslan wait so long, according to Narnian time, to send an official rescue party to reclaim the lost prince?
  • What does it mean to be a good sovereign? An evil one?
  • How does Lewis define courage in The Silver Chair? Which characters most clearly embody these ideals?
  • What role does truthfulness play in this work? Why is it so important, for instance, for Jill to abandon making excuses for her behavior?
  • In what ways does being female affect Jill's participation in the quest for Rilian? In what ways is gender an advantage or disadvantage in this work?
  • What does Aslan mean when he tells the resurrected Caspian that he can't want things that are wrong now that he's died? Why do you suppose it is all right for Caspian to travel into Jill and Eustace's world at the end of The Silver Chair, when he is denied the request before, in life?



New Words:
  • Tinder box (Puddleglum): a container made of wood or metal containing flint, firesteel, and tinder (typically charcloth, but possibly a small quantity of dry, finely divided fibrous matter such as hemp), used together to help kindle a fire. They might also contain sulfur-tipped matches.
  • Bobance (Puddleglum): (archaic) Boasting.
  • Cock-shies (The Wild Waste Lands of the North): A mark aimed at in throwing contests. 2. The throw in a throwing contest.
  • Balustrade (The Wild Waste Lands of the North): a railing supported by balusters, especially an ornamental parapet on a balcony, bridge, or terrace.
  • Kirtle: a woman's gown or outer petticoat.

Good Quotes:
  • First Line: It was a dull autumn day and Jill Pole was crying behind the gym.
  • Last Line: If ever you have the luck to go to Narnia yourself, do not forget to have a look at those caves.
  • when a man is launched on such an adventure..., he must bid farewell to hopes and fears, otherwise death or deliverance will both come too late to save his honor and his reason. Chp Underland Without the Queen
Table of Contents:
  • Behind the Gym
  • Jill is Given a Task
  • The Sailing of a King
  • A Parliament of Owls
  • Puddleglum
  • The Wild Wastelands of the North
  • The Hill of the Strange Trenches
  • The House of Harfang
  • How They Discovered Something Worth Knowing
  • Travels Without the Sun
  • In the Dark Castle
  • The Queen of Underland
  • Underland Without the Queen
  • The Bottom of the World
  • The Disappearance of Jill
  • The Healing of Harms


References:

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