With this week's theme, I decided not to write a fictional piece but instead share from a book that helped change everything for me. Here is an excerpt from The Chronicles of Narnia: The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis:
"Are you not thirsty?" said the Lion.
"I'm dying of thirst," said Jill.
"Then drink," said the Lion.
"May I--could I--would you mind going away while I do?" said Jill.
The Lion answered this only by a look and a very low growl. And as Jill gazed at its motionless bulk, she realized that she might as well have asked the whole mountain to move aside for her convenience.
The delicious rippling noise of the stream was driving her nearly frantic.
"Will you promise not to--do anything to me, if I do come?" asked Jill.
"I make no promise," said the Lion.
Jill was so thirsty now that, without noticing it, she had come a step nearer.
"Do you eat girls?" she said.
"I have swallowed up girls and boys, women and men, kings and emperors, cities and realms," said the Lion. It didn't say this as if it were boasting, nor as if it were sorry, nor as if it were angry. It just said it.
"I daren't come and drink," said Jill.
"Then you will die of thirst," said the Lion.
"Oh dear!" said Jill, coming another step nearer. "I supposed I must go and look for another stream then."
"There is no other stream," said the Lion.
It never occurred to Jill to disbelieve the Lion--no one who had seen his stern face could do that--and her mind suddenly made itself up. It was the worst thing she had ever had to do, but she went forward to the stream, knelt down, and began scooping up water in her hand. It was the coldest, most refreshing water she had ever tasted. You didn't need to drink much of it, for it quenched your thirst at once. Before she tasted it she had been intending to make a dash away from the Lion the moment she had finished. Now, she realized that this would be on the whole the most dangerous thing of all. She got up and stood there with her lips still wet from drinking.
"... after all, he's not a tame lion... but he is good."
ReplyDeleteMichelle, yes! That's THE best line in the series.
ReplyDelete"Suppose this black pit of a kingdom of yours is the only world. Well, it strikes me as a pretty poor one. And that's the funny thing, when you come to think of it. We're just babies making up a game, if you're right. But four babies playing a game can make a play-world which licks your real world hollow. That's why I'm going to stand by the play world. I'm on Aslan's side even if there isn't any Aslan to lead it. I'm going to live as like a Narnian as I can even if there isn't any Narnia." -Puddleglum from "The Silver Chair"
ReplyDeleteIt's my favorite book in the series.
It seems that the world of the spirit is the one which has produced the most memorable books.
ReplyDeleteI only ever read the first two. Enjoyed them both. Enjoyed this post too.
ReplyDeleteLike Stan I'd not explored past the first two books. Lovely post though. It was good to read more.. Jae
ReplyDeleteI wish children's books nowadays were as well-written as the old ones... Kids are missing out on all this great literature.
ReplyDeleteI re-read the whole series this last summer,and listened to them all on cd's as I drove a car pool to school. There is great joy in these books, although some of the most joyful parts bring tears to my eyes.
ReplyDeleteMyrna, I love how Puddleglum's so simple and yet wisdom sneaks out of him.
ReplyDeleteRinkly, I hadn't thought about it like that but you're right.
Stan and Jae Rose, I think the whole series is fabulous.
Katherine, I love exposing them to the oldie goldies.
Lilibeth, we've listened to those for trips and it's amazing how quiet it gets. The whole car becomes captured by the story.
Enjoyed this considerably – thank you for sharing…
ReplyDelete…rob
Image & Verse
i like the metaphor. there was once when i realized C.S. Lewis had Christian undertones and didn't want to read them for that very reason. now i think that's just as closeminded as christians who don't want to read X or Y because it's a different viewpoint (duh). but, nevertheless, i'd be willing to read the narnia books now :D
ReplyDeleteI haven't read it. but i will! i will!
ReplyDeletefabulous books, and as an aside, a pretty good BBC series as well :)
ReplyDeleteI need to read it right away! Putting it on to read list right now.
ReplyDeleteI have never read the series, but want to now. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI have only read the first three books but you've convinced me to finish the rest! What a wonderful series :) C.S. Lewis's imagination was boundless and inspiring.
ReplyDeleteI read the whole Narnia series when I was in about the 6th grade. I didn't like the later ones as well. I liked the four main siblings the best. Still, great images and imaginings.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read the series - only saw the movie. I may have to rethink that - thanks for sharing this :)
ReplyDeleteI love those books:) thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteRob, happy to! :)
ReplyDeleteFloreta, well said.
Understanding Alice, yes they were but I didn't like the animals.
Tricia, Lisa, Alone on the Isle and Julie, you really should read them all. So wonderful!
Mary, there were a couple I didn't as a child but I love now.
Dee, yes, rethink it. :)
Joanne, kindred spirits.
Old Grizz dropped in to say hello. Liked this but this is story series I never read. Guess I'll have to do it now so I know whether the lion ate her.
ReplyDelete