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Plot summary "the magician's nephew"

The Magician’s Nephew is the sixth book in the famous Chronicles of Narnia series by C.S. Lewis. The book is actually a prequel to the popular first book, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. As such, the novel reveals how Narnia was created and how evil entered the land. The book takes place in different lands, and introduces the background for much of the magical series and the characters’ continual fight between good and evil.

When the narrative begins, the reader is introduced to Digory Kirke and his sick mother. The family moves into the London home of relatives, and it is here where Digory soon meets Polly, a girl who lives next door to him. The two kids become fast friends, and while attempting to get into an empty house, end up inside the study of Digory’s relative, Uncle Andrew Ketterly. When the kids see yellow and green rings on a table in the study, Uncle Andrew offers a ring to Polly. She touches it and instantly disappears. Digory is then told that the rings are made from magic dust. The yellow rings transport people to other worlds, while the green rings bring people back to the present. As Polly does not have the green ring, Digory must find her with one of the yellow rings.

Digory eventually finds Polly in a place known as the Wood between Worlds. When the two decide to explore the space, which allows people to access a number of other worlds, the pair end up in a place called Charn. Charn is an empty place with no life. The two explore, however, and find the Hall of Images. Inside, they see people seated with robes and crowns. There is a bell with a warning in the hall as well, and despite the warning, Digory rings the bell. Queen Jadis, who is described as both beautiful and terrible, awakens at the sound. The building begins falling down and the trio must escape the destruction.

Polly and Digory learn from the queen that she is the cause for Charn’s ruin. She spoke a forbidden word in an effort to take power from her sister, thus killing off everyone in Charn. The children are horrified, and try to leave back to London with the help of the rings. The queen, however, manages to grab hold of them, and is transported back to London along with them. The queen causes all manner of chaos while in London. Now called the Witch, she tells Uncle Andrew that she will take over the world. She later steals jewelry, as well as a horse and carriage. Because of how dire the situation is, Polly and Digory use the rings again to remove the Witch from their world. As Uncle Andrew, the Cabby, the horse and the Witch are all touching, the entire group is transplanted away from London. The group finds itself in a strange place, surrounded by complete darkness. After a time, they hear a voice singing. As the voice sings, the darkness around them fades. The group finds that the voice is coming from a large lion that is walking slowly toward them. The Witch is frightened of the lion and runs away, though the others keep watching in wonder. The group sees flora and fauna appear from the earth on account of the singing.

The lion, named Aslan, instructs some of the animals to protect the land, which he calls Narnia. Digory tries to catch up to the looming animal because he wants to know if Aslan can save his mother back in London. Aslan, however, tells Digory that it is his fault that evil has entered Narnia. He then brings the Cabby’s wife to Narnia and tells the couple that they will be king and queen. The horse, called Strawberry, is then turned into a winged horse named Fledge.

Digory is then sent on a quest to help protect Narnia. He must go to a hilltop garden and procure an apple from a tree at the center of the garden. Digory and Polly set off on Fledge and, when he finally retrieves the apple, notices that the Witch is also in the garden. She is eating an apple, and once she sees Digory, tries to catch him. She also tries to convince him to use the rings and take the apple back to London, where it will surely save his mother. Though Digory wants desperately to save his mother, he withstands the Witch’s suggestions and takes the apple back to Aslan as instructed.

Digory is told by Aslan to toss the apple into the river, and after doing so, everyone goes to the coronation of the Cabby and his wife. From where Digory threw the apple, a tree is seen growing. Aslan informs Digory that the Witch will not come anywhere near the tree, meaning that Narnia will be protected. Aslan then allows Digory to take an apple with him back to London so that his mother can get better. Aslan then returns the two kids and Uncle Andrew to London. Digory’s mother eats the apple and gets better, and the children bury the rings, along with the apple core, outside. A tree grows from the core and rings, and when it is knocked down in a storm some time later, Digory has a wardrobe made out of the wood. This is the same wardrobe that is found in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

Lewis’s narrative in the sixth book deals with themes of good and evil. These themes are apparent throughout the series, but are seen here in their “infancy” stage in relation to the plot of the series. The reader views how evil first entered into Narnia, and how the actions of Digory, actions that were seemingly harmless at the time, can have catastrophic consequences. The book explores how people’s actions have consequences for others, even those one does not know or might never know. As such, all of a person’s actions should be aimed at the “good,” less evil be let in while one’s guard has been let down by frivolity.

http://www.supersummary.com/the-magicians-nephew/summary/


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