Taking a Deeper Look at “The Magician’s Nephew”

by | Aug 28, 2016

Saint John Chrysostom asks parents to tell their children stories relating to the Scriptures, "for thou art raising a philosopher and athlete and citizen of Heaven".  (On Vainglory & The Right Way for Parents to Bring Up Their Children, #39)

The story of The Magician's Nephew tells the story about the creation of Narnia and is probably my personal favorite of the Narnia series.  C.S. Lewis does a beautiful job of mirroring the story of Creation in Genesis with the creation of the beloved world of Narnia.  

After reading the story, we can continue on our Narnia journey with some further contemplation about the story.  These connections can be done with any age group - going into less detail with elementary age children and more detail with high school children.


Lesson Outline for The Magician's Nephew:

Worship:  (attending and participation in services)

  • When do we read Genesis during the ecclesiastical year?  (Found in the footnotes of the Orthodox Study Bible in Genesis)
  • Creed: "I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth, and of all things visible and invisible..." (Discuss meaning)

Formal Learning:  (expanding our knowledge about Christ)

  • Read/listen to the story
  • Correlation between the story and Creation and the Garden of Eden.  Where are they found in the Bible?  (Creation: Genesis 1 - 2:7, Garden of Eden: Genesis 2:8 - 3:24)
  • Who wrote Genesis?  (Moses)
  • C.S. Lewis illustrates the Holy Trinity creating Narnia.  Who does Aslan represent?  (Christ)  How is the Trinity represented in the book?  (Father - Creator of all things, Christ - the Word, Logos is the speaking Lion, Holy Spirit - breathing on the animals)

Praxis:  (living our faith in our daily lives)

  • Living in God's Creation - What does this mean to us in our daily living?  
  • Why are we more than just a steward of the earth?  (Steward: a person who manages another's property.)  Read "Living in God's Creation: Orthodox Perspectives on Ecology" by Elizabeth Theokritoff

Connections:

Correlation Between Narnia & the Bible: Creation (Genesis 1 - 2:7)

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Saint John Chrysostom asks parents to tell their children stories relating to the Scriptures, "for thou art raising a philosopher and athlete and citizen of Heaven".  (On Vainglory & The Right Way for Parents to Bring Up Their Children, #39)

Correlation Between Narnia & the Bible: Garden of Eden (Genesis 2:8 - 3:24)

Saint John Chrysostom asks parents to tell their children stories relating to the Scriptures, "for thou art raising a philosopher and athlete and citizen of Heaven".  (On Vainglory & The Right Way for Parents to Bring Up Their Children, #39)

Man's Relationship with Animals

Saint John Chrysostom asks parents to tell their children stories relating to the Scriptures, "for thou art raising a philosopher and athlete and citizen of Heaven".  (On Vainglory & The Right Way for Parents to Bring Up Their Children, #39)