Favorite Scenes in the Narnia Books
Posted: Aug 21, 2017 9:36 am
In the latest episode of NWeb's Talking Beasts podcast, Rilian and Glumpuddle discuss their favorite scenes in the entire series. Not seeing an active forum thread on the topic, I thought I'd open one for everyone to discuss.
Please note, I'm talking about entire scenes/chapters, not lines. (There is a topic for specific lines here.)
I've never had a difficult time picking my #1 favorite scene in the books; it's one Rilian talks about in the podcast: "The Unwelcome Fellow Traveler" in The Horse and His Boy. This scene is largely responsible for HHB being my favorite book in the series (almost from the first time I read it) consistently for the last 15 years or so. This scene captures the total sovereignty of Aslan in Narnia and (along with Aslan's conversation with Aravis later) demonstrates most fully how he is "at the back of all the stories". You can see the care and attention he takes to his servants (ensuring Shasta reached the shore as a baby, comforting him as the cat) alongside his wildness and strength (all the lions--though there was really only one). It's such a powerful scene.
Another of my top 4 (I couldn't stick to just three) is mentioned in the podcast but not discussed: Puddleglum's speech. It's iconic and powerful and filled with a deeper, more difficult test of faith than I think anywhere else in the series (even Lucy's trial in PC is bland in comparison). I say "Puddlelgum's speech" but really it's everything that happens from Jill, Eustace, and Puddleglum entering the room with the Silver Chair until Puddlelgum has his say to the Witch. This whole sequence fires up my heart and imagination every time I revisit it. The Prince's desperation, Puddlelgum's assurances about following the Signs no matter what, their struggles against the Witch's magic--it all builds up to Puddleglum's speech and that speech is the climax of it. It wouldn't move us so much if it were separated from the rest.
My next favorite is another one discussed in the podcast: Jill meeting Aslan. Like Shasta's meeting with Aslan, this scene conveys Aslan's sovereignty and wildness. It just captures so much of the wonder and danger of Narnia so well.
My fourth favorite/honorable mention is the Creation of Narnia. I just love the imagery of Aslan singing everything into being. The slow growth from Nothing to starshine to fully living World is beautiful and moving. I love it.
So what are your favorite/most memorable scenes in the books? What do you love about them?
Please note, I'm talking about entire scenes/chapters, not lines. (There is a topic for specific lines here.)
I've never had a difficult time picking my #1 favorite scene in the books; it's one Rilian talks about in the podcast: "The Unwelcome Fellow Traveler" in The Horse and His Boy. This scene is largely responsible for HHB being my favorite book in the series (almost from the first time I read it) consistently for the last 15 years or so. This scene captures the total sovereignty of Aslan in Narnia and (along with Aslan's conversation with Aravis later) demonstrates most fully how he is "at the back of all the stories". You can see the care and attention he takes to his servants (ensuring Shasta reached the shore as a baby, comforting him as the cat) alongside his wildness and strength (all the lions--though there was really only one). It's such a powerful scene.
Another of my top 4 (I couldn't stick to just three) is mentioned in the podcast but not discussed: Puddleglum's speech. It's iconic and powerful and filled with a deeper, more difficult test of faith than I think anywhere else in the series (even Lucy's trial in PC is bland in comparison). I say "Puddlelgum's speech" but really it's everything that happens from Jill, Eustace, and Puddleglum entering the room with the Silver Chair until Puddlelgum has his say to the Witch. This whole sequence fires up my heart and imagination every time I revisit it. The Prince's desperation, Puddlelgum's assurances about following the Signs no matter what, their struggles against the Witch's magic--it all builds up to Puddleglum's speech and that speech is the climax of it. It wouldn't move us so much if it were separated from the rest.
My next favorite is another one discussed in the podcast: Jill meeting Aslan. Like Shasta's meeting with Aslan, this scene conveys Aslan's sovereignty and wildness. It just captures so much of the wonder and danger of Narnia so well.
My fourth favorite/honorable mention is the Creation of Narnia. I just love the imagery of Aslan singing everything into being. The slow growth from Nothing to starshine to fully living World is beautiful and moving. I love it.
So what are your favorite/most memorable scenes in the books? What do you love about them?