C. S. LEWIS
                        Voyage of the Dawn Treader
                                            Chapters 1-8

                                      STUDY QUESTIONS

1. Eustace Clarence Scrubb is quite a character.  Do you know anyone like him?  His parents don’t believe in traditional ways of doing things.  How has that affected Eustace?  How is Eustace related to the four Pevensies?  Who was staying with Eustace that summer?  Why?  Eustace tries to make up a limerick (a short poem with five lines, the first two of which rhyme).  How well does he do?  What literary term does he use to defend his poem (the word means a partial rhyme or resemblance of sounds)?  How do the children get into Narnia this time?  Who do they meet first?  What “courtly” and “most valiant” creature do they meet next?  How does Eustace respond to him?

2. In Chap. 2 they learn how much time had passed in Narnia since their last visit.  How long had it been in earth time?  What about in Narnian time?  What is Caspian’s mission?  What is Reepicheep’s “higher hope”?  What had Caspian done at Galma?  What do we learn about Eustace from his diary and from the events of Chap. 2?

3. Which of the lost lords do they find first on the Lone Islands in Chap. 3?  How does he help Caspian? 

4. How does the author describe Governor Gumpas in Chap. 4?   What does his name suggest?  Does that seem appropriate to his character?  What does Gumpas say about “putting the clock back”?   How does Caspian respond?  What name does Pug give to Eustace?

5. In Chap. 5 what game does Reepicheep like to play to pass time on the ship?  What was the one situation in which Lucy could beat him?  What does that tell us about Reepicheep?  What happens to the mast of the ship during the storm?  What happens to Eustace when he tries to avoid the work party?         

6. What reason does Lewis give in Chap. 6 for the fact that Eustace wasn’t aware of what to expect in a dragon’s lair?  What woke Eustace from his sleep?  How did Eustace realize that he had become a dragon?  What had caused this to happen? 

7. What did Caspian find in Chap. 7?  How did it become clear that Eustace’s character was improving?   Who was his “most constant comforter”?  Who turned Eustace back into a boy again?  How did He do it?   Did what happened to Eustace make in lasting difference in his character?  How does Lewis describe it?

8. What evidence of another lost lord do they find in Chap. 8?  What leads them to believe that the water in the mountain lake will turn things into gold?  Who begins to fight for ownership of the island?  What helps to end the fight?  Which of the proposed names for the island do they agree upon?  Whose idea was that?      

 

                                                      C. S. LEWIS
                       Voyage of the Dawn Treader
                                   Chapters 9-16

                                     STUDY QUESTIONS

9. Who first discovers the presence of the invisible characters?  What do the boys notice about the pump in the courtyard?  Why had these creatures chosen to become invisible?  Why do want they want to reverse the spell now?  How does Reepicheep evaluate Lucy’s bold decision?

10. How high did the serving dishes go during the feast?   Why?  Which door was Lucy told to find?  How big were some of the Magician’s books?  What does Lewis compare them with?  What did Lucy discover about the door?  Why did that bother her?  What kind of spells did she find in the book?  What kept her from reading one of the spells she was tempted to read?  Which spell did she say anyway, even though she knew she shouldn’t?  Which of the spells does Lewis refer to as a “the forgotten story” (what is it called in the Magician’s book)?  What does Lucy apologize to Aslan about?

11. What do we learn about the identity and character of the Dufflepuds in Chap. 11?  Why did Coriakin put the spell on them in the first place?  What gift did Coriakin prepare for the voyagers before their departure from the island?  Which of the lost lords do they conclude is resting at the bottom of the lake  on Deathwater Island?

12. How does Lewis describe the darkness of Dark Island?   What analogy and adjectives does he use?   How does Reepicheep persuade Caspian to continue with their journey and not turn back?  (There are similar speeches by some of the great heroes in Homer’s Iliad.)  What is so frightening about this island?  Who prays for help?  How does the help come?  Which lost lord does the despairing man turn out to be?

13. What new things do the voyagers see in Chap. 13?  What do the “three somethings” at the long table turn out to be?  How long had they been sleeping there?  What had caused the enchantment?  Is there any similarity between that object and the Holy Grail pursued the Knights of the Round Table?  Where did the knife come from?  Which knife was it?  Why was it kept on that island?

14. How is Ramandu described?  What does Edmund call “the most exciting moment” on their entire trip?  What did one of the birds bring to Ramandu?  What does the fire-berry do?  What do we learn from Ramandu about Coriakin?  Who makes a beautiful speech about seeking to reach Aslan’s country?

15. In Chap. 15, as they grow closer to the End of the World, the crew begin to notice changes in themselves and their environment.  What are the changes?  What does Lucy see in the clear water?  What does Reepicheep discover about the water?  Why is he so excited about that? 

16. Why had Reepicheep jumped into the sea?  What does the whiteness of the Silver Sea turn out to be?  How is the smell described?  What do they see behind and beyond the sun?  What does Reep do then?  Who do the children meet where the sky meets the earth?  Why do you think Aslan takes the form of a lamb (cf. Jn. 1:29; Rev. 5:6)?  After His resurrection Jesus fixes a fish breakfast for his disciples along the seashore (Jn. 21:9-14).  Why do you suppose that Lewis includes a similar scene here?  What big question does Lucy ask Aslan?  What is His answer?  What does Aslan say is the reason why He brought them into Narnia?    

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8/12/02