The Horse And His Boy

Throughout the seven Narnian books, Lewis portrays Aslan as a Christ figure. In this novel, Aslan intervenes in military actions, inflicts intentional physical pain, induces terror in innocent followers, and favors one nation over another. How can a Christian reader of The Horse and His Boy reconcile this depiction of the Christ figure with those images of the risen Christ depicting him as the Lamb of God?

How do Lewis’s depictions of the Narnians and Archenlanders differ from his depictions of the Calormenes?

Explain how The Horse and His Boy can be interpreted as a Christian allegory. Use details from the text to support your answer.

In her plot to escape a forced marriage, Aravis puts her servant girl in a position to receive a painful lashing. Discuss this plot event in the book. What does it reveal about ideas of justice and punishment?

Lewis was a wounded veteran of World War I. The writing of the Narnia chronicles, including The Horse and His Boy, took place only a few years after the conclusion of World War II. How might these global events have impacted Lewis’s narrative?

Lewis describes a violent battle scene that includes the deaths of some combatants. Discuss the role that violence plays in the text. How do depictions of violence relate to the novel’s underlying religious message?

Calormen is described as tyrannical and capricious while Narnia and Archenland are described as happy, and peaceful. Yet, all these lands are monarchies, run by absolute kings. Discuss how the text approaches the idea of personal freedom.

Describe Shasta’s transformation over the course of the text. Compare his character arc to another important character in the text such as Aravis or Prince Corin.