This is a quick book summary and analysis of The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis. This channel discusses and reviews books, novels, and short stories through drawing...poorly. New Minute Book Reports are posted every week.

Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Minute-Book-Reports/1148331925195691

This is a story about a boy named Digory and a girl named Polly who are neighbors in London. Digory lives with his Uncle Andrew, a self-proclaimed magician, because his mother is very sick.

Uncle Andrew shows the children some rings that contain magical powers. After touching one of the rings, Polly suddenly disappears. Digory grabs a ring and goes after her.

Digory and Polly appear in a peaceful forest with several puddles. They discover that the puddles are doorways to other worlds and so they begin exploring.

The children then find themselves in a crumbling world called Charn. After ringing a magical bell, the Queen, Jadis, awakens. They learn that Jadis is an evil witch, but as they try to leave the world, Jadis grabs them, travelling with them.

Eventually, Jadis returns to London with the children and wants to rule the world. The children manage to transport Jadis back into another world, but bring along Uncle Andrew, a cabby, and a horse.

At first, this new world is dark, but the group hears a song and suddenly life begins to appear. The source of the singing is a lion and as he nears them, Jadis panics and throws a lamppost at the lion. Seeing that the lion is not hurt, Jadis runs.

The lion's name is Aslan and soon he creates other creatures in the world called Narnia. He designates some of the creatures as delegates, giving them the power of speech.

Aslan acknowledges the children and requests that Digory travel over the hills to retrieve a magical apple.

Digory travels with Polly and a flying horse. In the mountains, the apple trees are protected by a gate and Digory is the only one who ventures through. He picks an apple and is tempted to take a bite, but resists. There, Jadis, who has eaten an apple herself, continues to tempt him to eat it or at least give it to his dying mother. Confidently, Digory refuses.

The group returns to Aslan and Digory plants the apple in the ground. A tree soon emerges with apples and Aslan explains that the tree will protect Narnia from Jadis. Digory is allowed to pick one apple for his mother.

The cabby and his wife are made king and queen of Narnia and Digory, Polly, and Uncle Andrew return to London. Digory gives his mother the magic apple and she recovers. He buries the remains of the apple and the magic rings in a secret location.

In the end, Digory inherits a mansion in the countryside and builds a wardrobe out of the apple tree that he had planted.

Through Jadis and Aslan, readers see the contrast between magic and nature. Jadis, who is magically gifted from a non-Devine source, uses her powers for evil and the manner in which she uses her magic is aggressive and forceful. On the other hand, Aslan, who possesses magic from a Devine and almost mythical source, uses his powers for good, highlighted by a calm and majestic manner. In essence, evil magic, or self-proclaimed magic, is the exact opposite of natural magic.

While there is Christian allegory throughout not just this story, but the entire Narnia series, there is a special focus on creationism and the Garden of Eden in this story. Both biblical events are portrayed in this story. Readers see that the world of Narnia is created through the spoken word, as is depicted in the Bible, as well as the garden scene with Digory being tempted to eat the apple.

The author alludes to the destruction that humans can bring upon themselves, much like the world of Charn. Aslan warns Digory that humans are capable of producing the same destruction that came about because of the Deplorable Word.

Through Minute Book Reports, hopefully you can get the plot and a few relevant discussion points in just a couple of minutes.

Music by WingoWinston from newgrounds.com.