Lewis provided a timeline to map out the events related to The Chronicles of Narnia. He gave an "Outline of Narnian History" in manuscript form to Walter Hooper, who included it in his essay Past Watchful Dragons: The Fairy Tales of C. S. Lewis [1][2]. In the series proper, Lewis never explicitly stated the year or years in which events in the novels took place, so the timeline is the only source for this information. Kathryn Lindskoog, along with other Lewis scholars, has challenged the authenticity of some posthumous works attributed to Lewis and edited by Hooper[3], but the validity of the outline in particular has not been questioned. The outline is accepted by Lewis experts and has been included in works by Paul Ford[4] , Martha Sammons[5] and others.
Consistency with other works edit
Several people have pointed out more or less significant areas where Lewis' timeline is not consistent with the text of The Chronicles. Paul Ford, author of Companion to Narnia, points out that the text of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe states that Lucy and Edmund are one year apart in age, the years given in the timeline for their births, 1930 and 1932 respectively, would put their ages at something more than a year[4]. Devin Brown, author of Inside Narnia: a guide to exploring The lion, the witch, and the wardrobe uses the timeline as a way to reconcile some of the statements concerning the timing of Aslan's appearances in Narnia with other character's recollection of those appearances[6].
Timeline edit
The timeline begins in the Narnian year 1 and continues to the Narnian year 2555. In London, Lewis begins in the year 1888 and concludes in 1949. The timeline includes information concerning the birth of many of the human characters:
- 1888: Digory Kirke is born.
- 1889: Polly Plummer is born.
- 1927: Peter Pevensie is born.
Dates are also given for the year that Susan, Edmund and Lucy were born (1928, 1930, 1932 respectively) as well as Eustace Scrubb and Jill Pole (both born in 1933). The timeline also lists dates for some of the events that take place in England that are significant to the narrative:
- 1900: Using magic rings, Digory and Polly enter Narnia
- 1940: The Pevensies, staying with Digory (now Professor) Kirke, reach Narnia through the Magic Wardrobe.
- 1941: The Pevensies again called into Narnia by the blast of the Magic Horn.
Lewis also gives the year 1942 as the year that both The Voyage of the Dawn Treader and The Silver Chair take place. He concludes the London entries with, "1949: Serious accident on British Railways".
Additionally, Lewis give information concerning the Narnia dates for certain events that are mentioned in the books. For example:
- 1: Narnia is created. The animals are given the power of speech. Digory Kirke plants the Tree of Protection. The White Witch Jadis enters Narnia then flees to the far North. Frank I, made Narnia's first King.
- 1000: The Pevensies arrive in Narnia. The treachery of Edmund occurs. Aslan sacrifices himself. The White Witch is defeated and the Long Winter ended. Peter becomes High King of Narnia.
- 1014: King Peter carries out a successful raid on the Northern Giants. Queen Susan and King Edmund visit the Calormene Court. King Lune of Archenland discovers his lost son Prince Cor and defeats an attack by Prince Rabadash of Calormen.
- 1014: While hunting the White Stag, the Pevensies vanish out of Narnia.
- 2303: Prince Caspian escapes from his uncle Miraz. Civil War results in Narnia. By the aid of Aslan and of the Pevensies, whom Caspian summons with Queen Susan's magic Horn, Miraz is defeated and killed. Caspian crowned Caspian X of Narnia.
- 2306-2307: Caspian X's voyage to the end of the World.
- 2555: Rebellion of Shift the Ape. King Tirian rescued by Eustace and Jill. Narnia is in the hands of the Calormenes. The last battle. End of Narnia.
The timeline also lists Narnia dates for events that are not mentioned in the books. For example:
- 570: Moonwood the Hare lived at about this time.
- 898: The White Witch Jadis returns to Narnia from the Far North.
- 1050: King Ram of Archenland succeeds Cor.
- 1502: Queen Swanwhite of Narnia lived around the time.
References edit
- ^ Hooper, Walter (1979). Past Watchful Dragons: The Narnian Chronicles of C. S. Lewis. New York: Macmillian Pub Co. p. 41-44. ISBN 0-02-051970-2.
- ^ Schakel, Peter (1979). Reading with the Heart: The Way into Narnia. Grand Rapids: Eerdnabs. p. 143. ISBN 0-80280181405.
{{cite book}}: Check|isbn=value: length (help) - ^ Lindskoog, Kathryn (1988). The C. S. Lewis Hoax. Portland, Oregon: Multnomah. ISBN 0-88070-25803.
{{cite book}}: Check|isbn=value: length (help) - ^ a b Ford, Paul (2005). Companion to Narnia, Revised Edition. San Francisco: harper. p. 465ff. ISBN 0-06-079127-6.
- ^ Sammons, Martha (1979). A Guide Through Narnia. Wheaton, Illinois: Shaw. p. 54. ISBN 0-87788-325-4.
- ^ Brown, Devin (2005). Inside Narnia: a guide to exploring The lion, the witch, and the wardrobe. Grand Rapids: Baker Books. pp. 125ff. ISBN 9780801065996.