Summary
Chapter 11: Digory and His Uncle Are Both in Trouble
The animals are unsure of what Uncle Andrew is. Because he looks different from the children and is dressed differently, and the animals perceive clothes to be the equivalent of their fur, they suspect he may be a different kind of creature. Also, just as Uncle Andrew cannot understand the animal's speech, the animals also cannot understand Uncle Andrew's speech. After a few of the animals try to speak with Uncle Andrew, he faints out of fear.
The animals then spend time debating what Uncle Andrew is. They try to decide if he is the same species as the children and Cabby, or another type of animal, or a tree. In the end, they decide he is a tree, and they plant him feet-first in the ground. The she-elephant uses her trunk to "water" Uncle Andrew, which brings him back to consciousness.
Meanwhile, Digory and Strawberry arrive at Aslan's council, Polly and the Cabby are walking and are farther behind. Digory approaches Aslan and asks him for help for his mother. However, instead of answering Digory's request, Aslan tells the other animals that Digory is the one who brought the evil Witch to Narnia. Digory then truthfully recounts the story of what happened, how he awakened the Witch, and how he and the others accidentally arrived in Narnia. Aslan declares that because the "son of Adam" (Digory) brought evil to Narnia, his race (humans) will also help rid Narnia of evil. Just as Aslan announces this, Polly and the Cabby arrive on foot.
Aslan then focuses his attention on the Cabby and Polly. Aslan invites the Cabby to stay in Narnia; the Cabby agrees to stay as long as his wife can be with him. Aslan sings out a note, and the Cabby's wife appears. Aslan asks the couple to be king and queen. At first, the Cabby protests because he does not feel fit to be a king, “I never ’ad much eddycation, you see” (163). But Aslan only requests that they rule Narnia fairly and justly, farm food from the earth, and protect its creatures from evil; the Cabby and his wife agree that they can comply with these requirements.
Aslan then turns to Digory.
Chapter 12: Strawberry’s Adventure
Aslan asks Digory if he is ready to help protect Narnia. Digory assents, but is pained when he thinks of his mother, and cannot help but ask again if Aslan can help her. Aslan looks into Digory's eyes and Digory sees that the Lion also has tears in his eyes; he understands Digory's grief.
Aslan tells Digory that in order to protect Narnia from the Witch, Aslan would like to plant a special tree. The Witch will not dare approach the tree for many years, and thus the tree will keep her away from Narnia. Digory's task is to fetch the seed needed to plant that tree; the seed will come from an apple which grows in a garden in the Western Wild, the land beyond Narnia. Although Digory is unsure of how he will reach this garden, he feels he has the strength to do it. Aslan leans down to give Digory "a Lion's kiss" which gives Digory even more strength and courage.
To help Digory reach the garden, Aslan makes Strawberry into a winged horse and changes the horse's name to Fledge. As Digory and Fledge prepare to leave, Polly asks if she can go with them, and Aslan agrees. Both Digory and Polly climb on Fledge's back and the horse flies off carrying the two children in the direction of the garden. In order to reach the garden, they must fly over water and through icy mountains until they reach a green valley with a blue lake. At the end of the valley will be a small hill with a garden on top, where the tree grows.
After many hours of flying, they have still not reached the valley. Therefore, Fledge and the children decide to stop for the night and continue the journey in the morning. The children realize they have nothing to eat for supper. However, Polly has some leftover toffees; Digory and Polly "plant" one of the toffees in the ground to see if it will grow more.
Before going to sleep for the night, the children and Fledge hear some strange noises, and Polly thinks she sees a dark figure. However, when they find nothing, they settle in and go to sleep.
Analysis
Aslan's character, as a divine lion, alludes to the Lion of Judah from the Bible. The Lion of Judah represents strength and victory (Intrater). The imagery surrounding Aslan shows his strength in the way he talks to the other creatures. The Lion of Judah is also a representation of the Messiah, or Jesus; Aslan, too, is meant to represent the Son of God, albeit in a fantasy world (Brennan).
Aslan, as the embodiment of good, wants to rule his land justly. For this reason, he asks for Digory’s help in the task of protecting Narnia. Aslan describes Digory as the Son of Adam and Polly as the Daughter of Eve, again alluding to the Bible. Digory is similar to Adam in that Adam and Eve committed the first sin in the Garden of Eden; Digory brought the first evil to Narnia. At this point in the novel, Digory has been through many smaller conflicts and has begun to mature. He has always been a boy with a sense of right and wrong, but now he is also brave and courageous, with the ability and willingness to help save Narnia, thus taking on the role of a hero.
Digory agrees to fetch the apple even though he does not know what the risks might be. Digory’s agreement to the task of getting the apple is related to the theme of faith. Digory, having seen the magic and goodness Aslan has created, trusts Aslan. Aslan’s eyes show Digory that this trust is real, “ For the tawny face was bent down near his own and (wonder of wonders) great shining tears stood in the Lion’s eyes. They were such big, bright tears” (167). As Digory goes about his task of finding the apple, he thinks of these tears to give him strength.
The theme of evil and good in these chapters is demonstrated through the major conflict of the novel: evil has entered into the land of Narnia. Aslan, as a representation of good, and Queen Jadis, as the symbol of evil, are foils in the land of Narnia. They are both powerful and magical, but Aslan provides a sense of comfort and ease, while Queen Jadis invokes fear and uneasiness. In this way, these two characters are framed as each other’s foil. Jadis’ evilness highlights Aslan’s goodness and vice versa.
Friendship comes in again as an important theme when Polly asks to accompany Digory on his journey to retrieve the apple. So far, the two of them have not gone on any journey alone, because they are loyal to each other and help to balance out each other’s weaknesses. For instance, Polly helps to solve the dilemma of not having any food on the journey by pulling the toffees out of her pocket. Then, Digory has the idea to try and plant one of the toffees; counting on their belief in the power of magic, they plant a toffee in hopes that it will grow into a tree.
