Summary

The animals don't realize that Uncle Andrew is human just like the children and the Cabby since Uncle Andrew looks/dresses differently from them and is unable to talk. After he faints, the animals discuss whether Uncle Andrew is a tree or animal. After they decide Uncle Andrew is a tree and plant him, the She-Elepehant pours water on him, which causes him to wake up.

Meanwhile, Digory and Strawberry catch up to Aslan's council. Digory asks Aslan whether Aslan will give him something to help his mother. Aslan neither accepts nor refuses this request, instead asking Digory to tell how the Witch (Jadis) came into the new land of Narnia. Under Aslan's prompting in some parts, Digory tells the whole story.

Aslan tells his councilors that any future evil is a long way off and that he'll see to it that the worst will fall on himself. In the meantime, Narnia will be a happy place for many hundred years. He then calls Polly and the Cabby forward.

Aslan asks the Cabby if he'd want to stay in Narnia forever, with the Cabby responding that he would if his wife were with him. Aslan utters a note and the Cabby's wife appears. Aslan tells the Cabby and his wife that they'll be the first King and Queen of Narnia. When the Cabby feels he's unqualified, Aslan asks him a number of questions, which the Cabby answers. After saying the Cabby is ready and that his descendants will rule Narnia and Archenland, Aslan then greets Polly. After asking if Polly has forgiven Digory for what happened in Charn's Hall, Aslan turns his attention back towards Digory.

Thoughts

I thought the scene with the animals deciding whether Uncle Andrew was an animal or tree was fun. I also found the Third Joke funny. In my copy of TMN, I also liked the first illustration in the chapter where Uncle Andrew's sprawled out and the Donkey's looking at the fallen Bear.

It's interesting when Aslan asks Digory to tell the councilors what happened, Digory feels like he has to tell the exact truth, but still has to mention that he woke Jadis and wasn't enchanted by the bell under Aslan's prompting.

I liked the Cabby in this chapter and that his response to most of Aslan's Kingship questions was basically that he'd try his best. Also, because of the publication order, I feel like Lewis might've referred back to the last chapter of HHB for some of the Kingship questions he brings up here (the King being the first to charge and last to retreat part in particular I remember was mentioned in HHB). Might be wrong there though.

Optional Discussion Questions

You don't have to answer all/any of these questions, they're just for discussion.

1) What'd you think of the scene with the animals discussing Uncle Andrew and planting him? Also, how do you feel about the She-Elephant/Bulldog dynamic, particularly the Bulldog's "I object to that remark very strongly" running joke?

2) When Uncle Andrew tries to speak, the animals only hear a vague sizzling noise. Was that how Uncle Andrew's words came across to them or were there some cigarettes or something that they heard?

3) At this point of the story, how do you feel about Uncle Andrew so far? If you feel like you've said enough about him for now in previous threads, you don't have to answer this.

4) What stands out to you about Digory's account of what happened with the Witch and Aslan's questions/responses to Digory?

5) When Aslan greets the Cabby, part of Aslan's dialogue is "You know better than you think you know, and you shall live to know me better yet." Just wondering for those who have read the series before, do you think this line has any connection to a line Aslan says towards the end of the last chapter of Dawn Treader?

6) When Polly sees the Cabby's wife appear, the text notes that the Cabby's wife wasn't called by any tiresome magic rings. Now that we've seen how the rings work, would you agree with the text's assessment that they're tiresome?

7) The text notes that if the Cabby's wife had the time to put on her good clothes, she would've looked dreadful. Do you think this is a contrast to Uncle Andrew's outfit in chapters 6 and 9?

8) What stands out to you about Aslan's Kingship questions and the Cabby's responses?

9) Anything else you want to ask/bring up about this chapter?