Sunday, April 6, 2008 - Prince Caspian Challenge--Week Two, Chapters Three and Four
Week Two
Another week flown by! Did you all enjoy the reading this week? A lot of important stuff happened in these two chapters--new characters, primarily! It actually feels like the story is starting to take flight, eh?
Chapter Three
The Dwarf
Queen Susan the Gentle--yes, the gentle--was quite a hero in this chapter! She saved the Dwarf from the two men that had him in the boat. This is our first look at this Dwarf, and he becomes quite a character in this book, as well as in the two following. He's one of my personal favorites!
Don't you love how he just takes command right off? Of course, he doesn't know who the children are, but I find it interesting that this seemingly unknown dwarf just steps up when the High King of Narnia is present. It just shows that Peter is still partly child, and hasn't fully returned to his kingship.
We find it has clearly been a long time since the children were in Narnia. What do you think the significance of the time gap was to C.S. Lewis? Why did he include it? How does it relate to the children now being children again?
Chapter Four
The Dwarf Tells of Prince Caspian
Finally, we are introduced to the title character, Prince Caspian. First impressions, anyone? I think it is neat to note that Prince Caspian's life is covered in the Chronicles of Narnia more than any other person (in time, that is). Besides this book, he is the main character in Voyage of the Dawn Treader, and also plays a role in The Silver Chair and The Last Battle.
This is a silly question, but how old do you picture Prince Caspian here? Of course, near the beginning of chapter four he is still a young boy. This is just curiosity, because it's an area of conflict among fans. In the movie version he will be older than many expected--it seems a lot of people, Narnian scholars (yes, they exist! Stop laughing!) included, will tell you he is more early teens. I always pictured him older, for several reasons, mainly because of things that happen in VDT. I don't want to give that away, but if you want to know, ask. :P Not important, but if you are one of those people who want your perception of the book to match with the film, get used to picturing him older in your head! lol!
Why did King Miraz not want Caspian knowing about old Narnia? Why were the Telmarines afraid of Aslan? How are the enemies of the faith similar to that in the real world?
We are also introduced to the family of Caspian. Miraz is his uncle; Prunaprismia his aunt. Wouldn't you like to give one of your children that name? I think it suits her...C.S. Lewis shares Caspian's dislike of her, apparently. Lewis was particularly known to dislike prunes, perhaps that is where he derived the name from. Also, in a book C..S. Lewis often read, Dickens’s Little Dorrit, the main character comments on the words frequently, "prunes and prisms.” Hmm!
Why was the arrival of Dr. Cornelius at such perfect timing in Caspian's life?
How is the revelation of Dr. Cornelius' race so frightening and exciting for Caspian? In what ways does this show, for all their scorn of the "old wives’ tales about Narnia" show that the Telmarines were such a primitive people?
I don't have too many questions up for these chapters-- but I really would like to hear your impressions on Caspian. What sort of boy/man does he seem to be?
Assignment: Read chapters Five and Six
Comments
Monday, April 7, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by lotrsavvy
hehe :P
Yes, I know!! They keep sending me e-mails and e-mails and e-mails. I eventually end of deleting them all. But now that I have a scholarship... I don't know if my mom wants me to leave fastweb or not.
Yeah... I always imagined Caspian around... 15... 16... or something. What age did you imagine him with?
Jennifer
Monday, April 7, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by sharla88
The week did go by fast!
The gap that Lewis put in must have been important it showed how much things changed sence the P's were there, everything is different.
I alwase saw Caspian at the age of thirteen to fourteen. He's not the brightest at times and that shows his youth. Like when the proffeser said that the queen had a baby boy and he did not understand why that was a threat!!! We do not even live in a world ruled like that, but we understand that the baby would take the crown.
Miraz is evil and he dose not want Caspian knowing those things because he knows it was wrong what he did and C. would challange it.
Your right about how the enimies of faith do that to us as well try to hide the truth and show how the evil they do is right.
Dr. C's comming inot Caspians life was timed perfectly. Caspian had not forgotten the tales of his nurse or gotten to old to remeber them.
Capian was scared that the Dr. would kill him because he was part dwarf showing the Telmarinieness of himself.
I think Caspian is a stable boy, like I said not alwase with it, but I think that changes later in the book.
GB~
sharla~
Monday, April 7, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Striker
Oh yeah I get alot of complaints (I guess people actually want to KEEP their computers...), so I'm giving free computers to those whose blew up! I'll beam it to ya right now. ;)
~Striker
Tuesday, April 8, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by luckyme
I'll be able to catch up. I'm a real fast reader.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Jocelyndixon
Great post. I loved the pictures (again)
And yes, I did hear Heston died. :(
MJ
Wednesday, April 9, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by BlogBoy
Lol, no I'm sure you aren't ;)
Eric
Wednesday, April 9, 2008 - Hey Emily!
Posted by SuperAngel
Yep TOS should be coming in the next week or so! I am pretty excited!
Love, Prayers and Blessings,
Miss Amanda
http://superangelsblog.com
Wednesday, April 9, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Curufinwe
LOL, besides the fact that your older than me, i'll take that as a compliment :-D
I didn't see the dwarf guys name!
~CF
Thursday, April 10, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by MaidenCapitolaBallot
Maybe he wanted to show how time effects things when no one stands up to the evil.
Prehaps he thought it was important that they would be kids again, to show how even children can stand up for what is right, even when it is not easy.
First impression of Caspian, at least mine was, of a young boy who spent a lot of time daydreaming about a world better then the one he lived in. Then those daydreams turned into a long that he wanted to find and restore.
His age, well I always thought he was the same age as Ed, but then I read the one part that says, "Peter say a boy about his own age." So maybe 17, but he is older in the movie :). I have finally got used to that though.
Mariz knows, at least at this point, that Caspian will one day be king. He probably doesn;t want him to bring back what he has tried to hide. Does not want the wrong that has been done to be remembered.
The Telmarines fear Aslan because he is good and they are bad and they bad fear the good.
The enemies of faith are realted in many ways. They try and forget the wrongs they have done. Try and cover it, fight against it. And such things like that.
Hmm, what do I think of Caspian. Really I could not think of a better hero. For one thing he was very brave, and yet he still gpt frightened. He stood up for what was right and helped those who needed him. Yet he had his faults, a temper, a little vengeful, and sometimes acted without thinking. As is shown later.
Friday, April 11, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Charlotte
I always really saw Caspian as a young-ish boy. I pictured him with freckles maybe, and sort of sandy blond, curly hair. I really think in the beginning he is nearly the epitome of innocence and naivete. But when the book progresses... as we'll see... he really becomes more aware of the world. I also really think he's a dreamer. He's really like the typical boy who wants adventure in his life, only in his eyes, he doesn't think of adventure as a tournament or replacing his uncle as king, but he wants what he doesn't have, all the fascinating stories of the talking animals and creatures of the old days. Anyway... those are just my random thoughts...
Tuesday, April 15, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Earthling
1. The time gap shows the differences in the Pevensies as they have matured in their time. It is also significant because Lewis is illustrating the deterioration of Narnia in the time since the Pevensies were there. It's no longer the Narnia they knew; it's almost a whole new world. Also, since the children used to be adults in Narnia, it brings new perspective to their characters--they adjust from adults to children in England and now grow more like adults in their time in Narnia.
2. Miraz was challenged by the Old Narnians. Caspian shows interest, and if he realizes they are true, he will have more motivation for restoring the Old Narnians to power--in other words, Caspian won't just sit back and let Miraz take over the throne. The Telmarines were afraid of Aslan mostly because of the Kings of Telmar's words...and the enemies of our faith use the same tactics. They are cunning and drive us to fear that which is to save us.
3. Cornelius' arrival was perfect because at this time Caspian was at the point where his education need was growing. He no longer had (or needed) a nurse. He needed a tutor. His nurse told him the stories of the Old Ways, but Dr. Cornelius explained to him much more. Caspian was at the age where the stories would greatly influence him, and he would not forget them.
4. Dr. Cornelius' revelation that he was a dwarf was exciting and frightening for Caspian because he had never met any Old Narnians before. This was her first experience--these were the ones that his ancestors had driven out, but here is one, alive! The Telmarines are primitive because they *do* fear the Old Ways. The do not understand. They have resorted to believing in ghosts and spirits and fear Aslan. Dr. Cornelius has to remain a dwarf in secret, for fear of the Telmarines killing him just because of his race. Frankly, the Telmarines (and some of the Old Narnians, if you were paying attention to Cornelius' words about them despising him) are quite racist.
5. As others have pointed out, I think Caspian is a TRUE hero. He is humble, and hesitant to take the throne. He seems to crave adventure, and shows both fear and excitement at it. He later proves himself to be hot tempered and revengeful, yet he seems kind and wants to help the Old Narnians. He's also naive, but he is perceptive in some ways as we will see later on. At this point, i think Caspian is just really innocent and vulnerable...he doesn't quite realize what goes on in the world around him and how he will be affected by it. He also shows a true love for learning--not just of knowledge, but also of wisdom.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Seth
1. Well, it was important there was a time gap because if there was, then that means that would be enough time for Telmar to conquer Narnia and many kings to go by. If there was a small amount of time then there wouldn't be much adventure! Now the Pevensies were sort of forgotten in Narnia, and the ones that knew the true history wouldn't be allowed to teach it.
Part of the book states that Caspian is around the same age as Peter. I picture him about nineteen because first of all, at the beginning of the book the dwarf says Caspian is a young boy when he walks Miraz but then later many years pass.
2. Miraz didn't want Caspian to know about Old Narnia because he wanted to make it seem like men had always been in Narnia and if that was true and there wasn't any talking animals, then that would basically mean there is no Aslan. The Telmarines were afraid of Aslan because he had helped Narnia before and if he came back the Old Narnians that lived in hiding could be victorious against the Telmarines and conquer Narnia again. It relates to evil and fear in our lives because they feared that Aslan would come back and give Narnia to the talking animals. And some Telmarines were evil.
3. The perfect timing in his arrival is that if he had come maybe later it could have been too late because Caspian would have been murdered by Miraz.
4. It is frightening and exciting to Caspian that Dr. Cornelius was a dwarf because half him of thought that Cornelius brought him up to kill him and the other half was sheer delight. Cornelius was part human, too.
5. Caspian is sort of quick tempered. I like him because he just sort of is a mix of Telmarine and Narnians and although he doesn't like Miraz he stills like some Telmarines and all Narnians. He's very heroic!
Tuesday, April 15, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Seth
1. Well, it was important there was a time gap because if there was, then that means that would be enough time for Telmar to conquer Narnia and many kings to go by. If there was a small amount of time then there wouldn't be much adventure! Now the Pevensies were sort of forgotten in Narnia, and the ones that knew the true history wouldn't be allowed to teach it.
Part of the book states that Caspian is around the same age as Peter. I picture him about nineteen because first of all, at the beginning of the book the dwarf says Caspian is a young boy when he walks Miraz but then later many years pass.
2. Miraz didn't want Caspian to know about Old Narnia because he wanted to make it seem like men had always been in Narnia and if that was true and there wasn't any talking animals, then that would basically mean there is no Aslan. The Telmarines were afraid of Aslan because he had helped Narnia before and if he came back the Old Narnians that lived in hiding could be victorious against the Telmarines and conquer Narnia again. It relates to evil and fear in our lives because they feared that Aslan would come back and give Narnia to the talking animals. And some Telmarines were evil.
3. The perfect timing in his arrival is that if he had come maybe later it could have been too late because Caspian would have been murdered by Miraz.
4. It is frightening and exciting to Caspian that Dr. Cornelius was a dwarf because half him of thought that Cornelius brought him up to kill him and the other half was sheer delight. Cornelius was part human, too.
5. Caspian is sort of quick tempered. I like him because he just sort of is a mix of Telmarine and Narnians and although he doesn't like Miraz he stills like some Telmarines and all Narnians. He's very heroic!
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