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The reading order of The Chronicles of Narnia series is a topic that has sparked some debate and controversy among fans and scholars over the years. C.S. Lewis did not explicitly prescribe a specific reading order for the series, though he did state he favored a particular order, which has led to various interpretations and recommendations. In this article, I put forward some pros and cons for different reading orders and express a preference of my own. I also recommend some resources for those wishing to teach The Chronicles of Narnia in their homeschool. Also check out my article comparing symbolism in C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien’s works.
What are Some of the Different Options for Reading Order?
Publication Order
C.S. Lewis originally published The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe as the first book in the series, and many readers and editions have followed this publication order. This is the order in which most people were introduced to Narnia, and it provides a more straightforward introduction to the world and its characters. Narnia, as such, does not yet exist at the start of The Magician’s Nephew so some argue, despite its position in the chronological order, it is not the best place to start a series about Narnia.
1. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (1950)
2. Prince Caspian (1951)
3. The Horse and His Boy (1954)
4. The Silver Chair (1953)
5. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (1952)
6. The Magician’s Nephew (1955)
7. The Last Battle (1956)
Chronological Order
The internal chronological reading order provides a cohesive narrative that follows the unfolding of Narnia’s history in a linear fashion. While it deviates from the publication order that many readers are familiar with, it offers a fresh perspective on the events and characters of the series. Readers who choose this chronological approach may gain new insights into the Narnian world and its evolution over time.
Here is the internal chronological reading order for The Chronicles of Narnia:
1. The Magician’s Nephew – This book serves as a prequel, depicting the creation of Narnia and the events leading up to its existence.
2. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe – This book introduces readers to the Pevensie siblings and their discovery of Narnia through the wardrobe.
3. The Horse and His Boy – This book takes place during the reign of the Pevensie children as kings and queens of Narnia.
4. Prince Caspian – Continuing the story of Narnia’s human rulers, this book explores the return of the Pevensies to Narnia.
5. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader – The adventures of King Caspian and his companions as they sail the Eastern Ocean.
6. The Silver Chair – Following the adventures of Eustace Scrubb and Jill Pole, this book takes place during the later years of Narnia’s history.
7. The Last Battle – Concluding the series, this book brings the Narnian saga to a dramatic and powerful conclusion.
Modified Chronological Order
Putting the prequel The Magician’s Nephew last while reading all the other books in chronological order is another option I will call the modified chronological order. This order allows the reader to follow the story from the classic story of Narnia from when the Pevensie siblings pass through the wardrobe to the final battle, before returning to The Magician’s Nephew and the story of the creation of Narnia.
1. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (1950)
2. Prince Caspian (1951)
3. The Horse and His Boy (1954)
4. The Silver Chair (1953)
5. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (1952)
6. The Last Battle (1956)
7. The Magician’s Nephew (1955)
Pros and Cons of the Publication Order and the Chronological Order
Publication Order
Pros
- Familiar Introduction: The publication order is the way most readers were introduced to Narnia, and it preserves the progression of C.S. Lewis’s writing and his intentions for how the story unfolded.
- Natural Character Development: The publication order allows for a gradual introduction to the characters and their development, mirroring the way the author originally intended readers to experience their growth.
- Unveiling Mystery: The mystery of Narnia and its magical elements unfolds in the same way it did for the original readers, creating a sense of discovery and wonder.
Cons
- Non-Linear Chronology: The story may jump back and forth in time, which can be slightly confusing, especially for readers who are new to the series.
- Less Context: Some events or references in later books might be better understood with the context provided by the prequel, The Magician’s Nephew.
Chronological Order
Pros
- Logical Flow: The chronological order offers a clear and logical progression of events, allowing readers to experience the Narnian world’s history in a more linear fashion.
- Enhanced Context: Reading The Magician’s Nephew first provides a deeper understanding of Narnia’s creation, the origins of certain elements, and how the world came to be.
- Coherent Themes: Certain themes, such as the rise and fall of Narnian civilizations, can be more apparent when the events are read in the order they occurred.
Cons
- Different Introduction: The series might not start with the iconic The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, which is often seen as the gateway into Narnia.
- Potential Spoilers: Reading The Magician’s Nephew first might reveal certain details or concepts that were intended to be discovered later in the series.
But What Did C.S. Lewis Say?
When asked, C.S. Lewis stated a preference for the chronological order more than once but did not say readers should avoid other reading orders. Because of these statements by Lewis, however, some publishers adopted the habit of numbering the books using the chronological order.
We know about Lewis’s preference because of a letter from 1957, in which Lewis pens a reply to a fan named Laurence Kreig. Kreig expresses in his letter that he prefers the chronological order, while his mother prefers the publication order. In answer, Lewis writes the following.
“I think I agree with your order for reading the books more than with your mother’s. The series was not planned beforehand as she thinks. When I wrote The Lion I did not know I was going to write any more. Then I wrote P. Caspian as a sequel and still didn’t think there would be any more, and when I had done The Voyage I felt quite sure it would be the last, but I found I was wrong. So perhaps it does not matter very much in which order anyone read them. I’m not even sure that all the others were written in the same order in which they were published. I never keep notes of that sort of thing and never remember dates.”
C.S. Lewis, 1957. From C.S. Lewis’s Collected Letters, Vol. 3
In the same volume that published this letter, C.S. Lewis’s Collected Letters, Vol. 3, Lewis is documented to have told his friend Walter Hooper to write down the order in which he preferred the Narnia books to be read: the chronological order.
My Reading Order Preference
Who am I to go against the author’s preferences? I am of the opinion that the author’s intent for their work matters. However, I cannot help but disagree as a reader with recommending the chronological order in all circumstances.
For an adult reader or for a reader of any age going through the series for a second time, I do recommend the chronological order that publisher’s use in their numbering. It is the order in which I read the series through for the first time as an adult. However, for a child reading this series for the first time, I highly recommend either the publication order or the modified chronological order for reading. While my favorite book in the series is The Magician’s Nephew, my sense is that this prequel book is best kept back until toward the end of the series to avoid spoiling the magic of what occurs with the Pevensie children after they go through the wardrobe in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe and subsequent books. At a minimum, it would preserve the magic for a child to read The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe followed by The Magician’s Nephew if one does not plan to read every book in the series.
Ultimately, the choice between the different reading orders depends on personal preference. Some readers may prefer the traditional publication order for the sense of discovery and familiarity it offers, while others may opt for the chronological order for a more coherent understanding of the Narnian universe’s history. Regardless of the order chosen, each approach offers its own unique benefits and considerations for experiencing the magical world of Narnia.
Teaching Narnia in Our Homeschool with Memorial Press
For teaching The Chronicles of Narnia as literature in a classical homeschool, or in any homeschool for that matter, you cannot go wrong with Memoria Press’ literature guides.
Memoria Press offers literature guides for both The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe and The Magician’s Nephew.
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is studied as part of the literature selections for the Fifth Grade Classical Core Curriculum or the Fourth Grade Accelerated Classical Core Curriculum from Memorial Press. The Magician’s Nephew literature study set is not part of the classical core curriculum but is offered as a supplement. Lesson plans are available for purchase separately.
Memoria Press literature sets include the novel, a teacher guide, and a student guide. Memoria Press produces both student guides and teacher guides for their literature study so teacher-parents can guide a discussion with their students. Student guides include insights into the literary work, reading notes, vocabulary, and comprehension questions. The teacher guides are identical to the student guides except they contain the answers to questions as well. Memoria Press also produces lesson plans that can be purchased separately or as part of their full-year curriculum guides. This is nice especially for teacher-parents with multiple kids or limited time to plan lessons. Teacher guides can be reused with multiple students, while student guides are consumables and will need to be purchased for each student.
Memoria Press Narnia Literature Study Resources
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe Set (Includes Novel, Teacher Guide, and Student Guide)
Fifth Grade Literature Set (includes Novels, Teacher Guides, and Student Guides)
Lesson Plans for The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
Fifth Grade Classical Core Curriculum Manual (includes lesson plans)
Fourth Grade Accelerated Classical Core Curriculum Manual (includes lesson plans)
The Magician’s Nephew
The Magician’s Nephew Set (Includes Novel, Teacher Guide, and Student Guide)
Lesson Plans for The Magician’s Nephew
The Chronicles of Narnia Full Series of Novels (Amazon)
Big Picture Narnia Homeschool Plans
Our plan for incorporating Narnia into our homeschool is to read The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe with my children as fourth graders, following the lesson plans set out by Memoria Press. Then, I plan to follow this with a study of The Magician’s Nephew at the end of fourth grade using Memoria Press lesson plans again. The rest of the series I will read with my children as read alouds, according to their level of interest, in chronological order, either before, concurrent, or after The Magician’s Nephew.
Check out more Memoria Press curriculum here.
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