In The Magician’s Nephew, the great Lion Aslan sings the world of Narnia into existence with the “deepest, wildest voice ever heard.” In The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy Pevensie travel to Narnia. Aslan makes the ultimate sacrifice to save the life of the traitorous Edmund. The storyline of The Horse and his Boy takes place at the same time of LWW. In that book, Aslan is called “the great Lion, the son of the Emperor-beyond-the Sea, the High King above all kings in Narnia.” When the Pevensies Return to Narnia in Prince Caspian, Lucy must decide whether or not to follow Aslan when her siblings are unable to see him. In The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, Aslan appears as a lamb briefly before returning to his leonine form. In The Silver Chair, a drop of Aslan’s blood gives new life to King Caspian. In The Last Battle, Aslan and his friends live happily ever after as the real story begins.
Aslan may remind readers of another character in another Story. In The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, Aslan tells Edmund and Lucy they won’t return to Narnia, but they will meet him in their world, in which Aslan goes by another name. “You must learn to know me by that name,” Aslan tells the children. “This was the very reason why you were brought to Narnia, that by knowing me here for a little, you may know me better there.”
What is Aslan’s other name? When asked by a reader, C.S. Lewis replied: “As to Aslan’s other name, well, I want you to guess. Has there ever been anyone in this world who
•Arrived at the same time as Father Christmas?
•Said he was the Son of the Great Emperor?
•Gave himself up for someone else’s fault to be jeered at and killed by wicked people?
•Came to life again?
•Is sometimes spoken of as a lamb?
What do you think Aslan’s other name is? If you haven’t already done so, I encourage you to read The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe see the movie with Spirit Group, H2H, LYO or with your family during the holidays. And invite a friend to accompany you as you "Journey to Narnia."
