THE HORSE AND HIS BOY by C.S. Lewis:
A Study Guide for 8- to 10-year-olds
By
Amy C. Blake
THE HORSE AND HIS BOY
By
C.S. Lewis
Student: ______
Teacher: ______
The Horse and His Boy—Introduction and Chapter 1
Discussion
Introduction:
Clive Staples Lewis (29 November 1898 – 22 November 1963), commonly referred to as C. S. Lewis and known to his friends and family as "Jack", was a novelist, poet, academic, medievalist, literary critic, essayist, lay theologian and Christian apologist from Belfast, Ireland. He is known for both his fictional work, especially The Screwtape Letters, The Chronicles of Narnia and The Space Trilogy and his nonfiction, such as Mere Christianity, Miracles and The Problem of Pain. Lewis and fellow novelist J. R. R. Tolkien were close friends. Both authors served on the English faculty at Oxford University, and both were active in the informal Oxford literary group known as the "Inklings".
The Horse and His Boy is a novel by C. S. Lewis. It was published in 1954, making it the fifth of seven books published in Lewis' series The Chronicles of Narnia. The books in this series are sometimes ordered chronologically in relation to the events in the books as opposed to the dates of their original publication. In this alternative ordering, The Horse and His Boy is the third book, taking place during the events of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Although it was published after The Silver Chair (due to Lewis not wanting to break up the Caspian triad), it was written before it, so in written order it is fourth. The story is also referred to as a story-within-a-story in the fourth published book, The Silver Chair. The Horse and His Boy is the only Narnia book which does not feature children from our world as the story's main characters, although the adult Queen Lucy, Queen Susan, and King Edmund (all of whom first appear in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe) do appear in the book, and the dynamics of the story develop from Susan's interactions. Peter, the High King, appears in the book unrecognized by Cor but is also mentioned frequently by the Narnians.
The adventures are mentioned twice in The Silver Chair. Corin, Cor (or Shasta), Aravis, Bree and Hwin all appear in the great reunion in The Last Battle. Lucy and Edmund still retain their memories of their time on Earth, as evidenced by Lucy's retelling of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.
Ch. 1:
Setting is the time and place the story occurs. What is the setting of this book?
Calormen (and the journey to Narnia); during the Golden Age of Narnia when Peter, Edmund, Susan, and Lucy rule.
Who does Shasta call father? Is he his father?
Arsheesh. No, he found Shasta nearly dead in a boat when Shasta was very young.
Who is the stranger?
A Tarkaan
Describe the Tarkaan’s equipment.
Round shield, scimitar, lance
How does the Tarkaan know Arsheesh is not Shasta’s father?
Shasta’s skin is pale like the Northerners while Arsheesh’s is dark like the Calormenes.
How does Shasta feel when he realizes Arsheesh will sell him to the Tarkaan?
A little anxious, but not sad because Arsheesh has always treated him badly.
What can the Tarkaan’s horse do?
Talk
Why does the horse propose that he and Shasta run away together?
The horse wants to go back to Narnia and freedom. The Tarkaan will be cruel to Shasta. Neither can travel alone without arousing suspicion.
Why does the horse refuse to say, “May he live forever,” about the Tisroc, as is the custom of Calormen?
He’s a free Narnian, and he doesn’t want the Tisroc to live forever anyway.
What is the horse’s name?
Bree
Will Shasta lead Bree with reins and spurs?
No, just hold on with his knees and let Bree lead.
The Horse and His Boy—Introduction and Chapter 1
L T K S O B G J Z L H S O G Z
R G A C I T H E Q S T H O W U
A F S R U W S R E M R A J W A
X A E M K R E E U E O S Z K S
T N L K O A H L M L N T S F Z
J V C H P S A Y G N D A W Q Y
S H I D R G V N A C O R S I T
H L N A T D G R H H R F S J P
H J O Y N S N S L U W P N R F
A C R K A I X V J D C Y B X I
W T H C A L O R M E N B R E E
T D C M Y H Q B H M O Z U M L
D D E G G K N A T W S B Z L F
U V Z V N B D P K B S S O A T
G R R C I A D Q D O U C P Y W
ARSHEESH
BOY
BREE
CALORMEN
CHRONICLES
HORSE
LEWIS
NARNIA
NORTH
SHASTA
TARKAAN
TISROC
The Horse and His Boy—Chapters 2-3
Discussion
Ch. 2:
Does riding make Shasta sore? Why?
Yes. He’s not used to it, and he keeps falling off.
What smell is missing from the air?
Fish
Why does Bree say they won’t be stealing to use the 40 crescents from the saddlebag?
They’re prisoners and captives in enemy country.
What does Bree fear talking horses don’t do?
Roll in the grass
Why doesn’t Bree want to talk about riding in the Calormene wars?
He rode as a slave not as a free Narnian.
What scares Bree by the sandhills?
A lion
What else is in the night?
A horse and rider, probably a tarkaan.
Who is it?
A Tarkheena named Aravis
How do Bree and Shasta find that out?
When the lion drives them into the water together, the mare talks.
What is the mare’s name?
Hwin
Where are Aravis and Hwin going?
Narnia
Are the four more or less likely to be noticed traveling together?
Less, according to Bree
Do Aravis and Shasta get along?
No, she’s snobby and proud. He’s touchy about his lowly upbringing.
Ch. 3:
Why did Aravis run away from home?
Her stepmom hates her and her dad’s making her marry an old man.
What stopped Aravis from killing herself?
Hwin spoke to her and convinced her to go to Narnia instead.
Why did Hwin think Aravis would be happy in Narnia?
No maiden is forced to marry against her will.
What meeting place do the four choose in case they’re separated in Tashbaan?
The Tombs of the Ancient Kings
Why won’t the Calormenes go there?
Ghouls
What is Hwin’s plan?
Go straight through the city as if the humans are peasants driving pack horses.
Why doesn’t Bree like the plan?
He’s prideful and can’t stand the idea of being shabby and looking like a packhorse.
Compare the four characters.
Aravis and Bree and proud, haughty. Shasta and Hwin are humble.
The Horse and His Boy—chapters 2-3
1. Shasta was sore from riding Bree. True False
2. What smell was missing from the air?
a. flowers
b. salt
c. fish
d. all of the above
3. Bree fears talking horses don’t do what?
a. roll in the grass
b. eat oats
c. talk
d. none of the above
4. Bree loves to talk about riding in the Calormene Wars. True False
5. Aravis is a what?
a. mare
b. donkey
c. lion
d. Tarkheena
e. none of the above
6. Why did Aravis run away?
a. Her stepmom hates her
b. Her dad promised her in marriage to an old man
c. She doesn’t want to marry him
d. All of the above
7. Hwin stopped Aravis from killing herself. True False
8. What meeting place did they choose in case they got separated in Tashbaan?
a. The desert
b. The tombs
c. The river
d. The Tisroc’s palace
9. Calormenes believe pixies haunt the Tombs of the Ancient Kings. True False
10. Who comes up with the plan to get them through the city?
a. Hwin
b. Aravis
c. Shasta
d. Bree
The Horse and His Boy—Chapters 4-5
Discussion
Ch. 4:
How does Shasta get separated from the others in Tashbaan?
The Narnians mistake him for Corin.
Where do the Narnians think Shasta is from?
Archenland
What do they think he is?
A prince
What creature startles Shasta?
A faun
What is the faun’s name? Why does the narrator say readers might know him?
Tumnus. He’s the faun from The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.
What does Tumnus think happened to Prince Corin to make him so quiet?
A touch of the sun
What other creatures were in the room?
Two dwarves and a raven
How long had the Narnians been in Tashbaan?
3 weeks
Why were they there?
Prince Rabadash wants to marry Queen Susan. She’s there to see if she’s interested.
Will she marry him? Why or why not?
No. He’s cruel and self-centered.
Ch. 5:
Why does King Edmund think they’re in danger?
He believes Rabadash will be angry at Susan’s rejection and kill them to marry her regardless.
Why wouldn’t the Tisroc fear vengeance from Narnia?
Because Narnia is small and the Tisroc would enjoy swallowing up the small, free lands anyway.
Who tells of a route through the desert?
Sallowpad the Raven
What is Tumnus’ plan?
Pretend to give a banquet on their galleon so they can take stores onto it and have a reason to be there to escape.
What is the ship’s name?
Splendor Hyaline
Why didn’t Shasta tell the Narnians who he was?
He was afraid they’d think he was a traitor and kill him.
Who is the king of Archenland?
Lune
Why did Prince Corin disappear?
He got into a fight defending Queen Susan’s honor.
The Horse and His Boy--Ch. 4-5
Across
1. a faun
3. king of Archenland
4. why Corin disappeared
5. number of weeks the Narnians were in Tashbaan
6. wants to marry Queen Susan
7. Shasta's look-alike
8. Corin is prince of this land
Down
2. name of Narnians' ship
5. ruler of Calormen
6. knows route through the desert
The Horse and His Boy—Chapters 6-7
Discussion
Ch. 6:
What did the Tombs look like?
Giant beehives
Who arrived first at the Tombs?
Shasta
Does Shasta believe Aravis would leave her behind?
Yes
Would she?
No. She’s more honorable than he thinks.
What touched Shasta?
A cat
Where did the cat lead Shasta?
To the desert side of the tombs
What woke Shasta in the night?
Jackals
What scared away the jackals?
A lion’s roar
Who roared?
The cat
Why did the cat scratch Shasta?
He confessed to throwing rocks at a stray cat once.
Which mountain should they head toward, according to the Raven?
Mt. Pire
How would they recognize it?
Two peaks split at the top
Who arrived with the horses?
An armed man, not Aravis
Ch. 7:
Who did Aravis meet in Tashbaan?
Lasaraleen
Where is Aravis’ father?
In Tashbaan looking for her
What is Lasaraleen like?
Silly, vain, self-centered, absorbed with clothing and such
Why can’t Aravis be carried out of the city on a litter with the curtain drawn?
One doesn’t use litters outside of the city. It would draw attention.
What plan did the girls make?
To get Aravis out through the Tisroc’s garden, which borders on the river.
Why couldn’t they go that night?
A party
What do Aravis and Lasaraleen encounter in the Tisroc’s palace?
The Tisroc, Prince Rabadash, the Grand Vizier, and two servants
What do they do?
Hide behind the sofa
Why does Aravis especially not want to meet Ahoshta Tarkaan, the Grand Vizier?
That’s the man her father promised her to in marriage.
Compare Aravis’ and Lasaraleen’s personalities.
Aravis loves the country, sports, thinking, quiet. Lasaraleen loves the city, parties, dresses, noise.
The Horse and His Boy—chapters 6-7
Draw a line from the description on the right to the word on the left that best matches it.
beehives Grand Vizier
Shasta location of Aravis’s father
Aravis the first to the tombs
cat the way Aravis will leave Tashbaan
jackals shape of the Tombs of the Ancient Kings
Mt. Pire stayed with Shasta at the tombs
Lasaraleen person Aravis met in Tashbaan
Tashbaan landmark the Raven said to head toward
Tisroc’s palace woke Shasta
Ahoshta Tarkaan the last to the tombs
Illustrate your favorite scene from these two chapters.
The Horse and His Boy—Chapters 8
Discussion
Why is Prince Rabadash upset?
Queen Susan and the Narnians escaped. The Tisroc didn’t let him take a fast ship after them.
What did Rabadash do to the Grand Vizier when he quoted the Poets to him?
Kicked him in the hindquarters
Who is the Grand Vizier?
Ahoshta Tarkaan, Aravis’ betrothed
What does Rabadash “desire and purpose”?
He wants the Tisroc’s armies to invade Narnia, kill all the royals, and take Susan for his wife.
Why won’t the Tisroc attack Narnia?
He thinks the kings and queens of Narnia are powerful magicians who freed Narnia from the White Witch.
What is Rabadash’s idea for Calormen to attack Narnia and yet keep the Tisroc from blame if it fails?
He’ll take 200 horses as if unknown to his father, cross the desert, take Archenland, then dart into Narnia because King Peter is off fighting giants, and get Susan. He’ll shed as little Narnian royal blood as possible.
How does this help the Tisroc?
If he fails, Tisroc claims ignorance. If he succeeds, Tisroc has Archenland.
Will the Tisroc avenge Rabadash if he falls or is imprisoned?
No
What if Rabadash sheds more Narnian royal blood than necessary?
His next brother will be Tisroc
Is the Tisroc worried for Rabadash?