terb’s world: my thoughts on NARNIA

I have just finished listening to the audiobook of THE VOYAGE OF THE DAWN TREADER, which wasn’t my favorite of the Narnia series. However, I have now come to appreciate it more, especially since I’m excited about this being made into the next Disney-Walden Media movie.

The story revolves around the quest to find the seven Telmarine lords who sailed east during the reign of Miraz, which was part of his ploy to remove all who might take Caspian’s side. I could never remember all the islands they visited in the story, and which of the lords they found in each island, so I’m writing this as my personal reference on the voyage of the Dawn Treader. I’m not including the things that happened in between islands (such as fighting the sea serpent and the sighting of the merpeople). I’m also not including the islands they only passed by (such as Burnt Island) and Galma.

1. THE LONE ISLANDS

Which lord did they find in this island?
Lord Bern

What was the lord’s story?
Lord Bern “loved a girl of the islands, and felt [he] had enough of the sea.” He “married and have lived [in the Lone Islands] ever since.”

What happened during the visit to this island?
Caspian, Edmund, Lucy, Eustace and Reepicheep were captured slave traders. Caspian was instantly bought by the Lord Bern, since the boy reminded him of King Caspian the Ninth, Caspian’s father. Upon learning who Caspian was, Bern helped him dispose of Governor Gumpas and was installed as Duke of Lone Islands to replace the governor. Afterwards, they saved Edmund, Lucy, Eustace and Reepicheep and outlawed the slave trade in the Lone Islands.

2. THE DRAGON ISLAND

Which lord did they find in this island?
Lord Octesian

What was the lord’s story?
We don’t really know what happened to the Lord Octesian. Since the dragon that died was wearing Octesian’s arm ring, the others “wondered whether the other dragon had killed the Lord Octesian several years ago or whether Octesian himself had been the old dragon.”

What happened during the visit to this island?
The bratty Eustace became a dragon when he slept “on a dragon’s hoard with greedy, dragonish thoughts in his heart.” During this trying period of his life, his attitude began to improve. In the end, he was un-dragoned by Aslan himself.

3. THE DEATHWATER ISLAND – initially called “Goldwater Island”

Which lord did they find in this island?
Lord Restimar. They only found out his identity when they came to the Island of the Voices, where Coriakin and the Dufflepuds live, because the magician was able to tell them which were the lords that came there years ago.

What was the lord’s story?
As Edmund surmised, the Lord Restimar was there on a hot day, “undressed on top of the cliff … then he dived” and became a gold statue.

What happened during the visit to this island?
The company realized that the waters in this island can change anything into gold. It was an enchanted island because Caspian and Edmund nearly started fighting because of this, until everyone saw Aslan walking across the hillside. After leaving, they could barely remember what happened there.

4. CORIAKIN’S ISLAND – “the island of the voices”

Which lord did they find in this island?
none

What was the lord’s story?
n/a

What happened during the visit to this island?
They met the invisible Duffers (later called the Dufflepuds, which was a combination of Duffers and Monopods), who asked Lucy to recite the spell to remove their invisibility. After doing so, Aslan appeared and talked to Lucy. They dined with the magician, Coriakin (a star under discipline), who made a map of their travels based on the observation of Lord Drinian.

5. THE DARK ISLAND – “the island where dreams come true”

Which lord did they find in this island?
Lord Rhoop

What was the lord’s story?
The Lord Rhoop went to this island thinking that this is where everything he wanted would materialize. To his horror, dreams – not daydreams – did come true in this island.

What happened during the visit to this island?
They saved the broken Lord Rhoop, and hastened to leave the island, much to the dismay of the valiant Reepicheep who couldn’t understand the humans’ panic and fear of facing their dreams. They were finally guided and helped by an albatross, who was actually Aslan in another form.

6. RAMANDU’S ISLAND – “the world’s end”

Which lords did they find in this island?
Lord Revilian, Lord Argoz and Lord Mavramorn

What was the lords’ story?
The three lords quarreled because one wanted to stay and retire in this island, another wanted to go back to Narnia, while the other wanted to continue on sailing east. During the fight, one of them went for the Knife of Stone (which was used by the White Witch before to kill Aslan) and a deep enchanted sleep came over them.

What happened during the visit to this island?
They met a star in retirement, Ramandu, and his daughter (who would later marry Caspian). They found out that they were now at the beginning of the world’s end, and that if they sailed further on, they would get to Aslan’s country where they would have to leave Reepicheep in order to lift the enchantment. The Dawn Treader sailed on east, leaving behind a sailor named Pittencream in Ramandu’s Island.

7. THE ISLAND BEYOND- “the way to Aslan’s country”

Which lord did they find in this island?
none

What was the lord’s story?
n/a

What happened during the visit to this island?
Edmund, Lucy and Eustace met Aslan in the form of a Lamb, who fed them roasted fish and told them that the two Pevensies would never return to Narnia. This portion contained one of the most beautiful passages in The Chronicles of Narnia, which I am quoting here:

“It isn’t Narnia, you know,” sobbed Lucy. “It’s you. We shan’t meet you there. And how can we live, never meeting you?”

“But you shall meet me, dear one,” said Aslan.

“Are are you there too, Sir?” said Edmund.

“I am,” said Aslan. “But there I have another name. You must learn to know me by that name. 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.”