Discussion Questions

1. What would you say is the theme of The Horse and His Boy?
2. Does this story feel the same, or different, to you than the other Narnian tales? Why?
3. Who do the Calormenes remind you of in our world? Why? Who does Tash remind you of? Why?
4. Why do you suppose Lewis portrays the Calormene nobility speaking to one another in such a high-flown manner?
5. What contrasts does Lewis draw in this story between the city and the country? Which do you think Lewis liked better? Why?
6. What do you think of Lewis's descriptions of nature in this story? Is there a passage you particularly like? If so, would you read it to the group?
7. What do you think of Lewis's statement: "But one of the worst results of being a slave and being forced to do things is that when there is no-one to force you any more you find you have almost lost the power of forcing yourself."? (p. 131)
8. What do you suppose it is within Shasta that spurs him to go back and help Aravis and Hwin when they are being attacked by the Lion? (pp. 138, 145-146, 149)
9. What do you think of Lewis's statement that Shasta "had not yet learned that if you do one good deed your reward usually is to be set to do another and harder and better one."? (p. 140)
10. What do you think of the Hermit's statement to Aravis: "I have now lived a hundred and nine winters in this world and have never yet met any such thing as Luck."? (pp. 143, 162)
11. What does the Hermit reveal to Bree that his problem has been all along? (p. 146)
12. How did you react to Shasta's meeting with Aslan? (p. 156 ff.) What does this encounter reveal about Aslan? What do you think of Aslan's statement to Shasta: "I tell no-one any story but his own."? (p. 159) What do you suppose was the "new and different sort of trembling" that came over Shasta toward the end of this encounter? (p. 159)
13. Shasta's meeting with the dwarfs in Narnia portrays a quality much loved by Lewis. How would you describe that quality? (p. 166 ff.)
14. What does the fight at Anvard reveal about Lewis's attitude toward physical combat? (p. 179)
15. Lewis says about Rabadash: "For though he could have faced torture he couldn't bear being made ridiculous. In Tashbaan every one had always taken him seriously." (p. 187) Lewis makes a similar comment about someone else in one of his books. Do you remember who?
16. What does Bree's denial of Aslan being a real lion correspond to in the Bible? (pp. 191-193, and see 1 John 4:2) Why do you suppose this was an important point for Lewis to make?
17. What do you think of Hwin's statement to Aslan: "Please, you're so beautiful. You may eat me if you like. I'd sooner be eaten by you than fed by anyone else."? (p. 193)
18. What do you think of Aslan's explanation to Aravis about his wounding of her? (p. 194)
19. What does Shasta's journey and discovery of his true family teach us? What is Lewis giving us a picture of?
20. What do you think of Cor's statement that Aslan "seems to be at the back of all the stories."? (p. 199)
21. What does Bree's attitude toward finally entering Narnia (on p. 202) teach us about what our attitude often is toward God and serving him?
22. What do you think of the way Aslan deals with Rabadash? (p. 208 ff.) What do you make of Aslan's statement to Rabadash: "You have appealed to Tash, and in the temple of Tash you shall be healed. . . ." (p. 211)
23. What do you think of King Lune's statement to Cor: "The King's under the law, for it's the law makes him a king. Hast no more power to start away from thy crown than any sentry from his post. . . . For this is what it means to be a king: to be first in every desperate attack and last in every desperate retreat, and when there's hunger in the land (as must be now and then in bad years) to wear finer clothes and laugh louder over a scantier meal than any man in your land."?