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
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.
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
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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 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.
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
True
False
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
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
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?
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.
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?
The Horse and His Boy—chapter 8
Unscramble each of the clue words.
Copy the letters in the numbered cells to other cells with the same number.
The Horse and His Boy—Chapters 9-10
Discussion
Ch. 9:
Why does Lasaraleen agree to take Aravis to the water-gate despite the scare from the Tisroc?
Aravis threatens to scream
What will happen if the girls are caught?
Death
Is Aravis scared at the Tombs? Of what?
Yes; she’ s afraid of the ghouls.
What is the desert like at night?
Cold
Why can’ t Shasta close his eyes against the sun’ s glare?
He must watch for Mt. Pire.
Why can’ t Shasta walk during the day?
The hot sand burns his bare feet.
How long does it take them to find the valley the Raven mentioned?
Not until after the moon rose on the second night. More than 24 hours.
What is perhaps the loveliest moment of Shasta’ s life?
Entering the pool and sticking his head into the cataract.
Who says they mustn’ t sleep? Do they?
Ch. 10:
How do they know they’ ve reached the North?
The green of the Northern mountains.
After they cross the Winding Arrow river, what land are they in?
Archenland.
When they look south from the mountains, what do they see?
Rabadash’ s army.
Were the horses actually giving all their effort to reach Archenland? How do they find out?
No. A lion scares them into going faster.
What does Shasta do when Bree doesn’ t stop to help Aravis and Hwin?
Jumps from the saddle, runs back to the females, and yells at the lion to “ go home.”
What does the lion do?
He goes.
What has the lion done to Aravis?
Scratched her back.
Who let them in at the gate?
The Hermit of the Southern March
What does the hermit tell Shasta to do?
Run straight ahead until he reaches King Lune.
To what does the Hermit compare the scratches on Aravis’ back?
The Horse and His Boy—chapters 9-10
Fill in the blanks.
1. Aravis threatened to ________________ if Lasaraleen did not take her to the water-gate.
2. Aravis and Lasaraleen would be ___________________ if they were caught.
3. Aravis was afraid of ________________________ at the Tombs.
4. The desert got ____________________ at night.
5. Shasta didn’ t close his eyes because he had to keep _______________________ in sight.
6. When they reached the end of the desert, ________________ said they couldn’ t go to sleep.
7. ____________________ refused to go on without a snack.
8. It was nearly _______________ o’ clock by the time they set out again.
9. They knew they’ d reached the North when they saw the ______________________ hills.
The Horse and His Boy—Chapters 11-12
Discussion
Ch. 11:
What is King Lune doing when Shasta finds him?
Hunting
Who does Lune think Shasta is?
Corin
Does the King believe Shasta about the attack?
Yes
What interests Lune about Shasta?
His blood
Why can’ t Shasta keep up?
He doesn’ t know how to use the reins.
Shasta gets lost in what?
Fog/cloud
Who comes up behind Shasta at the crossroads?
Rabadash and his 200 horse
How soon does Rabadash tell his men they must conquer Anvard?
Within an hour.
What does Rabadash tell his men regarding Narnian blood and Archenland blood?
Narnian blood is precious, but they are to kill all males in Archenland and take the spoils for
Why does he say it three times? Who is he?
Lewis is reminding his reader of the Trinity. Aslan is the Son of the Great Emperor Beyond the
Sea. He represents Christ in Lewis’ made-up world.
From where does the golden light come?
The Lion Aslan
How does Shasta respond?
He falls at the Lion’ s feet.
What does Aslan do?
Touches his tongue to Shasta’ s forehead, then disappears.
Ch. 12:
How does Shasta know Aslan wasn’ t a dream?
A deep large paw print is in the ground.
What fills the print?
Water that becomes a stream.
What does Shasta do?
Drinks.
Where is Shasta?
Narnia
Who speaks to Shasta?
Hedgehog.
Who’ s coming?
Lord Peridan, Edmund, Lucy, Corin, and Narnian army.
Does Edmund think Shasta is a traitor?
No.
Why does Corin knock down Thornbut?
Thornbut won’ t let him fight in the battle.
What happens to Thornbut?
Sprained ankle
What does Corin convince Shasta to do?
Wear the dwarf’ s armor and join him in the battle
The Horse and His Boy—chapters 11-12
Unscramble the tiles to reveal a message.
The Horse and His Boy—Chapters 13-14
Discussion
Ch. 13:
What does Corin teach Shasta?
How to use his reins.
Why does Corin say Lucy is as good as a boy?
She rides off to war.
What does Shasta realize about his night-time trek through the mountains?
Aslan stayed to his left so he’ d be safe on the precipice.
How does Shasta feel about the battle?
Terrified.
To whose perspective do we switch and why?
Hermit’ s because Shasta can’ t see or understand the battle.
How does the hermit see?
His reflecting pool
Can Aravis, Bree, and Hwin see?
No, only cloudy shapes and colors.
Why does Hermit call Rabadash a fool?
For not making ladders. For not going home when the first attack failed.
How are Corin and Shasta doing in battle?
Corin is fighting well. Shasta falls.
It’ s better for him to be brave than cowardly.
What surprises Shasta?
Lune hugs and kisses him.
Ch. 14:
What does Hwin want to do?
Go on to Narnia.
Why is Aravis reluctant to go?
She’ s not sure where she’ ll go or what she’ ll do in Narnia.
Why is Bree reluctant to go?
His tail hasn’ t grown in properly. He’ s vain.
Why does Bree say he swears by the Lion and by the Lion’ s mane when he fears lions?
He means Aslan, but he doesn’ t believe Aslan is really a lion.
What is behind Bree as he explains away Aslan as a lion?
Aslan the lion
How does Hwin react to Aslan and he to her?
She tells him he may eat her if he wants. He says, “ I knew you’ d not be long in coming to me.”
What does he say to Bree?
“ Come. Touch. Smell. I am a true Beast.”
What does Bree learn?
He’ s been rather a fool.
Why don’ t Aravis and Cor ride the horses?
No one rides Talking Horses except in times of War.
Why is Bree nervous?
He doesn’ t know what’ s proper in Narnia and fears Talking Horses don’ t roll.
What does Hwin say?
She’ ll roll regardless.
The Horse and His Boy—chapters 13-14
Across
1. Hermit calls him a fool
5. Why Bree doesn't want to go to Narnia
The Horse and His Boy—Chapters 15
Discussion
Is Lune welcoming?
Yes, he’ s hospitable.
What story does Aravis tell Lune?
Of Cor rushing the lion to help her and Hwin.
How does Lune treat Hwin and Bree?
With as much politeness as he does the humans. He treats them as equals.
Who has seen to Aravis’ rooms?
Queen Lucy
What does Edmund mean when he says, “ Even a traitor may mend. I have known one that did?”
He’ s talking about himself when he betrayed his family and Narnia to the White Witch in The
Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.
Why does Lune object to killing Rabadash?
He has no stomach for killing in cold blood. It would be different in battle.
What do they decide to do with Rabadash?
To give him another chance.
How does Rabadash respond?
Rudely. He won’ t hear conditions.
Who comes to deal with him?
Aslan
What do the others do?
Party.
Why won’ t Corin be the next king?
Cor is the heir by law.
Is Corin upset?
No, he’ s thrilled. He can always be prince.
What does it mean to be king, according to Lune?
To be first in every desperate attack, last in retreat; in bad times, to look finer and laugh louder
over a scantier meal than any man’ s.
What’ s Corin’ s nickname and why?
Cor Thunder-Fist because he’ s the best boxer in the land.
Why do Aravis and Cor marry?
To make it more convenient to quarrel and make up.
Who’ s their son?
Ram the Great
The Horse and His Boy
Narnia
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