Inside the Voyage of the Dawn Treader: A Guide to Exploring the Journey beyond Narnia

by Devin Brown

The Chronicles of Narnia series has sold over 85 million copies worldwide and introduced people of all ages to the central doctrines of Christianity. Anticipating the December 2010 Walden Media/20th Century Fox release of The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, this book guides readers through the third novel of C. S. Lewis's classic series.

As he did in the successful Inside Narnia and Inside Prince Caspian, Devin Brown takes readers through The Voyage of the Dawn Treader chapter by chapter, illuminating the features of C. S. Lewis's writing, providing supplemental information on Lewis's life and other books, offering comments and opinions from other Lewis scholars, and uncovering the work's rich meanings. Longtime fans of C. S. Lewis and those who have met him through the movies will want to read this book.

Genres: Nonfiction

256 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 2010

About the author

Devin Brown (PhD, University of South Carolina) is a Lilly scholar and professor of English at Asbury University. A C. S. Lewis aficionado, Brown has written, taught, and lectured on Lewis extensively for more than ten years. He has written a number of books related to Lewis, including Inside Narnia and Inside Prince Caspian, and lives in Kentucky. In 2008 Brown was invited to serve as scholar-in-residence at the Kilns, Lewis's home in Oxford.

Reviews

[Coralie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Much like the previous two books, I cannot more highly recommend this analysis of Lewis's classic Voyage of the Dawn Treader.

I so wish Brown had gone on to finish the rest of the Chronicles! I'd love to hear his perspective on The Silver Chair because it's always been my least favorite and felt out of place to me in the series. And on The Last Battle because everything wraps together! And of course the others just because I love them and have so thoroughly enjoyed learning more deeply about this beloved series.

Brown has made connections I never considered, brought in excellent research and perspective from Lewis's life, and he's left the facts and theories on the table for the readers to take what they will from his findings.

I've always enjoyed The Voyage of the Dawn Treader but this analysis has allowed me to grow deeper in my love of the classic and to see it in a new light. As someone who's read these books countless times, it was a pure joy to read three of them again almost as if for the first time. What an incredible feeling of discovery and finding awe at the magic of it all like a child again.

And what a stunning resource as a writer to dig into some of the techniques Lewis used. Some of what he did is so subtle I never would have picked up on it without a guide. So, thank you Dr. Brown for investing the time and energy into these companion guides. I shall treasure them.

[C · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting analysis of The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. It covers symbols and allusions, and attempts to explain parts Lewis left unexplained. It's well-researched and goes chapter-by-chapter. It also references the other Chronicles of Narnia (spoiler alert!) and many of Lewis’ other works.

I read this because I liked Inside Narnia. This one isn’t as good, but maybe that’s because it’s for the third book in the series, and the other was for the first. Also, Lion is far more popular.

I learned that while he was writing it, Lewis planned Voyage to be the last book.

Notes
Meanings
Coriakin’s relationship with Dufflepuds parallels God’s relationship with humans. It’s “the old story of authority, disobedience, and correction.”

The Dufflepuds’ work “to mind the garden” parallels Adam and Eve tending the Garden of Eden.

The “spell for the refreshment of the Spirit,” with the cup, sword, tree, and green hill, is probably the story of Christ’s Last Supper, arrest, death, and ascension. Reasons:
1. Cup represents the Last Supper; sword represents the one used by Peter at Jesus’ arrest; tree represents cross; green hill represents the one Jesus ascended from.
2. The story doesn’t seem to belong in Narnia. Aslan promises to tell it to Lucy “for years and years,” likely when she’s in England.
3. This comes after Lucy sins, showing grace and redemption.

The albatross is the traditional good luck bird of the sea.

Aslan appearance as a lamb echoes many biblical descriptions of Christ as the Lamb of God.

Aslan’s breakfast points to John 21, where Jesus prepares a fish breakfast for His disciples.

Select Narnia books referenced
The Way Into Narnia, Peter Schakel
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Patterning of a Fantastic World, Colin Manlove
The World According to Narnia, Jonathan Rogers
Into the Wardrobe, David Downing
Revisiting Narnia, Shanna Caughey
Not a Tame Lion, Bruce Edwards
The Chronicles of Narnia and Philosophy, Gregory Bassham
Planet Narnia, Michael Ward

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

While this is an in-depth look at The Voyage of the Dawn Treader and has lots of references to Lewis’s other works as well as other authors’ works on Lewis, it was really readable. The author assumes that the reader is intimately acquainted with Narnia as well as several of Lewis’s other works.
He breaks down each of tVotDT’s chapters and discusses them in depth, covering themes, connections to other literature, and ends with discussion questions.
As the Dawn Treader is my favorite of the Narnia books, I really enjoyed seeing it through another set of eyes and having observations pointed out - some of which I had seen myself, some of which I had a small glimpse of, and some that provided a new perspective on an old favorite. I’m definitely interested in finding the author’s other work related to the Narnia series.

[Breckin Fleischman · Rating 5 out of 5]

(see my review of 'Inside the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe' by this same author)

[Marshall Walter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really appreciate Devin Brown's scholarship and perspective on the Chronicles of Narnia. His knowledge of C.S. Lewis and incorporation of Lewis' other works into his own adds excellent perspective to one of my all-time favorite series. A definite must own for any fan of Narnia!

[p. tallon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good commentary on VODT, my favorite Narnian Chronicle.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This 19th century book of manners is surprisingly helpful for today.