Aslan's appearances

Into the Wardrobe

Into the Wardrobe

Friend and Surrogate Mom
Knight of the Noble Order
Emeritus
Throughout VDT Aslan has a number of appearances, but they're not always in the form of a lion. There's the albatross and the lamb. The lamb seems sort of obvious to me since Aslan represents Jesus, but why do you think he appeared in so many ways?

What are your favorite appearances and why?
 
I have always speculated that the White Stag at the end of LWW was Aslan guiding the Pevensies back to their childhood they left behind.

As for Aslan's appearances in VotDT, the albatross is a legendary bird of the sea. The mariners of old supposedly thought of them as the sould of lost sailors. It is supposed to be considered disastrous to kill them. And it would have been easier and just more normal for them to see a bird flying above the sea rather than a lion either on the ship or on the water.

But my favorite appearance in VotDT was when Lucy was reading the Magician's Book. Both in the warning not to do the one spell and when he appears after she recites the correct spell.

MrBob
 
I've thought the same thing about the White Stag, who never comes into the stories any other way. The Stag fulfilled a wish, all right: the wish Mr. and Mrs. Pevensie would have had for their children to return, if Narnian time had not prevented them from knowing the children were even away at all.



-- Joseph Ravitts, author of "Southward the Tigers"
 
I like the albatross in VDT because it whispers to Lucy, sort of lets her know, specially, that it is Aslan. Lucy always has a heightened connection to Aslan, and the albatross is a good illustration of it.

Lewis said VDT was symbolic of "the spiritual life (especially in Reepicheep)," so perhaps the appearance of Aslan in so many varying ways — many different ways except in his true Lion form — is a symbol of how, in our spiritual lives, we do not have Jesus in physical form to stand beside us, but we have the expression of His love and power in many different ways: the Word and Sacrament, of course, but also in the encouragement and prayers of our friends, the writings of those who went before us like CSL and JRRT, and other ways, small signs of His care, godly advice from someone else ...

Aslan is always there, even if not in the form we recognize.
 
Actually Copper, the first mention of the White Stag happens when Mr. Tumnus is telling Lucy the stories when they first meet. Of course, it doesn't mean that the end-of-story White Stag is not Aslan or that the White Stag of popular legend isn't Aslan.

Inkspot, it was only Lucy who even asked for Aslan's help. It seemed everyone else was trying to do their own best, but it was only after Lucy asked for Aslan's help did they see the light at the end of the darkenss.

MrBob
 
Love the insights yall!!!

I liked it at the end when they say Aslan in His country, that they saw a lamb before they saw the lion. They saw the gentle side before seeing the powerful one.

I love the albatross as well for many of the same reasons yall mentioned.
 
Every time I read the part of the albatross I cry. What Aslan says to Lucy is so touching and encouraging and I fall apart! =P I never thought of the White Stag as Aslan...but I like the idea!! It fits very well into the story. I love all the different forms of Aslan in VDT because it helps me remember that I don't have to have a vision or a face to face experience with God to believe, or even to hear or learn from him.
 
Slightly off topic for VDT, but on topic for appearances of Aslan: Even though he appears as a lion in this instance, I love it when he walks with Shasta through the mountain pass in HHB. It says he's as big or bigger than the horse making him appear different from any other lion ever seen. But him protecting Shasta from going over the cliff and telling him about all the times he's been with him throughout his life. I love that appearance. That's a scene that made HHB wonderful for me.
 
Last edited:
I always loved when he was an albatross. In the VoDT audio CD, when he whispers to Lucy, "Courage, dear heart" ah..his voice sounds so incredible! I dun really know exactly why its my favorite of his form. it was just the most intriguing.
 
ITW said:
Slightly off topic for VDT, but on topic for appearances of Aslan: Even though he appears as a lion in this instance, I love it when he walks with Shasta through the mountain pass in HHB. It says he's as big or bigger than the horse making him appear different from any other lion ever seen. But him protecting Shasta from going over the cliff and telling him about all the times he's been with him throughout his life. I love that appearance. That's a scene that made HHB wonderful for me.
Click to expand...
I agree, ITW. That is a concept which has illuminated my life as well. What appears to be "circumstances" to us, actually turns out to be Aslan's leading or guiding or prodding ...
 
If you look back along this thread, you'll see that others have thought the same thing. I don't think that Mr. Lewis meant the White Stag to be Aslan, but I still like to think that it was He.
 
If you look back along this thread, you'll see that others have thought the same thing. I don't think that Mr. Lewis meant the White Stag to be Aslan, but I still like to think that it was He.
Click to expand...
yup! these threads seem to be dead...that makes me sad..*sniff sniff*
 
I don't know that the white stag was Aslan, but maybe used by Aslan to guide the kids back to the wardrobe. I don't think all appearances like that have to be Aslan. God uses people to do what He wants done all the time. It is an interesting thought, but I have to say that after thinking about it, I don't think it was Aslan.
 
It is a good thought. The white stag had a reputation of granting wishes when caught...hence forth the reason the Pevensies were following him.

I think if Aslan were seen at the white stag it would lessen him in some ways. I'd hate to think of him being reduced at any point to that of a sort of genie. It doesn't fit his character.
 
Aslan is definately not genie-type! It's almost the opposite. Like he said in 'The Magicians Nephew' about the witch eating the apple,
"All get what they want, they do not always like it"
that's one of my favorite quotes.
 
That's just it...the white stag would grant wishes when caught sort of like a genie. Sure Aslan would hear anyone's wishes and wants...but would discern in how to answer them. He wouldn't just grant a random wish without consideration and discernment. That's why I'd have a tough time seeing the stag as an Aslan figure.
 
Interestingly enough while researching some of the myths contained in the Narnian books by Lewis, I came upon references to white stags in different cultures. Nearly everyone of them had to do with the fact that if you see a white stag it was representative of God or the gods.

In fact the following myth of the white stag as it relates to Christianity may have been what C.S. Lewis was trying to use in LWW.

"To Christians, the white stag came to symbolize Christ, perhaps in part inspired by the St. Eustace legend, wherein the Roman soldier Eustace is hunting, and happens upon a deer with a cross between his antlers. Eustace converts on the spot, and is put through numerous tragedies, persecutions, etc., including the death of his family, until being miraculously reunited with them.

It is also worth noting that in Christian iconography, the unicorn is a symbol for Christ. There is a close identification between the white stag and the unicorn, and it can be reasoned that the white stag is the equivalent of the unicorn in these northern cultures, which do not record the existence of unicorns."
 
Back
Top