Vocabulary
Read this excerpt from Chapter 7:
“If it comes to talking about sides,” said Edmund, “how do we know you’re a friend?”
“Not meaning to be rude, Mr. Beaver,” added Peter, “but you see, we’re strangers.”
“Quite right, quite right,” said the Beaver. “Here is my token.” With these words it held up to them a little white object.
They all looked at it in surprise, till suddenly Lucy said, “Oh, of course. It’s my handkerchief—the one I gave to poor Mr. Tumnus.”
What is the meaning of the word token as it is used in the excerpt?
(Hint: Think about why Mr. Beaver showed them the handkerchief.)
something given as an assurance of identity
What are Edmund and Peter’s response to the beaver when they meet him?
Peter trusts Beaver because he offers him food and drink, but Edmund is reluctant to trust him.
Read the following excerpt from Chapter 7:
“That’s right,” said the Beaver. “Poor fellow, he got wind of the arrest before it actually happened and handed this over to me. He said that if anything happened to him I must meet you here and take you on to—” Here the Beaver’s voice sank into silence and it gave one or two very mysterious nods. Then signaling to the children to stand as close around it as they possibly could, so that their faces were actually tickled by its whiskers, it added in a low whisper—“They say Aslan is on the move—perhaps has already landed.”
Which sentence best explains how this paragraph fits into the overall structure of Chapter 7 (why is it important)?
It establishes the importance of Beaver’s introduction of Aslan.
What have you noticed about the division of the characters in Narnia in the novel so far?
They are divided into either a good side or bad side.
Read this excerpt from Chapter 7:
“If it comes to talking about sides,” said Edmund, “how do we know you’re a friend?”
“Not meaning to be rude, Mr. Beaver,” added Peter, “but you see, we’re strangers.”
“Quite right, quite right,” said the Beaver. “Here is my token.” With these words it held up to them a little white object.
They all looked at it in surprise, till suddenly Lucy said, “Oh, of course. It’s my handkerchief—the one I gave to poor Mr. Tumnus.”
Which context clue in bold in the paragraph best helps in understanding the meaning of the word token?
“how do we know you’re a friend?”
Use your book to identify two pieces of evidence from the chapter that best show how Peter and Edmund feel about Mr. Beaver.
"If it comes to talking about sides," said Edmund, "how do we know you're a friend?"
"Come on," said Peter, "let's give it a try. All keep close together. We ought to be a match for one beaver if it turns out to be an enemy."
Read the following excerpt from Chapter 7:
“That’s right,” said the Beaver. “Poor fellow, he got wind of the arrest before it actually happened and handed this over to me. He said that if anything happened to him I must meet you here and take you on to—” Here the Beaver’s voice sank into silence and it gave one or two very mysterious nods. Then signaling to the children to stand as close around it as they possibly could, so that their faces were actually tickled by its whiskers, it added in a low whisper—“They say Aslan is on the move—perhaps has already landed.”
Looking at the paragraph following this one in the chapter, what evidence best shows the importance of this paragraph?
“None of the children knew who Aslan was any more than you do; but the moment the Beaver had spoken these words everyone felt quite different.”
Based on how the characters in the novel are divided, what is a possible theme topic the author is developing?
Good vs. Evil
Read this excerpt from Chapter 7:
Just below them a dam had been built across this river, and when they saw it everyone suddenly remembered that of course beavers are always making dams and felt quite sure that Mr. Beaver had made this one. They also noticed that he now had a sort of modest expression on his face—the sort of look people have when you are visiting a garden they’ve made or reading a story they’ve written. So it was only common politeness when Susan said, “What a lovely dam!”
And Mr. Beaver didn’t say “Hush” this time but “Merely a trifle! Merely a trifle! And it isn’t really finished!”
What does “Merely a trifle!” mean as it is used by Beaver in the paragraph?
It means it's just ordinary. He's showing how humble he is.
Read the following excerpt from Chapter 7:
“I know what it is,” said Peter; “it’s a beaver. I saw the tail.”
“It wants us to go to it,” said Susan, “and it is warning us not to make a noise.”
“I know,” said Peter. “The question is, are we to go to it or not? What do you think, Lu?”
"I think it’s a nice beaver,” said Lucy.
“Yes, but how do we know?” said Edmund.
“Shan’t we have to risk it?” said Susan. “I mean, it’s no good just standing here and I feel I want some dinner.”
How are the characters Lucy and Edmund different in this excerpt?
Edmund is suspicious and negative, while Lucy is very trusting and positive.
Read these sentences from Chapter 7:
“S-s-s-sh,” said the Beaver, “not here. I must bring you where we can have a real talk and also dinner.”
Explain how the Beaver’s mention of dinner influences how the events are described and how the overall mood changes in Chapter 7?
The mood of the group changes from the mysteriousness of the discussion of Aslan to hopeful thoughts about dinner.
What was interesting/different about how the four siblings each reacted to hearing Aslan's name when Beaver mentioned it for the first time?
Everyone except Edmund had a positive reaction to hearing Aslan's name.
Read this excerpt from Chapter 7:
Just below them a dam had been built across this river, and when they saw it everyone suddenly remembered that of course beavers are always making dams and felt quite sure that Mr. Beaver had made this one. They also noticed that he now had a sort of modest expression on his face—the sort of look people have when you are visiting a garden they’ve made or reading a story they’ve written. So it was only common politeness when Susan said, “What a lovely dam!”
And Mr. Beaver didn’t say “Hush” this time but “Merely a trifle! Merely a trifle! And it isn’t really finished!”
Which context clue in bold in the paragraph best helps in understanding the meaning of the phrase “Merely a trifle!”?
"modest expression on his face"
How is Edmund’s reaction to seeing the Beaver’s dam different from the other members of the group?
While Edmund notices the smaller river and two small hills and thinks about the Witch, the others are amazed at the beauty of the place.
What evidence from the passage best shows how the mood changes from serious to hopeful before Mr. Beaver leads them to the dam? Use your book.
"No one except Edmund felt any difficulty about trusting the beaver now, and everyone, including Edmund, was very glad to hear the word 'dinner'."
What does Edmund's reaction to hearing Aslan's name imply about which side he is on?
It implies he is on the bad/evil side.
Analyze how the character of the White Witch is perceived by the other characters in this chapter. What words do they use to describe her, and what does that reveal?
The White Witch is often described negatively, indicating her role as the antagonist.
What role do the Beavers play in helping Peter, Susan, and Lucy? How do they contribute to the overall plot?
The Beavers provide shelter, information, and assistance, moving the plot forward.