CS Lewis Quotes for Teaching Narnia and "The Magician's Nephew"
If you’re anything like me, you’re always looking for new ways to help your students reflect more deeply—not just on literature, but on life itself. CS Lewis had a way of writing that reached deep into the soul, even when wrapped in a children’s story.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Using a reflective writing activity centered on CS Lewis quotes—specifically from The Magician’s Nephew and other works is a great idea to get them thinking critically about the book and its message. Whether you’re teaching this classic Narnia book in class or just want to bring meaningful prompts into your curriculum, this activity is a gentle but powerful way to spark thoughtful writing and create real conversations in the classroom.
Here are some ways we can use a few CS Lewis quotes in meaningful, intentional ways with middle schoolers.
🌿 Why Use CS Lewis Quotes in the Classroom?
Most online quote collections—like BrainyQuote, Goodreads, or even popular threads like this one on Reddit—give us lots of options. They’re great for browsing, but not built for teaching.
So I thought: What if we took the best of those quotes and added the structure teachers actually need?
Here’s a curated list with context, reflection prompts, and classroom-ready ideas to help your students engage with Lewis’s timeless wisdom.
3 CS Lewis Quotes that Spark Deeper Thinking (and How to Use Them)
1. “What you see and hear depends a good deal on where you are standing: it also depends on what sort of person you are.”
— The Magician’s Nephew
Context:
This moment happens when the characters are grappling with truth and perception. It’s an incredible opportunity to discuss point of view—not just in literature, but in life.
Prompt for students:
Write about a time when you saw something differently than someone else. What do you think influenced your perspective?
In-class use:
Pair this with a news media comparison activity. Show how different headlines report the same event. Ask students to think critically about bias, worldview, and values.
2. “Courage, dear heart.”
— Aslan (implied), The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
Context:
Technically from Dawn Treader, this quote is famously associated with Aslan and used across many CS Lewis reflections. Though not directly in The Magician’s Nephew, it resonates with the theme of Digory’s inner battle.
Prompt for students:
When have you needed courage lately? What helps you stay brave when you’re afraid?
In-class use:
Introduce the quote during a tough week—before a test, after a challenging topic. Let students journal or pair-share before discussing what courage really means.
3. “Child,” said the Lion, “I am telling you your story, not hers. I tell no one any story but their own.”
— The Horse and His Boy (but echoes the tone of Aslan in The Magician’s Nephew)
Context:
This is the heart of Lewis’s message on comparison and self-trust. It ties beautifully into Digory’s moment of decision—whether to follow temptation or obey.
Prompt for students:
Have you ever felt jealous or compared yourself to someone else? What do you think your own story is asking of you right now?
In-class use:
Ask students to write their own “inner voice” letters—what would Aslan say to them if he were speaking directly to their hearts?
🧑🏫 Why These Prompts Work for Middle Schoolers
Middle school is the age when students begin developing a stronger sense of identity, but also when self-doubt and social comparison start creeping in.
These reflective writing prompts:
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Encourage emotional depth without being intimidating
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Foster self-awareness and empathy
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Connect literature to the inner lives of students
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Create a safe space for sharing and connection
And if you’re anything like me, you don’t want one more “analyze the theme” worksheet. You want something real.
✍️ Try This: CS Lewis Quotes Reflective Writing Activity
I’ve bundled this approach into a classroom-ready resource:
👉 CS Lewis Quotes – Reflective Writing Prompts for The Magician’s Nephew
In this printable activity, you’ll find:
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A curated list of quotes from The Magician’s Nephew
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Open-ended reflective prompts for each quote
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Clean layout for journaling or bell work
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Perfect for discussion starters, literature circles, or writing stations
It’s flexible. It’s deep. And it makes Lewis feel fresh and relevant to students today.
💭 Final Thoughts
CS Lewis quotes don’t just live on Pinterest boards and Instagram captions. In the hands of a thoughtful teacher, they become bridges—between literature and life, books and hearts, ideas and identity.
So if you’re teaching The Magician’s Nephew, or you just want to bring more soul into your ELA classroom, I invite you to give these prompts a try.
Let’s not just read Lewis. Let’s live him.
Try my CS Lewis Quotes Reflective Writing Prompts Activity
There’s something uniquely comforting and profound about Lewis’s words. Even when writing for children, he never shied away from big themes—faith, courage, temptation, and the bittersweet beauty of growing up.
In The Magician’s Nephew, we follow the birth of Narnia, encounter moral dilemmas, and hear Aslan speak words that are just as relevant to us today as they were when Lewis wrote them. Quotes from this book make for the perfect springboard into journaling, class discussions, and even creative responses.
“What you see and hear depends a good deal on where you are standing: it also depends on what sort of person you are.”
—CS Lewis, The Magician’s Nephew
This is one of the quotes I’ve included in the activity. When students read and reflect on lines like this, they’re not just analyzing—they’re growing.
What’s Inside the Resource
In this download, you’ll get:
- Hand-picked quotes from The Magician’s Nephew
- Reflective writing prompts that go beyond comprehension
- Open-ended tasks perfect for journals, morning work, or end-of-class reflections
It’s simple to prep and deeply meaningful to teach.
Check it out on TpT
Perfect For:
- Teachers exploring Narnia or doing a CS Lewis author study
- Homeschool families looking for literature-based character education
- Anyone who loves bringing big questions into the classroom
How I Use It
In my own class, I pair each quote with quiet journaling time. Sometimes students share; sometimes they don’t. Either way, it’s powerful. These reflections often lead to some of the most honest and insightful conversations we have all year.
Want More Literary Reflections for Your Classroom?
If you’re teaching The Magician’s Nephew and want to go even deeper, don’t miss my post on exploring the heart of the novel through its characters. It’s perfect for guiding your students toward meaningful character analysis and discovering the deeper themes that make this book unforgettable.
Looking to round out your curriculum? Check out these three novel studies on trust, resilience, and courage—each one is rich with emotional depth and perfect for middle school readers.
And for a short story that sparks profound reflection and symbolic exploration, I highly recommend my reading guide to The Selfish Giant by Oscar Wilde. It’s a beautiful way to weave literature, life lessons, and literary analysis together.
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