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The first written, first published, and most famous of the seven Chronicles of Narnia. Some forty years after the events of the Prequel The Magician's Nephew, four brothers and sisters (Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy Pevensie) pass through a magical wardrobe owned by "Professor Kirke" into the land of Narnia which has been cursed with eternal winter by Jadis, the White Witch. In accordance with prophecy, the children, helped by Aslan (Turkish for "Lion"), defeat her, and are jointly crowned as the four Kings and Queens of Narnia. After fourteen years, the children accidentally return through the wardrobe, reverting to childhood. The action of The Horse and His Boy takes place during their reign.

Tropes used in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe include:
Cquote1

 Peter: We're not heroes.

Susan: We're from Finchley!

Cquote2
  • Interdimensional Travel Device: The wardrobe allows travel between Earth and Narnia — sometimes.
  • It Was a Gift: Father Christmas's gifts to the Pevensies.
  • Jerkass: Again, Edmund. He later becomes a Badass Normal during the final battle.
  • The Messiah: Aslan. He's also a Messianic Archetype, a rare twofer.
  • The Mole: Edmund, for the first half, although it is revealed to the reader at the start of the plot thread.
    • Jadis also fooled Edmund into thinking she was on his side long enough for him to lure his siblings to Narnia.
  • My God, What Have I Done?: Edmund's reaction when the White Witch turns a dinner party to stone for refusing to deny it was provided by Father Christmas over his protests. At that point, Edmund realizes the evil he has sided with and wishes with all his heart that he could undo what he has done. Fortunately, Aslan later helps him do just that.
  • The Noun and the Noun (and the noun)
  • Portal Slam
  • Pretty in Mink
  • Rain, Rain, Go Away
  • Retcon: Maugrim, the wolf servant of the White Witch, had his name changed to Fenris Ulf in earlier American editions (which also changed Peter's first title from "Wolfsbane" to "Fenrisbane"). They then went back to using Maugrim.
  • Reverse Mole: Fox in the Film of the Book.
  • Running Gag: The first few chapters are insistent on reminding you what a very foolish thing it is to lock oneself into a wardrobe.
  • Sibling Rivalry: Edmund and Lucy, with more on Edmund's part, due to the fact that he enjoys tormenting her. Fortunately, they got better.
  • Species-Coded for Your Convenience: The book splits talking beasts more or less along the standard lines between those on the side of the Witch and those on the side of Aslan. This doesn't show up so much in the rest of the series when Narnia was united, but "evil" animals don't show up much at all then.
  • Spring Is Late: By about a hundred years.
  • Supernatural Aid: Father Christmas's gifts to the Pevensies.
  • Taken for Granite: The White Witch's power.
  • Tender Tears: Susan and Lucy.
  • They Still Belong to Us Lecture: The Witch tries to reclaim Edmund after his Heel Face Turn by telling the other heroes that he is a traitor and his blood is her property.
  • This Is Something He's Got to Do Himself: Aslan tells the others to stay back and let Peter fight Maugrim alone.
    • Directly echoes the story of Edward III saying of his son, the Black Prince, at the Battle of Crécy, "Let the boy win his spurs." (The spurs were a symbol of knighthood.)
  • This Is Your Brain on Evil: One of the consequences of Edmund's G-Rated Drug usage.
  • Uncanny Valley: Mr. Beaver advises the Pevensie children that if something claims to be, used to be, or may become human, "keep an eye on it and feel for your hatchet."
  • The Vamp: The White Witch for Edmund.
  • Victory-Guided Amnesia: After being crowned Kings and Queens of Narnia, the children slowly forget their old life on Earth — until one day, while out riding...
  • Weapon of Choice: Father Christmas's gifts to Peter, Susan, and Lucy include a sword and shield, a bow and quiver of arrows, and a dagger respectively.
  • Winter Royal Lady: Although not fitting the title part of the trope, she fits the other parts.
  • Woman in White: The White Witch.
  • World War II: In the background; treated more prominently in the first film.
  • What Happened to the Mouse?: The dinner party that led to Edmund's Heel Face Turn is never mentioned again. Aslan being omniscient and all or perhaps Edmund told him, he probably gave them a visit to restore them, but who knows?
    • Lewis got a What Happened to the Mouse? letter from one of his readers (or the reader's mom) and hastily wrote back a Word of God that of course the animals at the dinner party got turned back, just not on stage, and he was very sorry the child was distressed about the issue.
  • You Imagined It: Subverted; none of the Pevensies were concussed or on hallucinogens at the time.
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