The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster

SETTING of LWW fantasy starts in London and a country home in England during WWII moves to fantasy land called Narnia

SETTING of PT fantasy starts in apartment—he speaks English moves to fantasy land called The Lands Beyond Both books start in a reality setting but move to a fantasy setting. LWW starts in country home vs Milo in apartment in a city. In PT different places have meaning and teach Milo lessons: words, numbers, sight, sounds, conclusions. The book is more of an allegory than LWW.

PLOT of LWW inciting incident Lucy goes through the wardrobe into Narnia

PLOT of PT inciting incident Milo goes through the tollbooth into the Lands Beyond. Both books have the characters go through a portal to the other land. Both books have the portal in the title. In the LWW they go through the wardrobe more than once. Milo goes through the tollbooth only once. Milo tried the tollbooth deliberately but Lucy went through accidentally. In the PT only one person goes through, but in LWW all the children go through. Milo was given the tollbooth as a mysterious gift, but the wardrobe was part of the professor’s house.

PLOT and CHARACTER of LWW Problem Stop the White Witch who makes it always winter and never Christmas Conflict—person vs. person children and Aslan vs. the White Witch

PLOT and CHARACTER of PT Problem—rescue Rhyme and Reason “‘Maybe we can rescue them,’ said Milo when he saw how sad the Which looked” (78). Conflict—person vs. person Milo vs. the Monsters of Ignorance “‘Faster,’ shouted Tock. ‘[The monsters] are closing in!’” (238). Both are person vs. person, actually in this case person vs. monsters. Milo looks like an outlaw in a lot of places in the Lands Beyond—he gets in a lot of trouble. But the children in LWW are considered kings and queens of Narnia.

CHARACTER MOTIVATION in LWW Character motivation— The White Witch captured Edmund and the other children want to save him. If they defeat the White Witch, it won’t be forever winter, and there will be Christmas.

CHARACTER MOTIVATION in PT Character motivation— Milo wants to rescue the Princesses of Rhyme and Reason so he can restore the land. “‘Perhaps you might allow Rhyme and Reason to return,’ suggested Milo. “‘How nice that would be,’ said Azaz” (95). Both are trying to rescue people—Edmund, princesses. Both are trying to bring the magical land back to the way it is supposed to be. LWW they are trying to get back home. Milo doesn’t want to leave until the end. LWW they are trying to save a lot of people and a lot of people die. PT are just trying to save just 2. We don’t see anyone die in PT.

CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT in LWW Character development— When Edmund saw the Witch turn Tumnis to stone, he figured out how bad she was and that he should be on the good side. After Edmund meets Aslan and confronts all the things he did wrong but Aslan forgives him, Edmund starts to fight with his brother and sisters.

CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT in PT Character development— In Dictionopolis Milo learned about words and letters in the market and at the Royal Banquet. In Digitopolis he learned about numbers in the mine. Both have someone trapped with the bad people. LWW Edmunds learns through bad experiences. He suffers and others suffer through his mistakes. Milo learns through more fun experiences.

PLOT and THEME of LWW Resolution— Aslan and the children won the battle against the White Witch.

PLOT and THEME of PT Resolution— Milo successfully rescues the princesses and learns that learning can be fun. “‘I would like to make another trip,’ he said, jumping to his feet; ‘but I really don’t know where I’ll find the time. There’s so much to do right here’” (256). Both stories have good win. Both had to fight a battle to win. Milo found his way home and didn’t go back to the Lands Beyond. Children in LWW went home but knew they could return someday to Narnia.