The Magician’s Nephew: Chapter 1 Summary & Analysis

The narrator says that this story is about “something that happened long ago when your grandfather was a child.” The story is important because it shows how “all the comings and goings” between our world and Narnia first began.

At the time this story took place, Sherlock Holmes lived on Baker Street, and the Bastables were searching for treasure. In those days, schools were more harrowing places than they are now, and sweets were plentiful and cheap. Around this time, a girl named Polly Plummer lived in a London row house.

One day, to Polly’s surprise, a boy peeks at her from the neighboring garden. Children had never lived there before, just an old, unmarried brother and sister, the Ketterleys. The boy’s face is dirty, and he looks as if he’s been crying. The children greet each other, and Polly learns that the boy’s name is Digory. Digory admits that he’s been crying. He’s been brought from the country to live in London (which he calls “a beastly Hole”), because his mother is dying, and his father is away in India.

Digory looks as if he’s about to cry again, so Polly changes the subject, asking if it’s true that Digory’s uncle, Mr. Ketterley, is “mad.” Digory explains that Uncle Andrew spends his time in a mysterious study on the top floor, where Aunt Letty warns Digory never to go. Last night, Digory heard a yell as he passed the foot of the stairs. The children speculate about the secrets Uncle Andrew might be hiding.

That’s how Digory and Polly became friends. It’s the beginning of the summer holidays, and neither of them is going on vacation, so they spend almost every day together. It’s a cold, rainy summer, so they spend time exploring their houses. Earlier, Polly had discovered a little dark tunnel adjacent to her attic, where one has to step from rafter to rafter in order to keep from falling through the plaster ceiling below. She’s turned this space into a “smugglers’ cave,” filling it with small treasures and snacks.

When Polly shows Digory the tunnel, he points out that it runs along the entire length of row houses, meaning that they could get access to neighboring houses, including the reportedly empty one beyond Polly’s. Pretending they’re not afraid that the empty house might be haunted, they agree to investigate. Digory speculates that it’s actually a hideout for a criminal gang and that they’ll be rewarded for the discovery.

The children each get a candle and begin stepping carefully along the rafters. Eventually they come to a little door in the wall, and Digory bravely pushes the catch to open it. To their amazement, the room isn’t an empty attic, as they’d expected, but a furnished room—complete with book-lined shelves and a roaring fire. The room appears to be silent and deserted.

Polly also notices a wooden tray containing four rings—two pairs, with a yellow ring and a green ring apiece. The rings are beautiful and strikingly bright. They seem to emit a faint humming noise. When Polly points out the rings to Digory, he impatiently tries to steer her away, afraid that someone will come into the room. Just then, the high-backed chair in front of the fireplace suddenly moves. Uncle Andrew slowly emerges from the chair. The children realize they’ve made a mistake—they’re not in the neighboring house at all, but in Uncle Andrew’s study!

Uncle Andrew is tall, thin, and clean-shaven with a pointed nose, bright eyes, and a mop of gray hair. To Digory, he looks more frightening than ever. Andrew quickly shuts the door to the room and smiles at the children, saying that Letty can’t get to them now. The children are alarmed by this move, which seems so unlike a grown-up. Uncle Andrew also shuts the door by which the children entered, telling them, “I am delighted to see you […] two children are just what I wanted.”

Polly begs to be allowed to go home for dinner, but Uncle Andrew says he needs two children for his experiment. He has experimented on guinea pigs before, but children would serve the purpose much better. When the children continue to make excuses about dinner, Uncle Andrew pretends to relent. But first he offers Polly a present, saying it’s not often that a pretty young lady visits his study. He offers her one of the yellow rings, explaining that he can’t give her a green one right now. Polly, flattered, examines the “strangely attractive” rings.

When Polly comments that the rings sound as if they’re humming, Uncle Andrew gives a greedy laugh. Digory, noticing his uncle’s expression, shouts a warning, but it’s too late: Polly has just touched one of the rings. She disappears without a sound.