The portals between worlds

• Three methods: man-made magic, Narnian objects, Aslan’s call.
• The Wood between the Worlds is the crossroads of the universes.
• You always return at the moment of departure.

You never enter Narnia at will. Lucy tries to reopen the wardrobe and finds only wood. Eustace and Jill call on Aslan at a door that is usually locked. In the Chronicles, travel between worlds follows three methods.

1. Man-made magic

Only the rings of Uncle Andrew are a passage made by a human, from dust that comes from another world. They work every time, but they first lead to the Wood between the Worlds, a sort of crossroads where each pool opens onto a universe. This is also the only passage that allows you to go where you want… and to bring the White Witch to London.

2. Narnian objects and places

The wardrobe is made of wood from a Narnian apple tree. The painting in the Scrubbs’ house depicts a Narnian ship. Susan’s horn comes from Father Christmas. These objects retain a connection to Narnia, but they only work when Narnia or Aslan needs them.

3. Aslan’s call and will

In the later books, there are almost no objects left. You are called: by a horn, by a king in distress, or directly by Aslan. “You wouldn’t have called to me if I hadn’t called to you,” the Lion tells Jill. And in the end, the greatest door is that of death, which Lewis presents as a passage to the true Narnia.

The time of the crossings

No matter how much time is spent in Narnia, travelers return at the exact moment of their departure. But between visits, centuries can pass in Narnia: see timeline.

• portals —
  • Yellow and Green Rings — magic rings — The Magician's Nephew — travelers
    • Digory Kirke
    • Polly Plummer
    • The White Witch
    • Uncle Andrew
    • Frank, the Coachman (King Frank I)
    • Reepicheep
    — London (Ketterley house) — Woods Between the Worlds, then Charn and Narnia — touching the ring; the yellow leads to the Wood, the green takes you out — 1900
  • Ponds of the Wood Between the Worlds — crossroads — The Magician's Nephew — travelers
    • Digory Kirke
    • Polly Plummer
    — Wood Between the Worlds — Charn, London, Narnia — jumping into a pond while wearing a green ring — 1900
  • Cair Paravel — doorway — The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe — travelers
    • Peter
    • Susan
    • Edmund
    • Lucy
    — Cair Paravel — Narnia — the door opens when Narnia wills it — 1940
  • The Horn of Susan — horn — Prince Caspian — travelers
    • Peter
    • Susan
    • Edmund
    • Lucy
    — English train station — Ruins of Cair Paravel — the horn is blown in great need in Narnia — 1941
  • The Door of Aslan — door created by Aslan — Prince Caspian — travelers
    • Peter
    • Susan
    • Edmund
    • Lucy
    — Narnia — South Sea Islands, then the train station — Aslan opens it; Telmarines who wish to may also enter — 1941
  • The Door in the Pier — natural passage — The Horse and His Boy — travelers
    • Shift
    — South Sea Islands (our world) — Calormen — a cave, one of the last passage points between worlds
  • The Painting of the Dawn Treader — living image — The Voyage of the Dawn Treader — travelers
    • Lucy
    • Edmund
    • Eustace
    — Scrubb house — near the Dawn Treader — the painting animates — 1942
  • The World's End — boundary of the world — The Voyage of the Dawn Treader — travelers
    • Lucy
    • Edmund
    • Eustace
    • Reepicheep
    — Silver Sea — Land of Aslan, then our world — Aslan opens a door in the sky — 1942
  • The School Door — door — The Silver Chair — travelers
    • Jill Pole
    • Eustace
    — Experiment House — Land of Aslan — calling Aslan; the door, usually closed, is opened — 1942
  • The Breath of Aslan — Aslan's direct action — The Silver Chair — travelers
    • Jill Pole
    • Eustace
    — Land of Aslan — Narnia — Aslan breathes the children to Narnia — 1942
  • The Call of Tirian — horn — The Last Battle — travelers
    • Jill Pole
    • Eustace
    — Train to England — Near to Tirian tied up — a Narnian king calls for help — 1949
  • The Door of the Stable — door of death and life — The Last Battle — travelers
    • Tirian
    • Jill Pole
    • Eustace
    • Puddleglum
    — Hill of the Stable — True Narnia — death, or the end of the world — 1949
  • The Railway Accident — death — The Last Battle — travelers
    • Peter
    • Edmund
    • Lucy
    • Digory Kirke
    • Polly Plummer
    • Mr and Mrs Pevensie, the parents
    — England — Land of Aslan — final — 1949

See also

• The Magician's Nephew
• The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
• Prince Caspian
• The Horse and His Boy
• The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
• The Silver Chair
• The Last Battle

Yellow and Green Rings

Wood Between the Worlds

The Wardrobe

Horn of Susan

Painting of the Dawn Treader

From the First Dawn to the Last Night: The Story of Narnia