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And now a very curious thing happened. None of the children knew who Aslan was any more than you do; but the moment the Beaver had spoken [his name] everyone felt quite different.... At the name of Aslan each one of the children felt something jump in its inside. Edmund felt a sensation of mysterious horror. Peter felt suddenly brave and adventurous. Susan felt as if some delicious smell or some delightful strain of music had just floated by her. And Lucy got the feeling you have when you wake up in the morning and realize that it is the beginning of the holidays or the beginning of summer.
 

This passage occurs in Chapter 7, and describes the first time that the children hear the name Aslan. The children's sudden strong reactions demonstrate the mystical power of Aslan. Aslan immediately becomes a mysterious, mystical entity. To Peter, Susan, and Lucy, Aslan feels comfortable and powerful, whereas Edmund grows uneasy at the mention of Aslan. The children have never actually met Aslan, yet they have powerful reactions, contributing to a theme of god-like mystique surrounding Aslan. The differing reactions of the children illustrate the idea of faith. The believers—those with faith—revere Aslan right away, while the skeptic, Edmund, distrusts him. This passage also reinforces the idea that faith is intensely personal. For example, the childrens' unique reactions to Aslan reflect their individual personalities. Edmund reacts with horror because Edmund sides with the White Witch, an enemy of Aslan. Peter feels brave and adventurous after he hears Aslan's name because Peter is a courageous person. Susan has a sweet and gentle nature, and she reacts to Aslan's name as if it is a beautiful, sensual pleasure. Lucy—kind, honest and gay—feels the deep excitement and joy that only a child can understand. It is as if she just woke up on the first day of summer vacation, or Christmas morning, the two greatest pleasures for a child. The childrens' reactions also express the effect that faith in God, or Aslan, will have on each of them throughout the story.

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