Why can`t Jill remember 4 simple signs

[GoatyLegs]

Ok admit we`ve had some pretty stupid kids go to Narnia but the worst is Jill Pole why can`t she even remember four simple signs

[PrinceOfTheWest]

Ah, but that's the point, don't you see? Sometimes the simplicity of the command gets lost in the press and rush of everyday living. You know, things like "do not lie." Three simple words, and always easy to remember and obey - right?

as my daughter would say, "not!"

Also, read carefully Aslan's words about how her memory would get scrambled, and how the signs would not look like she thought they would look! That part's critically important, because often the path of obedience in our lives looks more like a rock than a path ("I'm supposed to go that way? It's all boulders!") - but we're promised the signs will always work, and we'll always be between the paws of the true Aslan!

[polly&digory]

Ah, but that's the point, don't you see? Sometimes the simplicity of the command gets lost in the press and rush of everyday living. You know, things like "do not lie." Three simple words, and always easy to remember and obey - right?

as my daughter would say, "not!"

Also, read carefully Aslan's words about how her memory would get scrambled, and how the signs would not look like she thought they would look! That part's critically important, because often the path of obedience in our lives looks more like a rock than a path ("I'm supposed to go that way? It's all boulders!") - but we're promised the signs will always work, and we'll always be between the paws of the true Aslan!
What he said. =)

[Lucy most Valiant]

can you remeber the four signs.......`cause i can`t

[lamer]

Lucy, you can't remember them? :P

1. The first person Scrubb sees in Narnia will be an old friend. If he speaks to him in time they will receive great help.
2. They must journey out of Narnia to the north 'till they came to the ruined city of ancient giants.
3. They will find a writing on a stone in the ruined city, and they must do what the writing tells them.
4. They will know the lost prince by the fact that he will be the first person they meet in their travels that will ask them to do something in Aslan's name.

[Narnian Princess]

did you really remember those, or did you go to the book for reference???

[lamer]

Remembered.

It's not that hard if you say it a few times. And on top of that you read a whole adventure based off those four signs; they kinda get stuck in your head :P

[Elvess_Leawyn_Greenleaf]

My favorite character is definatly Prince Rilian!!! He is just soooo awesome!!! :D

[Elvess_Leawyn_Greenleaf]

Lamer,
I noticed your signature and I wondered if you liked Rebecca St. James? I do! I also have that cd! But my fave is Kutless and Toby Mac on it! And If you have no idea what I am talking about, I talking about the Narnia CD (Music Inspired by Narnia!!!)
Elvess Leawyn Greenleaf

[lamer]

Hey, I don't have the CD (I'm getting it hopefully soon) and I'm not a massive fan of Rebecca St James, but I love that song. It's my fave song on the CD. Second is New World (Toby Mac) of course :P

Cool, someone else here likes the CD!

[Elvess_Leawyn_Greenleaf]

Hey, I don't have the CD (I'm getting it hopefully soon) and I'm not a massive fan of Rebecca St James, but I love that song. It's my fave song on the CD. Second is New World (Toby Mac) of course :P

Cool, someone else here likes the CD!

It's an awesome CD, you'll really enjoy it!!! :) :) :)

[Starkindler]

The only time she forgets the signs (except when they slip her mind when she first gets to Narnia) is when she's been going for days through the snow thinking only of Harfang. I'd say that's pretty understandable.

[pavender]

So you wouldn't forget the signs, lamer and GoatyLegs? Well aren't you perfect then. Let's see how you go when you have been transported into a different world, met a freaky scary huge lion who talks, get told the 4 signs really quickly, then get flown across a huge sea and land at some strange castle and then get sent on some weird adventure through marshes and lands filled with giants where you nearly get eaten and meet goodness knows what number of strange creatures below the ground, including a green witch and her strange silent companion. Let's see if you remember the 4 signs then.

This is a ridiculous thread.

[CSLewisFan]

All I have to do is remember ONE thing each day.
To become more like Jesus.

I fail in some way everyday.
It's amazing how something so simple can be so hard.

-Austin

[inkspot]

This is a ridiculous thread.
LOL, that's our favorite kind of Thread at narniafns!

I agree with you that it would be tough to remember the four signs, but Aslan did impress on Jill how important it was. I usually write stuff like that on my hand.

[pavender]

LOL, that's our favorite kind of Thread at narniafns!

I agree with you that it would be tough to remember the four signs, but Aslan did impress on Jill how important it was. I usually write stuff like that on my hand.

Oh, I must have missed the part where Aslan gave Jill a pen. :)

[Rhyanidd]

Ink where'd she get the pen?? or is it in her back pocket??? cuz thats the first thing I stick in my back pocket when I dont know I am going to transported to another world and given 4 signs...and doesnt she faint??? After I fall asleep unexpectedly I dont normally remember what happend

[inkspot]

And you people want to be writers! I always have a pen. you can even get a mini-Space Pen that writes underwater or upsidedown but is only half the size of a regular pen and can go in your pocket or purse. Also, my husband is a wood artisan who handmakes wooden pens, so I always have my one he made for me, too. Jill was too young, I guess.

[TimmyofOz]

The only person I remember who always had a pen was Dr. Cornelius. :p Aravis had a slave to write for her. Oh Eustace had a pen also for his journal.

[inkspot]

The only person I remember who always had a pen was Dr. Cornelius. :p Aravis had a slave to write for her. Oh Eustace had a pen also for his journal.
Oh, I am in good company then! Too bad he didn't bring his pen to Silver Chair!

[TimmyofOz]

Oh, I am in good company then! Too bad he didn't bring his pen to Silver Chair!

Wouldn't have been any good he had just fallen off the cliff. :eek: I don't remember any of the girls ever having thier purses in any of the books. Don't girls have their purses when they play hide and seek or are running from bullies?

[lions mane]

well the real answer to the question is that jill frogot the four signs because she was very hungry, very tired and very sleepy. Remember all she wanted was a bed to lie in.

[pavender]

well the real answer to the question is that jill frogot the four signs because she was very hungry, very tired and very sleepy. Remember all she wanted was a bed to lie in.

And she couldn't book a room at the Ruinous Holiday Inn coz she hadn't brought her purse containing her Mastercard, and she couldn't write a check coz she didn't have a pen. :D

[lions mane]

r u guys really debating about Jill having a pen in Narnia. oh u r o.k. i thought that i was dreaming. :cool:

[inkspot]

And she couldn't book a room at the Ruinous Holiday Inn coz she hadn't brought her purse containing her Mastercard, and she couldn't write a check coz she didn't have a pen. :D
LOL! Just remember if you don't have a pen and a lion tells you four things to remember, you must say them to yourself twice a day and write them down as soon as you get to a place with a pen ... hopefully a Space Pen that can write upside-down. If Jill had that, a lot of trouble could have been spared. :p

[Rhyanidd]

*shakes head* No the only thing you really need to carry is a knife.....it has many uses....

1.tie it to the end of a piece of wood and make a spear to hunt.
2. use it as self defense
3. use it to cut down the stick so you can make it into a spear
4.carve things that you need to remember.
5.with a knife she could always have forced her way into the Ruinous Holiday Inn.

[pavender]

5.with a knife she could always have forced her way into the Ruinous Holiday Inn.

No way, dude! That place has full on security and metal detectors, ever since Rilian put on his black-metal knight suit disguise and held it up, getting away with all the cash in the till, plus a really groovy lookin' silver chair.

[Rhyanidd]

*hits head*doh I knew that...I completely forgot about Rillian's heist, been so long since I been there....!

[lamer]

"
So you wouldn't forget the signs, lamer and GoatyLegs? Well aren't you perfect then. Let's see how you go when you have been transported into a different world, met a freaky scary huge lion who talks, get told the 4 signs really quickly, then get flown across a huge sea and land at some strange castle and then get sent on some weird adventure through marshes and lands filled with giants where you nearly get eaten and meet goodness knows what number of strange creatures below the ground, including a green witch and her strange silent companion. Let's see if you remember the 4 signs then. "

I take offense to that. Come on, all I did was read the book and I remembered it.

I never said that I think she was stupid that she couldn't remember. All I said was that I remembered them, mmkay? Read it better before you flame/troll.


Mods if you don't like this post you can delete it, but I don't want to sound rude. I'm just speaking truth. :)

[Rhyanidd]

I think what they are saying, lamer, is that you have to walk in Jills shoes...I mean well...she did go thourgh alot I dont know if we would remember them either! And the part about you guys being perfect? Well thats probably just sarcasm!

[petersusanlucyedmond]

well, u got 2 admit, jill is a little.........errrrrrrr........dim,which is why i want 2 play her, lol

[lamer]

"I think what they are saying, lamer, is that you have to walk in Jills shoes...I mean well...she did go thourgh alot I dont know if we would remember them either! And the part about you guys being perfect? Well thats probably just sarcasm!"

Yeah, I see what you mean. But the point was the fact that I never said Jill was dumb for not knowing them. All I said was that /I/ remembered them.

[pavender]

"I think what they are saying, lamer, is that you have to walk in Jills shoes...I mean well...she did go thourgh alot I dont know if we would remember them either! And the part about you guys being perfect? Well thats probably just sarcasm!"

Yeah, I see what you mean. But the point was the fact that I never said Jill was dumb for not knowing them. All I said was that /I/ remembered them.

GoatyLegs said she was stupid. My post was directed at both GoatyLegs and you.

[MTMFan]

I agree with what others have said about everday life getting in the way of Jill remembering. Plus, Aslan told her the signs would not look like what she was expecting (Just look at Prince Caspian at the beginning!). And it's not like Jill's main task was to remember the signs. Aslan even says that what matters is that they did what the came for - they rescued Rillian.

Just my 2 cents.
Kristen

[an aslan's friend]

w legolas!!!!

[Tsukiko]

Lol. What an interesting thread. :p

Hm...I really dont think the 4 signs are hard to remember. But then again, it is just a book, and Lewis didnt want her to be 'perfect' by memorizing them all so quickly. So you could say for some it'd seem like no sweat to lock them in memory, but others, like Jill, it could be a challenge.

[inkspot]

It has been a while since I read the book. Let me see if I remember them:

1. You will see someone you know and it is imperative that you speak to him right away.
2. I know it has something to do with that UNDER ME sign they see later with the giants.
3. The person who asks you for something in Aslan's name, do what he asks.
4.

Sheesh! I can only remember two of them, and I've probably read the book 10 times over the years.

[Tsukiko]

The 4th in your list would be "Eustace will see an old friend in Narnia. He must greet that friend. For he does, they will have great help"

:D

[Lioness_Aslan]

Ok admit we`ve had some pretty stupid kids go to Narnia but the worst is Jill Pole why can`t she even remember four simple signs

Not really...She just hasn't got a good memory...

*like me*

[inkspot]

The 4th in your list would be "Eustace will see an old friend in Narnia. He must greet that friend. For he does, they will have great help"

:D
That was #1 on my list ... I just said "you will see" instead of "Eustace will see" and I still don't remember what that UNDER ME sign was ...

[Tsukiko]

^Oh Im so stupid. I know it now.

its "Travel to the Land of Giants"

[inkspot]

Oh, was that one? See, I am not much better at remembering than Jill! I willl have to read the book all over again and refresh my memory. But what was the sign that had to do with that UNDER ME business?

[FaunFan01]

Jill is not stupid.
If you recall, when the Lady told them about Harfang, Jill became so intent on reaching it that she stopped repeating the Signs to herself every morning and night. Eventually she forgets.
When they look out the window at Harfang and see the City, she actually says to Puddleglum and Eustace, "It's all my fault. I'd given up repeating the Signs to myself. If I'd been thinking about them, we would have seen this. I've ruined everything since you brought me here."
She knew the Signs and remembered them, she just stopped thinking about them.

So she's not "dim" or "stupid" or anything. She's just human.

[Tsukiko]

Oh, was that one? See, I am not much better at remembering than Jill! I willl have to read the book all over again and refresh my memory. But what was the sign that had to do with that UNDER ME business?

If I remember correctly, at the Ruinous city of the Giants, the words UNDER ME were printed there. They were supposed to look for those words. And at first they of course had no idea what they were supposed to do, until Puddleglum thought that..."we're supposed to look for the Prince under. the city." and then remember when they were chased by the Giant's hounds, they stumbled under the words and into Underworld! :D

[FaunFan01]

Aslan told them they'd find writing on a stone in the city.

[MrBob]

Let's see, without referring to my copy:

1) As soon as you get to Narnia, Eustace must greet an old friend. If he does, you will have great help.

2. You must go north to Ettinsmoor.

3. You will find words written in the ruined city of the Giants and do what they say.

4. You will know the prince as he will be the only one who asks you to do something in my (Aslan's) name.

Why couldn't Jill remember it as well? She was told it by Aslan in his country. The air there was very favorable to remembering whereas the air in Narnia was harsher and, unless she repeated it daily, she could forget it.

MrBob

[inkspot]

Oh, y'all are much smarter than I am! I could not remember them any better than Jill ...

[office]

Jill is not stupid.
If you recall, when the Lady told them about Harfang, Jill became so intent on reaching it that she stopped repeating the Signs to herself every morning and night. Eventually she forgets.
When they look out the window at Harfang and see the City, she actually says to Puddleglum and Eustace, "It's all my fault. I'd given up repeating the Signs to myself. If I'd been thinking about them, we would have seen this. I've ruined everything since you brought me here."
She knew the Signs and remembered them, she just stopped thinking about them.

So she's not "dim" or "stupid" or anything. She's just human.

Great point!

[waterhogboy]

I agree. Sometimes I wonder how Jill can forget the signs so easily. But bear in mind that to her, the signs don't initially seem that helpful informative, she only has Aslan's word that they're important, so although we know (from the reader's POV knowing Aslan's words to be very important) Jill probably has other things on her mind like "what's happened to Eustace?", "this lion is very scary, i think he's going to eat me" among others...

From then on its a case of discipline which is a struggle for anyone so its quite understandable she forgets.

[Into the Wardrobe]

Good point WHB! Also, after messing up the first sign and figuring out that Aslan was right about them being difficult to recognize she may have sort of given up on them more easily wondering, "well I messed up one and probably won't get the others right either why bother." Granted she keeps going with them, but this sort of thinking may be another reason for her forgetting...that and focusing on a hot bath and food. When one is very cold and hungry they might not think of anything but getting warm and fed...it's a survival instinct. If one looks closely I believe that Jill had a cape on but wasn't she in shorts up until she got her other dress at Harfang? You try running around in shorts in the snow looking for obscure signs and see how well you do...I can't blame her there.

[Catherine]

Well, u must remeber, yes, the signs were importanat, but the trip they went on was a rough one, and like any human, she proably would have become distracted as she concentrated on reaching her destination.

[BarbarianKing]

Let's see, without referring to my copy:

1) As soon as you get to Narnia, Eustace must greet an old friend. If he does, you will have great help.

2. You must go north to Ettinsmoor.

3. You will find words written in the ruined city of the Giants and do what they say.

4. You will know the prince as he will be the only one who asks you to do something in my (Aslan's) name.

Why couldn't Jill remember it as well? She was told it by Aslan in his country. The air there was very favorable to remembering whereas the air in Narnia was harsher and, unless she repeated it daily, she could forget it.

MrBob

well, could u remember them after walking for days and days, sleeping on the ground, eating whatever u can catch, in a snowstorm, freezing, hungry, tired, and downright totally exhausted? I don't know if I could.

[MrBob]

All she really had to do was to remember the last two during her trek. But I agree that the trek itself would have been very much counter to remembering much save for survival skills.

MrBob

[waterhogboy]

Sorry to draw a parallel in the wrong part of the forum, but it reminds me alot of the Christian life. God gives instructions that are meant for our good... and sometimes we even see why we're sposed to do them. But most of the time we think our own way's better, or choose to ignore them, or mess up and give up on the rest and get tired and stop making the effort... No wonder Jill forgot all those signs really!!

[Malacandra]

Sorry to draw a parallel in the wrong part of the forum, but it reminds me alot of the Christian life. God gives instructions that are meant for our good... and sometimes we even see why we're sposed to do them. But most of the time we think our own way's better, or choose to ignore them, or mess up and give up on the rest and get tired and stop making the effort... No wonder Jill forgot all those signs really!!

That's exactly it. Jill was given a simple assignment and she chose to cut corners, and so by not building the proper habits she nearly allowed the whole adventure to miscarry. So we do when we decide it's too much trouble to remember to study the Bible or pray. After all, we already know all we need to know and are in a good relationship with God, aren't we? Lewis couldn't have made the lesson more plain.

[Elendil]

I know this may not really be that on track but...
I'm doing military training and one of the things we do are field signals, They are just simple signs a bit like sign language, but when your mind isn't on THEM and you're crawling through a muddy field getting shot at, and suddenly you need to use one, they aren't the easiest to remember!

[inkspot]

That's very relevant, I think. When you are preoccupied with survival, as Mr. Bob said, you might let the signs slip out of your mind. But I also like WHB and Malacandra's point about how this parallels our spiritual walk. It's critical to keep God's "signs" before us at all times, even when struggling to survive -- especialy when struggling to survive.

[KathrynJanewayChakotay]

God places signs in front of us all the time but somtimes we don't see them or are blinded from them cause of distraction one of Satan's biggest tools Why do you think most of us close our eyes during worship and prayer at least i do to be alone with just me and God. So nothing distracts me from what God does for me and wants to do for me during worship and prayer: During a concert this past sat the lights and pyrotechnics's were going on the loud music but i still closed my eyes and worshiped in a crowd of over 1000 people Jill was distracted by the lady of the green kirtle and focusing on hunger and thirst and tiredness that she missed the signs.

[inkspot]

Just so. We cannot be too hard on her -- it was very human what happened.

[Into the Wardrobe]

God places signs in front of us all the time but somtimes we don't see them or are blinded from them cause of distraction one of Satan's biggest tools Why do you think most of us close our eyes during worship and prayer at least i do to be alone with just me and God. So nothing distracts me from what God does for me and wants to do for me during worship and prayer: During a concert this past sat the lights and pyrotechnics's were going on the loud music but i still closed my eyes and worshiped in a crowd of over 1000 people Jill was distracted by the lady of the green kirtle and focusing on hunger and thirst and tiredness that she missed the signs.

Too true. It's a great lesson to learn from The Silver Chair!

[KathrynJanewayChakotay]

ot I think the reason i thought about it like that jules is that i have been thinking about choices and signs lately and i listened to a mws cd that has a song called signs on it

back on topic she is only human and we do forget things but somtimes its just a simple matter of keeping our focus

[Elendil]

Too true. It's a great lesson to learn from The Silver Chair!

Probably the reason why it's there! :D

[Malacandra]

God places signs in front of us all the time but somtimes we don't see them or are blinded from them cause of distraction one of Satan's biggest tools Why do you think most of us close our eyes during worship and prayer at least i do to be alone with just me and God. So nothing distracts me from what God does for me and wants to do for me during worship and prayer: During a concert this past sat the lights and pyrotechnics's were going on the loud music but i still closed my eyes and worshiped in a crowd of over 1000 people Jill was distracted by the lady of the green kirtle and focusing on hunger and thirst and tiredness that she missed the signs.

True. But if she'd done what she was told and practised them every day, at the same time of day, she would have had a much better shot at remembering despite distractions. If you build good habits and work on maintaining them, they will serve you well (says Mal, a walking mess of bad habits).

[Gwendolyn]

I think the signs represent what we as humans are suppose to follow all our lives. The journey (I think) represents our life, and the signs represent like, the most important commandmends. But its HARD! It's hard for us to follow all of the rules, it's hard to never be tempted. It's easy to forget, and to go with with the flow. I dunno, I think that's what it means.

[PrinceOfTheWest]

I think Lewis was making an important point about obedience and sin. If we understand the four signs to be like God's law for our lives (as many have pointed out), then the most common error we make is not outright rebellion. At no time did Jill stand up and say, "nuts to these signs - I'm going to do other things." She intended to follow them - but she let herself get distracted. She let lesser matters distract her from remembering and following them, despite Aslan's explicit warning that 1) they would prove difficult to remember, and 2) they would not look like she expected them to look when she came across them (which turned out to be true in all cases). She let everyday concerns crowd out remembering and obeying.

This is very similar to Jesus' warning in the parable of the sower in Mark 4. Recall the seed that fell among thorns, which grew up around the seed as it sprouted, choking it and making it unfruitful. Jesus explained this as His followers who became distracted by "the worries of the world, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desire for other things." They were choked into unfruitfulness.

If we look at the sins we commit, it is very rare that they are outright rebellion. Far more commonly, we simply can't bother to be obedient, or are busy about lesser things, or are frightened. Just like Jill and the signs, we let smaller matters distract us, and before we know it, we're disobeying.

Having said that, I don't think Lewis deliberately intended to say that. I think he just wrote the story as his imagination "saw" it, and that lesson was embedded in it.

[Powl']

about the whole forgetting signs thing, when u really want to remember something sometimes u just forget it, or when you re llooking for something ans its place is so obvious u dont go at that place, u go to places hard to find !! its the human being :rolleyes: