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The Lord Octesian's arm-ring had a curious fate. Eustace did not want it and offered it to Caspian, and Caspian offered it to Lucy. She did not care about having it. 'Very well, then, catch as catch can,' said Caspian and flung it up in the air. [...] Up went the ring, flashing in the sunlight, and caught, and hung, as neatly as a well-thrown quoit, on a little projection on the rock. No one could climb up to get it from below and no one could climb down to get it from above. And there, for all I know, it is hanging still and may hang till the world ends. (ch. 7)

C. S. Lewis#134

AdventureUncertaintyFateObjects

About this quote

What does it mean?
The arm-ring ends up stuck on a rock, possibly forever, symbolizing fate and impermanence.
In plain terms
A ring gets stuck on a rock and might stay there forever.
What can you take from it?
Objects and fortunes change unexpectedly.

Where it applies

  • quest narrative
  • treasure hunt
  • reflection on loss

Putting it to work

  • storytelling
  • philosophical reflection
  • adventure

Questions to consider

  • What objects define your life?
  • How do you handle unexpected loss?

Another view

Overstates permanence of a random event.

More from C. S. Lewis

  1. 'But who is Aslan? Do you know him?' 'Well - he knows me,' said Edmund. (ch. 7)

    Permalink to quote #133
  2. In describing the scene Lucy said afterwards, 'He was the size of an elephant,' though at another time she only said, 'The size of a cart-horse.' But it was no…

    Permalink to quote #135
  3. He liked books if they were books of information and had pictures of grain elevators or of fat foreign children doing exercises in model schools. (ch. 1)

    Permalink to quote #132

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