Wrong will be right, when Aslan comes in sight

The rhyme "Wrong will be right, when Aslan comes in sight" is a prophetic couplet recited by Mr. Beaver in Narnia, encapsulating the central hope of the story: that Aslan's arrival will reverse the White Witch's tyranny, restore justice, and bring an end to the eternal winter.

Origin and Context

The rhyme is introduced during the children's first evening at the Beavers' house, after they have learned of Mr. Tumnus's arrest and the White Witch's cruelty. Mr. Beaver, seeking to reassure the children and explain the significance of Aslan's return, recites the full verse: "Wrong will be right, when Aslan comes in sight, / At the sound of his roar, sorrows will be no more, / When he bares his teeth, winter meets its death / And when he shakes his mane, we shall have spring again." The rhyme is presented as an old saying in Narnia, passed down through generations, and it immediately strikes the children with a strange, powerful feeling—a mix of hope, solemnity, and anticipation.

Thematic Significance

The rhyme functions as a compressed prophecy that outlines the entire arc of Aslan's intervention. Each line corresponds to a specific event in the story: Aslan's roar terrifies the White Witch and her followers; his bared teeth and shaking mane coincide with the breaking of the eternal winter and the arrival of spring; and the reversal of wrongs is fulfilled when Aslan sacrifices himself and is resurrected, defeating the Witch's claim over Edmund and ultimately overthrowing her reign. The rhyme thus serves as a narrative roadmap, assuring the reader that the seemingly hopeless situation will be resolved through Aslan's power.

Narrative Role

Beyond its prophetic function, the rhyme acts as a key moment of exposition and character development. It is the first time the children hear a clear, poetic statement of Aslan's role as the true king and the agent of cosmic justice. The rhyme also deepens the contrast between the Witch's sterile, oppressive winter and the life-giving spring that Aslan brings. For the characters, the rhyme becomes a source of courage and a reminder of the deeper magic that governs Narnia, even when events seem darkest. Its recitation marks a turning point in the children's understanding, shifting their focus from fear and confusion to active hope and purpose.