How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Page)
Quote #1
"I don't know that anyone can exactly help. It stands to reason we're not likely to get very far on a journey to the North, not at this time of year, with the winter coming on soon and all. And an early winter too, by the look of things. But you mustn't let that make you down-hearted." (5.71)
Although Lewis wants us to see that Puddleglum is humorously pessimistic, there's another side to this description: Puddleglum really feels that the journey before them is doomed, yet he still thinks they should go. His bravery in the face of impossible odds becomes extremely important as they face their biggest challenges in Underland.
Quote #2
It was a horrible time. There seemed no end of the line of giants, and they never ceased hurling stones, some of which fell extremely close. Quite apart from the real danger, the very sight and sound of their faces and voices were enough to scare anyone.
Jill tried not to look at them. (6.81-82)
Sometimes it's quite hard to visualize the challenges that characters face in a book. But if you apply just a little imagination, it's easy to see how strong-minded Jill has to be to make it through this minefield. (Keep in mind, too, that she is only about ten years old at the time of these adventures.)
Quote #3
"Keep on. Move toward them," said Puddleglum. "Anyone you meet in a place like this is as likely as not to be an enemy, but we mustn't let them think we're afraid." (6.87)
Puddleglum gives the children some classic advice about how to behave when meeting hostile strangers. This is not the last time that Puddleglum will tell the children to "put a bold face on it" in the midst of danger.
Quote #4
"Steady pace, now," he said. "Don't look frightened, whatever you do. We've done the silliest thing in the world by coming at all: but now that we are here, we'd best put a bold face on it." (7.105)
Here's Puddleglum and his favorite phrase again. The idea behind this is just like whistling in the dark—something you do when you're frightened but have to convince yourself to keep going (and show others that you aren't scared).
Quote #5
"Steady, Pole," said Puddleglum. "Those big fellows wouldn't be crawling in there if it didn't get wider later on." (10.142-43)
Jill is proving her courage pretty well in this moment. She's terribly afraid of dark, tight spaces and finds herself being forced under a tiny crack near the floor of a cave, but onward she goes anyway… with a little help from her friends.
Quote #6
"You see, Aslan didn't tell Pole what would happen. He only told her what to do. That fellow will be the death of us once he's up, I shouldn't wonder. But that doesn't let us off following the sign." (11.167)
Puddleglum teaches the children to have a sense of duty, especially where Aslan is concerned. But sometimes, in order to fulfill our duty, we have to be extremely brave—even if it means going against common sense.
Quote #7
They all stood looking at each other with bright eyes. It was a sickening moment. "All right!" said Jill suddenly. "Let's get it over. Good-bye, everyone… !" They all shook hands. The Knight was screaming by now; there was foam on his cheeks. (11.167)
This scene is very nearly comical, except that the children really are saying final farewells to each other, just in case they die in battle. Perhaps they don't understand how serious things are, but we'd like to think that they are showing a great deal of dignity and bravery at this moment.
Quote #8
"But you can play that fiddle till your fingers drop off, and still you won't make me forget Narnia; and the whole Overworld too. We'll never see it again, I shouldn't wonder […] But I know I was there once." (12.176)
Puddleglum, who is a fairly pessimistic fellow, is actually giving a pretty realistic assessment of their situation. The wicked Queen of Underland has enchanted them and nearly convinced them that nothing else exists but her dreary realms. But Puddleglum stands up to her magic, faces up to the real possibility that they won't make it out alive, and takes a stand for his beliefs.
Quote #9
Then he did a very brave thing. He knew it wouldn't hurt him quite as much as it would hurt a human […] But he knew it would hurt him badly enough; and so it did. With his bare foot he stamped on the fire, grinding a large part of it into ashes on the flat hearth. (12.141)
Puddleglum has been a stand-up guy from the beginning, but he shows his true courage when he faces the Queen of Underland. In this case, he's also showing strength of mind as he fights against her enchantments and sacrifices his safety to put an end to them. Note how Lewis is careful to tell us that although Puddleglum's feet are naturally tougher than humans', it still hurt him to stand on the fire. That's bravery right there.
Quote #10
Jill, who had been so cowardly about going through a black hole between one cave and another, went in without fear between the stamping and snorting beasts, and she and the Prince had them saddled and bridled in a few minutes. (13.193)
Lewis is always careful to show his characters in the most forgiving light possible—and he's never short on praise when they do things well. Jill gets to redeem herself here by showing her boldness and skill when handling Rilian's frightened horses.
Quote #11
[Eustace] thought that the hole would lead only into some other cave, lit by some ghostly phosphorescence and filled with goodness-knows-what evil creatures of the Underworld. So that when he had persuaded Puddleglum to give him a back, and drawn his sword, and poked out his head, he had really been doing a very brave thing. (15.221)
Although there really is no danger to Eustace at this moment, it doesn't detract from his bravery. His willingness to place himself in harm's way to save his friend earns him a gold star for courage.