Narnian ChroniclesA local companion
Character

Shift

Also known as Shift the Ape, the Ape

An intelligent but manipulative ape who dresses Puzzle in a lion skin and claims to speak for Aslan. His fraud opens Narnia to fear, exploitation, and Calormene control.

This encyclopedia follows the whole story. Plot details from all seven chronicles may appear below.

01
Primary sources

In the chronicles

These links are generated from exact-name appearances in the supplied novels. Each opens the cited paragraph in the local reader.

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader1 cited passage⌄
  1. Chapter VII · paragraph 16…ings like, "Would he fit all along one side of the deck? And we'd have to shift all the stores to the other side down below so as to balance," or, "Would towing him be any good?" or "Would he…Open passage →
The Silver Chair1 cited passage⌄
  1. Chapter XIII · paragraph 20…istress) which are both stabled in the courtyard. After that, let us make shift to get out to high ground and pray that we shall find an outlet. The horses can carry two each at need, and if …Open passage →
The Last Battle10 cited passages⌄
  1. Chapter I · paragraph 1…nd thatched with leaves, up in the fork of a great tree, and his name was Shift. There were very few Talking Beasts or Men or Dwarfs, or people of any sort, in that part of the wood, but Shif…Open passage →
  2. Chapter I · paragraph 2…tern Wild from which the river comes. And as they looked at Caldron Pool, Shift suddenly pointed with his dark, shiny finger and said,Open passage →
  3. Chapter III · paragraph 24… an Ape yet, were very bewildered when they saw it. The Ape was of course Shift himself, but he looked ten times uglier than when he lived by Caldron Pool, for he was now dressed up. He was w…Open passage →
  4. Chapter III · paragraph 25"O Lord Shift, mouthpiece of Aslan," said the chief Calormene. "We bring you prisoners. By our skill and courage and by the p…Open passage →
  5. Chapter VIII · paragraph 17…t I really have been a very bad donkey. I ought never to have listened to Shift. I never thought things like this would begin to happen."Open passage →
  6. Chapter IX · paragraph 47"Do leave me alone," muttered Shift. But he sat up straighter and began, in a louder voice----Open passage →
  7. Chapter X · paragraph 8…mand to my warriors to fall upon you with the edge of the sword. The Lord Shift has already told you of that wicked Ass. Do you think, because of him that there is no real Tashlan in the Stab…Open passage →
  8. Chapter X · paragraph 18"I thought you said," began the Bear, but Shift interrupted.Open passage →
  9. Chapter XI · paragraph 3…ting, "Open the door!" Poggin opened it. "Go and drink your own medicine, Shift!" said Tirian and hurled the Ape through into the darkness. But as the Dwarf banged the door shut again, a blin…Open passage →
  10. Chapter XIII · paragraph 37…Tashlan and pretend to be frightened to scare the other Animals. But what Shift never guessed was that the real Tash would turn up; so Ginger came out really frightened. And after that, Shift…Open passage →
02
Connections

Follow another path

CharacterPuzzle

A well-meaning but easily led donkey whom Shift disguises as Aslan.

→EventFalse Aslan

Shift’s fraud of dressing Puzzle in a lion skin and issuing orders in Aslan’s name.

→CharacterRishda Tarkaan

The Calormene commander who occupies Narnia in alliance with Shift.

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