Many people believe that Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe’s storyline and plot are based off of a Christian-based allegory; however, it is not. With the early childhood and teenage years of C.S. Lewis, the author of Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, the story could be a reflection of his life. Lewis also had a fascination with mythology, which plays a key role in the making of the characters. Many think that Lewis’s Christian conversion is what inspired him to write Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Without the Christian conversion of C.S. Lewis, Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe’s content would not change but the focus on the meaning would change from a Christian allegory to a children’s fantasy novel. The first fact that would support this theory is Lewis’s childhood.
Lewis did not live the life of the average boy; creating interests in cars, wrestling figures, super heroes, action figures, water guns, sports, and mud. He had an imaginary land called Boxen. This land was filled with many “Edwardian” creatures. He would visit and play in this land all the time, but he stopped playing in his land when he was ten because his mother passed away. After this, he was sent to a boarding school in England; twice. While he was at boarding shool, he stayed with a professor named Kirk Patrick. Also, he started exploring the world of poetry, specifically Virgil and Homer, and incorporated his first idea for the Chronicles of Narnia series: a faun carrying parcels in a snowy wood.
“From the waist upwards he was like a man, but his legs were shaped like a goat’s(the hair on them was glossy black) and instead of feet he had goats hoofs...
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...o who would die for another person. Aslan was made to resemble Jesus, but Aslan was one of the last characters to be added into the novel. “He'll be coming and going" he had said. "One day you'll see him and another you won't. He doesn't like being tied down--and of course he has other countries to attend to. It's quite all right. He'll often drop in. Only you mustn't press him. He's wild, you know. Not like a tame lion” (Lewis,C.S.). C.S. Lewis wrote the novel, but the general public made the novel. The public transformed a well crafted children’s fantasy into a bible for children. For this reason and many more previously stated is why Without the Christian conversion of C.S. Lewis, Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe’s content would not change but the focus on the meaning would change from a Christian allegory to a children’s fantasy novel.
After his conversion, C.S. Lewis' writings became less modernistic. Many of his most famous writings, such as Mere Christianity, The Screwtape Letters, and The Chronicles of Narnia series contain his Christian worldview (Stewart 1), which was completely opposite of the mode...
Clive Staples Lewis was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland to Albert J. Lewis and Florence Hamilton Lewis (Lewis Foundation) on November 29, 1898 (Gormley 2). As a child, Clive Staples Lewis immediately disliked his name and wanted to be referred to as “Jack” and was sometimes called “Jacksie” (Id. 1). As a young child, Jack enjoyed playing and exploring with his older brother in the family home called “Little Lea” (Id. 7). He also enjoyed reading and at a young age started making up stories and poems(Imbornoni). His favorite books included Treasure Island by Robert Stevenson and The Secret Garden by Frances Burnett (Id.). Another favorite activity of his was playing in a carved wood wardrobe that his grandfather made, this was the wardrobe that later inspired the entrance to Narnia (Gormley 125).
...c child who is an innocent and has no place in the world of the wicked. His troubled self’s resolution comes at the end after Edmund has spoken to Aslan, the true ruler and god of Narnia. Both Edmunds own initiative and, less directly, religion lead Edmund back to before he was spoiled by the school he went to and the enchantment of the witch’s candy. Lewis therefore is following the Romantic tradition of innocence as a part of childhood since it was not Edmund’s fault he performed the incorrect behavior and was drawn to the side of evil.
The symbolism between C.S. Lewis’ The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, the fourth book in The Chronicles of Narnia, and the New Testament in the Bible, particularly the account of Jesus’ death is not merely coincidental because The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe is, in fact, an allegory. An allegory is a story with morals in which characters, plots and settings are used as symbols. The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, by C.S. Lewis is rich with Christian symbolism even though the allegorical nature of it is the subject of much controversy. Nonetheless, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe is an allegory. In this tale, four ordinary children find a wardrobe that leads them into Narnia, an extraordinary land parallel to our universe with talking animal and fantasy creatures. An evil witch has cast a spell of eternal winter over the land and has lured one of the children into betraying the others for enchanted Turkish Delights. Meanwhile, a magical lion, the nemesis of the witch, has arrived after a 100-year absence because of the betrayal of Edmund and ancient prophecies. Soon the children find themselves as involved in the battle as the other creatures and the lion must free Narnia from the clutches of the evil witch and atones for Edmund’s betrayal. The symbolism in the characters, plots, setting, miscellaneous things and themes prove Narnia is, indeed, allegorical
In conclusion, C.S Lewis symbolizes good and evil into his characters. The good one would be Aslan and the bad one would be the White Witch. They embody their role with characterization. This can be shown with the description of the two characters. Aslan is pure of heart and powerful and the Witch is cruel and terrifying. Also, their actions are key facts to demonstrate their chosen side. Aslan is always doing beneficial action for others, instead of the Witch that wants more and more power, willing to destroy life to achieve her goals. Through this book, the two opposite characters are really well explained and analysed.
“Not only was resurrected from death, but gives life back to the witch’s statues; he represents the good and is quite clearly a figure of Christ” (Source B). Aslan, a mighty lion was a symbol for Jesus Christ, there were many ways that C.S. Lewis uses Aslan to symbolize Jesus, including: Aslan’s death for others, his resurrection, how he brings others back to life as stated above. “The most important character in Narnia is Aslan. Aslan founded and rules the kingdom” (Source G). Just like Jesus Christ founded and rules over the world, Aslan rules over Narnia. Throughout the book Aslan’s name has a certain glow to it that is unlike other names.
C.S. Lewis was the 20th century’s most popular proponent of faith based on reason. As a child, he created an imaginary world where personified animals came to life, and later, he wrote the book, Chronicles of Narnia. How did he transform from a boy fascinated with anthropomorphic animals into a man of immense faith? His transformation to the Christian religion happened as his fame began to flourish. People wrote him, asking him about his claims about the truth of Christianity (Belmonte, Kevin). As I attended the drama of Freud’s Last Session, I was engrossed into the plot of the play and was constantly thinking about how it pertained to the objectives of the World Literature class. I not only connected the content of the play to its context, but I also reached out to apply the context to a discussion on a broader scale. I then discovered why the context of literature is imperative for true understanding of the w...
Aslan is the King of Narnia. Lewis tries to resist any recognition that Aslan is Jesus Christ. When readi...
In The Chronicles of Narnia, C.S. Lewis introduces us to a great and powerful lion named Aslan. C.S. Lewis is quoted in saying, “He is an invention giving an imaginary answer to the question, ‘What might Christ become like if there really were a world like Narnia, and He chose to be incarnate and die and rise again in that world as He actually has done in ours?”(Snyder and Baehr). Aslan is, according to Mr. Beaver in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, “He’s the Lord of the whole wood……………I tell you he is the King of the wood and the son of the great Emperor-Beyond-the-Sea” (Lewis 78-79 LWW). Aslan is interpreted in the series by many as a Jesus Christ-like figure. The actions that he does and the words that he says would confirm that interpretation for most people. In the very beginning of Narnia there was nothing, just darkness. Then Aslan appeared and created the whole world of Narnia; the plants, the water, and the animals. Also, Aslan picks two animals of the same species (one male and one female) and gives them the power to be talking animals (Lewis 104-125). In The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, when Lucy and Edmund Pevensie have to go back to earth Aslan tells them that he will be there also. “It isn’t Narnia, you know,” sobbed Lucy. “It’s you. We shan’t meet you the...
Fiction has always been used as a way to relay different types of messages throughout time. In many cases authors use fiction to make political commentary, use stories to bring out the major flaws that society has, as well as a way to spread different types of beliefs or ideals. C.S. Lewis’s used his work, “The Chronicles of Narnia”, to reiterate the messages of the Bible to those who might have gotten lost during their lifetime. Though his whole series was full of connections the book that have the most prevalent connections are The Magician’s Nephew and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. In both there are places that are very similar to and very different books in the Bible. Taking into context when Lewis wrote this series is extremely important to see what some of his motivations might have been. These stories were started soon after World War II had ended. These stories were a way to teach the next generation some of the morals that the Bible was teaching. By creating these fantastical stories Lewis was able to make connections to help bridge the learning gap between the two generations. Also by using children as a target audience Lewis was able to remind adults as well, instead of being ignored because of the recent war. Lewis was able to address these lessons and morals in a way that both taught the children the way of the Bible, as well as to put a new spin on old tales so that adults were able to come back to religion, after losing some faith during the brutal war.
Kaufmann, U. M. (2008). The Wardrobe, the Witch, and the Lion: CS Lewis and Three Mysteries of the Christian Faith. The Dulia et Latria Journal, 1, 47-62.
Discovering a land that holds many wonders and magic is etched into the reader’s minds due to C.S. Lewis’s marvelous series the Chronicles of Narnia. His first book, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is a classic that many children and adults still read today. For those who cracked open, the binding adventure was painted in their hearts. Many who read it might wonder what is so significant about the main characters and their roles in the story, but not many think about the title of the book. What is special about these characters and object in the book? Why did C.S. Lewis decide to name the first book he wrote in the Chronicles of Narnia, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe? Lewis wanted to show the power of the savior of the world through
The Chronicles of Narnia are veritably the most popular writings of C.S. Lewis. They are known as children’s fantasy literature, and have found favor in older students and adults alike, even many Christian theologians enjoy these stories from Lewis; for there are many spiritual truths that one can gleam from them, if familiar with the Bible. However, having said this, it is noteworthy to say that Lewis did not scribe these Chronicles for allegorical didactics of the Christian faith, but wrote them in such a well-knit fashion that young readers might understand Christian doctrine through captivating fantasy and thus gain an appreciation for it. With this in mind, and in the interest of this assignment, the purpose of this paper is an attempt to analyze one of the many doctrines of the Christian faith from The Lion, The Witch, And, The Wardrobe (LWW), namely, temptation and how Lewis illustrates it through an individual character, Edmund.
“I am going to do something more old-fashioned than you perhaps expected. I am going to give advice.” Declared C.S. Lewis in his “The Inner Ring” speech, and did he ever give advice. Arguably, C.S. Lewis could be considered one of the most controversial and renowned writers in literary history. From “The Chronicles of Narnia” series to “Screwtape Letters”, Lewis changed the face of religion in the written word. He maintained this powerful communication skill throughout his speeches as well. “The Inner Ring” speech, given at the Memorial Lecture at King College, University of London, in 1944 challenges the very grounds of popularity and the human motives and desires behind chasing these goals. Spoken to youth, this speech obviously stands
C.S. Lewis uses a secondary world, Narnia, to convey complex, thought-provoking messages to readers of The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe. This paper examines the way a selection of Narnia's key characteristics prompt debates over logic and faith, comment on the nature of spiritual and metaphysical journeys, allow readers to broaden their conception of their own capabilities, encourage new reflection on the story of Christ and help to clarify conceptions of good and evil.