LIFE. Name: C.S.

Lewis Clive Staples Lewis Jack Lewis Dates: 1898: November 29, born in Belfast, Ireland 1913: discovers Norse mythology and decides that Christianity is an inferior mythology 1917: goes to France with the Somerset Light Infantry 1918: April 15, wounded by an exploding shell in the Battle of Arras 1919: takes first class degrees in classics, philosophy, and English 1925-1954: fellow of English language and literature at Magdalen College, Oxford 1926: meets J.R.R. Tolkien at a gathering of the English faculty at Merton College 1929: comes to believe in the existence of some sort of god 1931: converts to Christianity 1955: professor of medieval and renaissance literature at Magdalene College, Cambridge 1956: marries Joy Gresham 1960: wife Joy Gresham dies of cancer at the age of 45 1963: November 22, dies in Oxford, England Specialization: Anglican history and theology English literature Novelist Major Works: The Pilgrim's Regress (1933) The Allegory of Love (1936) Out of the Silent Planet (1938) The Problem of Pain (1940) The Screwtape Letters (1942) Mere Christianity (1942) The Abolition of Man (1943) Perelandra (1943) That Hideous Strength (1945) Miracles (1947) The Narnia Chronicles (1951-56) English Literature in the Sixteenth Century (1954) Surprised by Joy (1955) The Four Loves (1960) Biography: C.S. Lewis was an author, a scholar of English literature and a famous Christian apologist. The son of a lawyer, Lewis grew up in Ireland at a time when northern Ireland was not torn by the bitter strife which would eventually come to characterize its religious situation. Early on he developed a love for reading and learning. He rejected Christianity at an early age, deciding that Christian myths were inferior to others in the world and that the Christian god, if it existed, must be a sadist. After a year of study at University College in Oxford, C.S. Lewis volunteered for the trenches of France. At first Lewis enjoyed the close camaraderie of the army, but his idealistic beliefs would be shattered by the death and suffering he witnessed. World War I undermined the progressive ideals of many throughout Europe.

Upon his return he received top grades and was elected to an important teaching post at Magdalen College, also at Oxford. He remained at Oxford until 1955, when he accepted a teaching post at Cambridge. C.S. Lewis would later say that he was an atheist during his early years at Oxford, but began to move towards an evangelical flavor of Anglicanism due to his friendship with J.R.R. Tolkien. His fame as an author came on two fronts. One was his fictional works, the most popular of which are the Chronicles of Narnia, seven books for young people which incorporate Christian themes and doctrines allegorically. The second front of his fame came from books openly written in defense of traditional Christianity. These include the popular The Screwtape Letters, a collection of letters of advice from a demon to his nephew, and the famous book Mere Christianity which began as a series of radio talks in 1941. The sort of Christianity promoted by Lewis was unreservedly orthodox. He believed that too many church leaders had watered down traditional Christianity in order to accommodate it to the modern, scientific age. Instead practical tips and platitudes, Lewis emphasized orthodox Christian conceptions of sin, redemption, hell, atonement, resurrection, and miracles. C.S. Lewis doesn't talk down to his audience (his audience of believers hes quite nasty to nonbelievers). Instead, he writes for the average person rather than for philosophers and theologians. He was himself a trained academic, but eschewed jargon and complicated arguments in favor a simplified, unadorned prose that was consciously designed to appeal to the average person. Because of all this, Lewis works have become standard reading for Christians in the United States. It also helps that, although an Anglican, Lewis didnt focus much on church doctrine. His emphasis on a basic sort of Christianity allowed his appeal to spread to adherents of many denominations. He was quite open about his goal being to get people to accept Christianity without caring about what denomination they entered, but this is problematic. The name of his most famous apologetic work, Mere Christianity, is a misnomer: there is no such thing as mere Christianity. Every denomination has doctrines which it insists are vital but which others insist arent or are even false. One of the consequences of his simple style is that his arguments have extensive flaws in their logic and reasoning. His writings may serve as an introduction to Christian doctrines, but anyone who relies extensively upon them will be ill-served in any serious discussion about Christian theology or religious philosophy.

LEWIS AND NARNIA. C.S. Lewis may be best known for his childrens books, in particular the Narnia series. When he first began this series he was already an accomplished author, but his publisher and friends argued against a move into childrens literature on the assumption that it would harm his reputation as an author of more serious philosophy and apologetics. That didnt turn out to be the case. In fact, the Narnia books were simply an extension of Lewis apologetics. The entire series is an extended allegory for Christianity. The first book, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, was completed in 1948. In it, four children discover that a wardrobe in an old house is really a

doorway to another world inhabited by talking animals and ruled by Aslan, a magic lion. The evil White Witch, however, has been taking control and causing the land to suffer an eternal without Christmas. One of the boys, Edmund, is seduced by the White Witch who plies him with Turkish Delight and promises of great power. In the end, Edmund is only saved from evil when Aslan the lion sacrifices his own life but Aslan returns to life and leads his forces in a great battle, after which the children become kings and queens of Narnia. This was not the end of stories, though, and C.S. Lewis would write six more with the final one being published in 1956. Aslan obviously represents Christ, and the lion has often been used as a symbol for Jesus. The White Witch is Satan tempting Edmund, who is Judas. Peter, one of the children, represents the wise Christian. Father Christmas represents the Holy Spirit, who comes and bring gifts to true believers so that they can fight evil. C.S. Lewis didnt think of his Narnia books as being an allegory, strictly speaking. Instead, he though of them as exploring the nature of Christianity and Gods relationship with man in a parallel universe: "I did not say to myself Let us represent Jesus as He really is in our world by a Lion in Narnia; I said, Let us suppose that there were a land like Narnia and that the Son of God, as he became a Man in our world, became a Lion there, and then imagine what would happen.'" In a letter, Lewis outlined how the Narnia books compare with Christianity: The Magicians Nephew tells the Creation and how evil entered Narnia, The Lion etc. - the Crucifixion and Resurrection, Prince Caspian - restoration of the true religion after a corruption, The Horse and His Boy - the calling and conversion of the heathen, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader - the spiritual life (especially in Reepicheep), The Silver Chair - the continuing war against the powers of darkness, The Last Battle - the coming of Antichrist (the ape). The end of the world and the last judgement. At first the Narnia books were not well received by critics, but readers loved them and today they have sold over 100 million copies. Its possible to read the books without thinking about the Christian references, but only with some difficulty especially if you are an adult who is familiar with Christian doctrine and Lewis writings as an apologist. The problem is, Lewis either wasnt capable of or didnt think highly of subtlety. The Christian allusions in the books come on fast and strong, with little apparent effort to construct a story that might exist independently of the religious references. As a point of contrast, consider J.R.R. Tolkeins books which also contain Christian references. In that case, the references can be missed because they are buried in a deep, complex story that can stand independently of Christianity. C.S. Lewis also used his three science fiction novels to promote Christian ideas: Out of the Silent Planet (1938), Perelandra (1943), and That Hideous Strength (1945). These arent nearly so popular as his other works, however, and arent generally discussed.

COMMON QUESTIONS.
Who Was C.S. Lewis?:

C.S. Lewis was an author, scholar of English literature and Christian apologist. The son of a lawyer, Lewis grew up in Ireland at a time when northern Ireland was not torn by the bitter strife which would eventually come to characterize its religious situation. Early on he developed a love for reading and learning. He rejected Christianity at an early age, deciding that Christian myths were inferior to others in the world and that the Christian god, if it existed, is a sadist. Were C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkein Friends?:

Many fans are aware of that C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien were close friends. Tolkien helped convert Lewis to Christianity, whereas Lewis encouraged Tolkien to expand his fictional writing; both taught at Oxford, both were interested in literature, and both wrote fictional books which propagated basic Christian themes and principles. At the same time, though, they also had serious disagreements in particular, over the quality of Lewis Narnia books. Is C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Naria Series a Christian Allegory?:

C.S. Lewis may be best known for his childrens books, in particular the Narnia series. When he first began this series he was already an accomplished author, but his publisher and friends argued against a move into childrens literature on the assumption that it would harm his reputation as an author of more serious philosophy and apologetics. That didnt turn out to be the case. Was C.S. Lewis a Good Christian Apologist?:

Theology builds upon the insights and accomplishments of those who have come before, but Lewis doesnt even appear to function as a minor plank in anyones platform. This combination of general popularity and professional dismissal is very curious either the average believer knows something which the professionals have missed, or Lewis isnt the apologist he is popularly believed to be. What was C.S. Lewis' Argument from Desire?:

One of the earliest arguments offered by C.S. Lewis for believing in the existence of God can be labeled the Argument from Desire. According to Lewis and other apologists, every desire is necessarily a desire for something, and every natural desire must have some object that will satisfy it. Since humans desire the joy and experience of God, therefore there must be a God that will satisfy our desires. What was C.S. Lewis' Argument from Morality and Values?:

A very popular argument with Christian apologists, including C.S. Lewis, is the argument from morality. According to Lewis, the only valid morality that can exist is an objective one all

subjective conceptions of morality lead to ruin. Furthermore, an authentic objective morality must be grounded in a supernatural reality beyond our own world, thus he rejects all naturalistic conceptions of an objective morality as well. Does his argument succeed? Lord, Liar, or Lunatic: What was C.S. Lewis' Trilemma About Jesus?:

s Jesus really whom he is reported to have said he was? Was Jesus really the Son of God? C.S. Lewis believed so and also believed that he had a very good argument for convincing people to agree: if Jesus was not whom he claimed, then he must be a lunatic, a liar, or worse. He was certain that no one could seriously argue for or accept these alternatives and that left only his favored explanation. Does C.S. Lewis Appeal to Atheists and Religious Skeptics?:

C.S. Lewis is often described as an apostle to the skeptics that he somehow has a special affinity for the arguments, sensibilities, and perspectives of religious doubters and can therefore more easily reach them than other apologists. He may appear to be directing his arguments to atheists, but the truth is that his arguments are primarily convincing to those who either already believe the conclusions or who are otherwise sympathetic to them. What Did C.S. Lewis Say About Faith and Reason?:

Christian apologist C.S. Lewis had a curious relationship with faith. On the one hand, he couldnt very well deny the importance of faith because it has been a core component of Christianity since the very beginning both Jesus and Paul praise it as vital. At the same time, however, his overall goal was to provide a rational apologetic that justified acceptance of Christianity on intellectual grounds. This would make faith superfluous. What Was C.S. Lewis' Critique of Naturalism?:

C.S. Lewis wanted to explain nature on the basis of his supernatural god; as a consequence, naturalistic explanations for nature represented a major threat just as it does for contemporary apologists. Lewis argued against naturalism in a variety of contexts. It plays an important role not just in his discussions about morality, but also in his arguments about the nature of reason.

http://atheism.about.com/od/cslewisnarnia/p/cslewisbiograph.htm

Characteristics of fantasy literature. by David Riel Created on: February 23, 2008

Although they may know what it is when they see it, readers typically have difficulty defining fantasy literature, and especially in distinguishing it from its sister genres: science fiction and horror. What are the characteristics of fantasy literature? When is fiction fantasy, and not something else? The principal characteristic of fantasy literature is that it contains an element that could not exist in the real world as we commonly accept it, and that this element is critical to the story. Whether it involves the creation of an entire fictional world replete with elves, wizards and goblins, or whether magic is only subtly insinuated into ordinary reality, fantasy literature always has a departure from our day-to-day logical world. But, of course, horror fiction, and science fiction, also depart - often radically - from our commonly accepted reality. How do we distinguish fantasy from these other distinct genres? To distinguish fantasy from horror is really not hard, and in fact there is a simple rule: if you have a ghost in a story - the departure from our ordinary world - and the ghost kills people, it's a horror story; if the ghost doesn't kill people it's a fantasy story. To distinguish fantasy from science fiction we also ask a question: is the departure from our commonly accepted reality explained in a logical, rational way; does technology rather than magic account for it? If the answer is yes, then, no matter how far-fetched or outlandish is the departure from the ordinary, the work is one of science fiction. Finally, it is possible for a work of fiction to contain a fantastic element, and yet the work not to be fantasy. If the departure from our ordinary reality doesn't affect the story in any way - if it is not critical to the story - then the work is not fantasy. Let's use our ghost again. If the ghost interacts with the protagonist, perhaps by revealing information upon which the protagonist acts, then the story is fantasy. If the ghost is simply there as part of the background, then the ghost is considered to be part of the story's setting, and the story remains a mystery, romance, or whatever genre it happens to be. The characteristics of fantasy literature then are that there is an element in the story that departs from our ordinary accepted reality, and that this element operates to act upon the story itself and isn't simply part of the scenery. Whether we are presented with an entire world replete with a fantastic cast of characters, or a single element which is out of place in an otherwise ordinary setting, this departure from reality drives the story, and it from this departure that we as readers derive much of our satisfaction from fantasy literature. http://www.helium.com/items/883404-characteristics-of-fantasy-literature

Fantasy : genre definition .

The definition of this fictional genre could be described as something that contains rudiments that are not realistic, such as magical powers, talking animals, etc. Fantasy is often characterized by a departure from the accepted rules by which individuals perceive the world around them; it represents that which is impossible (unexplained) and outside the parameters of our known, reality. Make-believe is what this genre is all about. Another description of a Fantasy Novel is any book that contains unrealistic settings, or magic, often set in a medieval universe, or possibly involving mythical beings or supernatural forms as a primary element of the plot, theme, or setting. Something magical is almost always part of fantasy and magic may be seen in the setting or in the plot. It may even be practiced by the characters. Fantasy usually describes those stories that could not happen in real life. Fairy tales by known authors, such as those by Hans Christian Andersen, are considered modern fantasy and have no problem relating to young children; in fact most adolescents grow up believing in fantasy. They wish on candles, wait for tooth fairies, talk to their stuffed animals and play with imaginary friends. History: Though the genre in its modern sense is less than two centuries old, its precedents have a long and distinguished history. Fantasy Fiction has a rich history of inspirations for critics to dissect and apply to the modern genre. It is often examined as the modern counterpart to mythology, but whether one of these practices inspired the other, and which inspired which, is hotly debated. With its roots in myth and legend, fantasy is the most elemental of all the genres. It is certainly interesting that many people for many generations believed in myth and legend in a way that dramatically affected their life and their culture. One thing is certain: there is something timeless about stories that pit motivating heroes who face long odds against dynamic villains. (It could also be argued that this is the elementary basis of most commercial fiction genres.) Good is good and evil is evil. Eventually there is often a happy ending although important secondary characters may have been killed. Stories of the Odyssey, Arthur, and the like have influenced and shaped culture for centuries. Heroic fantasy yearns for a time of rigid class distinction, when good and evil were a part of breeding. When the strong ruled the weak and weak lived happily - providing rustic atmosphere in the way good peasants should. In fantasy, the reader may return to a simpler time - the world as we wish it might be.

Sub Genres : Characteristics of fantasy fiction and its many overlapping sub-genres are the subjects of debate among some fans and writers. Fiction can and is often a multiple thing. A piece can belong to the fantasy genre as well as the detective genre, the romance genre etc. Science-Fiction and Fantasy are substantially different cathegories, however the line between them is often a thin one. Star Wars is a good example, since it is clearly within the science-fiction genre yet includes certain unexplained fantasy elements (particularly "The Force," may it be with you all). Both types of genre are usually shelved together, both because of their readerships' tendencies to overlap and because of the authors' tendencies to blur the lines between these categories. Many science fiction authors have also written works of fantasy. Speculative fiction is a difficult genre to categorize neatly. For example, some authors might argue that most speculative fiction is pure fantasy - and yet a fantastical tale set in a far distant future would be more likely classified as 'science fiction'. In recent times, the term 'fantasy', when regarded as part of an individual genre, generally brings to mind tales of dragons and castles and knights in shining armor - but in truth, the genre as a whole encompasses so much more. Some examples of sub-genres are: Romance Fantasy Fairy Tales Alternative History Arthurian Fantasy Comic Fantasy Dark Fantasy Epic Fantasy Fairy Tales and Mythology Heroic Fantasy High Fantasy Mystery Fantasy Magic Realism Modern Fantasy Sword and Sorcery

Cross Over's: Fantasy is the genre least likely to be affected by age. Many adults have enjoyed the Hobbit or the Harry Potter books. More recently the success of the film versions of the Lord of the Ring and the Harry Potter stories have dramatically increased interest in fantasy along with C.S. Lewiss Chronicles of Narnia, and the film version of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Fantasy continues to substantially outsell science fiction. Conclusion: Myth and legend has been an important part of culture since the beginning. Literature began with these stories. They explained the world that people lived in, provided lessons about behavior and consequences, and entertained as well. Fantasy opens the door to experiencing the magic that is in the world around us and more importantly the magic in ourselves. It can encompass a whirlwind of images and plot twists and is one of the few genres in which the same book can be read by an adult and a 12-year old - comfortably and without any explanation. http://www.findmeanauthor.com/fantasy_fiction_genre.htm