7 Wonders of C. S. Lewis’ Narnia Chronicles

C.S. Lewis is the beloved author of the Narnia Chronicles. Readers of all ages and faiths (or no faith) enjoy these books. The tale speaks on several levels. The human heart and mind picks up on deeply entrenched truth, beauty and goodness in the books. There are medieval elements. There is a struggle of life and death, the tension of good and evil. There is an eschatological element. There is the dance and the fight. There is death and resurrection. There is delight and wonder. Lewis’ faith is all over the pages of these beloved tales, though they are not intended to be Christian tales-- they can’t help it. How did C. S. Lewis come to write these stories? Why did he write them? November 23rd (1963) is C. S. Lewis’ death day. Let’s celebrate Lewis and remember his wonderful Narnia tales.

Lions

C.S. Lewis was a fellow and tutor of Literature at Oxford University Magdalen College. Later he became a professor of Medieval Literature at Cambridge University. When he became a Christian, he also became a popular speaker defending the Christian faith. He gave a series of talks on the BBC during World War II. He also started the Socratic Club where he defended his faith. Lewis was also caretaker of his brother who would often fall into poor health because of drink. On top of that he was also caretaker of Mrs. Moore a long time friend who was feeble and dying. At the point of putting pen to paper about Narnia and Aslan, Lewis was at a crucial point in his life. He was often exhausted with all of his responsibilities (caring for others) teaching, lecturing, writing and responding to thousands of fan letters. He hardly had time to himself. He was found one day collapsed from exhaustion; he was taken to hospital. All the while he had vivid frightening dreams of lions. In all this tumult, Lewis sat down and wrote The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

Return to Joy

Lewis was exhausted at this point in his life. He reached burnout as we would call it now. Writing the Narnian tales was a return to joy for Lewis. A return to what he loved. He wrote these books for himself. He didn’t have to make an argument for his faith. He didn’t have to struggle in the writing process to write something compelling for a certain audience. He wrote what he loved to write, fairytale, myth, about the numinous, a respite to all he loved and missed. Writing the Narnia tales was a homecoming for Lewis. He poured himself into these tales. As a child, he loved Greek myth and especially Norse mythology. He also loved the medieval worldview where all the cosmos is filled with the unseen as much as what is seen. When the medieval man looked to the heavens, he did not see vacuous space, but the heavens filled with angels and demons. Though the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe was not written as a Christian tale, it nonetheless has Christian themes because that is who Lewis is—a Christian. How could it not come out in his writing?

Myth and Truth

The Christian themes in the Narnian tales are also mixed with Greek and Norse mythology. Some called it a confused landscape. But again, these books, as Alan Jacobs defends, were really written for Lewis himself. He wrote all manner of things he loved. Before C.S. Lewis was converted, he would take walks with J.R.R. Tolkien on Addison’s Walk—a trail on the ground of Magdalen College, they would talk about myth and the Christian faith. Lewis would say, “Isn’t myth lies breathed through silver?” Tolkien would reply that the Christian story is the only myth that actually happened in human history. The myths of seeds dying and the crop being reborn were all types of what would truly occur. And in Jesus Christ, the myth of death and resurrection was fulfilled. It was no longer a myth, but a reality. Lewis, of course, uses this mythological language in Narnia, as Aslan represents this true death and resurrection happening in the world of Narnia as it did in human history.

Good and Evil

The four Pevensie children come upon the world of Narnia. Lucy finds Narnia first through the wardrobe. Peter, Susan and Edmund follow her later on. Edmund is seduced by the White Witch who always keeps Narnia in perpetual winter. It is always winter, but never Christmas. The White Witch tempts Edmund with power, to rule Narnia with her. But once Edmund meets Aslan, his heart is changed. Yes, Edmund does betray his siblings, but his meeting with Aslan changes all things in Narnia. Aslan exchanges his life for Edmunds. Aslan is killed by the White Witch. Where the White Witch thought she had victory was actually the beginning of her defeat. Once Aslan is sacrificed, there is great sadness in the land. But Lucy and Susan witness Aslan’s resurrection. This is when spring started to set in after a 100 year winter. Also Father Christmas entered Narnia again. All that is good, true and beautiful comes to life again in Narnia. This very much mirrors the hope in renewal and resurrection in the Christian life.

War

There are several battles that occur in the Narnia tales. They have some light moments, but also have some intense fighting that is unusual in children’s stories. The blunt and truthful descriptions that Lewis uses are reminiscent of his experience in the Great War (World War I). “Peter did not feel very brave; indeed, he felt he was going to be sick. But that made no difference to what he had to do. He rushed straight up to the monster and aimed a slash of his sword at its side. That stroke never reached the Wolf. Quick as lightning it turned round, its eyes flaming, and its mouth wide open…. He had just time to duck down and plunge his sword, as hard as he could, between the brute’s forelegs into its heart. Then came a horrible, confused moment like something in a nightmare. He was tugging and pulling and the Wolf seemed neither alive nor dead, and its bared teeth knocked against his forehead, and everything was blood and heat and hair.” Lewis told the reality of battle, horror, confusion and bravery.

Repentance and Conversion

C.S. Lewis is known as the most reluctant convert. For at least half of his life, he considered himself an atheist. But he always had a tension. He loved Nordic poetry and Greek myth and fantastic fairytales, myths, tales and poetry. There was a duel in himself: between logic and joy. As he studied in university, he focused on philosophy, which he admitted killed his imagination, which had been fertile in his childhood into his early twenties. When he took a second degree in English Literature, the delight in ancient literature returned. His imagination was being fed again. When he completed his degree, he became a don (tutor) of English Literature at Magdalen College in Oxford. The college is named after Mary Magdalene who represents repentance and conversion. Magdalen also had beautiful landscapes, a one hundred acre park and many walking trails. There is much nature imagery and walking in the Narnia tales. Working at Magdalen College, I think, helped attribute to Lewis’ conversion, which of course included the people he met and became friends with—including Tolkien.

Heaven

The aim of C.S. Lewis’ writing was to bring joy and delight into the heart and mind of the reader. When the Pevensie children enter Narnia they are overwhelmed with a sense of delight and joy, as though they had come home. In Prince Caspian they feel a strength return to them. In The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, Reepicheep’s lifelong desire is to see Aslan’s country. Michael Ward claims each Narnia book is a model of the medieval understanding of the heavens. Each book has an underlying theme of the Spheres of the Heavens, which is seen in Lewis’ Space Trilogy. Each planet has an Intelligence (an angel) which moves the heavenly sphere. Earth is silent because its Intelligence is fallen and is the Adversary. The medieval construct of the universe is not correct, but the reality of a spiritual world in the midst of material is true. Lewis wished his students and readers to understand we are not in a world of metal gears and machines, but of wisdom, truth, Spirit and matter. Reading the Narnia Chronicles is a coming home. It is a return to Reality. They are glimpses into heaven.