Thesis & Outline

Thesis:

C.S Lewis is known monumentally for his works of fiction, with their highly didactic allegory and marvelous undertones. In observing specifically The Chronicles of Narnia we find that Lewis depend heavily on allegory. He is not entering a world of the fantastic, but he is taking us into his world of edification. He, unlike the allegory of Christ’s parables, uses within his allegoric stories a form of the marvelous- taking us into a world that is not our own and that we are unfamiliar with, but placing within that world things that we are familiar with; things that we have been introduced to before, things that will help us accept the marvelous. He does this through his allegory.

Outline:

I. Intro: Define Lewis’s 

Allegory

Definition

• “On one hand you start with an immaterial fact, such as the passions which you actually experience, and can then invent visibility (visible entities) to express them. If you are hesitating between an angry retort and a soft answer, you can express your state of mind by inventing a person called Ira (anger) with a torch and letting her contend with another invented person called Patientia (patience). This is allegory, and it is with this alone that we can have to deal.” (Grey 28)

Use following quote to introduce allegorical use:

• “If our passions, being immaterial, can be copied by material inventions, then it is possible that our material world in its turn is the copy of an invisible world… The allegorist leaves the given—his own passion—to talk of that which is confessedly less real, which is a fiction. The symbolist leaves the given to find another that is more real… for the symbolist it is we who are the allegory... symbolism is a mode of thought but allegory is a mode of expression.” (Grey 28)

II.  Use of Didacticism-- develop and support

• Elst in Thinkers of Our Time claims that the Chronicles of Narnia was not conceived in a didactic way. 
• Lewis stated that writing a story to be religious rarely comes out successful.
• Lewis states that he found fantasy and fairytale to be the best form for him to write what he wanted to say: “I (Lewis) thought I saw how stories of this kind could steal past a certain inhibition…” (Elst 94)

III. Allegorical choices

• “main feature of the world in which Lucy finds herself is a lamp post.” This being a symbol of a “marker or beacon that offers illumination and protection.” (Holbrook 67)
• Give specific examples and what makes them allegoric
• How does Lewis use the allegory, and successfully

IV. Lewis - The Author

• “Lewis’ spiritual flavor is unmistakable and leaves the discerning reader with the impression of encountering Something that is both novel and strangely familiar.”
• Lewis received quantities of fan letters, especially from children who seemed to react naturally to the ideas in the book
• How did he connect to well to individuals of all ages
• What in his past?

V. Conclusion

• Recap main points
• Restate thesis
• Finish with closing statement

Annotated Bibliography:

Purtill, Richard L, Lord of the Elves and Eldils. San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 1974. Print

** This will help me understand the use of allegory in fiction.

Elst, Philip Vander, Thinkers of Our Time. London: The Claridge Press, 1996. Print

** This give me details about Lewis as a writer.

Grey, William, C.S. Lewis. UK: Northcote House, 1998. Print

** This will give me Lewis's background and where his allegories perhaps came about.

Honda, Mineko, The Imaginative World of C.S Lewis. New York: University Press of America, Inc., 2000. Print

** This taps into Lewis's use of Allegory.

Holbrook, David, The Skeleton in the Wardrobe. London: Bucknell University Press, 1991. Print

** Looks specifically into The Chronicals of Narnia.

Sammons, Martha C. A Far-off Country: A Guide to C.S. Lewis’s Fantasy Fiction. New York: University Press of America, 2000. Print

** Step by Step look at his work in his fiction.

The Question:

Where did C.S. Lewis's allegories/stories come from, and how did he make allegories in his stories so successful? 

"Even in literature and art, no man who bothers about originality will ever be original: whereas if you simply try to tell the truth (without caring twopence how often it has been told before) you will, nine times out of ten, become original without ever having noticed it." 

— C.S. Lewis (Mere Christianity)

• I want to find where his allegories come from and how he uses them specifically to intrigue his audience. 

• I think The Chronicles of Narnia are a good place to start. It is very well known for it's allegory so I think I will focus those. 

• I've found a book called The Imaginative World of C.S Lewis, that I think will be very helpful. Works on C.S. Lewis and his background/history will also help me understand where his allegory and stories come from. Looking at examples in his text will support my discoveries and will give me a greater understanding as I compile and make connections between them.

• I think I will find more than I expect. I don't have specific allegories I'm looking for, I just want to find significant uses of them in his works and how it has assisted in his success as an author. He is such a magnificent writer I would love to tap into how he became so magnificent. 

My sisters (ALL of them)

wedding video

Here's our wedding video, for anyone who's interested.

Filmed by Austin Curtis, who is seriously the bomb! And who along with Brian Hopkins, our photographer, made shooting totally comfortable and so enjoyable.


Nick & Katherine from austin curtis on Vimeo.

stuff you could be into...

I've always been bad at blogging, but I figure, with my journal skills being as they are, I'm hoping this will be a more motivating substitute. So really this is just about us and the people we love... for those family, friends, soon to be friends, strangers who we'd probably be friends with if we knew you, etc. who'd wish to follow along, please do! :)

So, First things first, I (we) got married. May 11, 2012.

This is Nick Smith, aka the guy I married. As you can see, he is very handsome, and he is nicest... as my mom would say, "you can tell by his eyes..."  Aww, what a sweet boy.

Okay, so I suppose this is where we are beginning...

Concert in the park - Coronado, CA - July 3, 2011 - The weekend we met.

Carousel Park - Santa Barbara, CA - May 11 2012 - Best day that ever was.

Carousel Park - Santa Barbara, CA - May 11 2012 - No line.

Obviously dancing...

Los Angeles Temple - May 11. 2011 

Some of the most amazing family and friends that have ever existed.

Isn't it sometimes surprising how much you can love people?

I'll probably, annoyingly, post a little more from the wedding... it only happens once you know.

Love, Kath.... and Nick later, when he thinks blogs are cool.