JRRT and C.S. Lewis - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

The Silver-shod Muse · 04-28-2002, 05:21 PM

Thanks for the welcome Maril!

Is it true that the friendship between Lewis and Tolkien may have waned in their later years because of this "conscious allegory"? I agree with you in that allegory does have the effect of subjugating the story's purpose, but when I first read the Chronicles, I was too young to recognize the Biblical connections so Narnia will always exist as a world outside of parallels for me.

Even with allegory, there is much that can be done to illustrate the beauty in what one is trying to compare to (if that made any sense!) Narnia led me to comprehend the Bible's lessons and meaning because, as a young child (and even more now), I loved the idea of other worlds hiding in closets and around corners, and this interest opened up the way for the truth later on. The feel of Middle Earth and Narnia are similar in that they nurture a sense of inexhaustable discovery and yet simultaneously the presence of the anciencts left over from more prosperous times. Granted, LoTR is rather darker, but JRRT made it clear that it wasn't a child's bedtime story.

04-28-2002, 05:21 PM	#6
The Silver-shod Muse Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: The shoulder of a poet, TX Posts: 388	Thanks for the welcome Maril! Is it true that the friendship between Lewis and Tolkien may have waned in their later years because of this "conscious allegory"? I agree with you in that allegory does have the effect of subjugating the story's purpose, but when I first read the Chronicles, I was too young to recognize the Biblical connections so Narnia will always exist as a world outside of parallels for me. Even with allegory, there is much that can be done to illustrate the beauty in what one is trying to compare to (if that made any sense!) Narnia led me to comprehend the Bible's lessons and meaning because, as a young child (and even more now), I loved the idea of other worlds hiding in closets and around corners, and this interest opened up the way for the truth later on. The feel of Middle Earth and Narnia are similar in that they nurture a sense of inexhaustable discovery and yet simultaneously the presence of the anciencts left over from more prosperous times. Granted, LoTR is rather darker, but JRRT made it clear that it wasn't a child's bedtime story. __________________ "'You," he said, "tell her all. What good came to you? Do you rejoice that Maleldil became a man? Tell her of your joys, and of what profit you had when you made Maleldil and death acquainted.'" -Perelandra, by C.S. Lewis

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