School Papers

Subject: School Papers Fri Mar 04, 2011 3:22 pm

Hey! I decided to create a topic for school papers. Here's mine on C.S. Lewis:

C.S. Lewis: Literary Icon

C.S. Lewis was one of the most gifted and remarkable authors of the 20th century, with publications ranging from poetry to theology to children’s books. He was born on November 29th, 1898 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. He was first published in 1919. He married Joy Davidson Gresham on April 23rd, 1956. He died on November 22nd, 1963. Almost fifty years later, C.S. Lewis continues to positively influence the world through his fiction works, non-fiction works, and personal experiences.

C.S. Lewis was well known as an ingenious and persistent writer. His fictional works best showed his originality and creativity. In The Screwtape Letters, “Lewis’ devil, known to millions of readers as ‘Uncle Screwtape’, is more subtle than he appears in the stereotypical depiction of a demon in red pajamas with a pitchfork. Indeed, as Lewis described him, he might easily pass for a respectable British bureaucrat” (Kenny 35). This illustrates that C.S. Lewis could captivate his audience with his character descriptions and that was very imaginative. Lewis proved to be a very prolific writer. When writing The Chronicles of Narnia, C.S. Lewis wrote an average of one book per year (Davenport 75). This was probably fascinating to the young readers of Lewis’ day when they found that a new Narnia book had come out sooner than they had expected. This also points out that C.S. Lewis knew exactly where he wanted to go with this saga. Lewis was quite persistent in writing these books and did not let criticism hold back his work. In fact, although C.S Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien were friends, Tolkien actually hated and criticized The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe even though it might have been out of jealousy (Wilson 222). Despite this criticism, which must have hurt Lewis, he continued on with the books undeterred. C.S. Lewis’ originality and determination make his novels works of art.

C.S. Lewis wrote non-fiction books that challenged adult readers intellectually and spiritually. His skills were perhaps helped by his ability to critically analyze literature. When reading Lewis’ books, many readers’ minds are impacted because they are opened up to the reality that truth is not subjective. As Jack Kenny says, “His books still pay us the compliment their author paid to the men and women of his time, the compliment of respecting our intelligence and believing that minds adrift on oceans of narcissism, agnosticism, and self-doubt are still capable of being opened by and to old truths – that we are still capable of being ‘Surprised by Joy’” (p. 38). Obviously, C.S. Lewis was capable of writing powerful literary works. His books made a huge impact on the readers in his day and continue to make that impact today. After spending a period of time in his life as an atheist, C.S. Lewis returned to Christianity and it affected most of his writings. C.S. Lewis wrote fifteen books of theology (Edwards). These works, more than anything, showed that that his faith affected his literary work. This also proves that he is more than just a mere children’s author (and more than just a Mere Christian). C.S. Lewis had a talent for literary criticism, which may have helped overall writing skills. He wrote fourteen books of literary criticism (Edwards). Such a collection of works shows that he had an expertise in judging the qualities of literary work. Also, people must have cared about his evaluations. As noted above, C.S. Lewis’ readers were tested both academically and spiritually, which was probably the result of his skills in literary criticism.

Many things inspired C.S. Lewis, including his background, surroundings, and friends. C.S. Lewis was fortunate to have had parents who were well educated and their collection of books influence him greatly. “… Clive Staples (‘Jack’) Lewis was reared in a peculiarly bookish home, one in which the reality he found on the pages of the books within his parents’ extensive library seemed as tangible and meaningful to him as anything that transpired outside their doors. As adolescents, Lewis and his older brother, Warren, were more at home in the world of ideas and books of the past, than with the material, technological world of the 20th century” (Edwards). C.S. Lewis was surrounded and fascinated by books, which probably inspired him to write his own. Reading so many books must have increased his abilities in literary criticism. C.S. Lewis attended six schools in his life: Wynyard, Cherbourg, Malvern College, Oxford University, Cambridge, and Magdalen College (Davenport 106). Obviously, he was interested in learning (even though he hated Wynyard). School was a big part of his life and it prepared him for his future in writing and teaching. C.S. Lewis was a part of a group of writers called “The Inklings” who talked and listened to each other’s work (Carpenter 310). The book of Proverbs states that “Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another”, and Lewis’ circle of friends probably made him a better writer from a critical standpoint. It may have also helped to have support from friends when writing. C.S. Lewis’ writings were clearly influenced by a unique combination of upbringing, education, and peers.

This all proves that C.S. Lewis was an extraordinary and exceptional novelist. These characteristics really shine through his different genres of books and through the things that impacted him. After several decades, his books have still impacted people. That is what makes him worthy to study. Some would even argue that he is a literary icon!