The Christian Thoughts In The Chronicles Of Narnia

C.S. Lewis, as one of the literary giants of the twentieth century, is not only the distinguished literature historian and critic, the most influential theologian of Christianity, but also the most popular writer in science fiction and children literature. Among all his works, The Chronicles of Narnia is the most popular series. The Chronicles has attracted non-Christians because of its fantastic and mythical features, and Christian thoughts embedded in the story have hold an appeal to Christians as well. Therefore, two critical divisions on the interpretation of The Chronicles stand out. The first considers The Chronicles as a didactic allegory imbued with explicit Christianity like The Pilgrim's Progress. It aims to preach Christianity faith. The second reckons The Chronicles as a myth or fairy tale with incomparable imagination which has embraced some elements of Greek and Roman myth, Norse epics, medieval romances and the Biblical stories.However neither side succeeds in interpreting The Chronicles. Since his childhood, Lewis has been immersed himself in Western mythology which ingrains rich imagination in his heart. Accordingly, myth is adopted as the appreciative genre of The Chronicles by Lewis. After his conversion to Christianity in middle age, Lewis himself believed that pagan mythology could act as a mental preparation for Christianity. Therefore, it is evident that Christianity and paganism are mutually supportive in The Chronicles. Lewis'difference from other traditional Christian writers lies in his consummate combination of myth as genre and Christian thoughts as content. With this consideration, my tentative study proposes to unveil The Chronicles by both demonstrating the narrative pattern and structure of the text itself and exploring Christian thoughts in The Chronicles. First, by using mythological and archetypal approaches, especially biblical archetypes, the thesis intends to unfold the literary integration of the work. Secondly, influence studies in comparative literature are approached to justify how Christian theology and C.S. Lewis' theological thoughts have exerted penetrating influences on his creation of The Chronicles of Narnia. In the final analysis, in terms of text itself and thoughts in the work, The Chronicles of Narnia is well knitted to the Bible.