| C.S.Lewis was a famous British novelist of children's literature in the 20 th century and The Chronicles of Narnia was one of his fantasy classics during the period.The work heavily exhibited both the theology and unique forms of fantasy literature as its characteristics.This thesis starts with the relations between the Bible and the set of the novel's themes as well as its characters.Then by closely examining the text,it analyzes the work's Christian themes with an aim to show that this fantasy was not only a combination of Theology and literature,but also Lewis' s artistic endeavor to revitalize Christianity.The first chapter mainly discusses the factors that had influenced Lewis,which lead to his adoption of a perspective of Christianity in his writing.These factors include,first of all,the individual factors(from an atheist to a theist,Lewis' s family,friends and wife contributed to his faith conversion);secondly,Lewis' belief(He believed that only with God's love could secular love become perfection;He also held that hardship is a problem as well as a mystery.);These factors have injected Christian themes into his work.The second chapter points out the corresponding relations between the novel characters and the biblical ones,such as Aslan corresponding to Jesus;Eustace to the prodigal son;Lucy to the child and Peter to Peter the disciple.Through the above approach,this chapter explores the Christian theology implied by the fantasy.For instance,pride leaves people no way to be close to God.By contrast,being humble enables humans to find the true nature of themselves.Besides,faith in God,rather than seeing God,makes people nearer to the divine existence;What is more,there is fight between Bios and Zoe;Etc.The third chapter and the second chapter are of a parallel structure,pointing out the work's themes are respectively related to the biblical themes of creation,redemption and eschatology,elaborating on the Christian thought contained in the novel that a.the will of freedom and human's moral choice make sins possible;b.Aslan's sufferings and resurrection grants people new birth.c.the judgment is to recreate the old world;d.outsiders long for a true home of souls – the heaven.Meanwhile,it points out that the novel represents the Bible's feature of a U-shape narrative mode.The thesis' s fourth chapter analyzes the features and the meanings of the novel's form.The 1st part is the analysis of fantasy literature and imagination literature,including both similarities and differences.In the second part,it is pointed out that the creative touch of this novel lies in the establishment of the passage linking "the primary world" and "the second world",which is based on the analysis and comparison between Lewis' "the second world" and other fantasy writers'.Finally,the thesis suggests that it is the metaphor of the truth about God against a modern context free from mythical thinking that makes the novelist adopt the genre of fantasy.The conclusion suggests that the novel conveys the author's wish to revive Christian culture.Although things has not turned out as he wished,Lewis' artistic efforts on the revival of western traditional culture did promote the innovation and development of fantasy literature. |
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