Class on CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien

[dreamflower]

I've been working on an outline for a class on Christian themes in the works of JRRT and CSL. I will be teaching it at my church for 5 weeks starting in September, and it will mostly be to people who have only a passing acquaintance with their work--possibly never having read LotR or the Narnia books, but only having seen the movies. I am hoping that my little class may spark some interest in both writers by some of the people who attend it.

I have decided to emphasize their fictional work, using their non-fictional work only as a reference to illuminate their fiction. So far my outline is a bit top-heavy on the Tolkien part. I'd like to also include some ideas from some of Lewis' other fiction. But I am trying to think of how to fit these themes into Till We Have Faces and The Screwtape Letters. I am including some things from the Narnia books and the Space Trilogy and The Great Divorce

I have a number of books about both Tolkien and Lewis, as well as access to some from a good library, and will be preparing a bibliography. I'd welcome suggestions for resource books--if you suggest something I'm already considering that's not a problem, as it will indicate to me that I'm on the right track, but I'd love to find some other books as well, while I have time to track them down. (I do have biographies of both men, as well as access to an excellent book about their friendship with one another.) The class starts Sept. 10.

Each major heading indicates that week's topic.

Christian Themes in the Worlds of J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis

Introduction

I. J.R.R. Tolkien

A. Birth and Childhood

B. School

C. Marriage

D. War

E. Scholastic Career

F. Literary Career

II. C.S. Lewis

A. Birth and Childhood

B. School

C. War

D. Scholastic Career

E. Literary Career

F. Marriage

III. Their friendship

A. Meeting

B. CSL’s conversion

C. The Inklings

D. Influence on one another

E. Later years

1. Supposed estrangement

2. Last thoughts

Creation

I. The importance of creation and “sub-creation”

A. The Silmarillion

B. On Fairy Stories and Leaf by Niggle

C.

II. Song and music as a common denominator

A. Arda

B. Narnia

III. “Angelic” powers in Arda and in CSL’s “Space Trilogy”

A. Eru and the Valar

B. Aslan and the lamp-post

Love

I. Love in Tolkien’s worlds

A. Friendship and family

B. Romantic devotion

C. Fealty and allegiance

D. Love thy neighbor--Leaf by Niggle

II. Love in Lewis’ worlds

A. Brotherly (and sisterly) in Narnia

B. Courtly love as an allegory for heavenly love in Perelandra

C. Romantic devotion as an allegory for the Church as the Bride of Christ in That Hideous Strength

D. Allegiance and love and Aslan

Providence

I. The role of Providence in Tolkien's worlds

A. “Chance if chance you call it”

B. Beren and Luthí en

C. Bilbo

D. Frodo and Gollum

E. Eagles

II. The role of Providence in Lewis’ worlds

A. Narnia and the Wardrobe

B. Ransom and his travels

C.

Grace

I. Grace, Mercy and Pity in Lord of the Rings

II. Grace and Love in The Silmarillion

III. Grace and Charity in Leaf by Niggle

IV. Grace and Forgiveness in Narnia

V. Grace and the call to action in Perelandra

VI. Grace and free will in The Great Divorce