C.S. Lewis - Scholarly Works Part I

C.S. Lewis – Scholarly Works Part I
By Duncan Rize

C. S. Lewis was born Clive Staples Lewis in Belfast, Ireland to Albert James Lewis and Flora Agusta Hamilton Lewis. As a boy he took a liking to the name “Jack” and it stuck with him throughout his life, being called Jack by his close friends and family. He was born a Catholic, became a theist and later back to Christianity.

His childhood was filled with times spent with his older brother “Warnie”, creating worlds that were ruled by animals, with a fascination for reading books and writing stories, poetry and opera heavily influenced by Norse mythology.

He received a scholarship to Oxford University but discontinued his education to enlist in the British army where he was injured, recovered, re-enlisted and was later discharged. It was after this that Jack wrote his first published work “Death in Battle”.

C. S. Lewis’s works are as important and as inspiring today as it was fifty years ago, and his works are still widely circulated around the world.

From his academic papers, journals and periodicals to his vast works of fiction and powerful writings on Christianity, there is timelessness in Lewis’ worlds and a sense of greatness in his imagination that makes us forget that our world exists and his are real.

Academic Works

The Allegory of Love: A Study in Medieval Tradition
One of C. S. Lewis’ first books, which defined him as an academic writer. This book deals with the portrayal of allegorical love poetry in Western Europe and medieval history.

The Discarded Image: An Introduction to Medieval and Renaissance Literature
This work is an account on how the cosmos was viewed, as was the norm during the medieval period, and its effects on literature and our own imagination. It tackles the concept of theology, life, space and their relationship with how things are viewed.

An Experiment in Criticism
In this work C. S. Lewis dives into the reasons why we read and more importantly why we are drawn to reading. It argues whether we read because it is good literature or is it good literature because we read it. It also goes into the moral aspect of choosing reading material and how it affects us.

Studies in Words
As the title describes it is quite literally studies how words are first used and then chronicles how its very meaning is changed throughout time until its meaning becomes something else entirely.

A Preface to Paradise Lost
A masterpiece on a masterpiece. C. S. Lewis interprets the inner workings of Milton’s epic classic Paradise Lost. This study established Lewis’ mastery on being a scholar of medieval and renaissance literature and also strengthens his status as a Christian writer. It is a balance of criticism, explanation and the sheer joy of working on a classic piece of literature.

Of Other Worlds: Essays and Stories
An important piece of literature Of Other Worlds is a compilation of some C. S. Lewis’ essays, stories and studies. Thrown into the mix are “It All Began As A Picture”, “On Stories”, “Sometimes Fairy Stories May Say Best What’s To Be Said”, and the essay “On Science Fiction” which is an important read to anyone who plans on studying literature.

Duncan Rize loves the writings of C.S. Lewis and works with the marketing group at www.LearningByGrace.org. Learning by Grace manages of a number of internationally known online K-12 academies including www.TheGraceAcademy.org, www.TheJubileeAcademy.org, www.TheMorningStarAcademy.org and www.TheNarniaAcademy.org . This article is © 2005 ELRN, Inc. and may be quoted in whole or part as long as the author (Duncan Rize) and source (www.TheNarniaAcademy.org) are credited.

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