Christian themes in Narnia

 

Check out these resources to help you understand the Christian themes woven throughout The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, released in December 2005 by Walt Disney Pictures and Walden Media.

 

Ø      Aslan's Call: Finding Our Way to Narnia, by Mark Eddy Smith. InterVarsity Press, 2005. In this book, Smith shows you how – in this fanciful world – you can discover the truest reality.

Ø      Aslan Is On the Move!. Leader Resources (www.leaderresources.org). Including many active games, role plays, and discussion questions, this creative intergenerational curriculum provides five complete session plans (could be used for a weekend program, too). The CD-ROM contains a leader’s guide for long, short, and weekend versions of the curriculum, handouts, and congregational use license.

Ø      Beyond the Wardrobe: The Official Guide to Narnia, by E. J. Kirk. Zondervan, 2005. As the "official guide," this book contains information about The Chronicles of Narnia's characters, places, magic, themes, and author.

Ø      Companion to Narnia: A Complete Guide to the Magical World of C. S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia, Revised and Expanded Edition, by Paul F. Ford. Harper San Francisco, 2005. With details about the places, people, and things of Narnia, this book includes extensive cross-referencing, time lines, and maps.

Ø      C. S. Lewis and Narnia for Dummies, by Richard Wagner. Joosey-Bass, 2005. This guide provides an introduction to the master storyteller and Christian apologist, revealing the meanings behind The Chronicles of Narnia and The Screwtape Letters, as well as his other works.

Ø      C. S. Lewis: Images of His World, by Douglas Gilbert and Clyde S. Kilby. Eerdmans, 2005. This reissue of a treasured classic offers a window into the people and places that shaped the life of beloved author, scholar, and apologist C. S. Lewis.

Ø      C. S. Lewis: The Man Behind Narnia, by Beatrice Gormley. Eerdmans, 2005. Designed for ages 10 and up, this reformatted photo biography, with more than 50 photographs, tells the story of C. S. Lewis's life and work, from his boyhood in Belfast, Ireland, where he and his brother created their first imaginary world in an attic hideaway, to Lewis's adult years as a renowned scholar and beloved author.

Ø      A Family Guide to Narnia: Biblical Truths in C. S. Lewis' the Chronicles of Narnia, by Christin Ditchfield. Crossway Books, 2003. This chapter-by-chapter, book-by-book examination of the series helps readers discover the books' biblical and Christian roots.

Ø      A Field Guide to Narnia, by Colin Duriez. InterVarsity Press, 2004. A companion to the landscape and inhabitants of Narnia, this book includes an A-to-Z guide to characters, places, objects, and events.

Ø      Finding God in the Land of Narnia, by Kurt Bruner and Jim Ware. Tyndale, 2005. The authors explore the spiritual themes of redemption and grace found in the Chronicles of Narnia series by C. S. Lewis. Available in hardcover and audio CD.

Ø      Inside Narnia: A Guide to Exploring the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, by Devin Brown. Baker Books, 2005. Tracing through The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe chapter by chapter, Devin Brown explores fascinating symbols, hidden meanings, and easily missed details that swirl in and around Lewis's famous story.

Ø      Into the Region of Awe: Mysticism in C. S. Lewis, by David C. Dowing. InterVarsity Press, 2005. In this book David C. Downing explores the breadth of Lewis's writing, introducing us to Christian mysticism as Lewis knew it and to the contemplative writers who most influenced him.

Ø      Into the Wardrobe: C. S. Lewis and the Narnia Chronicles, by David C. Downing. Jossey-Bass, 2005. Downing invites readers to join his exploration of the Chronicles of Narnia, offering a detailed look at the stories and focusing on the extraordinary intellect and imagination of the man behind the Wardrobe.

Ø      Journey into Narnia, by Kathryn Lindskoog. Hope Publishing House, 1997. In part one, Lindskoog explores the Christian theology that underlies the series and how C. S. Lewis' concept of God and nature affected his writing. The second part looks at the seven books individually. Each of those chapters contains questions for children to think about, vocabulary, and factual quizzes.

Ø      LiFE Plus, Grades 3 and 4, Year 1, Portraits of Faith, Session Ten, "C.S. Lewis." CRC Publications, 1995. Part of a series of portraits, session ten focuses on the life of C.S. Lewis. The session plan includes a game, song suggestions, poster, short biographical story of C.S. Lewis, an Imagination Center activity, and suggestions for optional activities.

Ø      The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe Discovery Guide, by the staff at Bethel Lutheran Church, Madison, Wisconsin. This outstanding resource will help old and young alike better understand the Christian themes woven throughout one of C.S. Lewis' best known novels.  This guide is the perfect choice for kids between the ages of eight and 12 and their parents and other multigenerational programming, book clubs, and family home use. (Augsburg Fortress, 2005).

Ø      The Magic Never Ends: The Life and Work of C.S. Lewis, by John Ryan Duncan.

Ø      Since The Screwtape Letters catapulted C. S. Lewis into fame in the 1940s, he has been among the world's most widely read apologists for the Christian faith. The contributors to this book suggest that his popularity might be explained by the fact that he asked the hard questions about Christianity so directly and answered them with uncommon clarity and simplicity. Having known and scrutinized this remarkable man, the contributors to this volume help us to understand the growing interest in Lewis and his work. His stepson, Douglas Gresham, his posthumous editors, Walter Hooper, and Lewis scholars Lyle Dorsett, Colin Manlove, and Dabney Hart share their memories and insights into the Lewis legend. Published by Word in hardcover in 2001, this first paperback edition helps readers understand and further appreciate one of the most influential writers of the last 100 years. (Fortress, 2005).

Ø      Narnia: C. S. Lewis and His World, by David Barratt. Kregel Publications, 2005. This book details the timeless Narnia series, fantasy literature in general, C. S. Lewis's life, and much more.

Ø      The Narnian: The Life and Imagination of C. S. Lewis, by Alan Jacobs. Zondervan, 2005. Jacobs seeks an understanding of the way Lewis's experiences, both direct and literary, formed themselves into patterns--themes that then shaped his thought and writings, especially the stories of Narnia.

Ø      Passport to Narnia: A Newcomer's Guide, by George Beahm. Hampton Roads Publishing, 2005. With more than forty drawings and an introductory essay on C. S. Lewis by Neil Gaiman, this book guides youth ages 9-12 through the wonders of Narnia.

Ø      A Reader's Guide through the Wardrobe: Exploring C. S. Lewis' Classic Story, by Leland Ryken and Marjorie Lamp Mead. InterVarsity Press, 2005. This book helps you examine the story from Lewis's point of view, shedding light on his imagination and use of literary forms. Even further, the authors serve as your guides through this first Narnia adventure, providing an inside look at characters, setting, and framework.

Ø      Step into Narnia: A Journey through the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, by E. J. Kirk. Zondervan, 2005. Designed for younger children, this book is filled with fun facts about characters, places, and magic, and has interactive sections such as a bravery test and mix and match columns.

Ø      The Way into Narnia: A Reader's Guide, by Peter J. Schakel. Eerdmans, 2005. After walking readers through each of the books, Schakel (Hope College professor) concludes the tour with a unique section of annotations that clarify unfamiliar words and unusual passages.

 

Websites

 

Compiled by Jane Schuyler, Resource Specialist, Reformed Church in America, Grand Rapids, MI