Writer. Contributing Editor at The Discarded Image. Digital Content Strategist. Here's where I publicly explore the books I'm reading, the projects I'm working on, and other current interests. Reading Narnia with Leland Ryken
On Thursday night I had the privilege of attending “Reading Narnia with C.S. Lewis†at Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia. (I went with my good friend Diana, who treated me to a fabulous three-course dinner at Devon Seafood Grill on Rittenhouse Square before the event.)
Dr. Leland Ryken, professor of English at Wheaton College, gave a short lecture and discussed his new book A Reader’s Guide Through the Wardrobe. By way of a brief report, here are the broad strokes of his comments:
· Instructions from Lewis’ critical writings on how not to read literature (for example, using it instead of receiving it; regarding it only for its allegorical value)
· Instructions from Lewis’ critical writings on how to read literature (read for escape; relish the world described in the story; view it as a window on reality; enjoy the aesthetic value; appreciate the religious or moral dimension)
· Differences between reading the Narnia books as a child (simple enjoyment) and reading them as an adult (sophisticated appreciation)
· The Bible as source and influence in The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe (particularly in the last 5 chapters, but Ryken warns not to force it where it doesn’t exist)
A highlight of the evening was a dramatic reading of “The Triumph of the Witch†from LWW, performed by Bryan Glass, author and director of mereBreath Drama Ministry, and two young assistants playing the parts of Susan and Lucy. Lighting, music, and Glass’s character voices made for an engaging interpretation.
Ryken and Glass closed the evening with a Q&A session. They discussed their favorite Lewis books, explained how the upcoming movie is not an “evangelistic tool†but is a good conversation starter, and contrasted the magic in Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien with the magic in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books.
(Ryken admitted that he has not read the Harry Potter books and in no way considers himself an expert on their aesthetic or moral value. But in response to audience questions, he noted that magic plays a more predominant role in Harry Potter than in the Lewis and Tolkien books, is primarily based on historical occult practices, and occurs in the context of present-day Britain rather than the make-believe contexts of Narnia and Middle Earth. These significant differences lead him to view the Harry Potter books as inferior to the others, but not morally dangerous if read “innocently.â€)
Every few years I read the Narnia books again. In anticipation of the movie, I re-read LWW (aloud to Brandon) a few months ago. After Thursday’s dramatic reading and lecture, I’m looking forward to the film interpretation even more. We even might break from our student budget-induced moratorium and see it in the theatre opening weekend!
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