Novelist

Essayist

Nonfiction

Short Story

Poet

Children’s writer

Critic

Biography• Clive Staples Lewis born in Belfast, Ireland to Mr. Albert

Lewis• Served in France during World War I• Attended Oxford University, then stayed on as a Fellow at

Magdalen College from 1925 to 1954• In 1954 Lewis became a professor of medieval and

Renaissance English at Cambridge• In 1956 Lewis married American poet Joy Davidmon, who, 4

years later, died of cancer.

His Works• Lewis was an advocate for Christianity, explaining and defending

the religion in such studies as Mere Christianity (1952). • Out of the Silent Planet (1938), Perelandra (1944), and That

Hideous Strength (1946) in the Space Trilogy- where Dr. Ransom is kidnapped and transported to the distant planet Malacandra

• The Screwtape Letters (1940)-

Lewis wrote Non-Fiction, Fiction, and Poetry Literature style falls into category of Poetry, Myth, and Science Fiction Being an atheist, and converting to Christianity was reflected in two of his works: The Space Trilogy, and Chronicles of Narnia Lewis stressed author’s intent as a theory of criticism rather than the reader’s prejudices and personal views. Lewis desired to reach a wide audience in his works, young and old, even if it came at a price of negativity toward new works.

Trilogy based on “Scientism” - the methods, mental attitude, doctrines, or modes of expression characteristic or held to be characteristic of scientists Lewis's use of language has also been praised in this series. Kath Filmer was impressed by Lewis's use of figurative, symbolic and metaphorical language: "Lewis's images and metaphors depict the immanence of God, the reality of human corruption, and the cosmic battle between good and evil" (219) Lewis used science as a cohesive element in the third installment of the saga and "that places the novel in the tradition of hard science fiction"(Lowenberg 235) Lewis's writings have been quite incorrectly viewed by some as anti-science. Faye Ann Crowell clearly recognized the truth of the matter in stating: that it was not science which Lewis was attacking, but certain ideas held by people usually not scientists."

The main character of the science fiction trilogy, the hero Elwin Ransom, is a theist who embraces the values of pity, kindness, honesty, and respect for individuals.  In ironic contrast, the villain Professor Weston in the first two novels is a brilliant physicist who believes there are no absolute truths. An important subject in these novels based on the main character is Philology Commonly defined as the study of literature that includes or may include grammar, criticism, literary history, language history, systems of writing, and anything else that is relevant to literature. Thomas Lessl believed philology is much more influenced by science than is literature. Lewis included the study of Philology in his this Trilogy by making the main character a professor in the subject.

The most famous and positively received series of seven novels by Lewis Target audience is children and young adults Series wrote in a style that is like and unlike allegory Allegory is a figurative mode of representation conveying a meaning other than the literal. (Normally Fiction) The greatest mark of criticism for the series is a new volume of essays by twenty-five critics, Revisiting Narnia: Fantasy, Myth and Religion in C. S. Lewis’ Chronicles (BenBella Books, 2005) These writers, including authors of fantasy fiction, scholars from different disciplines, ministers and priests, a “liberal feminist agnostic,” and an animal rights’ advocate, disagree widely and blessedly

Based on Christianity and Fantasy, presents visions of a glorified or beneficent "Nature.“ Good and Evil are apparent in the novelsLewis wanted to draw people to Christ by creating a world in which the gratification of natural desires leads to a desire for the "Ultimate Good.“ Most criticism on the series comes from Atheists, such as Philip Pullman Alan Jacobs sums up this prejudice of the novels with "Those who dislike Christianity itself can be far more harsh“ Lewis wanted to express his own beliefs of Christianity in the novels after converting from Atheism himselfThe Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe the first in this series was into a full lenghth movie by Disney pictures and Walden Media.

“A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word, 'darkness' on the walls of his cell.”

“A young man who wishes to remain a sound atheist cannot be too careful of his reading.”

“Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you get neither.”

“Education without values, as useful as it is, seems rather to make man a more clever devil.”

“I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.”