Sunday 13 March 2011

Supplemental Reading for Mar. 18

Dear Students,

Please follow this link for two supplemental readings (short articles) for next week: one entitled "Sometimes Fairy Stories May Say Best What's to Be Said," and the other, "Myth Became Fact."

These will help us come to understand why Lewis chose to write fictional works, and especially, I trust, the inspiration behind such a work as Till We Have Faces.

Warm regards,

Dr. Butcher

3 comments:

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  2. It looks like the chapter On Juvenile Tastes has some pages missing.

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  3. I greatly enjoyed reading 'Sometimes Fairy Stories May Say Best What's to Be Said'. I LOVE what Lewis said on page 47 on the third paragraph about fairy stories being able to convey Biblical truths at a much deeper level without the 'religious' format/vocabulary etc. I believe these fairy stories allow the reader (and writer) to go beyond the boundaries that 'religion' can often have, and get to the core of one's faith. I think it is also a great way for non believers to begin to understand what it means to KNOW God, because it illustrates it in a way where there is no room for false preconceptions about Christianity to get in the way. Our culture has been shown and taught a certain mindset of what Christianity is like; very often it's of a mean god up in the clouds who sends people to hell left and right, and of followers who stick their noses up at people who don't meet up to certain absurd standards. This is sad. But fictional/fairy writing very often doesn't allow for room for that sort of thing.

    For example, something that has shown me personally more about God's character is how Aslan is very much like God (that is he illustrates certain characteristics of Him). Aslan is strong, and in a way quite frightening but yet gracious when we do silly things. Sometimes he has roar at certain people/beasts to wake them back to their senses. Other times he will bring great rejoicing and dancing and feasting and celebrating; forgetting all the troubles of life and enjoying what he has made (including joy itself). Or when he is asked certain things that may seem silly (such as requesting for an honourable mouse tail ;) ), he will grant it because he cares for the little needs of his people (and beasts :P) as well as the great.

    Anyone can see this. Even those that may be completely turned off from religion and God. One is able to 'get to know' God's character even if they still have misconceptions about Christianity. I can see how these sorts of illustrations can be a launching pad to something more...

    So ya. Just some thoughts I had on this essay. (I hope I didn't get too much off track there.....)

    PS. Dominic: I believe the rest of the essay isn't there because we didn't actually have to read it.... (but part of it is there because the other side of the page had stuff that we were supposed to read...?)

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