C.S. Lewis DeCal: November 2010

This blog is in conjunction with the C.S. Lewis DeCal. We will deconstruct the works of one of the most influential writers and thinkers of the 20^th century. The course objective is to discuss the following three questions:

1. What structures, images, themes, and plots does C.S. Lewis use? What purpose and effects are created?

2. How are the life and thoughts of C.S. Lewis reflected in these works? (to better answer this question, we will explore Lewis’ diary and literary criticism in addition to Surprised by Joy)

3. How do the books connect to each other; what overarching themes and messages do you draw from the works?
Students should come out of this course with well-formulated answers to the above questions, and an overall deeper appreciation and understanding of CS Lewis and his works.

Responses must be at least: 200 words.

Tips for responses:

1. Ask the above three questions during your reading.
2. Comment/discuss issues discussed by other classmates.

3. Pick and image or passage that stands out to you, and discuss. Keep in mind: passages from outside sources (books, diaries, journals, etc.) do not count as part of the word limit.

Monday, November 22, 2010

Shadowlands, the Movie: Part 1

CS Lewis, in response to Harry about Joy Gresham: "Not my wife. No, how could she be? I'd have to love her, wouldn't I? She'd have to be more important to me than anything in the World. I'd have to be suffering the torments of the damned. The thought of losing her..."

CS Lewis, in his sermons about pain: "Pain is God's megaphone to rouse a deaf world."

Write about these quotes, or other ones that particularly stood out to you. Reference and quote from the three other works that we've read this semester; what C.S. Lewis seems to be expressing about love, pain, and/or any other motif/idea that comes to mind.

Friday, November 12, 2010

The Great Divorce Chapters 11-the end

Monday, November 1, 2010

Presentation Proposals

Please list:
1. Members in group
2. Project proposal, to include format of project. Please be as specific as possible!

More information:

The project proposal should be a reflection of and response to various topics we have discussed in our three books. Presentations should be 5-10 minutes. The day of, you will need to turn in a hard copy of your presentation.

This will need to be at least 800 words. If you are doing a skit, for example, you will need to turn in a script of the skit. If you have written letters to supplement The Screwtape Letters, you will need to turn this in. You can also write an explanation/preface to your Screwtape Letters to count as part of the 800 words.