C.S. LewisC.S. LewisBeloved Fantasy WriterBeloved Fantasy Writer

BiographyBiography

1898-19631898-1963

Clive Staples Lewis was Clive Staples Lewis was his given name, but his given name, but went by Jackwent by Jack

Son of a lawyerSon of a lawyer

Grew up privileged, in a Grew up privileged, in a mansion-like housemansion-like house

Loved his home library Loved his home library and his favorite books, and his favorite books, Treasure Island and The Treasure Island and The Secret GardenSecret Garden

Not so Happy EndingNot so Happy Ending

Mother died of cancer Mother died of cancer when he was 10when he was 10

Immediately sent to Immediately sent to boarding school in boarding school in another countryanother country

Hated the school, Hated the school, because of its strict because of its strict rules, but luckily left rules, but luckily left after two years, after two years, because the school because the school closedclosed

Continued to study in Continued to study in England, and eventually England, and eventually fell in love with poetry, fell in love with poetry, and mastered French, and mastered French, German, and ItalianGerman, and Italian

College or Military…Or College or Military…Or Both!Both!

Accepted at Oxford University (the oldest Accepted at Oxford University (the oldest university)university)

Dropped out to pursue a military career (WW I)Dropped out to pursue a military career (WW I)

Stayed in France for two years, and returned to Stayed in France for two years, and returned to OxfordOxford

Graduated with a degree in: Greek and Latin Graduated with a degree in: Greek and Latin Literature, Philosophy and Ancient History, Literature, Philosophy and Ancient History, English LiteratureEnglish Literature

Stayed at Oxford for 29 years as a teacherStayed at Oxford for 29 years as a teacher

Love at LastLove at Last

Remained single until the age of 58Remained single until the age of 58

Became friends with a married woman, Joy Gresham, Became friends with a married woman, Joy Gresham, who was unhappily marriedwho was unhappily married

Gresham left husband, and moved to England to be Gresham left husband, and moved to England to be closer to Lewis, even though they were only friendscloser to Lewis, even though they were only friends

Married in 1956, because her green card was soon Married in 1956, because her green card was soon to expire – they agreed to only be technically to expire – they agreed to only be technically married, and remain friendsmarried, and remain friends

Gresham was diagnosed with cancer soon after the Gresham was diagnosed with cancer soon after the “marriage”, and Lewis realized that he was in love “marriage”, and Lewis realized that he was in love with herwith her

The married again in 1957 for the right reasons this The married again in 1957 for the right reasons this time, went on a honeymoon, and Gresham died two time, went on a honeymoon, and Gresham died two years lateryears later

DeathDeath

Died on November Died on November 22, 1963, same day 22, 1963, same day that JFK was that JFK was assassinatedassassinated

Because of the Because of the publicity of the publicity of the assassination, the assassination, the world did not know world did not know that he passed awaythat he passed away

Died of renal failureDied of renal failure

““Jack Lewis wuz Here”Jack Lewis wuz Here”

Boy did he love to Boy did he love to write!write!

First book – Pilgrim's First book – Pilgrim's Regress – journey of faithRegress – journey of faith

The Allegory of Love – The Allegory of Love – history of love in history of love in literatureliterature

Out of Silent Plant – Out of Silent Plant – science-fiction trilogy science-fiction trilogy based off his BFF, Tolkienbased off his BFF, Tolkien

Participated actively in Participated actively in The Inklings for 16 years!The Inklings for 16 years!

Chronicles of NarniaChronicles of Narnia

The Magician’s Nephew (Read 1The Magician’s Nephew (Read 1stst, written 6, written 6thth))

The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe (Read 2The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe (Read 2ndnd / / written 1written 1stst))

The Horse and His Boy (Read 3The Horse and His Boy (Read 3rdrd / written 5 / written 5thth))

Prince Caspian: The Return to Narnia (Read 4Prince Caspian: The Return to Narnia (Read 4thth / / written 2written 2ndnd))

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (Read 5The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (Read 5thth / written 3 / written 3rdrd))

The Silver Chair (Read 6The Silver Chair (Read 6thth / written 4 / written 4thth))

The Last Battle: A Story for Children (Read 7The Last Battle: A Story for Children (Read 7thth / written / written 77thth))

The Lion, The Witch, And The Lion, The Witch, And The WardrobeThe Wardrobe

TLTWTW is dedicated to “Lucy”, a friend’s TLTWTW is dedicated to “Lucy”, a friend’s daughter whom he was close to, even though daughter whom he was close to, even though the character is not based off herthe character is not based off her

TLTWTW is a story about an alternate reality TLTWTW is a story about an alternate reality that four children find and actively participatethat four children find and actively participate

The Prophecy is activated by the four children, The Prophecy is activated by the four children, which is where the story gets interesting which is where the story gets interesting

TLTWTW is an allegory, meaning that there is TLTWTW is an allegory, meaning that there is spiritual symbolism within the textspiritual symbolism within the text Aslan symbolizes GodAslan symbolizes God Edmund symbolizes all sinnersEdmund symbolizes all sinners The White Witch symbolizes Evil / DevilThe White Witch symbolizes Evil / Devil