Course Name
The Writings of C.S. Lewis
Description
The impact of prominent Inklings author C.S. Lewis continues to grow, garnering both applause and, in other quarters, heavy criticism. Lewis is lauded as an intellectual giant, a Christian apologist without equal, and a gifted myth-maker, but also identified as misogynistic, racist, sado-masochistic, and enjoying violence. This course focuses on the literary achievement of C.S. Lewis, analyzing representative texts of his literary criticism, poetry, essays, novels, fictional narratives, and devotional writing, in order to examine his mythopoeic vision and its contribution to Christianity and culture. Through close reading of the texts, and considering these in relation to various forms of theoretical inquiry - historical, sociological, psychological, gender discourse, ecological, ethical and spiritual or theological - students will engage in the critical task of assessing the ongoing impact of the writings of C.S. Lewis.