C.S. Lewis — A Belfast Boy Who Wrote Narnia

C.S. Lewis — the essential facts

1. 1 Clive Staples Lewis (1898–1963) Born in Belfast. Novelist, poet, literary critic, and Christian apologist. Best known for The Chronicles of Narnia (7 books, 1950–1956) and Mere Christianity. Spent most of his adult life in Oxford.
2. 2 Belfast childhood Lewis was born at Dundela Villas, east Belfast. His mother died when he was nine — a loss that shaped his writing. He and his brother Warren ('Warnie') were devoted companions. The family moved to 'Little Lea' (Strandtown) in 1905.
3. 3 County Down and Narnia Lewis described the hills of County Down, visible from his childhood home, as the single most significant landscape of his imagination. The rounded, gentle hills with the sea beyond directly inspired the hills of Narnia. e.g. 'I have seen landscapes... which, under a particular light, made me feel that at any moment a giant might raise his head over the next ridge.' — C.S. Lewis
4. 4 The Chronicles of Narnia Seven fantasy novels set in a parallel world (Narnia) accessed through a magic wardrobe. Christian allegory runs throughout — Aslan represents Christ. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (1950) is most read.
5. 5 The CS Lewis Square East Belfast has a permanent public art installation — the CS Lewis Square — with bronze statues of Narnia characters at the site of the factory where Lewis's grandfather worked.
6. 6 The wardrobe The actual wardrobe that inspired Lewis is now at Wheaton College, Illinois. A reproduction is on display at the CS Lewis exhibition at the Ulster Museum, Belfast.

• ▶ GEOGRAPHY: find County Down on a map. Look at photographs of the Mourne Mountains — the hills Lewis described as inspiring Narnia.
• ▶ LITERACY: Lewis is famous for his imagery. Collect five descriptions from Chapter 1. What senses do they appeal to?
• ▶ THE ALLEGORY: for older pupils (P6-P7) — what might Aslan represent? What about the Stone Table? Lewis was open about the Christian allegory. Discuss respectfully.
• ▶ CS LEWIS TRAIL: Belfast has a C.S. Lewis trail — Campbell College (where he was briefly educated), the C.S. Lewis Square in east Belfast, Dundela Villas.
• ▶ COMPARING WORLDS: make a Venn diagram comparing Narnia and Northern Ireland. What is similar? What is different?
• ▶ WRITING: describe your own secret world. What is it called? What is the rule that governs it? Who lives there?