Voyage of a Narnia Fan #20 Planet Narnia

I got a chance to speak to Dr. Michael Ward, the author of Planet Narnia. I spent a good deal of time with him and also heard him lecture. I've begun his book and felt it was time to do a blog about him. I'll say more when I've finished and give my final vote

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• chronicles
• lewis
• michael
• ward
• planet
• narnia
• literary
• criticism

[GPuddle]

I'm only making the point that Narnia is built on a child's logic. To think there is a need for a reason to explain certain parts is to miss the point.

[Egladhon]

@GPuddle I disagree. They wanted an explanation that they could reason from their understanding. There was a true order and understanding here, but it was not from a humanistic perspective.

Ward emphasizes this, but even his theory is wrong, I think Lewis tried to show how the world may seem incoherent and chaotic, but there is a true underlying order and narrative to it. There is real meaning behind these things.

[Egladhon]

@GPuddle Not saying you're doing this, but let's say someone rejects the study of deep theology, philosophy, order, thinking and supreme depth on the subject of Christianity out of a desire for "Well, the Gospel is so simple, and it's all about Jesus." That person does not have a child-like faith, just a childish faith.

If a child sees the world as incoherent and immediately accepts whatever incongruities appear, that is not a virtue. They must grow up in that area.

[GPuddle]

3...

Narnia is not random at all. What ties it all together? The imagination and openness of a child.

[GPuddle]

2...

So my initial reaction to Ward needing an concrete explanation to explain everything is that it sounds a lot like how the others, especially Susan, reacted when Lucy told them about the wardrobe. Lucy has the faith of a child.

Why would Father Christmas be there? Well, why wouldn't he be? Christmas returns, and with it Father Christmas. For an adult mind, that's not enough. For a child's mind, that makes perfect sense.

[GPuddle]

1...

I have not read it either. He could be right. But here are my thoughts on this video...

The logic behind Narnia is built on a child's imagination. Openness and willingness to accept things that adults can't, and must endlessly question. When Lucy finds Narnia, she sees it and immediately accepts it. The others struggle. They need a concrete explanation. This quality is seen in Lucy later in the series.

[PassingTheLampPost]

I love thinking about these stuff. For the ordinary reader the books are just bed time stories, but there is so much more to explore. I've always been skeptical about this theory, but now I hear you talk about it, I'm really interested. I'm just hoping for a dutch translation, else I'll read it in English anyway.

I've been thinking about really studying the books and the life of CS Lewis, because I've read the books a like 8 or 9 times, yet I've never really studied them. Would be interesting.

[sugarmapletree]

I enjoyed hearing your thoughts. One of the things I've always appreciated about Lewis's writings is his deep recognition of the Cosmos. I'm intrigued by this book now...