Childhood & Later Life

Okay, Mr. Lewis. Let’s explain to everyone how brilliant you were. You knew more than most, didn’t you??? C.S. Lewis, given name Clive Staples Lewis, from a young age aspired to be a great poet. Born November 29, 1898 this time period was known for excellent works of literature. From the age of three or four, Lewis found little boredom with life. His brother & himself entertained themselves by drawing pictures of ships. Where they lived in Belfast, Ireland- a ship yard was near & the boys sketched out the intricate details of the ships. Now, the age of 6 or 7, well learned in French & Latin, Lewis & his brother, Warren (Warnie) developed their own private world, to which Lewis’ (Jack), contribution was a medieval “country, peopled by talking creatures, called “Animal Land” (Gormley 3). By this age, Jack wrote a 3 act play entitled The King’s Ring (Gormley 4) which encompassed all the fantastical imaginations similar to the Boxen land.

Lewis’ vivid imagination also haunted “all my dreams were horrible-insects & size of small ponies which closed in upon me, etc.” (Gormley 5) A gifted storyteller, Lewis, Warnie & their cousin would hide inside a great oak wardrobe which their grandfather carved & Lewis would tell stories. (Life) What does this make you think of? Their mom & dad didn’t like fantasy; they didn’t like to “listen to horns of elfland” (Gormley 5) as Lewis put it.

Now on to the issue of Christianity & Lewis beliefs. At an early age, Lewis remembers attending church by force, while sitting exasperated & finding the sermons “uninspiring” (Life) Later in life after years of philosophical learning bout Greek and Latin literature, classical philosophy and English language and literature (Life), he begins to change his mind. A determined atheist, Lewis believed that “God did not exist, he was angry at God for not existing & angry with Him for creating a world” (Gormley 30). “A young man who wishes to remain a sound atheist cannot be too careful of his reading” (brainyquotes). His conversion was not instantaneous. “He thought it was a logical and rational idea, not emotional” (Life) “His influences came from books and few close friends” (brainyquotes). C.S. Lewis’ conversion to Christianity occurred while teaching at Oxford University. His love for books and myths were still evident in his life as they were from his childhood. Soon after his conversion, he obtained the overwhelming feeling to evangelize and not long after this idea, “he thought about combining religious enthusiasm with his imagination in his works of Christian fiction” (brainyquotes) His Christian faith became the most important thing in his life. “Christianity was a matter life & death- eternal life & eternal death; real hell & demons, a real heaven & angels. God was not some vague, distant Supreme Being, more like a magnificent lion, like Aslan in the Narnia book series- breathing right in your face.” (Gormley vii) “A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word, 'darkness' on the walls of his cell” (brainyquotes).





1. C.S. Lewis. 25 February 2010. www.brainyquotes.com

Gormley, Beatrice. C.S. Lewis: Christian and Storyteller. Michigan: Eerdmans Books for Young
Readers, 1998. Print.

2. Life and Writings of C.S. Lewis. 2010. The Teaching Company, LLC. 25 February 2010
http://www.teach12.com/ttcx/coursedesclong2.aspx?cid=297