Chronicles of Narnia?

Discussion in 'Homeschooling' started by the sneaky mama, Feb 8, 2008.

  1. staying6

    staying6 New Member

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    I am a Narnia lover! There is a big difference to me between Christian Fantasy and other fantasy.

    I will be reading the books to my kids before they see the movies... they are 7 and 5 and we haven't done that yet, but I am planning on starting this summer.

    And I have a question, I have become a Tolkien junkie and some of you commented on what the LOTR series was "really" about, I really thought that Tolkien hated allegory. I thought that he really had written the books as just purely another world? To create a mythology for the UK? That is what it said in his Biography by Carpenter. Is that not correct? Are there people that feel they have found allegory? I thought that is why he didn't like Jack's (CS Lewis) work, cause of the allegory.

    I could be wrong, there is no biography that didn't get some things mixed up, I just thought I remembered him saying something like, "I hate anything that smacks of allegory." BUT that could have been a mis-quote...
     
  2. Actressdancer

    Actressdancer New Member

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    I have always read and been taught that Tolkien wanted nothing to do with allegory. His writing was designed to be pure fiction. Just because he was a Christian does not mean he was writing Christian fiction. I am a Christian writer, yet I do not write Christian fiction. If someone where to insinuate that one of my stories was somehow an allegory simply because it contained fantasy, good and evil, and I am a Christian, I would probably be offended.
     
  3. the sneaky mama

    the sneaky mama New Member

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    We are huge Tolkein junkies here. . . I didn't read anyone say that Tolkein had written allegory but what you say is correct. He hated allegory. Tolkein did not intentially write LOTR as allegory. . .and in fact. . .LOTR (& the Hobbit) are only the most famous of that particular world. He essentially created an entire world, with an entire history. . .Read: "History of the Middle Earth,", the Scimarillion. . .and there are a few others.

    I could see how someone could say it's a classic battle of good an evil. . .that the works are highly symbolic. . .and that could very well be true. But to the author. . .it was just a fantastical world.

    He did heavily criticize C. S. Lewis.
     
  4. staying6

    staying6 New Member

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    Well, that is what I thought, but I wanted to make sure. I also write, and I am a Christian... and I would feel the same way.

    From what I remember he did get rather offended by people assuming allegories in his writing. It has been a bit since I read the Biography, so I just wanted to ask!

    Thanks!
     
  5. Ava Rose

    Ava Rose New Member

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    From what I know, Tolkien did not purposely create LOTR to be an allegory. I think his beliefs simply colored how he wrote and saw his fantasy world. I also think you can find meaning in a lot of things but that doesn't mean the author intended it. As Shakespeare once said something about there only being about 12 original themes anyway. lol.

    For that matter many have said that Star Wars can be used to reflect Christian themes. From my understanding that was not George Lucas's intent. I remember him saying something about it portraying good and evil but not from a Christian sense.
     
  6. the sneaky mama

    the sneaky mama New Member

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    LOL My dh tried to tell me that Space Odyssey 2001 was a metaphor for Christianity. . .to get me to watch it.
     
  7. staying6

    staying6 New Member

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    Ugh... I can't remember who here alluded to the fact that Tolkien's work was about something else! Oy... I don't want to go back and read all 7 pages again. I may have misread as well... it wouldn't be the first time that communication on a BB has gone astray.

    I have read his other writings as well. I really enjoy them, though the Silmarillion was pretty heavy wading compared to the others. Very dense.
     
  8. Actressdancer

    Actressdancer New Member

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    There are actually only 4 possible plots available to any writer:
    1. Man versus man.
    2. Man versus nature.
    3. Man versus self.
    4. Man versus man’s work.

    Think about it... every single drama, comedy (which still must include conflict to be interesting), mystery, sci-fi, etc.... They all boil down to these 4 plots.
     
  9. Actressdancer

    Actressdancer New Member

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    The Silmarillion wasn't intended to be a 'book' persay. It's just a collection of his notes. And vital reading to any true LOTR lover.

    FYI, Tolkien actually created a full language for the Elves. I mean, he wrote a whole language from scratch!!! He could easily have just written some gibberish that we could have taken as language (after all, what would we know), but he wrote a language. The only other time I know of a creative entity writing a language from scratch was when the team behind Star Trek created Klingon. And that took a whole team of people!

    I guess my point is that the man was a genius.
     
  10. Ava Rose

    Ava Rose New Member

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    As I posted, I knew you would have the answer! Thanks, Amie! Well put and of course true. So, with only four plots we can basically make anything into anything. Which is why I think my pastor and I disagree on what is approiate to for kids to see...LOL. I think he pretty much uses anything.
     
  11. P.H.

    P.H. Active Member

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    What types of things were being quoted on the other forum that surprised you? I've heard and seen some things, too, and am wondering if they might be similar. Here are two of them:

    one

    two

    The second source says that in his autobiography, he talks about his "passion" for the occult. Though I haven't read the autobiography, it would seem to be a credible source.
     
  12. Ava Rose

    Ava Rose New Member

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    Wow Prairie, I wish I had more time to read those articles you posted in full. I will come back and do so. I am very interested to read them. Thanks so much for sharing them. I try to be very picky about what my kids are exposed to...sometimes I fail but I do try. I always thought LOTR was a bit freaky and not so much on the christian side but I never thought it was supposed to be. My kids have not seen those movies. I know some don't believe Dungeons and Dragons has any evil impact but game was spawned by the LOTR , to my understanding. I know Tolekin (sp?) didn't make the game himself. Anyway....point is...I don't know everything so I like to hear all sides. I have never heard anything negative about Narnia, so I am interested in what others have to say. I thought it was only those opposed to fantasy as a whole who didn't like Narnia...basically I thought it was a one dimensional argument.

    Ok...in a hurry and talking in circles again. Point being...I love to learn more and learn from other perspectives. I know that Prairie is an awesome woman of God, so if she feels the need to point something out I take notice. Can't say I will always agree but since I normally do..lol...I will be giving that article a read and careful consideration.
     
  13. Ava Rose

    Ava Rose New Member

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    Oh and for D&D fans...I am not saying the game is satanic. I really know nothing of the game but bits and pieces. I really cannot judge it and I was not trying to just bringing it up in case someone else can clarifiy. I am sure, Amie, can help out there she seems to have quite a bit of knowlege about things like this.
     
  14. Actressdancer

    Actressdancer New Member

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    I am one of those people who do not believe DnD is Satanic. That right there probably just shot any credibility I might have as a Christian...lol.

    I wouldn't let my children play until they are much older, but I doubt that will happen. And here's why: DH and I have both played for years. We play a variety of fantasy games. That means that our children will probably not be too interested...lol. Seriously, though, we choose our gaming groups VERY carefully. Mostly we game with other Christians.

    I have quit groups before because they got a little too weird for me. Not the material of the game, mind you, just the people. Or they'd start throwing in sub-plots that had my character (the only female character) sleeping with the world because of a potion. No thanks.

    There is a great appeal for me in DnD since it requires extensive skills in some of my favorite subject matter: math (first and foremost. if you can't do math well, don't even bother), creative thought ("wait! I think I could jump that wall and avoid the locked door altogether. Let me roll a tumble check"), and improv.

    I could go in detail about why I feel DnD is not a spiritual stumbling block, but the truth is, my reasons only apply to me and my family. Other people or families may be led in other ways by the Lord. They are obligated to obey. And if the Lord ever leads me that way, I will obey.

    And just an FYI, DH and I would never have met were it not for me playing DnD. He was the manager of the gaming store where I played.
     
  15. Ava Rose

    Ava Rose New Member

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    My dh played D&D for years in college. He sees nothing wrong with it. He liked the same things about it you liked. He also laughs because so many will speak against while playing Oblivian, Moorwind, and even the Star Wars role playing games on Xbox...oh and WOW online. He says they are the same except D&D requires more thought and brain power. lol.

    I have no opinion on D&D really. I have never played. I have only known a few who have. None were satanists or weird. LOL. I have heard about some weirdos..lol...but their are weirdos in everything, right?

    Oh and Amie, you didn't ruin your credibility as a Christain saying D&D was not satanic IMO. My dh is a very strong Christian and although he does not play now, he still has the same opinions of the game. I guess different people have different stumbling blocks, ya know?
     
  16. jnicholl

    jnicholl New Member

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    The undertones I mean are about the Disney movies. Alot of people have said that there are undertones in some of the movies. I would like to know which ones. Of course I know Harry Potter is about him being a sorcerer.
     
  17. jnicholl

    jnicholl New Member

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    Do you teach your kids about Santa Claus?
     
  18. the sneaky mama

    the sneaky mama New Member

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    To answer the latter question first. . .no I do not teach my children about Santa Claus, I'm mean other than that some people celebrate Christmas that way. . .we don't do the Easter bunny, nor do we do Easter egg hunts. (Not that you asked about those but hey. . .I figured I'd throw them in for free! ;-)) Neither do we celebrate Halloween at all--we will not even go to a church event.


    We actually are not opposed to Disney. . .but are pretty careful about what we'll let our kids see. Just because they are cartoons, we don't think they are appropriate for our children.


    The Hunchback I think is most notable. . .the scene where the villian is in front of the fire is full of imagery. . . And it's not that I think it's all full of demonic imagery. . .it's that I think the subtle yet present spiritual message is dangerous for my children to digest--as they are quite young. I want to feed them accurate information about God all the time as opposed to presenting them appealing information that isn't consistent with our beliefs. I hope I'm making sense.
     
  19. TeacherMom

    TeacherMom New Member

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    okay, Uh, I am watching this thread go on an on, I am a member of the CS LEWIS society ( grin ) and he was an amazing if not eclictic sort. He has many very good books out there, I think that the non Christian would not see the paralell because as a non, I did not. Now that I am a Christian I can see Christ in everything just about! Because I am now a seeker, seeking after Him!
    so, as it has been taught to me, it all is a matter of how you look at it, and if you have the mind of Christ or not?
     
  20. the sneaky mama

    the sneaky mama New Member

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    Prarie Home. . .I'm sorry. I wish I could find the links. I went back to the site, googled subjects and I just can't pull them. The particular site I kind of had to double take was a book review site and just about everything was awful and evil according to the site. Thanks for sharing your links and I hope to have time someday to read them. LOL-and if that 'someday' would come soon--I'd be even happier. ;-)
     

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