Why Did Tolkien Dislike the Chronicles of Narnia? | Dr. Michael Ward

This is an excerpt from the Larry Arnn Show, in which Hillsdale College President Larry P. Arnn interviews C.S. Lewis scholar and theologian Michael Ward. In the full episode, the two discuss Ward's path to becoming a scholar and priest and his fascination with C.S. Lewis. Later, Ward dives into the contents of his books Planet Narnia: The Seven Heavens in the Imagination of C. S. Lewis and After Humanity: A Guide to C.S. Lewis’s The Abolition of Man. This interview was conducted on September 15th, 2023.

Hillsdale College is an independent institution of higher learning founded in 1844 by men and women “grateful to God for the inestimable blessings” resulting from civil and religious liberty and “believing that the diffusion of learning is essential to the perpetuity of these blessings.” It pursues the stated object of the founders: “to furnish all persons who wish, irrespective of nation, color, or sex, a literary, scientific, [and] theological education” outstanding among American colleges “and to combine with this such moral and social instruction as will best develop the minds and improve the hearts of its pupils.” As a nonsectarian Christian institution, Hillsdale College maintains “by precept and example” the immemorial teachings and practices of the Christian faith.

The College also considers itself a trustee of our Western philosophical and theological inheritance tracing to Athens and Jerusalem, a heritage finding its clearest expression in the American experiment of self-government under law.

By training the young in the liberal arts, Hillsdale College prepares students to become leaders worthy of that legacy. By encouraging the scholarship of its faculty, it contributes to the preservation of that legacy for future generations. By publicly defending that legacy, it enlists the aid of other friends of free civilization and thus secures the conditions of its own survival and independence.

[matthewsheek]

I read Lewis as a boy of 9 and Tolkien as a boy of 15. The Chronicles made it possible for me to read The Lord of the Rings. Now at 58 I have to confess that Lewis’s writing moves me more deeply

[meinking]

The difference is actually rather simple. Tolkein was producing Lore, a new mythology of sorts. Lewis just wanted to tell a fantastic story. Both succeeded.

[voltairedentotalenkrieg]

Once Tolkien was reading his work at an Inklings meeting and someone shouted out ""Not another ducking Elf!"

[davidemmet]

1. The Narnian Chronicles were designed primarily for a younger audience.
2. The Narnian Chronicles are full of excellent allegories about Christianity that are relevant to both children and adults.

[viewsandreviews]

I’ve been under the apprehension that Mr Tolkien wrote for a more adult audience in “Lord of the Rings” and Mr Lewis wrote for a more adolescent audience in “Chronicles of Narnia”. There in lies the difference in style and taste.

[crow_feather]

The fact that Lewis couldn't care less about what Tolkein's opinion of his work was will never cease to bemuse me, no no end!

[pelicanbird]

I shared Tolkien’s opinion about Narnia for the longest time- until I finally read it.

[geridannels]

Thanks for the short, short... Very interesting!

[debbieramsey-hanks]

Thank you, always an interesting and provocative. perspective

[therealinformalmusic]

Tolkien described the books to one correspondent as “deservedly popular” and had no problem recommending the Narnia books to his own grandchildren, and handing them copies thereof.
Holly Ordway, Tolkien’s Modern Reading: Middle-eath beyond the Middle Ages (Park Ridge, 2021), pp. 78 & 79

[kamilziemian]

I want to know more about Tolkien's evaluation of Lewis' novels.

[oliphauntsneverlie]

I've read the Chronicles of Narnia once. I've read the Hobbit and LOTR multiple times and am now 1/3 of the way through LOTR at this moment. No desire to read Narnia again at his time.

[demetriavassilaros]

I read the Chronicles of Narnia and I considered it classic of spiritual way of looking at it. And I’ve read his trilogy books two of the space trilogy set and he was very good of writings spiritual and it was excellent.

[darrensubler]

I read Narnia around 10 years old and reread in College- LOTR in high school and again in College. One is a private work of personal passion, the other a work intended for public consumption with an audience in mind. I much prefer LOTR if only because works of its purpose are so rare; almost impossible to find really.

[rosevillemtbdad]

It would have been great to have Dr. Birzer in on this conversation...

[bigiron]

Where can I buy new copies of original editions?

[TheMadMuttMcNally]

Please correct me if this is just a small clip of a larger conversation but how can you have this discussion without mentioning Tolkien’s dislike of blatant allegories in fiction.

[m_d]

I enjoy both. Different audiences and different writing styles. Tolkien had written a whole universe before he wrote Lord of the Rings. He ceated a new mythos. Lewis used things in seemingly simpler ways and much like we would expect these mythic creatures to be.

[trublgrl]

Tolkien and Lewis both wrote of worlds based on folklore and mythology of dubious origin. Elves, trolls, fauns, and dragons are all stitched into the European consciousness, and it's impossible to know where they really come from. Tolkien however, dismissed the intrinsic _whimsy_ in these things. The elves who made shoes for the cobbler, the witch who enticed children with a house of candy and cake, purely silly inventions to capture the attention of children, but there's a great value in that. Tolkien's work takes stories and fables for children and "de-childs" them, and that pleases grownup children who want to believe that fairy tales are very serious business. Lewis' fanciful trappings around Narnia are the spoonful of sugar that gets serious moral principles into the minds of young people, or any reader. As an example, the talking trees are not important, the consequences of betraying your family for Turkish Delight, are.

[Madonnalitta]

The Chronicles of Narnia are for a younger audience than The Lord of the Rings.
Tolkien may have had a point though, the Narnia books ARE a little all over the place. Different characters, and times in each story.