Is the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe an Allegory? | Narnia Explained

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Throughout the years readers have discovered the connections just beneath the surface between symbols and message of truth in The Chronicles Of Narnia. Does Aslan really represent Jesus? Is the White Witch Jadis a representation of Satan? What about Lucy, Peter, Edmund and Susan Pevensie? And is there a meaning behind other characters such as Mr. Tumnus? Today we explore the symbolism and meanings behind C.S. Lewis' work and ask: Is Narnia an Allegory?

[KyleHowell]

Great video! Found this very helpful. Having read the series 3 times, I would totally agree. It’s often easy to try to find ways to fit it into a 1 to 1 comparison, but I’d agree it’s more symbolic. Especially after reading other works of Lewis’, such as The Great Divorce and Screwtape Letters. It’s not a good idea to read so far into everything because you’ll “discover” beliefs that Lewis would not have actually held to (ie works based salvation from Great Divorce).

Approaching it as a supposal story reminds me of the excerpt from CS Lewis’ “Letters to Children” where Lewis writes to a mother who is concerned that her son likes Aslan more than Jesus: “I think he will find that the things he loves most about Aslan are more true about someone else.”

Also a student of Boyce College :)

[johnsmoth]

"But there I have another name. You must learn to know me by that name. This was the very reason why you were brought to Narnia, that by knowing me here for a little, you may know me better there."

No representation or allegory required 🥰

[robbpowell]

I read my kids the Narnia Chronicles at bedtime for years. They would drop Aslan into their artwork and conversations, wherever they found themselves. And... They didn't understand why their Daddy was crying at the climactic scene in The Silver Chair. There are so many layers of depth to CSL...

[elf]

Wow! I did not realize that Narnia was a supposed story and not an allegory. For the longest time, I believe it was an allegory for the Four Gospels, the book of Acts and Revelation. I am glad that CS Lewis cleared that up about his work. In the words of Professor Kirke, "Logic! Why don't they teach logic at these schools?"🦁

[DuelKingYami]

Uncle Jack as I call the good professor said that he enjoyed so called children’s stories more as an adult than he did as a child. He said that as an adult, he could put more into them, and so as a result, he got more out of them. I discover this truth anew every time I read, watch or listen to Narnia. Thank you for this, my Narnian brother

[Numba]

C.S. Lewis is my favorite author, and part of the reason why is just how much he loved and appreciated stories for what they are. I've been reading a few fairy tales as an adult over the last couple of years, and I love them. Thank you very much for another beautiful episode.
God be with you out there everybody. ✝️ :)

[joshuavincent]

I love this video and it is so true. People are looking for meaning in everything and the reason behind every action. And when they do, they take the magic from the story. I was always taught that when you read you should view it as just you, the book and the author. It's the authors job to take you on a trip through their world, not your job to explore it on your own until you have finished the journey. And then when your finished you can make your theories.

[caleblepore]

Excellent video! I recently finished listening to the entire Narnia series on Audible. I read it before as a kid, but now, being both an adult and a believer in Christ, I appreciate the stories so much more. They do really help you to see biblical truths in ways that are clearer and more potent than just reading non-fiction books.

Thank you for your channel! You are doing a great thing here.

[jacquicoder]

I had studied this out for myself after reading the Narnia books because I didn't understand what the word allegory really meant. Once i understood the meaning, I could just enjoy the books and stop trying to make them fit an allegory. I think C.S. Lewis did a wonderful job of describing his "supposals" and I appreciate how you brought all of that out in this video. I love that children can read the books and come to have a better understanding of how Jesus Christ came to save us from our sins. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us.

[PhilSrobeighn]

I appreciate this video! There's a problem with arguments that start like this where the corrective logic is ignored, largely by PoMo deconstructionist professors who want to take basic true statements like "Narnia is not an allegory" and conflate it into "Narnia should be read as an animalistic, pagan fae-story because even the author said it isn't a Christian allegory." Thank you for showing the distinction.

[paulwagner]

"But I cordially dislike allegory in all its manifestations, and always have done so since I grew old and wary enough to detect its presence. I much prefer history, true or feigned, with its varied applicability to the thought and experience of readers. I think that many confuse ’applicability’ with ‘allegory’; but the one resides in the freedom of the reader, and the other in the purposed domination of the author"--JRR Tolkien, Lewis' best friend

[charlierice]

John Bunyan is an amazing read for anyone who has not read him.

[WhyDidntIInventYT]

Yes, in terms of literary criticism, it's important to distinguish between allegory versus connections, the latter of which is done very well by Narnia. There's a rather fascinating thesis I came across, which says that the Narniad is influenced by astrology, with each book corresponding to a planet! If you read into it, it really does fit together very well, and it makes sense since CS Lewis was a medievalist. There were other medieval influences too, like Irish folktales about sea voyages being a major inspiration for Dawn Treader. This may be worth delving into in a future video.

[ravenlord]

Excellent video! This makes me think about the book "Perelandra" from Lewis' Space Trilogy series. "Perelandra" is outright a supposal, as Ransom even ponders what would have happened on Earth if an elephant had stepped on the snake and killed it before it tempted Eve. The Narnia series enters into the same motif. While both series are indeed packed with Christian symbolism, each series crafts an independent story about how the creation of a pure new world might happen, and how life on it might proceed with intervention by outside forces at certain critical junctures. So simply slapping the allegory label on either series would be either lazy, or due to ignorance, or because of willful misrepresentation.

[jonathanbrewer]

CS Lewis to a child correspondent.
'The stone table is meant to remind one of Moses' table. Edmund is like Judas a sneak and traitor. But unlike Judas he repents and is forgiven ( as Judas no doubt would have been if he'd repented ). Jadis plucking the apple is, like Adam's sin, an act of disobedience, but it doesn't fill the same place in her life as his plucking did in his. She was already fallen ( very much so ) before she ate it.'

[cassandramartin]

The Dragon Keeper Chronicles by Donita K. Paul is another story series about another world that needs saving. Another great series that teaches the deeper meanings of the Bible in a fantastic story for all ages.

[rodrigobarba]

So basically, Narnia is like a "What if"? Comic/episode. I guess that would line up with the wood between the worlds as access point to a multiverse of sorts. Great video! 👍

[johnfeather]

C.S. Lewis himself described the main point of every single Narnia book in how they parallel scripture even though they’re not really allegorical: MN: Is about the creation of the world and how evil entered into it. LWW: Is about the death and resurrection of Christ. HHB: Is about the calling and conversion of a heathen. PC: Is about the restoration of the true religion after a corruption. VDT: Is about the spiritual life. SC: Is about the ongoing battle with the forces of darkness. LB: Is about the Anti-Christ, the final judgment, and the end of the world.

[autumnmaru]

I find it really hard to tell people narnia isn't just a Christian allegory. There's more history than just Christian references and it's very difficult when people want to just point out the beginning of narnia or the stone table or aslan or even the last battle. The thing I loved about narnia was its mythology too. There's fauns to dryiads to even marshwiggles. While marshwiggles don't exist in any cultures mythology it is so much more than its Christian references and jack combined these to make a beautiful world. I know Tolkien didn't like it but its what made narnia stand out better than any series. While yes I am a Christian and jack was a man of god he sure knew better about culture than most authors. Thank you for another amazing narnia video.

[rjvalentini]

"One day you'll be old enough to read fairytales again" a few years ago I started rereading narnia and other stories and i recently came across this quote and it really made me joyously smile.