Paths in the Snow: A Literary Journey through The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

C.S. Lewis’ beloved Narnia novels present an entrancing world in which fantasy and faith blend together.  The Narnian landscape, in which fauns hold tea parties, children become monarchs and magic peril threatens, are infused with the images and symbols of Christianity.  They are also densely woven with literary allusions and references, from Dante to Beatrix Potter and from detective fiction to medieval romance.  In this talk, Jem Bloomfield will explore the ways Lewis wove literary and Biblical material into his novels.  He’ll show how these echoes of other texts can deepen our enjoyment and understanding of Narnia’s theological landscape.  He’ll tackle crucial questions, such as “why do the Pevensies keep shaking hands with everyone?”, “what does Dorothy L. Sayers have to do with the White Witch?” and “why do people have such a thing about Mr. Tumnus?”  Any visit to Narnia reveals a truth so universally acknowledged that it can be seen by the light of a lamp-post in a magical wood.

Chaired by Malcolm Guite

Speakers

Jem Bloomfield

Jem Bloomfield is an academic, writer and lay minister in the Church of England.  He writes about detective fiction, fantasy, Shakespeare and the Bible.  He is currently producing a series of literary studies of the Narnia novels; the first two volumes are called Paths in the Snow and Gold on the Horizon.