The World According to Narnia: Christian Meaning in C. S. Lewis's Beloved Chronicles

by Jonathan Rogers

A lively and engaging exploration of the many Christian themes in C.S. Lewis's widely-known and universally loved children's stories.

Genres: Nonfiction, Christian, Books About Books, Christianity, Religion, Faith, Christian Living

208 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Jonathan Rogers grew up in Georgia, where he spent many happy hours in the swamps and riverbottoms on which the wild places of The Wilderking are based. He received his undergraduate degree from Furman University in South Carolina and holds a Ph.D. in seventeenth-century English literature from Vanderbilt University. The Bark of the Bog Owl has already found a receptive audience among Jonathan’s own six children. The Rogers clan lives in Nashville, Tennessee, where Jonathan makes a living as a freelance writer. The Bark of the Bog Owl is his first novel.

Reviews

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

In some ways this treatment of the Narnia books contains no surprises. Thoughtful multi-readers of the Chronicals will have picked up on some of these themes already and may wonder if it's worth a read.

It is.

For two reasons. First, Rogers deftly assumes his readers thorough intimacy with the Narnia stories. He gives enough information to keep his reader moving through each book smoothly, but without bogging the reader down with too much reprising of the narrative. Kudos. That's a tough editing line to find.

Secondly, he clearly delves into some deep Christian truths without becoming verbose or overwhelming. There's no oversimplification, just clean delivery, frequently punctuated by Lewis' own pithy commentary from his essays.

The introduction was worth picking this book up. Rogers outlines why fantasy is the proper medium for deep Christian truths and how Lewis used this to exemplify important points of faith. The chapter on A Horse And His Boy is a strong essay about the nature of Christian freedom. There were gems in each chapter that the thoughtful Narnia fan can garner.

It's a must for those seeking the deeper truths behind the stories, not just in their imagery, but in their construction and literary meta-narratives.

[Danette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book and it made me want to read the Chronicles again. I read a copy from the library but will be keeping an eye out for a copy to keep.

Quotes:
"The truths of the gospel can leave a believer cold. That's not a comment on the gospel or its power, but rather a comment on the state of the human heart, which can sleep through whole hurricanes of love and grace. The gospel permeates the life of the believer by way of the imagination. The Chronicles of Narnia awaken the reader to the imaginative possibilities of the gospel that have been there all along. The Chronicles serve as a reminder that if the gospel doesn't fill you with overwhelming awe and joy and fear and hope, you may not have really understood what the gospel says."

"One of the delicious ironies of Narnia is the fact that Lewis so carefully constructs a world of metaphor in order to insist that the God of the Bible is not a mere metaphor."

"'Reality', wrote C.S. Lewis, 'is usually something you could not have guessed. That is one of the reasons I believe Christianity. It is a religion you could not have guessed.'"

2024 A book about theology

[Rebekah · Rating 5 out of 5]

"A redeemed view of things opens the self to receive such delights as the created world has to offer"
It has been so sweet to have some of my very favorite stories refreshed in a new way.

[Bethany · Rating 4 out of 5]

"to put it in narnian terms, the created world is fraught with magic. behind the most mundane of earthly being, objects, and events is a meaning and a power no less awe inspiring than the Word of God who spoke the whole thing into existence."

i'd recommend this book to every narnia-reader and Aslan-believer.

[Leah Savas · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this book mostly because it had “Narnia” in the title and also partly because I’ve been haphazardly collecting books about the Narnia series since I was young. I was expecting a scholarly analysis of the Narnia books, and, while it did analyze the books, it read more like an extended commentary. Instead of synthesizing different elements throughout the series, it went through the books in order of publication, rehashing the main events of the stories and pulling out the Christian meanings behind them.

At first I was a little frustrated with this arrangement (especially since I was reading the series while making my way through this book, so I didn’t really want a reminder of everything that had happened). I had already heard many of the points Rogers made in other analyses of the series, but he also offered insights that I hadn’t thought of previously. Those parts made the book a worthwhile read. Although his treatment of the series isn’t exactly “scholarly” in the sense of being thoroughly backed up by outside sources, Rogers does occasionally reference other Lewis works in his commentary. These parts help shed light on the ideas Lewis was trying to convey in the Narnia books, and they somewhat satisfied my desire for a scholarly perspective on the series.

Overall, because if its short length and easy-to-read style, I’d recommend Rogers’ commentary to any adventurer who is new to the land of Narnia. It does a good job of introducing some of the elements that make the series such powerful Christian stories, although you can probably find similar discussions in a plethora of other Narnia-related books. But, if you’re a seasoned reader of Lewis, I’d suggest something a little more meaty and a lot more original, such as Michael Ward’s Planet Narnia.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't sure what to expect with this book, but it was such a pleasure and a delight! It's been about a year since I've read LW&W and maybe a decade since I've read any of the other Narnia books, so I was hoping I'd still be able to get something out of this commentary, and I definitely did.

Jonathan Rogers takes each Narnia book and basically asks, "What does this book say about being a Christian?" His answers are clear and accessible to anyone — not just for English profs and ivory tower dwellers. Each chapter of this book discusses one of the Narnia books. Rogers pulls out a big Christian theme from each of the Narnia books and discusses how that theme plays out through the characters and plot. For example, his theme for Dawn Treader is Forgetting Self, Finding Self. He also gives enough context of the original Narnia book to jog your memory, but he doesn't go too in depth to where it gets long-winded. You definitely have to have read the Narnia books to appreciate this one, though.

Reading this was good for my soul. It was almost like being in a book club with Rogers discussing each text with a super-smart, super-prepared prof. Plus, um, I was an English major, so I love literary analysis. But this book didn't feel like analysis. It wasn't boring. I read it with a pencil in hand to underline the best bits. More than anything, it reminded me that Aslan is not a tame lion. He's good, but he's not safe. And he never makes mistakes.

[Jon Cheek · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is primarily a re-telling of the stories with some helpful observations interspersed throughout. Probably too much merely re-telling. I prefer the books on Narnia by Douglas Wilson (What I Learned in Narnia) and Joe Rigney (Live Like a Narnian.)

[Katrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book. It did for me with Narnia what John Granger's books did for me with Harry Potter. I knew there was Christian meaning in the series, but I knew there were things I was missing. I would go back and reread this book after another readthrough of the Chronicles. It definitely helped me appreciate CS Lewis's books even more. And because Rogers also references other books that Lewis has written, he's given me an appetite for some of the books by Lewis that I haven't read yet. I honestly got more than I bargained for with this book.

[Melissa | hellomelissakay · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 STARS —

This book was fantastic! I absolutely loved the rich reflection and theological exploration on each book in the Chronicles of Narnia series. I loved how there were reflections from other C.S.Lewis works woven throughout as well.

If you love the Chronicles of Narnia or are curious about some of the spiritual themes found in the series - this is an excellent resource! It was inspiring and a book I will definitely come back to in the future!

[Ada Tarcau · Rating 4 out of 5]

Punctuated by really good insights into meanings and truths along the 7 chronicles. I have really enjoyed how the author sustained an idea with Lewis’s own words from his other works.

[Philip Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

“True freedom, in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, is freedom from the self, freedom to turn one’s attention outward toward the things that give purpose and meaning to the self. Those who receive the gift of self forgetfulness discover liberty. Those who will not receive it, like the Duffers, stay trapped in a prison of their own making.”

Jonathan Rogers goes through each of the Narnia books in order of publication and and expounds upon the (very) rich Christian spirituality and theology found therein. Really solid and profound. I liked the way Jonathan Rogers drew parallels with Lewis' non-fiction work, showing exactly what Lewis was getting at in the novels. Lewis is rightly popular. I didn't get to him for years and have been playing catch up as of late. I'd been missing out.

Read the novels then read this.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy, insightful look into each of the seven books in the Chronicles. I appreciated how the author explored and explained the theology behind many of the storylines and characters.

Some favourite quotes:

"Puddleglum's outward pessimism conceals a deep and abiding faith in Aslan that gives him an unshakable steadiness."

"Whatever appearances may be, however impossible Aslan's claims may seem, the Lion is ever faithful and ever true. The task of the believer is first to trust and obey."

"Throughout the Chronicles, the appearance of Aslan often reveals who people really are. And it's not usually who those people think they are."

[Brooke · Rating 3 out of 5]

The World According to Narnia is an overview of the symbolism in The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis. I am glad that I took the time to read this after having finished the Narnia series this past summer. In addition to explaining how Lewis viewed some of the characters, The World According to Narnia explains some changes that were made when the American editions were published. I think it is very interesting to know that C.S. Lewis continued to refine his thinking about Narnia and the characters he created long after the books were published. Overall it was a very interesting read and certainly worth it for any fan of the series!

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first, I did not like this book. It seemed like a synopsis of the Chronicles. I didn't want a synopsis. I wanted clear thinking and insight into books I have loved since I was nine years old. By the end of the book, I had received that. For me, this book was a slow starter, but so worth it by the end.

[Randell Toews · Rating 4 out of 5]

"They (the Chronicles of Narnia) are a gleam of divinity on the human imagination, pointing us toward our true country, our true selves, always calling us to go further up and further in to the life God offers" (p. 176).

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

9/22/2024 * 3.5 to 4 stars
Read for the 2024 Back to Hogwarts Reading Challenge: Prisoner of Azkaban - a book work an animal on the cover, but now I also want to reread the Chronicles of Narnia.

[Anna Kilpatrick · Rating 2 out of 5]

Felt like most of the book was just retelling the storyline of each of the Chronicles without adding very much so it felt like you might as well just read the books.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened on Audible but now brought myself a physical copy so I can refer to it again.
Beautiful!!!

[Kelly Hohenstern · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Narnia and Lewis. Greatly enjoyed getting to explore the different themes and motifs throughout the series.

[Caleb Sturgis · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book provides a helpful summary and brief analysis of key themes from each of the Narnian Chronicles. Jonathan Rogers addresses the significance of various types and analogies that exist in the plot and characters of Lewis' works, helpfully giving cross-references to similar concepts that Lewis addresses in his other works. Overall, it is worth a read/listen for anyone about to embark on their first journey through the Chronicles as well as for the veteran of Narnia who wants to strengthen his or her grasp on the series and its author.

[Cassia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like tasting the fruit that each likes best himself...

I read this book after now being extremely well acquainted with the Narnia stories--having relatively memorized their many scenes through reading, and then listening the great story telling of the Focus on the Family audio performance (20-40 times each book). From this perspective, I found that Jonathan Rogers did a really wonderful job. It was a delight to see the stories, the characters, and the themes of each book inwoven through scripture, theology, and other of C.S. Lewis's writings. It was a truly masterful tapestry. I only wish I had set my eyes on the quote marks themselves rather than listening to them--but nonetheless, I believe I got a wide view of the whole tapestry while still appreciating the many colorful threads.
The best thing this book did for me was to draw up themes of human feelings through characters I already so deeply love, and then link those themes with those of scripture that I already hardily and boldly hold to...yet somehow did not make the connection to the human experience from the stories. I believe these examples will help not only my own storytelling and writing, but my compassion and usefulness in the church.

[Watermarked Pages · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve read the Narnia series countless times, and find new depth in it every time. We’re about to read them aloud with our kids for the first time, so I picked this up for myself. It does what all good books about books should do: made me want to go read the original (again). I really enjoyed exploring the spiritual truths that are in Narnia’s allegory, and thought the Bible verses the author includes were well chosen.

I have some doctrinal differences with Lewis that are most clearly seen in The Last Battle (not my favorite book of the series), so it follows that I disagreed with some of what the author says in this book.

Narnia helps us ponder Biblical truths, and this book helps you understand how Lewis does that and what biblical doctrines he used to do so. I think this book is helpful for anyone who wants to mine Narnia a little deeper, and enjoyable for anyone who just wants to linger in the world of Aslan.

[Ashlee Willis · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing book! There are so many themes of Christianity in the Chronicles of Narnia, and this author explores them all in a simple and straightforward way. Though I have read the Chronicles over and over again through the years, this book opened up new ideas and points of view to me about aspects of Narnia I had either not thought about before, or had become so familiar with I simply didn't see what was staring me in the face. C. S. Lewis put so much thought and heart into his series, it's great to see a book that takes that passion seriously and points out the themes we as Christians can relate to on many levels. If you aren't familiar with the meaning behind the Chronicles, this book is a great way to learn more. And even if you are familiar, this book gives a truly fresh and insightful perspective. Can't recommend enough to all Narnia fans!

[Carol Bakker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Commentaries on the Chronicles of Narnia abound; they almost constitute a subgenre of their own. Jonathan Rogers' book is a wonderful contribution.

I appreciated how he connected Narnia to C.S. Lewis's nonfictional works, e.g. Miracles, Screwtape Letters, Mere Christianity, and The Abolition of Man.

Here is a sampling of Rogers' thoughts.

One of Aslan's first acts after coming back to life is a game of chase with Susan and Lucy.

[The fairy tale] allows truth to hide plain sight.

Now that [Eustace] has lost his human form, he begins to exhibit the first humance thoughts and feelings.

Puddleglum is steadiness personified.

[Tess · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book. I appreciated all the Christian meaning it pointed out throughout the Chronicles of Narnia series, book by book. Citing Lewis’s work and Bible verses to convey the different points gave me chills. I may still be tearing up.

I especially appreciate the last passage about what the Chronicles ultimately remind us of because I’ve always felt that in my heart about them.

[Rebekah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was an excellent look C. S. Lewis’s land of Narnia. Rogers used other writings of Lewis to bring some insight into the stores and it made me look at the books differently then I had before. I am eager to go back and read them again.

[Renée Parks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! It is beautifully written and is like visiting an old friend as you explore the deep spiritual meaning behind the Chronicles of Narnia. If you are a Narnia fan then you will definitely appreciate this book!

[Jennifer Armstrong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this refreshing look at the Chronicles of Narnia. It made me fall in love with them all over again.

[Christa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought I knew Narnia. I did but this gave it so much more depth. Nothing added just deepening what is already there.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found it very interesting reading about all of the ideas behind Narnia.