Frank Baxter: C.S. Lewis. Narnia and Tolkien

Frank Baxter: C.S. Lewis. Narnia and Tolkien

2nd Entry

In Tolkien’s essay On Fairy-Stories Tolkien makes a distinction between faerie and fairy, with the latter a being (creature). Through-out on Fairy-stories, Tolkien refutes many tales that use to be called fairy-tales as not. For example Peter Rabbit Cotton Tail, is considered by Tolkien as a beast-fable not a true fairy-tale. The question is if the Chronicles of Narnia fit within his definition of what he would call a “fairy-tale”

Narnia certainly fits within his definition of a secondary world, but that is not nearly enough to be considered a faerie tale. In his work, On Fairy Stories Tolkien, states “...fairy stories as a whole have three faces: the Mystical towards the Supernatural; the Magical towards the Nature, and the Mirror of scorn and pity towards Man.” (Tolkien, 53)

For the first subject matter, supernatural, it is clear throughout each book that there are supernatural powers. Examples are the White Witch turning individuals into stone, a silver chair that can enchant a Knight, a pool that will turn anything that enters it gold. Now for the second subject of nature, there are more subtle references to the importance throughout the book. For example the dryad are clearly symbols for the forest, as they move the trees to fight men (natures wrath). The destruction of nature (and the sadness) can be seen in the last book where trees are chopped down and C.S, Lewis describes the horrible scene of the dryad dying. The forest can talk and are held sacred.

For the last criteria of Mirror of scorn and pity of man, is not seen as clearly towards the main characters (as they are respected.) Though C.S. Lewis enables them to have grave flaws, Edmund being a traitor, Eustace being an ass and Jill so prideful almost killing Eustace. But especially within the minor human charters can their pity and scorn be seen. The people of Calormen all worship the wrong entity, Digory’s uncle is a conniving old man that risks others at his expense.

Cleary Narnia meets the criteria that Tolkien laid out and should be considered a fairy-tale. But Tolkien also states that “Most good 'fairy-stories' are bout the adventures of men in the perilous realm or upon its shadowy marches.” (Tolkien, 42) and the question remain is Narnia a good story?

I think that yes it is.

Works cited:
Tolkien, J.R.R. On Fairy-Stories. Web.