Myth in C.S.Leiws’sPrince Caspian: The Return to Narnia

Abstract

Prince Caspian: The Return to Narniais part of C.S.Lewis’s mythical world in the Chronicles of Narnia (1950-1954).Lewis considers myth as a fundamental resource for his writings whether they are theological or literary ones. His adherence to myth comes from his belief in the validity of myth, even pagan one, to trace the development of human religious and imaginative thinking. Myth for Lewis, as for his other friends in the Inklings, is the primitive type of religion which paves the way to the present religions.In this story, Lewis addresses, through the world of Narnia, the skeptics in their faith who are obsessed by love of power and authority as he silencesthe rivers and trees, and kills off most of the talking beings. Lewis draws on his real attitudes towards peoples’ inclinations to materialistic way of life who forget their belief and commitment towards religion.This paper is part of an M.A. thesis entitled “The Use of Myth in C.S.Lewis’sThe Chronicles of Narnia” prepared at the University of Al-Qadisiya, College of Education, Department of English. Keywords: myth, Narnia, Inkling, Caspian and Aslan