Arts and Artists The Inklings

Warm Up What is Oxford famous for? What’s the difference between dragons in the West and in China? Have you seen The Lord of the Rings or the Narnia movies?

What is Oxford famous for?

What’s the difference between dragons in the West and in China?

Have you seen The Lord of the Rings or the Narnia movies?

Key Words literature literary society public reading fantasy narrative allegory theologian posthumous

literature

literary society

public reading

fantasy

narrative

allegory

theologian

posthumous

Introduction to the Inklings Oxford-based literary society active from the 30s to the 60s Met on Thursdays At Magdalen College and Tuesdays at the Eagle and Child Pub Membership was friendship-centered

Oxford-based literary society active from the 30s to the 60s

Met on Thursdays At Magdalen College and Tuesdays at the Eagle and Child Pub

Membership was friendship-centered

Meeting Places

Importance of the Inklings Included many famous writers of the 20 th century – all of them were men Shared key ideas Narrative-centric fiction Christian or mythological influence in writing Allegorical fantasy Responsible for shaping much of the Western fantasy fiction we know today

Included many famous writers of the 20 th century – all of them were men

Shared key ideas

Narrative-centric fiction

Christian or mythological influence in writing

Allegorical fantasy

Responsible for shaping much of the Western fantasy fiction we know today

In Other Words… The Inklings didn’t create fantasy literature They refined it Without them, many fantasy works and games wouldn’t exist Think of it this way: no Inklings, no Warcraft

The Inklings didn’t create fantasy literature

They refined it

Without them, many fantasy works and games wouldn’t exist

Think of it this way: no Inklings, no Warcraft

Inklings Activities Meetings were informal and friendly Main activities Discussion Criticism Public readings Reading the prose of Amanda McKittrick Ros without laughing!

Meetings were informal and friendly

Main activities

Discussion

Criticism

Public readings

Reading the prose of Amanda McKittrick Ros without laughing!

The Prose of Amanda M. Ros Every sentence the able and beautiful girl uttered caused Sir John to shift his apparently uncomfortable person nearer and nearer, watching at the same time minutely the divine picture of innocence, until at last, when her reply was ended, he found himself, altogether unconsciously, clasping her to his bosom, whilst the ruby rims which so recently proclaimed accusations and innocence met with unearthly sweetness, chasing every fault over the hills of doubt, until hidden in the hollow of immediate hate.

Every sentence the able and beautiful girl uttered caused Sir John to shift his apparently uncomfortable person nearer and nearer, watching at the same time minutely the divine picture of innocence, until at last, when her reply was ended, he found himself, altogether unconsciously, clasping her to his bosom, whilst the ruby rims which so recently proclaimed accusations and innocence met with unearthly sweetness, chasing every fault over the hills of doubt, until hidden in the hollow of immediate hate.

Notable Inklings C.S. Lewis J.R.R Tolkien Charles Williams Owen Barfield Christopher Tolkien Warren Lewis Hugo Dyson Nevill Coghill

C.S. Lewis

J.R.R Tolkien

Charles Williams

Owen Barfield

Christopher Tolkien

Warren Lewis

Hugo Dyson

Nevill Coghill

Lewis and Tolkien

C.S. Lewis Nicknamed “Jack” Born in Ireland in 1898 Died in 1963 Professor of literature at Magdalen College Famous as a fantasy writer, theologian, and radio broadcaster

Nicknamed “Jack”

Born in Ireland in 1898

Died in 1963

Professor of literature at Magdalen College

Famous as a fantasy writer, theologian, and radio broadcaster

Key Works The Problem of Pain (1940) The Screwtape Letters (1942) The Abolition of Man (1943) The Great Divorce (1945) Mere Christianity (1952) The Chronicles of Narnia (seven books, 1950-1956)

The Problem of Pain (1940)

The Screwtape Letters (1942)

The Abolition of Man (1943)

The Great Divorce (1945)

Mere Christianity (1952)

The Chronicles of Narnia (seven books, 1950-1956)

The Narnia Series Lewis’ fantasy world Novels intended for young children Sold 120 million+ copies Made into two movies Mix of mythology and Christian allegory

Lewis’ fantasy world

Novels intended for young children

Sold 120 million+ copies

Made into two movies

Mix of mythology and Christian allegory

Christian Apologetics Lewis converted to Christianity at the age of 30 Writings defend Christianity against modern criticism Some works posit “universal morality,” even quoting Laozi

Lewis converted to Christianity at the age of 30

Writings defend Christianity against modern criticism

Some works posit “universal morality,” even quoting Laozi

J.R.R. Tolkien Born in 1892 in British South Africa Died in 1973 Professor of literature at Merton College Disliked modernity and industrialization Famous for creating Middle Earth

Born in 1892 in British South Africa

Died in 1973

Professor of literature at Merton College

Disliked modernity and industrialization

Famous for creating Middle Earth

Middle Earth Tolkien’s fantasy world Based on Anglo-German myth and legend Filled with magical creatures and peoples Features written and spoken languages, geography, and histories

Tolkien’s fantasy world

Based on Anglo-German myth and legend

Filled with magical creatures and peoples

Features written and spoken languages, geography, and histories

Key Works Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (1925) Beowulf: The Monsters and the Critics (1937) The Hobbit (1937) Farmer Giles of Ham (1949) The Lord of the Rings (three parts, 1954-1955) The Simarillion (1977, posthumous)

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (1925)

Beowulf: The Monsters and the Critics (1937)

The Hobbit (1937)

Farmer Giles of Ham (1949)

The Lord of the Rings (three parts, 1954-1955)

The Simarillion (1977, posthumous)

The Hobbit Young adult fantasy novel Takes place in Tolkien’s world of Middle Earth Tells the story of an unlikely hero, a Hobbit, who helps defeat a dragon

Young adult fantasy novel

Takes place in Tolkien’s world of Middle Earth

Tells the story of an unlikely hero, a Hobbit, who helps defeat a dragon

The Lord of the Rings Takes place in Middle Earth, tells the story of a war against evil, and the destruction of an evil magic ring A book in three parts, sold 100 million copies, and made into three movies

Takes place in Middle Earth, tells the story of a war against evil, and the destruction of an evil magic ring

A book in three parts, sold 100 million copies, and made into three movies

The Role of Christopher Tolkien Tolkien’s son Helped to edit and publish many of Tolkien’s works after death Compiled the Simarillion , which is full of Tolkien’s notes and history of Middle Earth

Tolkien’s son

Helped to edit and publish many of Tolkien’s works after death

Compiled the Simarillion , which is full of Tolkien’s notes and history of Middle Earth

Discussion Has China had any famous groups of writers? How is Chinese fantasy like Western fantasy? How is it different? Is it useful for a writer to create a fantasy world for his works? Why or why not? What are the most popular fantasy books today?

Has China had any famous groups of writers?

How is Chinese fantasy like Western fantasy? How is it different?

Is it useful for a writer to create a fantasy world for his works? Why or why not?

What are the most popular fantasy books today?