Tag Archives: literary criticism

A Thing of Forms Unknown: Thoughts on C.S. Lewis and Horror with Chris Calderon

Within a longer project on C.S. Lewis and the Ransom Cycle, I have outlined a chapter focussing on some instinctive horror elements in Lewis’ science fiction. I have written up the close readings for the piece, but am missing one … Continue reading

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Tolkien’s “I am in fact a Hobbit (in all but size)” in Context: A Note on Books and Their Authors (#hobbitday)

I don’t know that there is any more famous J.R.R. Tolkien quote than his claim to, in fact, be a hobbit. It’s really quite a delightful statement and worth quoting more fully: I am in fact a Hobbit (in all … Continue reading

Posted in Memorable Quotes | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 26 Comments

1,000,000 Hits on A Pilgrim in Narnia!

A Pilgrim in Narnia has just now had its 1,000,000th hit! A million page views is right, according to WordPress analytics. After passing our 9th Anniversary last month, after 1,057 posts (this is number 1,058), this little sandbox of literary … Continue reading

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An Essential Reading List from C.S. Lewis: An Experiment on An Experiment in Criticism (Throwback Thursday)

  At A Pilgrim in Narnia we have an occasional feature called “Throwback Thursday.” This is where I find a blog post from the past–raiding either my own blog-hoard or someone else’s–and throw it back out into the digital world. … Continue reading

Posted in News & Links, Original Research, Throwback Thursdays | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 45 Comments

An Open Class on Narnia and Friendship with Brenton Dickieson, Jason Lepojärvi, and Diana Pavlac Glyer (Full Video from Signum University)

Friendship was an absolutely critical part of C.S. Lewis’ life. His lifelong friendship with his brother created a literary household. Lewis’ childhood and university friendships helped him renegotiate his core values and his life philosophy. The Oxford Inklings, the main … Continue reading

Posted in Feature Friday, News & Links | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 17 Comments

An Open Class on Narnia and Friendship with Brenton Dickieson, Jason Lepojärvi, and Diana Pavlac Glyer

Friendship was an absolutely critical part of C.S. Lewis’ life. His lifelong friendship with his brother created a literary household. Lewis’ childhood and university friendships helped him renegotiate his core values and his life philosophy. The Oxford Inklings, the main … Continue reading

Posted in News & Links | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Harold Bloom and “The Western Canon”: A Note on His Death

I received news this week that Harold Bloom has died. Bloom (1930-2019) was an avid reader, a rapid writer, and a penetrating critic whose essays and books on literature are breathtaking in scope and exemplary in their attention to the … Continue reading

Posted in Original Research, Reviews, Thoughtful Essays | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 20 Comments

Terry Lindvall’s Heavy Treatment of a Light Topic: A Review of Surprised by Laughter

Surprised by Laughter Revised & Updated: The Comic World of C.S. Lewis by Terry Lindvall My rating: 4 of 5 stars The word “levity” has two main definitions that we walk around with: a kind of frivolity and something that … Continue reading

Posted in Reflections | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 46 Comments

H.P. Lovecraft’s “Supernatural Horror in Literature”

I am in the midst of an extended reading of Stephen King‘s Dark Tower Cycle, including the extra books that connect most intimately with King’s great mythic universe (see Mathew Olson’s essay here; I’m rereading ‘Salem’s Lot now with Wolves … Continue reading

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Tolkien’s “I am in fact a Hobbit (in all but size)” in Context

I don’t know that there is any more famous Tolkien quote than his claim to, in fact, be a hobbit. It’s really quite a delightful statement and worth quoting more fully: I am in fact a Hobbit (in all but … Continue reading

Posted in Reflections | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 30 Comments