Night Elf Posted March 10, 2022 Share Posted March 10, 2022 When my ds25 was a freshman in high school, we used the curriculum Literary Lessons from the Lord of the Rings. It was so good!! I just told DH I might buy it for me and him to do together again. Our whole family did the LOTR study and we had such a good time with it. I have never read the Narnia series in its entirety. I know I read the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe when I was young, but I don't recall reading any of the other books. I want a good literary breakdown as I read it. I looked for something but I don't know what's best. Do you have a recommendation? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted March 10, 2022 Share Posted March 10, 2022 Oh, I would just read it, no study. I don't know why you'd need a literary breakdown. o_0 Just read it, in the original publication order. 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted March 10, 2022 Share Posted March 10, 2022 Are you sure you should be buying more curriculum right now? I’m only asking because you said your dh wants you to stop buying so much. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night Elf Posted March 10, 2022 Author Share Posted March 10, 2022 40 minutes ago, Ellie said: Oh, I would just read it, no study. I don't know why you'd need a literary breakdown. o_0 Just read it, in the original publication order. I know it has a Christian theme but I will never be able to pull it out by myself. All I know is that Aslan is supposed to be like Jesus but just how all of that is woven into the books is what I want to know. I can't depend on DH to help because he has no interest in thinking Christian anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night Elf Posted March 10, 2022 Author Share Posted March 10, 2022 11 minutes ago, Catwoman said: Are you sure you should be buying more curriculum right now? I’m only asking because you said your dh wants you to stop buying so much. I actually found one to try. It was only $5.99 for the first book and he said that was okay. I'm still hoping someone will suggest something as wonderful as Literary Lessons from LOTR, but this will do for now. The site has lots of literature guides for $6 each. If I like this one, I'll have found a wonderful way to read literature with help. I'm used to reading brain candy. I have never understood the deeper meanings of books or poetry. I always thought my teachers were crazy to want to dig so deeply into a book. I figured we should just read it and be done with it. I no longer feel that way. I want to know what I'm reading and why the author wrote it the way he/she did. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Momto6inIN Posted March 10, 2022 Share Posted March 10, 2022 The Christian themes in Narnia are sooooo obvious that I can't imagine anyone reasonably informed about Christainity not being able to figure it out! 🙂 I think I even saw a meme somewhere about it, I'll see if I can find it. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Momto6inIN Posted March 10, 2022 Share Posted March 10, 2022 3 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night Elf Posted March 10, 2022 Author Share Posted March 10, 2022 1 minute ago, Momto6inIN said: The Christian themes in Narnia are sooooo obvious that I can't imagine anyone reasonably informed about Christainity not being able to figure it out! 🙂 I think I even saw a meme somewhere about it, I'll see if I can find it. I'm admitting my ignorance here, but I usually read kids' books instead of adult books because I can follow them better. I'm currently reading The Chronicles of Prydain and really enjoying them. I also have a series called the Max and Liz series about a dog and cat who help the "maker" do things. The first book was about them being on the ark with all the animals and Noah's family and solving a mystery. Book two that I just started is about the story of Joseph. They are fabulous books. Very well written. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KSera Posted March 10, 2022 Share Posted March 10, 2022 Do you have a local library? That might be a good resource for you. There are also lots of things online that could give you some interpretation. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terabith Posted March 10, 2022 Share Posted March 10, 2022 20 minutes ago, Night Elf said: I know it has a Christian theme but I will never be able to pull it out by myself. All I know is that Aslan is supposed to be like Jesus but just how all of that is woven into the books is what I want to know. I can't depend on DH to help because he has no interest in thinking Christian anything. It's a series written for kids with the target age of about 8. It is not REMOTELY subtle. Trust me, you would pull out the Christian themes all by yourself. My five year old did. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night Elf Posted March 10, 2022 Author Share Posted March 10, 2022 2 minutes ago, KSera said: Do you have a local library? That might be a good resource for you. There are also lots of things online that could give you some interpretation. Yes but my library doesn't have many of the books I need. I'm using Biblioplan for History and I'm totally surprised that my library system doesn't have some of the suggested books. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night Elf Posted March 10, 2022 Author Share Posted March 10, 2022 Just now, Terabith said: It's a series written for kids with the target age of about 8. It is not REMOTELY subtle. Trust me, you would pull out the Christian themes all by yourself. My five year old did. Good, that makes me feel better. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ceilingfan Posted March 10, 2022 Share Posted March 10, 2022 Prydain is great! The good thing about Narnia is they are so well studied online that you can read essay after study guide after discussion question set about the series and be busy for a year, for free. It's more fun that way too because you get a wider variety of viewpoints 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night Elf Posted March 10, 2022 Author Share Posted March 10, 2022 Just now, Ceilingfan said: Prydain is great! The good thing about Narnia is they are so well studied online that you can read essay after study guide after discussion question set about the series and be busy for a year, for free. It's more fun that way too because you get a wider variety of viewpoints Plus I can come here and ask my dumb questions. lol So is the witch supposed to be Satan? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annie G Posted March 10, 2022 Share Posted March 10, 2022 2 minutes ago, Night Elf said: Yes but my library doesn't have many of the books I need. I'm using Biblioplan for History and I'm totally surprised that my library system doesn't have some of the suggested books. Can you borrow from other libraries? Here in Georgia I can borrow from any library in the PINES system. Super easy-and tons of selection! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ceilingfan Posted March 10, 2022 Share Posted March 10, 2022 Well I'm not Christian, so I'd have to deliberately study the religious allegory to have any clue, lol. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night Elf Posted March 10, 2022 Author Share Posted March 10, 2022 1 minute ago, Annie G said: Can you borrow from other libraries? Here in Georgia I can borrow from any library in the PINES system. Super easy-and tons of selection! I'm in GA. What is the PINES system? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night Elf Posted March 10, 2022 Author Share Posted March 10, 2022 1 minute ago, Ceilingfan said: Well I'm not Christian, so I'd have to deliberately study the religious allegory to have any clue, lol. Ah, oh well. I'm going to start reading tonight while I'm awake in the wee a.m. hours. I get a surprising amount of schoolwork done in the middle night thanks to my chronic insomnia. This is why I needed so much curriculum. I had several Christian studies going at one time and watching several sermons online as well. I love my God and learning about the Bible but I really needed to branch out to some other subjects. I'm doing Algebra and need my DH's help a lot. My ds23's girlfriend tutors high school and college math so she offered to help me if my DH frustrates me too much, which he does. He doesn't understand why I don't just get these concepts. My brain simply doesn't think that way! And word problems? Oy!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vonfirmath Posted March 10, 2022 Share Posted March 10, 2022 24 minutes ago, Night Elf said: I'm admitting my ignorance here, but I usually read kids' books instead of adult books because I can follow them better. I'm currently reading The Chronicles of Prydain and really enjoying them. I also have a series called the Max and Liz series about a dog and cat who help the "maker" do things. The first book was about them being on the ark with all the animals and Noah's family and solving a mystery. Book two that I just started is about the story of Joseph. They are fabulous books. Very well written. I LOVE Jenny Cote's books. And both of my kids do too. (My son has read the entire series.) I'm almost done with The Prophet, The Shepherd and the Star Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night Elf Posted March 10, 2022 Author Share Posted March 10, 2022 6 minutes ago, vonfirmath said: I LOVE Jenny Cote's books. And both of my kids do too. (My son has read the entire series.) I'm almost done with The Prophet, The Shepherd and the Star I now want a dog named Max. He's an awesome character. Glad to hear I'm not the only adult reading this series and thoroughly enjoying it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harriet Vane Posted March 10, 2022 Share Posted March 10, 2022 Beth, I have a degree in English and I love the Narnia books with a burning passion. I will answer any questions you've got, any time. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ausmumof3 Posted March 10, 2022 Share Posted March 10, 2022 Night Elf are you familiar with the literary life podcast? This is a fantastic free resource that covers a tonne of literature including a bit by CS Lewis. I feel like you could get so much of the education you’re looking for by listening and reading along with that without spending much at all. It does have Christian viewpoint but I assume that won’t worry you given you want to read Narnia. There’s almost two years worth now so you could get a tonne of lit education done without spending a cent. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night Elf Posted March 10, 2022 Author Share Posted March 10, 2022 Just now, Harriet Vane said: Beth, I have a degree in English and I love the Narnia books with a burning passion. I will answer any questions you've got, any time. Thank you!! I may take you up on that! Hopefully I won't be like a child saying But why? all the time. lol 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night Elf Posted March 10, 2022 Author Share Posted March 10, 2022 3 minutes ago, Ausmumof3 said: Night Elf are you familiar with the literary life podcast? This is a fantastic free resource that covers a tonne of literature including a bit by CS Lewis. I feel like you could get so much of the education you’re looking for by listening and reading along with that without spending much at all. It does have Christian viewpoint but I assume that won’t worry you given you want to read Narnia. There’s almost two years worth now so you could get a tonne of lit education done without spending a cent. Yes, I learned about it here. I'm so excited they're going to be doing The Wind in the Willows sometime soon. I'll most certainly do that one! That's one of my favorite books. I read the entire series. It went downhill though. The last two books were not so magical for me. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annie G Posted March 10, 2022 Share Posted March 10, 2022 20 minutes ago, Night Elf said: I'm in GA. What is the PINES system? If you’re in the metro Atlanta area you can’t use it. But the rest of us can. It’s basically the rest of the state’s libraries willing to loan to each other. It helps smaller library systems provide a wider variety of books to its patrons. It’s interlibrary loan. Worth asking about in your library if you’re not in metro Atlanta. But even in metro ATL there is an interlibrary loan system, I believe. PINES is awesome. I request books and they deliver to my local library. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night Elf Posted March 10, 2022 Author Share Posted March 10, 2022 2 minutes ago, Annie G said: If you’re in the metro Atlanta area you can’t use it. But the rest of us can. It’s basically the rest of the state’s libraries willing to loan to each other. It helps smaller library systems provide a wider variety of books to its patrons. It’s interlibrary loan. Worth asking about in your library if you’re not in metro Atlanta. But even in metro ATL there is an interlibrary loan system, I believe. PINES is awesome. I request books and they deliver to my local library. My DH said it would depend on which definition they were using of Metro Atlanta. He says we're in it, but maybe not. I'm in Forsyth County. I'll ask my library about it tomorrow. I'm picking up some requested books. We have 4 libraries in our system I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vonfirmath Posted March 10, 2022 Share Posted March 10, 2022 12 minutes ago, Ausmumof3 said: Night Elf are you familiar with the literary life podcast? This is a fantastic free resource that covers a tonne of literature including a bit by CS Lewis. I feel like you could get so much of the education you’re looking for by listening and reading along with that without spending much at all. It does have Christian viewpoint but I assume that won’t worry you given you want to read Narnia. There’s almost two years worth now so you could get a tonne of lit education done without spending a cent. This sounds fabulous. I need to look into it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annie G Posted March 10, 2022 Share Posted March 10, 2022 7 minutes ago, Night Elf said: My DH said it would depend on which definition they were using of Metro Atlanta. He says we're in it, but maybe not. I'm in Forsyth County. I'll ask my library about it tomorrow. I'm picking up some requested books. We have 4 libraries in our system I think. Bummer. My sister lives in Forsyth and it’s not part of PINES. But there are several libraries in the county and they’ll send a book to yours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Green Bean Posted March 10, 2022 Share Posted March 10, 2022 http://www.homescholar.org/Narnia Curr.htm From the same site as Lit lessons From the Lord of the Rings. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LMD Posted March 10, 2022 Share Posted March 10, 2022 58 minutes ago, Night Elf said: Plus I can come here and ask my dumb questions. lol So is the witch supposed to be Satan? It's not exactly a 1 to 1 analogy quite like that. More big picture, themes of redemption, sacrifice etc. I suppose you could argue the analogy, she does say "every traitor belongs to me..." that sounds like a thesis to explore in an essay - I'm sure someone has done it if you google 😄 Honestly, you'll enjoy them more if you don't over analyse them. Lewis is wonderful IMO. I am rereading through the series with my youngers at the moment they're still great! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night Elf Posted March 10, 2022 Author Share Posted March 10, 2022 19 minutes ago, Annie G said: Bummer. My sister lives in Forsyth and it’s not part of PINES. But there are several libraries in the county and they’ll send a book to yours. Yes, I do get books from the other libraries sent to my home library. That is why I'm picking up my requested books tomorrow. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night Elf Posted March 10, 2022 Author Share Posted March 10, 2022 12 minutes ago, Green Bean said: http://www.homescholar.org/Narnia Curr.htm From the same site as Lit lessons From the Lord of the Rings. Oh wow! I didn't realize that. I'll show my DH tomorrow. Thank you! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ausmumof3 Posted March 10, 2022 Share Posted March 10, 2022 31 minutes ago, vonfirmath said: This sounds fabulous. I need to look into it. I think there’s even a club in the social groups but I have been way behind on it for ages. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted March 10, 2022 Share Posted March 10, 2022 2 hours ago, Night Elf said: I know it has a Christian theme but I will never be able to pull it out by myself. All I know is that Aslan is supposed to be like Jesus but just how all of that is woven into the books is what I want to know. I can't depend on DH to help because he has no interest in thinking Christian anything. You don't have to "pull it out." Just read it. When you read it, then you'll see how Jesus is in all the books. Just read the books. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harriet Vane Posted March 10, 2022 Share Posted March 10, 2022 11 hours ago, LMD said: It's not exactly a 1 to 1 analogy quite like that. More big picture, themes of redemption, sacrifice etc. I suppose you could argue the analogy, she does say "every traitor belongs to me..." that sounds like a thesis to explore in an essay - I'm sure someone has done it if you google 😄 Honestly, you'll enjoy them more if you don't over analyse them. Lewis is wonderful IMO. I am rereading through the series with my youngers at the moment they're still great! I agree. The witch has some parallels with Satan in that she is not actually Narnian (Satan is not human, not from this world) and she has powers she chooses to use for evil. And yes, she does claim that "every traitor belongs to me." Later in the series, though, another character plays a similar role (Tash), and the parallels of Tash to Satan are even more striking. The witch is able to be vanquished. Anyone could kill her, though most are not skilled enough to succeed. Tash, on the other hand, is presented as being on a whole different plane of existence. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regentrude Posted March 10, 2022 Share Posted March 10, 2022 13 hours ago, Night Elf said: I know it has a Christian theme but I will never be able to pull it out by myself. All I know is that Aslan is supposed to be like Jesus but just how all of that is woven into the books is what I want to know. I can't depend on DH to help because he has no interest in thinking Christian anything. CS Lewis is so completely obvious about that that it smacks you in the face. It is impossible not to "get". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night Elf Posted March 10, 2022 Author Share Posted March 10, 2022 3 minutes ago, regentrude said: CS Lewis is so completely obvious about that that it smacks you in the face. It is impossible not to "get". I hope so or I will be majorly discouraged and feel even dumber than I feel now. 😞 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elizabeth86 Posted March 10, 2022 Share Posted March 10, 2022 13 hours ago, Night Elf said: I'm admitting my ignorance here, but I usually read kids' books instead of adult books because I can follow them better. I'm currently reading The Chronicles of Prydain and really enjoying them. I also have a series called the Max and Liz series about a dog and cat who help the "maker" do things. The first book was about them being on the ark with all the animals and Noah's family and solving a mystery. Book two that I just started is about the story of Joseph. They are fabulous books. Very well written. Same here. I pretty much only enjoy kids books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vonfirmath Posted March 10, 2022 Share Posted March 10, 2022 17 minutes ago, Night Elf said: I hope so or I will be majorly discouraged and feel even dumber than I feel now. 😞 Narnia goes so far as to have Aslan tell the children that he is teaching them now that they can see him better in the other world. You will be fine. Lion Witch and Wardrobe is the most blatant, if I recall right. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EKS Posted March 10, 2022 Share Posted March 10, 2022 13 hours ago, Night Elf said: I know it has a Christian theme but I will never be able to pull it out by myself. The Christian theme kind of hits you over the head actually. I'd just read and enjoy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happi duck Posted March 10, 2022 Share Posted March 10, 2022 20 minutes ago, Night Elf said: I hope so or I will be majorly discouraged and feel even dumber than I feel now. 😞 We are all wired differently. Please try not to feel hindered by the thought that "this is supposed to be obvious". I can imagine there are people on this board who could say it wasn't obvious to them. I think they're enjoyable books that you'll like a lot. If you enjoy focusing on the Christian themes that's great but if you don't that's great too! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MEmama Posted March 10, 2022 Share Posted March 10, 2022 13 hours ago, Ceilingfan said: Well I'm not Christian, so I'd have to deliberately study the religious allegory to have any clue, lol. Same. I was well into adulthood before I heard that there was a religious component to the books (probably here, because there’s nowhere else in my life it would come up). I had no idea. 🤷♀️ DS never read them. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Tiggywinkle Posted March 10, 2022 Share Posted March 10, 2022 14 hours ago, vonfirmath said: I LOVE Jenny Cote's books. And both of my kids do too. (My son has read the entire series.) I'm almost done with The Prophet, The Shepherd and the Star One of my really good friends is the reader/actor for her audiobooks. It’s like my one tangential claim to fame. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night Elf Posted March 10, 2022 Author Share Posted March 10, 2022 1 hour ago, Mrs Tiggywinkle said: One of my really good friends is the reader/actor for her audiobooks. It’s like my one tangential claim to fame. Oh very cool! These would make excellent read-alouds. I miss those days. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TexasProud Posted March 12, 2022 Share Posted March 12, 2022 This is a fabulous free resource: https://narnianvirtues.leeds.ac.uk/resources/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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