Page 16 - WOTS_Issue_69

Tolkien’s

Lewis
C

live Staples Lewis and John Ronald Reuel
Tolkien will go down in history as being
two of the most creative minds to ever
walk this earth. Better known as C.S. Lewis
and J.R.R. Tolkien, these best of friends brought
life to what we all know as The Lord of the Rings,
became bestsellers throughout the world.

and The Chronicles of Narnia storylines. Lewis was from abundance after the release of these books, and yet they
Belfast, Ireland and Tolkien was from Bloemfontein, South Lewis was busy publishing 30 years prior to the 1950s, but it
Africa. Both men experienced heart-piercing tragedy at a wasn’t until then that Lewis started to publish the seven books
young age. Tolkien was four when his father died from that would comprise The Chronicles of Narnia children's series,
complications of rheumatic fever and 12 when his mother with The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe (1950) being the
died. Lewis was ten when his mother died. Both men ended first release. The story focused on four siblings during wartime
up in England and found their way to the that walked through
service in World War I. One was sent home an armoire to enter
with an injury and the other because of the magical world of
illness. Both becoming professors at Oxford, Narnia, which was “a
Tolkien started a writing group called “The land resplendent with
Inklings” where he officially met Lewis. mythical creatures
2
Lewis’ fellowship with his friends from “The and talking animals.”
Inklings” stirred his heart back to Readers loved the
Christianity. stories despite some
negative reviews.
C.S. Lewis and J.R.R Tolkien found a way to
present the gospel to the world through
“true myth” stories that entertained secular Throughout their
readers who were unlikely to hear the gospel in traditional writing careers, these two men explored creative ways to take
ways; through this, they developed a deep friendship. Inspired their love for literature and their bond as Christ followers to
by ancient European mythology, Tolkien fronted the work that spread the message of Christianity. They creatively explored
would become The Lord of the Rings series. Tolkien released ways to open the valve to the mind of the skeptic and “free
part one of the series, The Fellowship of the Ring, in 1954; The
Two Towers and The Return of the King followed in 1955, thinker.” It was this avenue that brought truth through
which finished up the trilogy. The books gave readers “a rich imagination. Keep your eyes open for Tolkien and Lewis, a film
literary trove populated by elves, goblins, talking trees and all about the authors that is still in production.
manner of fantastic creatures, including characters like the
1
wizard Gandalf and the dwarf Gimli.” Critics were in
1
www.biography.com/people/jrr-tolkien-9508428#career-as-a-scholar-and-writer
2
www.biography.com/people/ cs-lewis-9380969#teaching-career-and-wartime-broadcasts