C. S. Lewis Criticism

Summaries for C.S Lewis, An Experiment in Criticism

Leif Coopman
English 112
Section 113
Dr. Jon Vickery
2/8/18

Summary of Chapter 1

Here, C.S Lewis explains a experiment as the way one defines a book, as good or bad. He explains that a good book will be read in one way, and a bad book another. Lewis describes the two types of readers: the few and the many. The few are those who read with full attention, passion, appreciation, and tend to talk at great lengths about the text. The literature that the few read is constantly present in their minds, and they tend to repeat lines and stanzas when alone. The many are those who read for emotion, and tend to “never read anything twice”. The many rarely talk

A myth is “extra-literary”, meaning that the charm and power of a myth come from its story rather than the words that are used. Lewis explains that the pleasure of a myth does not depend on suspense or knowing the ending of the story. A true myth makes us think of the spiritual realm and reminds us that there is more to life than just ‘us’. The ideas that a myth provides do not fade and are intended to provide an impact long after one knows the story. Lewis explains that we do not “project ourselves at all strongly into the characters”. The people portrayed in myths are not typically specific people, rather they represent a group or race. The fourth commonality is all myths deal with “impossibles and preternaturals”. The experience a myth provides may be sad or joyful, but it is always grave, and never comedic. Lewis explains that myths are awe-inspiring and make one feel important. If an allegorical explanation of a myth is given, it does not truly satisfy

In the literal sense ‘fantasy’ has to do with uncertainty, and unknown possibilities. In the psychological sense the word has three meanings. It can be an “imaginary construction” which is when a patient thinks that they are seeing something that is actually not real. Lewis explains that this kind of fantasy is a delusion and has no literary interest. Secondly, a ‘fantasy’ can also be a pleasing imaginative construction, or what Lewis calls a “Morbid Caste-building”. This is a story, such as war or marriage that a patient makes up and believes is true. The details of these stories are built up and elaborated over time, and they becomes “almost the only pleasure, of the dreamers life”. The third use of ‘fantasy’ is what Lewis calls “Normal Castle-building”. This is when people fantasize about the future, such as a dream job or experience, but these thoughts are not relied upon. In these cases what one actually does is often what one had dreamed of. Lewis explains that there are two kinds of “Normal Castle-building”, “Egoistic and