This thesis examines the influence of John Milton's Paradise Lost on C.S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia. In the first chapter it discusses a number of the most clear allusions to Milton's epic...Show moreThis thesis examines the influence of John Milton's Paradise Lost on C.S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia. In the first chapter it discusses a number of the most clear allusions to Milton's epic in The Chronicles, where they are found and what they do. The second chapter focuses on the question of gender hierarchy, and which role Paradise Lost plays in Lewis's depiction of this in his children's series.Show less
C.S. Lewis is often criticized for being misogynist. In this thesis, I analyse the Chronicles of Narnia using the theory of Theological Feminism to point out that Lewis is not, in fact, misogynist,...Show moreC.S. Lewis is often criticized for being misogynist. In this thesis, I analyse the Chronicles of Narnia using the theory of Theological Feminism to point out that Lewis is not, in fact, misogynist, but in some ways even progressive in the way he portrays gender in the Chronicles. In order to contextualise and the novel better, I also analyse The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien and The Little White Horse by Elizabeth Goudge using the same parameters. This study proves that none of these authors are anti-feminist or misogynistic while simultaneously pointing out which remarks and/or situations from the books do stem from Victorian ideology which the authors adhered to.Show less
