Are you a fan of C. S. Lewis? I have been a fan for a long time, yet I never read much of his fiction except The Great Divorce and ScrewtapeLetters.
The summer movie "Prince Caspian" featuring Anna Popplewell has solid review ratings thus far. I am interested in seeing "Voyage of the Dawn Treader," another Chronicles of Narnia story. I have the bookon a desk at home, yet I have never read it. The movie, the last planned Narnia film, is set for release in 2010.
You may have noticed how famous people seem to die at times close together. For example, Mother Teresa died close to the day of Princess Diana's death. Similarly, C. S. Lewis died in November, 1963, in the shadow of President Kennedy's assassination.
Do you or I think that C. S. Lewis expected his stories' appeal to continue into the 21st century? I doubt it. Yet, they have done so, appealing to and drawing new generations through the books and now movies.
A few days ago I realized that I have a copy of Dawn Treader by C. S. Lewis. It also features Prince Caspian, starting with a dreaded summer visit by two of the Narnia children with an uncle and an obnoxious cousin. I put my copy where I'll see it and read it soon, and I thought of a young nephew whom we see now and then. He is more than halfway through elementary school, I believe.
When I saw him recently, I asked my nephew Michael if he has read the Narnia books. He answered, "Of course! I have them
all! I've read them all lots and lots and lots of times!"
I do not remember showing quite the level of enthusiasm over books to match Michael's excitement over what he enjoys. I marvel at his robust answer.He owns all the Narnia books.
You may have noticed that many children are as enthusiastic about C. S. Lewis as are J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter fans. My nephew Michael also plays a mean
game of chess with another nephew that is one of his close cousins.
I not only admire my nephew's reading habits; I admire his enthusiasm about his favorite books. If only our favorite people might like us that much!
As far as literary interest goes, if the term "Dawn Treader" cannot draw an inquiring reader or movie-goer, what can? I watched the early sunlight cross my front yard this morning and its rays crept alongside my neighbor's front door, across the street. The sun does tread - silently, of course - so why not the dawn? Yet, Lewis surely took the idea beyond the real and into fantasy. Like much of fantasy writing, there will be shadows of what is real, even if elusive.
I can hardly wait to find out how C. S. Lewis interprets the treader of the dawn in his Narnia story. When the film is done, I want to see how it is handled. I wonder if I will feel enthusiasm for the story, which I plan to read soon, or the 2010 movie.
If you are curious about this, too, will you see the film? And, if you like it, will you show your reaction enthusiastically? How many of us will go beyond literary analysis, where grown ups often stop? I hope many of us will try to find the excitement of youth: "Of course! I liked it! I might see it again! I might see it lots of times!"
Jane Bullard is a published author and Internet writer. Her newsletter is Opinari Quarterly. Jane lives between Washington DC and Baltimore, MD.
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