Outline of C.S.

Lewiss Life
1. C.S. (Clive Staples) Lewis was born on November 29, 1898 in Belfast,
Northern Ireland.
a. His family consisted of his father (emotional and educated), his
mother (happy, affectionate, and mathematical), his nurse, Lizzie
Endicott, (kind, funny, and good), and Warren, his brother, who was
three years younger than he was.
2. When he was six, his family moved to the New House, Little Lea, near the
edge of the city by open farms.
a. The house had an attic, many rooms, dark tunnels, odd things, and
space to explore.
b. C.S. Lewis used this house as the basis for the professors house in
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.
c. At this time Clive changed his name to Jacksie and then to Jack.
He was called Jack the rest of his life.
d. Jack loved talking animals and adored Beatrix Potter.
e. He wrote animal stories beginning at the age of 5.
3. Jacks mother died of cancer in 1908.
a. Jacks father was heartbroken and forgot about his boys.
b. The two boys drew strength from each other.
4. In 1910 Jack was sent to a boarding school.
a. He had cruel and neglectful masters.
b. He went to school with cruel and unmanageable boys.
c. He did not learn very much.
d. Jack began to lose his sense of God and Christianity. Soon he was
an atheist (a person who does not believe there is a God).
e. He wrote to his father and asked to be taken out of school.
5. Jack was sent to live with Mr. W. T. Kirkpatrick, a tutor.
a. Jack and his family call Mr. Kirkpatrick the Old Knock.
b. Mr. Kirkpatrick was both grouchy and warmhearted.
c. He explained everything logically and expected the same from
Jack.
d. He was merciless in correcting the fuzziness and nonsense in Jacks
way of thinking.
e. He taught Jack to think clearly and carefully.
f. Jack loved his tutor.

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g. Mr. Kirkpatrick became the model for the professor in The Lion, the
Witch, and the Wardrobe. (Youll notice that the professor is always
trying to help the children think carefully and logically.)
6. During 19171918 Jack fought in World War I. He fought until he was
wounded and sent home.
a. While in the war, he became friends with E.F.C. (Paddy) Moore.
b. When Paddy died in battle, Jack took care of his mother.
c. He cared for Mrs. Moore and her daughter both physically and
financially for 30 years.
7. From 1919 to 1924 Jack was a student at Cambridge College.
a. He excelled in Greek and Latin literature, ancient history, English,
and classic philosophy.
b. He later taught at Cambridge.
c. Some of his colleagues at Cambridge, including J.R.R. Tolkien, met
weekly to discuss their writings. Their group was called The Inklings.
8. His discussions with the Inklings eventually led to Jacks return to
Christianity.
a. Jack resisted believing but eventually he could not deny the truth.
He said, I gave in, and admitted that God was God, and knelt and
prayed: perhaps, that night, the most dejected and reluctant
convert in all England (Surprised by Joy).
b. Ironically, the Old Knocks teachings in disciplined thinking (which
the Old Knock felt would lead to atheism) brought Jack back to
the truth.
c. After Jack became a Christian, he wrote many books explaining
Christianity. He is known today as one of the worlds best writers
about the Christian religion. (There are over 100 references to C.S.
Lewis in church magazines on lds.org.)
9. Between 1950 and 1956 C.S. Lewis wrote The Chronicles of Narnia, a series
of seven books.
a. These 7 books are delightful stories of imagination and adventure.
b. They also contain references to Christian doctrine and symbolism.
c. During this time, Jack married Joy Davidman. She lived for only 4
years before dying of cancer. These years were some of the best of
Jacks life.
10. C.S. Lewis died on November 22. 1963
a. He died on the same day that President John F. Kennedy was
assassinated in the United States.

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3 Literature-08 #02 / p 2