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Thursday, June 6, 2013

Discussion Questions For Our June 13th Meeting


The Inklings  
       C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, Charles Williams, And Their Friends by Humphrey Carpenter

Discussion Questions: (June 13th meeting Ray as discussion leader)
1) What is this all about anyway?  How would you summarize what Carpenter is trying to accomplish with the book?  Do you think he succeeded?  Why? or Why Not?
2) What is it like ... comparables? How does this book compare with other biographical books about C.S. Lewis and his friends that you may be familiar with.
3) What are the fundamental common threads that joined the company, the Inklings, and how did they change over time?  What were the factors that drew them together and what were the factors that tended to drive them apart?
4) Share something you strongly agree with or strongly disagree with that is in the book.
5) Lewis and Tolkien shared a common sense of myth that was not widely shared outside their group.  What is your view of myth and Mythopoeia?
6) Carpenter goes looking for a 'A fox that isn't there' is Part Three (153).  What did you think of his search?  Do you agree or disagree?
7) Carpenter seems to be very critical of Lewis, especially towards the end of the book.  Comment on your perceptions of his criticisms.
8) What did you make of the treatment of Charles Williams in the book?  Was Williams an attractive or unattractive individual based on your perspective?
9) Is the treatment of the Inklings as an instance of an Inner Ring fair or unfair to the Inklings?
10) What do you carry away after reading it?

Schedule:
July 11th Owen Barfield's Saving the Appearances led by Elizabeth
August 8th Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility led by Cristabel
September 12th The Magician's Twin a group of essays edited by John West and our discussion leader will be Peggy (We'll also agree on the selection of essays to read from God In The Dock)
October 10th Selected Essays from God In The Dock by C.S. Lewis led by Melissa
November 8th The Literary Impact of the Authorized Version an essay by C.S. Lewis (17 pages) led by Iain (http://www.biblicalstudies.org.uk/pdf/kjv_lewis.pdf )
December 12th or thereabouts The Annual C.S. Lewis Society Christmas Party where we bring a snack to share and discuss the plans for the coming year
The website for the C.S. Lewis Society of Harrisonburg can be found at:
http://cslewissocietyhburg.blogspot.com/


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