Is Phantastes an allegory?

Is Phantastes an allegory?

The book is very clearly allegorical, but defining the allegory isn’t straightforward. Overall, Anodos appears to travel through various stages of his life, from innocence to experience and beyond, on a journey that confronts and tests his various ideals, fears and desires, but MacDonald avoids any easy answers.

What did CS Lewis say about George MacDonald?

C. S. Lewis wrote of George MacDonald: “I know hardly any other writer who seems to be closer, or more continually close, to the Spirit of Christ Himself.” Lewis also claimed that everything he wrote was influenced by this Scottish pastor and novelist who lived a century before Lewis.

What is the meaning of Phantastes?

Wikipedia. Phantastes. Phantastes: A Faerie Romance for Men and Women is a fantasy novel by Scottish writer George MacDonald, first published in London in 1858. It was later reprinted in paperback by Ballantine Books as the fourteenth volume of the Ballantine Adult Fantasy series in April 1970.

Who did George MacDonald influence?

hat George MacDonald was one of several early influences on J.R.R. Tolkien—along with William Morris, Andrew Lang, H. Rider Haggard,1 and others—has long been known by scholars.

When did CS Lewis read Phantastes?

C. S. Lewis wrote, concerning his first reading of Phantastes at age sixteen, “That night my imagination was, in a certain sense, baptized; the rest of me[,] not unnaturally, took longer….Phantastes.

What does the shadow represent in Phantastes?

hantastes describes Anados’ struggle to have faith in and “imagine”–that is, use his imagination to believe in– the existence of God, and MacDonald uses the concept of a shadow to symbolize the frequent obtrusion of doubt that ruins Anados’ ability to see and imagine Fairyland.

What is the shadow in Phantastes?

In addition to the black sun, Anodos’ shadow is connected to three other symbolic characters in Phantastes, who represent four vices that keep the self in a permanent state of disenchantment.

Who was C.S. Lewis mentor?

In an October 2012 blog, “A Tribute to a Mentor,” I told the story of C.S. Lewis’ great teacher, William Kirkpatrick. He was called “The Great Knock” by the Lewis family, and he absolutely transformed C.S.

When did George MacDonald write Phantastes?

Lewis wrote, concerning his first reading of Phantastes at age sixteen, “That night my imagination was, in a certain sense, baptized; the rest of me[,] not unnaturally, took longer….Phantastes.