A Hobbit, a Wardrobe, and a Great War

01How World War I influenced Tolkien and Lewis?

The Great War, as it was known then, was a cataclysmic event that shook the world to its core. It was a conflict of unprecedented scale and brutality, one that left an indelible mark on the collective consciousness of humanity. Among those deeply affected by the war were two young men, J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis. Their experiences during this tumultuous period would profoundly shape their lives, their faith, and their literary works. Tolkien and Lewis were both soldiers in World War I, and they bore witness to the horrors of the battlefield. They saw friends and comrades fall, experienced the terror of artillery fire, and lived through the squalor of the trenches. These experiences left a deep impression on them, forcing them to confront the harsh realities of life, death, and the human condition. Before the war, both Tolkien and Lewis had strong religious beliefs. Tolkien was a devout Catholic, while Lewis was raised in a religious household but had become an atheist in his teens. The war, however, tested their faith in different ways. For Tolkien, the war reinforced his belief in a higher power, a source of hope and solace amidst the chaos and destruction. For Lewis, the war led him to question his atheism and eventually return to Christianity. Their faith became a beacon of light in the darkness, a source of strength and resilience in the face of adversity. The war also had a profound influence on their literary works. In Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings" and Lewis's "The Chronicles of Narnia", themes of conflict, sacrifice, and heroism are prevalent. These themes are a reflection of their war experiences, a testament to the courage and resilience of the human spirit in the face of overwhelming adversity. Their depiction of evil in their works, embodied by characters like Sauron and the White Witch, mirrors the brutality and inhumanity they witnessed during the war. In conclusion, World War I had a profound and lasting impact on Tolkien and Lewis. It shaped their perspectives on life, death, and the human condition, tested and ultimately strengthened their faith, and influenced the themes and characters in their literary works. The war was a crucible that forged their identities, both as individuals and as authors, and its influence can be seen in every page of their works. Their stories, born out of the chaos and destruction of the Great War, continue to resonate with readers today, a testament to the enduring power of their experiences and their art.