An arguement we had in school. The Lord of the Rings, or the Chronicles of Narnia. Which is better written, and which has the better story?

I vote Narnia, both ways. Aslan was way cooler than Gandalf.

Well, Narnia was written for kids, so the style is much more simple than Tolkien's. I couldn't say which was better, they're both excellent and I love them both, but they're way too different to be compared on the same level. Considering Tolkien and Lewis were friends, I'd say the same really goes for the books. They complement each other. I'd start with Narnia and The Hobbit, then LoTR, and then back to Narnia again - you miss a great number of things in Narnia until you're old enough to understand them.

Since Lewis was from N.Ireland this always made Narnia more special for me, especially as a child, but both are excellent.

Hmm that's very hard to answer, i love both worlds. I would have to say *Middle Earth*, since i didn't appriciate the use of religion in C.S Lewis' works.
(Edit: Shouldn't this have been a poll :confused: )

Well, you can see instances of religion in LOTR. Gandalf's supposed 'death', then his re-appearance for example?

And no, not really a poll, because I'd like to know reasons, rather than numbers

I really don't see how Gandalf's 'death' has anything to do with religion - sure, a famous mythological character did much the same, but the similarities aren't exactly very close...

And don't get started on Morgoth/Satan comparisions either - even if one is the mirror of the other, it is hardly a glaring book-breaking reference put there to advocate Tolkien's religion.

*use of religion in C.S Lewis' works* I should have said *the way C.S Leweis use religion in his works* ;)

Since I really couldn't stomach Narnia, I'd have to say Lord of the Rings all the way :)

Maybe it's because I read Narnia "too late" (I was 22, and so there's no special feeling or nostalgia involved), but it's mostly because I find LotR's prose to be much more involving, and because the preaching self-righteousness of Narnia really got on my nerves once I got to book 2. By the time I got to the 7th I was almost pulling my hair out.

Maybe it's because I'm not a Christian, or much of a religious person for that matter... I don't know. Reading the books as mythology though, Silmarillion is absolutely fascinating. Especially the creation of the world.


I should have said *the way C.S Leweis use religion in his works* Since both Tolkien and Lewis were equally devout, that's an interesting statement. It's easy to see religious (Christian in particular) references all over both books. I always found Tolkien's use of such references to be much more subtle, and as such less bothersome. Not that I have anything against Christianity mind you, but I don't like preaching in the books I read :)

I love both Narnia and LoTR. Since they were written for different age groups they can't be compared. It's sorta like comparing apples and oranges.

I had no idea there was any religion in the Narnia books :confused:

I always thought that Tolkien's stuff was far more religious - the start of the Silmarillion reminded me of the start of the Bible.

I loved Narnia as a pre-teen and I loved Lord of the Rings as a post-teen. They both rule in their own way. :thumb:

Lewis was a master at waving Christianity into the story so skillfully that you never even saw it was there when you were a child. I've read or seen most of Narnia when I was a kid and didn't have a clue about the religious background. Then I went and re-read the whole series a couple of years ago and it was so obvious... Really, the Narnia books are timeless masterpieces. Though if you're not more intimately familiar with Catholicism, you probably won't even notice any religious influence in them, as nothing is forced or stated openly, it's all in the service of the story.

Hmm, I'm thinking back on those stories, which I read so many times I think I know them inside out. I still can't see any religious themes. There was a lion, and a witch, and a place where time went faster than in our world, and a ship, and a faun, and a mouse, and some islands. What does any of that have to do with Christianity? I don't remember there being any turkish delight in the Bible.

Well, starting with the most obvious, Aslan is a figure of Christ. But considering many books on the symbolism in Narnia have been written, I suggest you pick one of them up, Lindskoog's most likely. SP has it listed at http://www.sorcerers.net/Books/index_lewis.php

Is he?! Wow. Who were his Father and Mother then? This is fascinating. I plan to look into this further (but am unlikely to buy a whole book on the topic - sorry).

Hmm, come to think of it, they do go to a sort of 'heaven' at the end of the Last Battle, don't they?

they do go to a sort of 'heaven' at the end of the Last Battle, don't they? Yes, though my guess is it's closer to the post-JUdgement Day "heaven" than the "present" heaven, since the entire Last Battle really is The End of the world.

I have to disagree with Tal about the religious influence not being forced (or at least stated openly). As I never read the books as a child I can't comment on this point, but as an "adult" (let's say young adult) I thought it was very obvious, and I'm not that familiar with catholicism. True, it is in service of the story, but then again most of the "big" story entirely revolves around Catholic issues.

SPOILERS BELOW

By the way HB, there's one passage that really illustrates the Jesus/Aslan point: in The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, Aslan is supposedly killed, in stead of one of the boys (forgot which one), but shorly later he returns.

Hey Ziad, your post count seems apt for the topic, no?

So, Prince Caspian, who is he then?

I always prefered LoTR over Narnia (The first book I actually enjoyed was The Hobbit :p ), although I still liked to read Narnia when I was wee ;)

Remember that Lewis and Tolkien were great mates and they both had an influence on each others work. Narina was targeted at children and personally I think the story telling is better the LOTR. Tolkien wrote LOTR mainly so he could use the language he invented. Both books have heavy Christian overtones, mainly because they were both devout Christians. The great thing about the writing in both books is that they don't slap you in the face with their beliefs so even unbelievers like me can enjoy it. As for the over all story LOTR thanks to better depth.

For me Lewis told better stories but Tolkien was the better writer.

Also on a side note Lewis and Tolkien who were best friends hated (I use this word lightly) each other's books. Interesting, no?

I find it quite humorous that a few people have said the Narnia books require an indpepth knowledge of Catholicisim. This provokes a wry smile as Tolkien of the two was the devout Catholic and C.S. Lewis, though definitely Christian, would not have definted himself as Catholic. Indeed, the two used to have little debates about the relative merits of their two relative positions, although generally they agreed on many points. Personally, I prefer Tolkien, as pointed out the religion is there, but it is implicit and not explicit. Although any of you who have read C.S. Lewis's Cosmic Trilogy may have found those rather interesting in relation to this difference between the two men.

I prefer Narnia. Just bought the DvD box set ;)

I just re-read the series, and am surprised at the racist content some of the books have.

The Lord of the Rings, or the Chronicles of Narnia. Which is better written, and which has the better story?
It is really unfair to compare these 2 books in this way as has been already pointed Narnia is a child's book, it would have been better to compare it with The Hobbit. The other problem is that Narnia is a product of its time and looking back with our current viewpoints we can see elements of racism, anti-muslim and anti-semitism; but it is still a good story and should be taken as such.

The Lord of the Rings on the other hand is a vast volume of work based on even more volumes Tolkien himself was more interested in (the first two Ages of Middle-Earth). Although there are some Christian overtones/references to the books people often forget the other influences the Qaballah, the Kalevala, Celtic, Arabic etc. He had histories for many different races (Elves, Dwarves, Men, Halflings, Dragons, Ents), he had descriptions of the fauna and flora of Middle-Earth, different languages, alphabets, customs. This is what sets the books apart from most books in that Tolkien built a world from scratch for us to enjoy and debate about.

I remember as a child I was quite sad when the Lion sacrificed himself for the children. I think I even cried a bit (seriously). I remember also feeling quite confounded; I have not read the books since I was like eight or so, but even then, it seemed forced. Either I was just constitutionally incapable of understanding such a willful self-sacrifice or it was introduced unnecessarily. As an adult looking back, I am leaning toward the latter.

C. S. Lewis was a convert to the Anglo-Catholic church. Here (http://members.aol.com/thompsonja/cslewis.htm)

I have read quite a few of his books. All those I read where religious whether fiction or non-fiction. I have never read any explanation as to why he was Anglo rather than Roman. He was very Catholic in his view point. It doesn't suprise me at all that 'The Narnia Chronicles' were religious in nature.

sure, a famous mythological character did much the same, but the similarities aren't exactly very close...Maybe I'm the only one, but I thought this was quite offensive...

This isn't AoDA, so if anyone wants to discuss religion, you know where it's done. Bringing up posts half a year old as "quite offensive" is also way past the reporting period. Not to mention that it should have been done via PM in the first place.

Sorry Tal, didn't glance at the date... my bad.

well, let me first say that i really love both of them. but in the end i'd have to go with LOTR, because it is obviously very well written and has many themes that i can emphasize with (not that narnia doesn't, but LOTR does more so).

About The Lord of The Rings and religion: Tolkein clearly states in the introduction to the fellowship of the ring that it is NOT meant to an alligory in any way and does did not directly relate with modern events. Tolkein himselve did not like allagories. On the DVD of Fellowship of the Ring there is a short film about the life and writings of j.r.r. tolkein. In it, many tolkein experts (people who had written biographical works about him) all agreed that the lord of the rings was not meant to have any religous allegories/interpretations, it was meant to be read "as is".

Both :)

LOTR!!! :D I'd write why, but I gotta go now. I'll post my reasons another time. :D

The Lord of the Rings - it's one of the most important books written in the 20th century, IMO.

haven't read narnia yet.. :o

if the movie is any good, I'll pick it up. That's what got me reading LOTR :D :p

Watched movie yesterday. No match for LoTR.

tried reading it without seeing the movie anyway.

i don't know... it seems a bit too kiddy for me now, so I couldn't really get into it. Finished Magician's Nephew and got 3/4 through Lion, Witch and Wardrobe but stopped there...

afai'm concerned, the best passage among those I've read was when the sentient animals decided to christen uncle Andrew as "Brandy" because he kept on saying the word over and over, LMAO :D

Three things:

1) Nothing will ever shake the LotR from the top of my roost.

2) Just on my having watched the movie, watching a bunch of kids playing at being majestic heroes while rhinos and battle-hardened centaurs are getting wasted around them was a little hard for me to take.

3) Without trying to revive the religious side discussion, the explicit allegory of the crucifixion was even harder for me to take.

Definitely LotR.

Please stick to only discussing the books in this forum. Open a new thread in The Sensorium to discuss the movie(s).

Hmmm...as I just mentioned, I reciently got the CoN, so after I read it, I'll let you all know.

The LotR books were boring at times, but the story is solid, and will be hard to beat, but you never know. :rolling:

LotR is a life time work. The extend of detail alone (leave the story out) in every aspect makes it maybe among the 5 most important books of all time.
Narnia on the other hand is a very beautifull, well structured and elegantly (but not so fully) build fairy tale.
LotR is a world of its own, you don't get any closets to hide.
I think LotR is the winner IMHO, but Chronicles of Narnia do place in the top 5 of my favorites but not in the most important books of all time.

I loved Narnia as a child and it would likely have too much children content for my liking if I were to read it right now. However, as I recall the language and some of the style, as well as the constructs and alegories, I wonder if it actually wasn't intended to give something to the parents who are reading the books to children as well as the children themselves, more than children alone. At any rate, I'm not going to read Narnia anymore unless for children, while I may be tempted to read LotR again. Not like I'm often tempted to re-read books (or watch movies or play roleplaying games more than once). Wonder if I've ever actually done that. Well, I think I may have, but just a couple of times if at all. But I have watched the LotR movies more than once so maybe I'll re-read the book, too.