If good literature communicates truth about the human condition, The Chronicles of Narnia qualifies. In his seven-book collection of children's stories, the late C. S. Lewis found the right tone mixing mythology with Christian themes and symbols to create an engaging fantasy that children (and Hollywood) are enjoying over 50 years later.
A former atheist-turned-Christian, Lewis imbued his tales with biblical allusions that only the most hardened skeptic would miss. In The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, the first book in the series, Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy Pevensie go through a magical wardrobe and discover a kingdom ruled by the evil White Witch. Along with Aslan the lion (a Christ figure), they defeat the witch and become kings and queens of Narnia.
Prince Caspian, the second book in the series, also features a classic battle of good and evil. King Miraz usurped Caspian's throne, and the young prince calls on Narnia's former kings and queens to help him recover it. Along the way, characters learn to find hope in the face of doubt.
Lewis fans and scholars have written dozens of guides on Christian themes and symbolism in the Narnia books, and Finding Purpose in Narnia: A Journey with Prince Caspian is one of them. Written by Gina Burkart, a Christian, an English professor at the University of Northern Iowa, and author of A Parent's Guide to Harry Potter, the book is a resource for families, churches, and schools that explores spiritual lessons in Prince Caspian.
Burkart divided the book into three sections ("Finding Faith," "Holding on to Hope," and "Learning to Love"), discusses major scenes and ideas, and breaks down the lessons under five subsections: "Reflections on Lewis with Caspian," "Personal Ponderings," "Finding Purpose," "Finding Scripture," and "Suggested Scripture Reading and Reflections."
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