The first itinerary activity was to meet Dr. Holly Ordway in front of the Radcliffe camera to go together to the Kilns. I was reminded vicariously of my own first moments in oxford in 2012, when I was led by a colleague in our group past the large round “rad cam” in the middle of the open cobblestone courtyard to the south of the old Bodleian, (north of St. Mary's, and between Brasenose College to the west and All Souls College to the east. It was originally built in the early 18th century to house the Radcliffe science library, and is now a reading room.) Is there anything more iconic of Oxford than this?
I’d never been to the kilns except through the descriptions given by Ryan Pemberton in Called. To stand in the home of the prolific Lewis whose writing I have come to value greatly in the last year of studies was a treat. I do not over-value the relics of history, especially those like the restored home of the kilns, but I learned today that the house itself is completely renewed (but for one doorknob) and refurbished through an American institution which uses wardens (my own prof. Dr. Michael ward being an aptly named one), to keep the house from the time of its restoration to today. I like this. Rather than it being a museum or shrine to a man, it is a working breathing, living house of productive study. This is phenomenal.
I’d never been to the kilns except through the descriptions given by Ryan Pemberton in Called. To stand in the home of the prolific Lewis whose writing I have come to value greatly in the last year of studies was a treat. I do not over-value the relics of history, especially those like the restored home of the kilns, but I learned today that the house itself is completely renewed (but for one doorknob) and refurbished through an American institution which uses wardens (my own prof. Dr. Michael ward being an aptly named one), to keep the house from the time of its restoration to today. I like this. Rather than it being a museum or shrine to a man, it is a working breathing, living house of productive study. This is phenomenal.
Dr. Jonathan Kirkpatrick conducted the tour and also a wonderful lecture in the carriage house (added later) on Lewis and classicism, both of which drew me into Lewis’ world like I had not been before. Warnie Lewis came alive to me! As a loving brother and a secretary to Lewis, but also an alcoholic, his struggles felt real standing in that home. Lewis’s difficulties with Mrs. Moore suddenly made sense in that little home with nowhere to hide, and his custom-built steps to his private room spoke an essay’s worth by its very existence. Even the bus ride there and the relatively short walk from the road drove home how far he would have walked each day to and from work, a time to think and compose his essays in his head. And then his late discovery of joy… Davidson that is, who when blocked by Lewis for chasing down some armed garden thieves with her gun purportedly said “...D**n it, jack. Get out of my line of fire!” Life was had there at the kilns.
I must not forget to mention the tea we had though! I daresay it beat out yesterday’s or at least equaled it, but perhaps there was a modifier being in Lewis’s home, listening to dr. Holly Ordway’s lecture on the definition of fantasy and secondary belief within the context of Tolkien’s work, which was I know was a great influence upon her and her conversion experience from her memoir not god’s type. Where was this model when I was teaching “the history of fantasy” lesson to my arts and technology grad students at UT Dallas? I will need to update that presentation should I teach that curriculum again someday when I take up professoring again! Dr. Kirkpatrick’s lecture focused on Lewis’s treatment of thick and clear religions, with special appearances by Bacchus and Mr. Tumnus the satyr (Lewis uses “fawn”) I had not considered as images of the classical in Narnia. My take-away opinion of the satyr (specifically pan) as “horny bard” played well with the discussion, but I refrained from being overly gratuitous in the context. It turns out I needn’t have worried, in fact the discussion turned precisely to the use of “adult content” in apologetic literature, and we were reminded that the bible is not rated g, or even PG-13 really, but a good solid R. Lewis’s use of the image works on multiple levels I hadn’t considered.
I must not forget to mention the tea we had though! I daresay it beat out yesterday’s or at least equaled it, but perhaps there was a modifier being in Lewis’s home, listening to dr. Holly Ordway’s lecture on the definition of fantasy and secondary belief within the context of Tolkien’s work, which was I know was a great influence upon her and her conversion experience from her memoir not god’s type. Where was this model when I was teaching “the history of fantasy” lesson to my arts and technology grad students at UT Dallas? I will need to update that presentation should I teach that curriculum again someday when I take up professoring again! Dr. Kirkpatrick’s lecture focused on Lewis’s treatment of thick and clear religions, with special appearances by Bacchus and Mr. Tumnus the satyr (Lewis uses “fawn”) I had not considered as images of the classical in Narnia. My take-away opinion of the satyr (specifically pan) as “horny bard” played well with the discussion, but I refrained from being overly gratuitous in the context. It turns out I needn’t have worried, in fact the discussion turned precisely to the use of “adult content” in apologetic literature, and we were reminded that the bible is not rated g, or even PG-13 really, but a good solid R. Lewis’s use of the image works on multiple levels I hadn’t considered.
A theme occurs to me as I sit writing in my 1970's dorm room surrounded by a 970’s (or so) founded oxen-fording and reflecting upon 20th century men and women. We are all affected by our environment, (though certainly not merely products of it!) And as such, it is no wonder we are intrigued by the pursuit described in Bandersnatch to try to find the connections between influences. Lewis had a wardrobe, was it "the" wardrobe?!, the “Bird and Baby” aka "Eagle and Child Pub’s" original sign which now hangs at the kilns practically depicts Tolkien’s description of Bilbo’s flight from the mountain goblins or Frodo’s escape from Mount Doom. Coincidence? Lewis’s affinity for pen and ink allegedly allowed him to think of the next line, and the permanence of those indelible marks (somewhat like those in this book) are so very different from typing on a keyboard.
(Author’s Note: perhaps the point is this: How much of Lewis would we have without Warnie? Without Tolkien? Without the inklings? Impossible to know.)
(Author’s Note: perhaps the point is this: How much of Lewis would we have without Warnie? Without Tolkien? Without the inklings? Impossible to know.)
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