The English Lion

[Galadriel]

I was just reviewing the graphics of Peter in his High King persona. he is wearing the red shirt with gold like all the Plantagenet movies, i notice the rampant lion looks particularly English. Can England say the Narnian "ideals" are more proximate to English history and mores than universally?

[rosymole]

Well, I can't think of many evil Witches in English history, although the permanent winter is quite another thing!lol

[waterhogboy]

Well, I can't think of many evil Witches in English history, although the permanent winter is quite another thing!lol

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAH!!! Oh my.....

I think, as it was written by an English guy, he will have had an English atmosphere in mind. I think anything set in the 'Middle Ages' type era has to have similarities to Britain's history, or at least Western European history, as that was really the only place the stereotypes existed.

I think the roaring lion symbolises Aslan more than anything, but I do hope the film retains an English feel - for selfish reasons really...

[Kazakhrider]

I definitely think they were inspired by the royal Scottish insignia of the lion :)

http://www.users.on.net/~harrisons/rk/crests.bmp

[Hope96]

Okay so I'm not from England, but I feel like the movie would lose something if it didn't have an english feel to it. Even when reading the books I envision, in my mind, everyone having english accents. It wouldn't be the same if it wasn't english.

[inkspot]

I agree, I always imagine all the kids with the British accents, and I think it's cool the lion rampant looks British. I bet that's how Lewis imagined it, because of his love for Britain and the medieval.

[inked]

Whilst there is no doubt of CS Lewis' loyalty to the Crown (served in the trenches in WWI), I would remind you that he was Irish, Ulster-born and bred, and never escaped that (nor wanted to, as his friend and colleague JRRT commented in Letters). Clearly he was English and the books will reflect that initial setting (WWII and All That, as well as 1066 and All That :p ). He was also a medievalist and acquainted with alchemy and the great hierarchy of being and heraldry and astronomy/astrology. Lewis is therefore far more UNIVERSAL than particular as an individual and as an author. Therein is the appeal of Narnia to those not of English ancestry, culture, or historical relatedness. Lewis can no more escape the scandal of particularity than his Lord, a certain notorious Jewish carpenter! (But then neither can any of us!)

Nonetheless, as Kathryn Lindskoog has it in her excellently titled book, Aslan is THE LION OF JUDAH IN NEVER-NEVER LAND. She has the approval of the great man himself, who wrote:
"You are in the center of the target everywhere."

[Mudpuddle]

The lion appears on the seal of the city of Jerusalem, picture is here - http://www.pbase.com/buchandel/image/5253977

[inked]

GREAT PICTURE! Could that be made into an avatar?

[perpetualpoetry]

I agree, I always imagine all the kids with the British accents, and I think it's cool the lion rampant looks British. I bet that's how Lewis imagined it, because of his love for Britain and the medieval.


Yes, it would be wrong (for me, that is) if there wasn't any "medieval english" feel towards the book and the movie... I always imagined the medieval times to have knights, accents, and it's setting to be in Britain...etc... I guess it's like a stereotype.