Magical creatures are an important aspect of the fictional world of Narnia contained within The Chronicles of Narnia book series and connected media originally created by C. S. Lewis. Throughout the seven books of the series, the protagonists encounter a variety of these creatures as they travel throughout Narnia and the surrounding lands and seas, including Archenland, Calormen, and the Great Eastern Ocean. Much of Lewis' Narnian mythology references Greek, Norse, Arthurian, and Christian mythologies, among others. As a member of the Inklings literary group, Lewis was a contemporary of other authors of fiction such as J. R. R. Tolkien, and as such they held much discourse regarding different approaches to world-building. Some magical creatures are simply larger, talking versions of real animals such as beavers, bears, mice, and wolves. Other magical creatures are traditional figures associated with various mythologies such as fauns, satyrs, centaurs, and dryads. Lewis' mythology also includes various deities and species of his own creation.
Background At the time C. S. Lewis wrote The Chronicles of Narnia, he was a devout Christian. Much of this is reflected through the books, which prominently utilize allegories and symbolism to retell biblical stories, or illustrate a religious conversion and life of faith, in this fantastical setting. Perhaps most famously, Lewis wrote the character of Aslan to reflect the figure Jesus Christ, mirroring the same journey of a sacrificial death and resurrection as found in the Gospels. Tolkien and others have criticized Lewis' work as merely a thinly veiled allegory, though supporters argue that his work is much more nuanced than it may initially appear. In addition to the prominent Christian message that he sought to present, Lewis brings in figures from Greco-Roman and Norse mythology, Turkish tradition, and even specific European folk characters such as Father Christmas.
List of creatures
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