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Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis
This book is rich in its metaphors and symbols for the Christian life. It's like seeing Truth through a prism, shooting colors and light in every direction. Lewis doesn't take one aspect of the Christian life or story and attempt an allegory, which is closer to what the Narnia series is, but takes a well-known myth and infuses it with life and truth. Or perhaps he merely points to the truth in a well-known myth.
Discussion questions:
1. How does this story mirror the Book of Job?
2. Orual, one of Lewis' most well-developed characters, is at once lovable, pitiable, hateful, jealous, loving, and spiteful. How do you see yourself in Orual?
3. Orual thought she was loving purely but later she discovers that she is Ungit. How does her version of love consume and destroy others (such as Redival, the Fox, Bardia, and Psyche)?
4. How is Orual used to support Psyche even when she is unaware of it? How does God use unbelievers in our lives as vessels of His grace and love though they may not be aware of it? How does God use the world around us (nature, art, beauty) as vessels of his love and grace?
5. Orual gives us the perspective of an unbeliever who feels like they are losing a friend/lover/family member to God. They may be hurt or think of us or God as cruel and selfless. How did this book help you understand their point of view? How have you seen/experienced a wedge driven between relationships when one has become a believer? How are we ourselves, whether Christians or nonChristians, stumbling blocks?
6. There is a theme of living by faith rather than living by sight. Psyche lives by faith. How is God asking you to live by faith right now rather than by sight?
7. Psyche is a Christ-figure as she is sacrificed on the Tree for the good of her people, a perfect sacrifice, yet carrying the sin of the kingdom. She also represents the believer. She longs for something greater. In order to get to her palace, she must die to self, but even in her death, she doesn't know that this will lead to her palace on the mountain. It is only afterwards that she becomes aware. How are you experiencing a death-to-self?
8. Psyche has to give up her paradise in order to save and redeem Orual. This again parallels Christ. How are we called to enter into the suffering of Christ as we love others as ourselves?
9. The Fox offers "logical" explanations that he recognizes as weak in the end. How does he represent the world?
10. Bardia is superstitious and avoids the gods. How does he represent the world?
11. Orual says in the end that the Psyche she sees is even more herself than the pre-Offering Psyche. How does this parallel the Christian life?
12. What does Orual's veil symbolize?
13. What is the significance of the title?
14. How is Orual's complaint answered?
15. What does Orual realize about herself?
Discussion questions:
1. How does this story mirror the Book of Job?
2. Orual, one of Lewis' most well-developed characters, is at once lovable, pitiable, hateful, jealous, loving, and spiteful. How do you see yourself in Orual?
3. Orual thought she was loving purely but later she discovers that she is Ungit. How does her version of love consume and destroy others (such as Redival, the Fox, Bardia, and Psyche)?
4. How is Orual used to support Psyche even when she is unaware of it? How does God use unbelievers in our lives as vessels of His grace and love though they may not be aware of it? How does God use the world around us (nature, art, beauty) as vessels of his love and grace?
5. Orual gives us the perspective of an unbeliever who feels like they are losing a friend/lover/family member to God. They may be hurt or think of us or God as cruel and selfless. How did this book help you understand their point of view? How have you seen/experienced a wedge driven between relationships when one has become a believer? How are we ourselves, whether Christians or nonChristians, stumbling blocks?
6. There is a theme of living by faith rather than living by sight. Psyche lives by faith. How is God asking you to live by faith right now rather than by sight?
7. Psyche is a Christ-figure as she is sacrificed on the Tree for the good of her people, a perfect sacrifice, yet carrying the sin of the kingdom. She also represents the believer. She longs for something greater. In order to get to her palace, she must die to self, but even in her death, she doesn't know that this will lead to her palace on the mountain. It is only afterwards that she becomes aware. How are you experiencing a death-to-self?
8. Psyche has to give up her paradise in order to save and redeem Orual. This again parallels Christ. How are we called to enter into the suffering of Christ as we love others as ourselves?
9. The Fox offers "logical" explanations that he recognizes as weak in the end. How does he represent the world?
10. Bardia is superstitious and avoids the gods. How does he represent the world?
11. Orual says in the end that the Psyche she sees is even more herself than the pre-Offering Psyche. How does this parallel the Christian life?
12. What does Orual's veil symbolize?
13. What is the significance of the title?
14. How is Orual's complaint answered?
15. What does Orual realize about herself?
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