If youre interested in joining us, add your name to the signup sheet on the bulletin board in the church hallway, or show up a few minutes early on the 25th and. The enemy allows this disappointment to occur on the threshold of every human endeavour. Lewis is a classic masterpiece of religious satire that entertains readers with its sly and ironic portrayal of human life and foibles from the vantage point of. What does screwtape tell wormwood at the end of the book. What is lewis saying, in the book as a whole, about human and divine love. The screwtape letters reading guide book club our reading guide for the screwtape letters by c. Sep 12, 2019 this book has stuck with me long after finishing the final letter.
Lewiss most imaginative creations, this worldfamous book is a humorous correspondence between the devil screwtape and his apprentice wormwood, whose job is to produce a humans soul for eternity in hell. Jun 25, 2014 the screwtape letters struck me, the first time through, as though it was one of the best examinations of conscience i have yet found. The 21 best the screwtape letters quotes kids book club. The screwtape letters is a work of christian apologetic literature, focusing on the themes of humanity, faith, love, and war. The screwtape letters grpl book club book club kit. When your group meets to discuss the book, view the appropriate lectures on dvd, each of which is approximately thirtyfive minutes long. In the first of screwtapes letters, he instructs wormwood not to attempt to win the patients soul through argument, but rather by fixing his attention. Apr 7, 2016 the screwtape letters is an iconic classic on spiritual warfare and the dynamics of temptation. Lewiss epistolary work of fiction has been lauded as a must read in spiritual. It is worth noting here the book was written in 1940 plus ca change.
There is no hint that screwtape is the name of a diabolical being ranking in intellectual ability with miltons. What value can be found in a book with such an odd title. Content includes books from bestselling, midlist and debut authors. Lewis, notes that he has no intention of explaining how he came to acquire these letters.
Oct 24, 2014 the screwtape letters reading guide as october comes to an end i hope that you were able to enjoy this months book club selection, the screwtape letters by c. At once wildly comic, deadly serious, and strikingly original, c. While still being the best book i have ever read, it is also one of the strangest. He paints with words as an artist paints with pictures and a musician with notes and rhythms. Lewis gives us the correspondence of the worldlywise old devil to his nephew wormwood, a novice demon in charge of securing the damnation of an ordinary young man. Free screwtape letters study guide the screwtape letters study guide screwtape doesnt want you to know about. About the author clive staples lewis 18981963 was one of the intellectual giants of the twentieth century and arguably one of the most influential writers of his day. This profound and striking narrative takes the form of a series of letters from screwtape, a devil high in the infernal civil service, to his nephew wormwood, a junior colleague engaged in his first mission on earth. Lewis book the screwtape letters cs lewis study series alan vermilye. A classic masterpiece, the screwtape letters is a collection of letters written by a senior devil, screwtape, to a novice tempter, wormwood.
Simply by writing about christian themes from the perspective of a devil, lewis intentionally alludes to john miltons 1667 epic poem paradise lost, often regarded as one of the greatest works in the english language. The screwtape letters is a christian apologetic novel by c. Letters from a professional satan to his less experienced nephew reveal a cunning plan for. What major strategies does screwtape use to tempt the patient into. Christian life, apologetics, satirical, temptation and resistance, biblical insight. Read download the screwtape letters pdf pdf download. The reader gets a further glimpse into screwtape s twisted mind when he makes some highly astute commentary on the general situation of society and deviltry in modern life. I originally posted this on my other blog, notes in the key of life, on january 29, 2004. We furnish utter variant of this book in pdf, djvu, txt, doc, epub formats.
It opens our eyes to human nature, the wiles of the devils, and the. Lewis the screwtape letters we want cattle who can finally become food, says the demon, he wants servants who can finally become sons. A masterpiece of satire, this classic has entertained and enlightened readers the world over with its sly and ironic portrayal of human life from the vantage point of screwtape, a highly placed assistant to our father below. Lewis constructed the screwtape letters, an epistolary novel in the form of instructive letters from senior demon screwtape to his nephew wormwood, a sort of demonic trainee. Now, for the first time, the screwtape letters is presented with its full text alongside. The leader guide and materials have been very helpful to my ability to lead the. The screwtape letters study guide god versus religion. Lewiss most imaginative creations, this worldfamous book is a humorous correspondence between the devil screwtape and his apprentice. Sedate old oxford with its accent, its dons and its gowns sometimes has its moments. Each person in the group should work through the study questions for each section of the letters.
The screwtape letters is the most engaging account of temptationand triumph over itever written. Lewis the screwtape letters discussion questions, screwtape letters 1921. In this lesson, well look at some discussion questions for c. Lewiss the screwtape letters niv discussion guide for c. In them, screwtape advises his nephew, wormwood, on how. I am studyingreading the screwtape letters with a weekly bible study group. The screwtape letters grpl book club with, screwtape proposes a toast book club kit. The screwtape letters fellowship for performing arts. A story has a unique ability to span time and connect the reader to the author as well as with all of. In the early letters of the book, screwtape responds to the news that wormwood is busy trying to tempt a young man, the patient, to move away from god the enemy, as screwtape. Aug 21, 2012 at once wildly comic, deadly serious, and strikingly original, c. In our secularized and materialistic society, even christians have little awareness of the spiritual side of reality. It is written in a satirical, epistolary style and while it is fictional in format, the plot and characters are used to address christian theological issues, primarily those to do with temptation and resistance to it.
You will use this book study as a guide to learning and personal reflection while you read the screwtape letters, a book. Work hard, then, on the disappointment or anticlimax which is certainly coming to the patient during his first few weeks as a churchman. According to the author, what are the 2 mistakes mankind can make regarding the devil. If you are looking for a ebook screwtape letters study guide answers in pdf format, then youve come to the right website. A classic masterpiece, the screwtape letters is a collection of letters written by a senior devil, screwtape. You will use this book study as a guide to learning and personal reflection while you read the screwtape letters, a book written from the perspective of hell but with the intention of bringing us all closer to heaven. Jul 29, 2016 i could not find my copy, and i wanted to read it again, and i bought a copy for my sister. We will read and discuss this through a missional lens. S download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets.
These questions will be organized by theme and topic, including literary devices, faith, war, and. Simply by writing about christian themes from the perspective of a devil. The screwtape letters is the most engaging and humorous account of temptation and triumph over it ever written. The screwtape letters pdf download pdf book library. By means of an imaginary correspondence between a senior tempter, screwtape. The screwtape letters is a very important book for our times. Witness a fastpaced, tourdeforce performance in this.
For the diocese of burlington online book club debuts. Here is a set of discussion questions to help you and your mature middle schooler study c. Much of the appeal the screwtape letters derives from lewiss startlingly original reversal. The screwtape letters by reading guidebook club discussion. The screwtape letters is the most engaging and humorous account of temptationand triumph over itever written. Discussion questions, screwtape letters 1921 the cathedral. Then use the study questions youve previously worked through individually to facilitate discussion. The screwtape letters are an instructional correspondence between a senior demon and his wannabe diabolical nephew.
The screwtape letters study guide literature guide litcharts. Summer book club diocese of nova scotia and prince. Nov 25, 2019 discussion questions, screwtape letters 1921. It was first published in february 1942 when britain was in the grips. Book study the screwtape letters 7 introduction welcome to the screwtape letters honors book study. Screwtape is a devil, he warns the reader, and screwtapes version of events, therefore, should not be taken as the truth.
According to the author, what are the 2 mistakes mankind can make regarding the. Over the course of the screwtape letters, the state of the patients soul fluctuates as he experiences a conversion, doubt, dangerous friendships, war, love, and finally, in death, oneness with god. I found this to be true during the book club, she said of the weekly april online gatherings to discuss the screwtape letters by c. Screwtape coaches wormwood in the finer points of tempting his patient away. A site dedicated to book lovers providing a forum to discover and share commentary about the books and authors they enjoy. Online book club debuts with the screwtape letters roman. What does it allow lewis to accomplish that would have been impossible in a more straightforward approach. The screwtape letters, written to his nephew, wormwood, might be anything written to anybody. This commentary takes place in screwtape proposes a toast, the last section of the book. We read screwtape s letters, his advice on what wormwood should make the human think, in order to get him to our father below. As a platform upon which to discuss his beliefs and thoughts on theology, government, society and the nature of mankind in general, c. Summer book club join in a relaxed and inspiring discussion for our summer book club.
For all intents and purposes, they are lectures, but lectures jazzed up and made more palatable for the students mind. This is a book for christians, for patriots, for family members, for all humans. Lewis provides a series of lessons in the importance of taking a deliberate role in christian faith by portraying a typical human life, with all its temptations and failings, seen from devils viewpoints. In them, screwtape advises his nephew, wormwood, on how best to tempt a british man, called only the patient, into sin and, eventually, into hell. Read a plot overview of the entire book or a chapter by chapter summary and analysis. University tour northwestern university university of michigan rutgers university. See a complete list of the characters in the screwtape letters and indepth analyses of screwtape. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the screwtape letters. Screwtape holds an administrative post in the bureaucracy lowerarchy of hell, and acts as a mentor. The screwtape letters is the absolute best book i have ever read. The screwtape letters is constructed as a collection of letters from one devil to another, concerning the corruption of a human soul. The screwtape letters study guide literature guide. This is my 37th classic finished on my list for the classics club.
The novel consists of 31 letters written by a devil named screwtape to his nephew, a young devil named wormwood. It is written in a satirical, epistolary style and while it is fictional in format, the plot and characters are used. While they re finding the passages, read the quotation from. The message of the screwtape letters the screwtape letters is a very important book for our times. There is no hint that screwtape is the name of a diabolical being ranking in intellectual ability with miltons beelzebub, and that wormwood is his agent on earth whose instructions are to prevent people getting converted to christianity. See a complete list of the characters in the screwtape letters and indepth analyses of screwtape, wormwood, the patient, and the woman. A love of books compelled marci hayes of our lady of good help church in brandon and her yearold daughter to join an online book club sponsored by the diocese of burlington. Lewis is a classic masterpiece of religious satire that entertains readers with its sly and ironic portrayal of human life and foibles from the vantage point of screwtape, a highly placed assistant to our father below. The screwtape letters is a series of letters written by screwtape, a senior demon, to his nephew and a neophyte tempter, wormood, about the different ways to tempt a newly converted christian they i want to balance my reading list with good, wholesome and inspiring christian books so i decided to try the works of lewis and look for an e book. Screwtape is a devil, he warns the reader, and screwtape s version of events, therefore, should not be taken as the truth. Lewiss the screwtape letters is the most engaging account of temptation. Some dull mathematician like dodgson of christ church elopes with an. A battle is being waged for your soul from an office in hell.