Texts: C. S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters
Discussion Leaders: Marcy Nelson and John Wragg
Discussion Questions:
- (Ice breaker) The Screwtape Letters can be a very personal work that probes into our souls and heart and forces us to ask difficult questions. What is a particular passage or chapter that stood out to you or made you ask some of those difficult questions to yourself and why?
- The Screwtape Letters as the title suggests, is a series of letters. What is the purpose in using the literary form of letters? What does this format of writing convey that a more narrative typical story format could not convey?
- What does it mean to us that Screwtape and Wormwood call human beings, patients?What would be the perfect patient for Screwtape and Wormwood to have under their care. On the other end what would be the worst patient for Screwtape and Wormwood to have under their care?
- What are we to make of the seemingly abusive yet affectionate relationship between Screwtape and Wormwood? What does it tell us about relationships in hell, and about the mindset of demons? Furthermore, how is this relationship similar to or different than that of Melkor and Sauron as well as the other servants of his?
- Screwtape often describes the non-believer with oversimplified characteristics such as being materialistic and unhappy; do we find that Lewis presents a rather naive view of atheism? Do you think these descriptions also express social satire?
- How is human and divine love presented in this work? How is the conversation on love similar or different in Mere Christianity?
- What do we make of Lewis’ understanding of human nature? How does this theme tie into the approach of free will and Divine sovereignty?
About Kathryn Ney
I am a Teacher Candidate in the Bachelor of Education Program (Secondary) with two teachable subjects, Social Studies and English. I graduated from the Global Stewardship Program at Capilano University in 2014 and completed a double major at UBC in English Literature Honours and History in November 2018.
During my studies at CapU, I volunteered as an English teacher with the Global Volunteer Network in Nepal and this experience first prompted me to consider a career in education. While studying at UBC, I led a Student Directed Seminar on the Inklings (Tolkien and C.S. Lewis), thus enabling me to gain experience designing syllabi and marking rubrics for peer evaluation. I am also an alumni of the UBC Arts Coop program, through which I predominantly worked as a docent and archivist in the culture and heritage industry. Some of my work during my Coop placements included developing educational programs for museums, and through this experience, I learned how to make history engaging and accessible for young people as well as for the general public. I spent the past year participating in the Odyssey Program as an English Language Assistant in small-town Quebec, during which time I gleaned extensive in-class and interpersonal experience working with both kids and young adults on their English skills. Since my return in May, I have been leading summer camps for youth focused on conservation issues and outdoor skills. This experience allowed me to share my love of nature and the environment with young people from across the province.
Ideally, after completing the BEd. program and having gained some teaching experience, I would like to find a way to combine these disciplines and interests in the form of extracurricular involvement, or otherwise to work abroad doing professional or curriculum development for teachers in developing countries.
