Spirits in Bondage
Encyclopedia
Spirits in Bondage was C. S. Lewis
's first published work (originally published under the pseudonym
Clive Hamilton). Lewis was twenty years old and had just returned from military
service in the First World War
. His tutor, William T. Kirkpatrick, encouraged him in publishing the book, although it was unusual at Lewis's age, as writers were expected to wait longer before sharing their work with the world. The book is subtitled A Cycle of Lyrics and is composed of three different sections of poetry
. The poems take on several styles and rhythms throughout the book, but share common themes. This work stands out among Lewis's writings not only because of the focus on poetry rather than prose
, but because the author had not yet made his conversion to Christianity
; therefore the themes and worldviews offered in Spirits in Bondage differ greatly from those for which Lewis is most well known. The book received no reviews and its reception was a slight disappointment for Lewis.
and God
. Indeed, he even rails against the God he believes to exist, as in Satan Speaks. A central theme to his poetry, from which he derives the title Spirits in Bondage, is his early belief that God had instilled deep desires in Man that could not be attained; Man would think he were reaching his goal only to be ultimately bitterly disappointed.
Lewis also takes an attitude toward nature
not typical of his later works. In Spirits in Bondage nature is cruel and hard, deceptive and not to be trusted, although he does admire her in several of the poems.
Also notable are Lewis's references to both mythology
and the war atmosphere in which he had lived. Kirkpatrick noted that Lewis, his most brilliant student, had read more classics
than any other boy he knew. In a few scattered poems Lewis draws a picture of the war front for the audience; indeed, Death in Battle was published in the Reveille periodical.
C. S. Lewis
Clive Staples Lewis , commonly referred to as C. S. Lewis and known to his friends and family as "Jack", was a novelist, academic, medievalist, literary critic, essayist, lay theologian and Christian apologist from Belfast, Ireland...
's first published work (originally published under the pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
Clive Hamilton). Lewis was twenty years old and had just returned from military
Military
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
service in the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. His tutor, William T. Kirkpatrick, encouraged him in publishing the book, although it was unusual at Lewis's age, as writers were expected to wait longer before sharing their work with the world. The book is subtitled A Cycle of Lyrics and is composed of three different sections of poetry
Poetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
. The poems take on several styles and rhythms throughout the book, but share common themes. This work stands out among Lewis's writings not only because of the focus on poetry rather than prose
Prose
Prose is the most typical form of written language, applying ordinary grammatical structure and natural flow of speech rather than rhythmic structure...
, but because the author had not yet made his conversion to Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
; therefore the themes and worldviews offered in Spirits in Bondage differ greatly from those for which Lewis is most well known. The book received no reviews and its reception was a slight disappointment for Lewis.
Contents
As mentioned above, Spirits in Bondage is composed of three sections of poetry: The Prison House, Hesitation, and The Escape. The complete contents of the book are as follows:- Part I: The Prison House
- I. Satan Speaks
- II. French Nocturne
- III. The Satyr
- IV. Victory
- V. Irish Nocturne
- VI. Spooks
- VII. Apology
- VIII. Ode For New Year's Day
- IX. Night
- X. To Sleep
- XI. In Prison
- XII. De Profundis
- XIII. Satan Speaks
- XIV. The Witch
- XV. Dungeon Grates
- XVI. The Philosopher
- XVII. The Ocean Strand
- XVIII. Noon
- XIX. Milton Read Again
- XX. Sonnet
- XXI. The Autumn Morning
- Part II: Hesitation
- XXII. L'Apprenti Sorcier
- XXIII. Alexandrines
- XXIV. In Praise Of Solid People
- Part III: The Escape
- XXV. Song Of The Pilgrims
- XXVI. Song
- XXVII. The Ass
- XXVIII. Ballade Mystique
- XXIX. Night
- XXX. Oxford
- XXXI. Hymn (For Boys' Voices)
- XXXII. "Our Daily Bread"
- XXXIII. How He Saw Angus The God
- XXXIV. The Roads
- XXXV. Hesperus
- XXXVI. The Star Bath
- XXXVII. Tu Ne Quæsieris
- XXXVIII. Lullaby
- XXXIX. World's Desire
- XL. Death In Battle
Themes
As mentioned earlier, Spirits in Bondage differs from more widely read Lewis works in that he does not write from a Christian worldview. The poems are meant to be read in order (thus, A Cycle of Lyrics) so that the themes can develop and present themselves to the reader properly. Although not an atheist, Lewis takes the stance of an agnostic with a pessimistic outlook on religionReligion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
and God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
. Indeed, he even rails against the God he believes to exist, as in Satan Speaks. A central theme to his poetry, from which he derives the title Spirits in Bondage, is his early belief that God had instilled deep desires in Man that could not be attained; Man would think he were reaching his goal only to be ultimately bitterly disappointed.
Lewis also takes an attitude toward nature
Nature
Nature, in the broadest sense, is equivalent to the natural world, physical world, or material world. "Nature" refers to the phenomena of the physical world, and also to life in general...
not typical of his later works. In Spirits in Bondage nature is cruel and hard, deceptive and not to be trusted, although he does admire her in several of the poems.
Also notable are Lewis's references to both mythology
Mythology
The term mythology can refer either to the study of myths, or to a body or collection of myths. As examples, comparative mythology is the study of connections between myths from different cultures, whereas Greek mythology is the body of myths from ancient Greece...
and the war atmosphere in which he had lived. Kirkpatrick noted that Lewis, his most brilliant student, had read more classics
Classics
Classics is the branch of the Humanities comprising the languages, literature, philosophy, history, art, archaeology and other culture of the ancient Mediterranean world ; especially Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome during Classical Antiquity Classics (sometimes encompassing Classical Studies or...
than any other boy he knew. In a few scattered poems Lewis draws a picture of the war front for the audience; indeed, Death in Battle was published in the Reveille periodical.