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Kylie Quinn
Mr. King
Pre-AP English
2 March 2015
How to Read Literature Like a Professor Analysis
In the book How to Read Literature Like a Professor, by Thomas C. Foster chapter
fourteen (Yes, Shes a Christ Figure, Too) discusses the topic of characters that reflect the same
traits as Christ in literature. Christ Figures are reflected in many books and texts; however, one
of the most intriguing and beautifully written books where this idea can be applied to is The
Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, by C.S. Lewis. In this book the lion, Aslan, can be viewed as a
Christ Figure.
In Fosters book it says, Culture is so influenced by its dominant religious systems that
whether a writer adheres to the beliefs or not, the values and principles of those religions will
inevitably inform the literary work (Foster 118). Foster also contains a list, which contains
features that relate to Christ:
1) Crucified, wounds in the hands, feet, side, and head
3) Self-sacrificing
4) Good with children
12) Believed to have had a confrontation with the devil, possibly tempted
15) Buried, but arose on the third day
16) Had disciples, twelve at first, although not all equally devoted
17) Very forgiving
18) Came to redeem an unworthy world. (Foster 119)

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In C.S. Lewiss The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, some excerpts stood out. When once
Aslan had been tied on the flat stone, a hush fell on the crowdShe began to whet her knife
(Lewis 154). Another one that stuck out was when the witch said, Fool, did you think that by
all this you would save a human traitor? Now I will kill you instead of him (Lewis 155). The
following quotes from the book all struck me as important and relevant to my topic. There
shining in the sunrise, larger than they have seen him before, shaking his mane stood Aslan
himself (Lewis 162). I feel my strength coming back to me children, catch me if you can
(Lewis 163). Creatures were running after aslant and dancing round him till he was almost
hidden by the crowd (Lewis 168).
All of these excerpts from both books are evidence to why Aslan is in fact a Christ figure.
When Foster states that Christ figures are self- sacrificing, crucified, good with children,
forgiving, had a confrontation with the devil, etc. examples of these traits are found throughout
the book. For instance, Aslan is self-sacrificing and forgiving, because he forgave Edmund (the
traitor), and instead of having the witch kill Edmund, he laid down his own life on the stone
table. This also can relate to the confrontation with the devil, because in this book the witch
symbolizes the devil, and the witch was involved in the killing of the Aslan. Another way the text
supports the use of a Christ figure is when Aslan rose from the dead after his sacrifice in the
similar style that Jesus Christ did in the Bible (even though it was not exactly three days it still
represents the resurrection of Christ). When Aslan plays with the children after his resurrection,
he exemplifies that he is good with children. Lastly when Aslan breaths life back into the statues
after his sacrifice for Narnia (which has great biblical meaning) he is rejoiced by creatures who
followed him and find life in him, similar to Christs disciples and followers, and even in a way
the Christians that believe Jesus Christ gave them life through his sacrifice to the world.

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Given these points, one can correctly come to the conclusion that Aslan is, in fact, a
Christ figure. His character has an abundance of similar traits to Jesus Christ and also almost
plays the same role in the plot of the book as Jesus did in the Bible. Despite not having all of the
characteristics of Christ, C.S. Lewis was influenced by the Christian religious system, and wrote
this lions character and the book as a whole with the image of Jesus Christ and basic knowledge
of the New Testament in mind.