Greece to Glome: The Christianization of a Pagan Myth

Abstract

The purpose of this thesis is to examine the differences between the Cupid and Psyche tale found in Lucius Apuleius's The Golden Ass and C.S. Lewis's Till We Have Faces, with particular attention to how Lewis created a didactic non-allegorical mythopoeic Christian fantasy work from the original possibly allegorical pagan myth. The thesis focuses on the development of the Cupid and Psyche myth in Apuleius's work, then draws comparisons to the significant differences Lewis makes in his own novel. Lewis's basic Christian beliefs, specifically in relation to mythology, are discussed. This thesis was conceived as there is very little critical work that focuses on Till We Haves Faces and no in-depth research done comparing it to the second century story upon which it is based.