The Discarded Image

Written by C. S. Lewis (1898-1963), The Discarded Image is a 1964 nonfiction book that explores the literary landscape of Europe during the Medieval Era. Lewis, who is best known for his children’s book series The Chronicles of Narnia, was also a literature professor at Oxford and Cambridge, as well as one of the most widely celebrated Christian apologists of his time. Published shortly after his death, The Discarded Image explores how medieval writers and common people conceptualized the universe and examines how that understanding impacted their relationship to literature. It also explores the many ways in which ancient Greek and Roman civilizations guided and shaped medieval literature in Britain and other parts of Europe.

This guide is based on the 2013 HarperCollins e-book edition of the text.

Content Warning: Lewis often uses outdated terminology, and his arguments incorporate racist beliefs. This guide critically examines those beliefs and arguments. 

Summary

The Discarded Image opens by explaining that many of the central ideas in medieval literature actually come from ancient Greek and Roman writers. Lewis considers this link to be irrefutable evidence of the superiority of British people as compared to people whom he considers to be “savage” or “primitive” in the modern day.