63 pages 2 hours read

C. S. Lewis

That Hideous Strength

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1945

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics.

Symbols & Motifs

Earth

Earth is used as a symbol of fallen man. Moreover, Earth is symbolic of fallen angels that are known as bad eldils. As such, Earth is symbolic of “the fallen” and acts as a foil to Heaven and celestial eldils. Earth is also symbolic in that it is the battleground for the war over humanity. The bad eldils think they have complete control over Earth and seek to destroy all life on the planet.

Heaven

Heaven is used to symbolize both the state of grace in the Christian sense and a space that includes space and all that is celestial. As such, heaven includes the celestial planets, which are characterized as angels with earthly counterparts. Heaven is symbolic of the good, the godly and the divine.

Light

Light is used throughout the narrative as both symbol and a motif. Light symbolizes clarity and hope. It appears when Jane reaches St. Anne’s and the fog dissipates. It’s also amotif for celestial light, meaning celestial charity and hope. Angels, or celestial eldils, appear with beams of piercing, searching light. Light is also used as a motif as a foil to darkness in a duality seen throughout the novel.

Related Titles

By C. S. Lewis

Study Guide

logo

A Grief Observed

C. S. Lewis

A Grief Observed

C. S. Lewis

Study Guide

logo

Mere Christianity

C. S. Lewis

Mere Christianity

C. S. Lewis

Study Guide

logo

Out of the Silent Planet

C. S. Lewis

Out of the Silent Planet

C. S. Lewis

Study Guide

logo

Surprised by Joy

C. S. Lewis

Surprised by Joy

C. S. Lewis

Study Guide

logo

The Abolition of Man

C. S. Lewis

The Abolition of Man

C. S. Lewis

Study Guide

logo

The Discarded Image

C. S. Lewis

The Discarded Image

C. S. Lewis

Study Guide

logo

The Four Loves

C. S. Lewis

The Four Loves

C. S. Lewis

Study Guide

logo

The Horse And His Boy

C. S. Lewis

The Horse And His Boy

C. S. Lewis

Study Guide

logo

The Last Battle

C. S. Lewis

The Last Battle

C. S. Lewis

Study Guide

logo

The Magician's Nephew

C. S. Lewis

The Magician's Nephew

C. S. Lewis

Study Guide

logo

The Pilgrim's Regress

C. S. Lewis

The Pilgrim's Regress

C. S. Lewis

Study Guide

logo

The Problem of Pain

C. S. Lewis

The Problem of Pain

C. S. Lewis

Study Guide

logo

The Screwtape Letters

C. S. Lewis

The Screwtape Letters

C. S. Lewis

Study Guide

logo

The Silver Chair

C. S. Lewis

The Silver Chair

C. S. Lewis

Study Guide

logo

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

C. S. Lewis

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

C. S. Lewis

Study Guide

logo

Till We Have Faces

C. S. Lewis

Till We Have Faces

C. S. Lewis