Date

5-20-2026

Degree

Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing (MFA)

Chair

Kiera Donaghy

Keywords

Christian, Christianity, Fantasy, Fiction, Magic, God, Secular, C.S. Lewis, Edmund Spenser, High Fantasy, World building, Christian Themes, Writing, Theme, Reading, Jesus Christ, Jesus, Chronicles of Narnia, Angels, Demons, Redemption, Faith

Disciplines

Creative Writing

Abstract

This thesis examines the integration of Christian themes into fantasy literature through critical analysis and original creative work. The critical component traces the tradition of Christian fantasy from Edmund Spenser's The Faerie Queene to C. S. Lewis's The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, arguing that faith achieves its greatest literary impact when woven organically into character and world-building rather than imposed upon the narrative. Contemporary novels by Shannon Dittemore and Chuck Black illustrate the dangers of didacticism and shallow characterization. The creative manuscript, Fanning the Flames, applies these principles through Kian Sai, a young conscript navigating an authoritarian military academy in a richly constructed fantasy realm. His arc draws loosely from the biblical narrative of King David, exploring themes of resilience and faith under pressure. Together, both components argue that authentic belief and literary craft can coexist in fantasy fiction, inviting readers of any background toward meaningful reflection.

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