Chapters 3-4: Till We Have Faces

Welcome back to the show! Today, Esther (age 14), Adalyn (age 15) and myself are diving into Chapters 3 and 4 of C.S. Lewis’s Till We Have Faces, and honestly, this is where the story really starts to click for us. We are moving past the initial setup, and the characters are finally starting to show their true colors—or, in some cases, the masks they wear to hide them.

In this episode, we unpack why this "retelling" format is so powerful; it forces us to ask if we’ve only ever heard one side of the story, and what happens when we finally listen to the other side. We also tackle the looming mystery of the "accusation against the gods" and try to figure out who—or what—is actually responsible for the desolation in the land.

In this episode, we cover:

• The Sibling Dynamic: We break down the stark differences between the sisters. We discuss Redival’s immodesty and her tendency to stir up trouble , and explore why Orual’s position in the family feels so much more complex—especially when she starts to sound disturbingly like her father.
• The "Psyche" Problem: Is Psyche truly a healer, or is her naive attempt to heal the village actually a source of danger?. We debate whether she acts as a messianic figure or just a sheltered princess.
• Orual’s Inner Conflict: We talk about why we admire Orual’s sharpness and intelligence, even while acknowledging her struggle with anger and the fear that she might one day become the very thing she despises.
• The Mythic Shift: We explore why Lewis might have inverted the roles of the sisters compared to the original myth, and how that changes our emotional connection to the characters.

It’s been fascinating to see how these characters move from mythic archetypes to real, complicated people. Pull up a chair and join our conversation as we look at why these ancient choices feel so hauntingly relevant to our lives today.

Join us next time for chapters 5 & 6!

Welcome back to the show! If you have ever wanted to read the classics but felt intimidated by where to start, you are in the right place.

I’m your host, Angelica Cable, a homeschool mom of 3 with a deep passion for literature. Today, I’m sitting down with Adalyn (15) and my daughter Esther (14) to crack open the first two chapters of C.S. Lewis’s self-proclaimed masterpiece, Till We Have Faces.

In This Episode

I believe that talking about great books is the secret to truly falling in love with them. In this episode, we don't just summarize the plot; we start tracking the heavy themes in this psychological novel—from the tension of the divine to the complexities of the human ego.

Why Listen?

Till We Have Faces is a book that demands to be read deeply, and it’s much better to do it together. After this conversation, I couldn't wait to keep reading to see how C.S. Lewis addresses the issues he brings up right at the get-go.

Whether you are reading along with us or just looking for a bit of wisdom, this episode is your invitation to join the conversation. It only gets better from here!

Thanks for joining us! If you enjoyed this deep dive, make sure to subscribe and share this episode with a fellow book lover. Let’s keep reading, talking, and learning together. Also email me at redeemmyeducation@gmail.com

Join our latest homeschool Charlotte Mason high school English class as we continue our poetry reading series, finishing the "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner." We explore how to read this classic through a Christian lens, finishing up a great series on a great work!

If you're looking to deepen your understanding of literature and how to read it meaningfully, this discussion is for you! ❤️

Email us your thoughts: redeemmyeducation@gmail.com

Join my Charlotte Mason High School class with Adalyn (age 15) and Esther (age 14) as we have a fun discussion on "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner," Part 6 by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Classic literature was WRITTEN to be discussed. If you want to enjoy poetry more, join us! Don't walk this homeschool journey alone!

After Part 7 of The Rime of the Ancient Mariner (released next week!), we will start discussing Till we have Faces by C. S. Lewis. Get yourself a copy so you can read a few chapters and then listen to our discussion.

Join in the conversation by emailing us at redeemmyeducation@gmail.com

Join our Charlotte Mason homeschool highschool class for a discussion on Part 5 of Samuel Taylor Coleridge's "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner." We are bewildered by this section; but that's all part of the fun. If you can enjoy entering into unknown waters, you will enjoy poetry all the more. ❤️

Get yourself a copy of Till we have Faces by C. S. Lewis so you can read along with our discussion in a few weeks!😍

We would love to hear your thoughts at redeemmyeducation@gmail.com

If your experience with poetry has been dry and tedious, this is the podcast for you. Join our homeschool class as we continue our series on "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner," discussing Part 4 of the poem by Samuel Coleridge. We aim to make poetry for beginners engaging and meaningful within your homeschool journey. Gain courage to hunt for beauty while reading literature with your own family.

After we finish the 7 sections of The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, we are going to read through Till we have Faces, so prepare yourself buy tracking down a copy of that great classic by C. S. Lewis!

How do you have meaty discussions with your teenagers? Discussions forge the deep relationships we want with our kids, and solidify deep growth in their character. If you don't expect valuable insights to come out of the mouth of your children, you are sabotaging the potential you have for deep discussions.

Join me for a real Homeschool High School class with Adalyn (age 15) and Esther (age 14) as we read through the poem The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Coleridge. You can follow along with captions on Youtube.

I hope your appreciation for poetry will grow, and you will gain skill in having deep, life-shaping discussions within your own family.

We would love to hear from you! Email: redeemmyeducation@gmail.com

Years ago I couldn't handle a poem that wasn't written for kids, but I've grown-- and you can to!

My goal is to help moms who dream of meaty high school discussions, but feel lost in the world of upper-level classes. If you invest in your own education, and you can have the meaningful experiences with your teenagers that you dreamed of when you started your homeschool journey.

Listen in on a real class as I read and discuss Part 2 of the Rime of the Ancient Mariner with my daughter Esther (14 years old) and friend Adalyn (15 years old). This is a public domain book, so you can follow along with text online, or you can watch the video on youtube with captions.

One challenge of upper-level literature is that the beginnings are hard. We have more questions than answers at this point. But the more we wonder, the more "wonder" we have when things are revealed! Read with courage and curiosity and trust the answers to come in due time (like in Part 3!!!).