English 358

Tolkien

NOTE: This is representative of the syllabi for this course. It is not necessarily the syllabus being used in any one semester.

J.R.R. Tolkien

This course explores the work of J.R.R. Tolkien, who has been repeatedly voted the most important author of the 20th century. We will read his trilogy, The Lord of the Rings, as well as some of his essays and related works. We will also read some of the works that influenced him, such as Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. At the end of the semester, you will read one fantasy written by a contemporary of Tolkien's, and another fantasy written by a subsequent author influenced by Tolkien.

Our focus will be on Tolkien's use of myth, romance, legend, fantasy, and epic, his relationship to earlier works and his subsequent influence on these genres. We will also consider how World War I influenced the author and his ideas about power, responsibility, the state, and our relationship to the natural world.

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Required Texts:

The Lord of the Rings, JRR Tolkien

Beowulf, tr. Seamus Heaney

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, tr. JRR Tolkien

The Tolkien Reader, JRR Tolkien

one fantasy work from list of Tolkien's contemporaries

one fantasy work from list of subsequent authors

Handouts:

selections from the Silmarilien

selections from Scandinavian myth

"The Monster and the Critics" by Tolkien

Assignments:

Class presentation on selected readings topic 10%

Two essays 30%

Class participation (including Feast) 25%

Midterm exam 15%

Final exam 20%

Course Overview

WEEKS 1-4

I. Realm of Faerie, myths, fairy tales, and heroes

a. The Fellowship of the Ring

b. Beowulf

WEEKS 5-8

II. Medieval poetry, romance, epic

a. The Two Towers

b. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

c. Selections from The Silmarilien

First Essay due Class #6

WEEK 9

Mid-term Exam

WEEKS 10-14

III. War between Good and Evil

a. The Return of the King

b. A book by a Tolkien contemporary

c. A book by a Tolkien heir

d. Presentations

Second Essay due Class #12

Feast: Class #14

WEEK 15

Final Exam




			English 358 Tolkien NOTE: This is representative of the syllabi for this course. It is not necessarily the syllabus being used in any one semester. J.R.R. Tolkien This course explores the work of J.R.R. Tolkien, who has been repeatedly voted the most important author of the 20th century. We will read his trilogy, The Lord of the Rings, as well as some of his essays and related works. We will also read some of the works that influenced him, such as Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. At the end of the semester, you will read one fantasy written by a contemporary of Tolkien's, and another fantasy written by a subsequent author influenced by Tolkien. Our focus will be on Tolkien's use of myth, romance, legend, fantasy, and epic, his relationship to earlier works and his subsequent influence on these genres. We will also consider how World War I influenced the author and his ideas about power, responsibility, the state, and our relationship to the natural world. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Required Texts: The Lord of the Rings, JRR Tolkien Beowulf, tr. Seamus Heaney Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, tr. JRR Tolkien The Tolkien Reader, JRR Tolkien one fantasy work from list of Tolkien's contemporaries one fantasy work from list of subsequent authors Handouts: selections from the Silmarilien selections from Scandinavian myth "The Monster and the Critics" by Tolkien Assignments: Class presentation on selected readings topic 10% Two essays 30% Class participation (including Feast) 25% Midterm exam 15% Final exam 20% Course Overview WEEKS 1-4 I. Realm of Faerie, myths, fairy tales, and heroes a. The Fellowship of the Ring b. Beowulf WEEKS 5-8 II. Medieval poetry, romance, epic a. The Two Towers b. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight c. Selections from The Silmarilien First Essay due Class #6 WEEK 9 Mid-term Exam WEEKS 10-14 III. War between Good and Evil a. The Return of the King b. A book by a Tolkien contemporary c. A book by a Tolkien heir d. Presentations Second Essay due Class #12 Feast: Class #14 WEEK 15 Final Exam home \| bs, corporate communication \| ba, english \| ma, publications design \| mfa, integrated design \| mfa, creative writing & publishing arts \| people \| portfolio \| facilities \| classes \| undergraduate applications \| graduate applications \| contact \| site index \| university of baltimore