English: Tolkein's Middle Earth

Topics in Science Fiction and Fantasy Literature. Subjects vary by semester. Representative topics: Tolkien's Middle Earth; The Hobbit; Survey of Science Fiction and Fantasy. May be repeated for credit with different content. Topics vary by offering; periodic offering at intervals that may exceed four years.

Open to Degree and PACE students

Tolkien's Middle-earth explores the product of Tolkien’s imagination, kindled as it was by his love of language and set ablaze by the Great World War. Our methodology will be critical and scholarly. Attention will be paid to major themes, images, structures, and motifs found in The Lord of the Rings and important lesser-known works. Students will leave the class with a greater respect for Tolkien’s sub-creative and philological process as well as a sense of his place within the larger context of post-WW I British literature. This semester, we will linger a bit longer on the subject of psychology in the novel, which is the theme of this year’s Tolkien at UVM conference. Course Texts Shippey, Tom. The Road to Middle Earth Tolkien, J.R.R. Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien ---. The Lord of the Rings ---. The Hobbit ---. The Silmarillion ---. The Tolkien Reader

Work Required 30%- Class Participation (midterm and final); (3 unexcused absences allowed) • 15%- In-class discussion; answering and asking questions. • 10%- Close (In-class) Read, Homework, Quizzes. (The Close Read should be between a couple of long sentences to a small paragraph. Students will read out loud and then take a minute to explain why this selection was chosen) • 5%- Memorization/Recitation (10-15 lines of poetry or prose) 30%- Midterm Exam (Open book and open notes; short answers and printed 5-page essay) 20%- Final Exam (Open book and open notes; submitted electronically via email -May) 20%- Term Paper, 10 pages (Includes bibliography, via email)