Bemidji State University
Middle Earth Studies
Faculty:
Larry Swain
Office: HS 333 email:
lswain@bemidjistate.edu Mailbox: HS 23
Course Description: J. R. R. Tolkien has been called Author of
the Century by one scholar. Certainly
his hobbits have fascinated and captivated millions of readers. In this course we aim to go beyond a typical
reading course and explore the myth making, the medieval template, and related
issues in Tolkien’s constructed universe.
Student
Learning Outcomes:
Upon
satisfactory completion of the course, students will be able to:
·
analyze
works of literature
·
compare
and contrast the issues of literature with modern life
·
evaluate
interpretations of texts
·
learn
to do close reading as well as historical-critical reading of literary works
·
to
improve and hone analytical thinking skills
·
have
some fun!
Instructor
Objectives:
This
is a collaborative effort. As your
instructor, I too expect to learn from you in this course:
·
To
gain a deeper appreciation of the processes of thinking, reading, writing and
researching.
·
To
improve my teaching skills and find better methods of communicating to students
the processes of thinking, reading and writing
·
To
communicate my appreciation of literature to my students
·
To
have some fun!
Text
and Materials:
Road to Middle Earth Tom Shippey
Splintered Light Verlyn Flieger
Tolkien and the Invention of
Myth Jane
Chance, ed.
Other
Materials as Assigned
Academic Honesty
All
work composed for this class must be written exclusively for this class and be
your original work. You may receive assistance on your writing, but submitting
someone else’s work as your own or failing to acknowledge sources appropriately
will be grounds for plagiarism. Evidence of plagiarism will result in
failure. If you have any questions
regarding this policy, however, it is your responsibility to see me
immediately.
Disability
From
our Disabilities Office Director:
“I
would like to make sure that all the materials, discussions and activities that
are part of the course are accessible to you.
If you would like to request accommodations or other services, please
contact me as soon as possible. It is
also possible to contact Disability Services, Sanford Hall, 201. Phone: 218/755-3883 or E-mail address Disabilityservices@bemidjistate.edu. Also available through the Minnesota Relay
Service at 1-800-627-3529.”
Grades
Discussion-Discussion
is a must in this course. There will be
plenty of fodder on the discussion board, room for questions and
explorations. 25% of the grade.
Research
Paper: 25% of the grade
2
Individual Presentations , 25% total
Final:
25% of the total
Schedule
June
1: Syllabus;
the Tolkien Industry; watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkmNHP58OhU\ and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XR-4vMEiQ_U
June
2: Mythology
for England: Letter 131, Chance book, Introduction and first essay, and essay
13
June
3-4: Discussion
questions on readings
June
5: Tolkien
the Medievalist: Language Shippey 1-2,
Chance, Essay 4; Auden
June
6: Discussion
Questions on Readings
June
8: Discussion
Questions cont. Lecture: The Languages of Middle Earth and the Middle Ages
Reading TBA
June
9: Lecture
on Tolkien, Linguistic Jokes and the Jokester/Accidental Etymologies?
June
10: Discussion
Questions
June
11: Tolkien’s
Beowulf: Monsters and the Critics (Rec. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAFTenKriYY)
Shippey 6 Chance 3
June
12: Discussion
Questions
June
13: Tolkien’s
Beowulf: Chance book, 14 and 15
June
16: Tolkien’s
Beowulf: Template for LoTR?
June
17: Cartography
and Geography in LoTR: Shippy ch. 4; T-Maps Lecture; http://lotrproject.com/map/#zoom=3&lat=-1315.5&lon=1500&layers=BTTTTT
June
18: Presentation 1 posted
June
19: Interlace: West article, Miller
article (Lobdell); Shippey ch. 5
June
20: Discussion
Stuff and Things
June
23: Middle
Earth Story Telling Lecture, Readings:
Chance 12/ TBA
June
24: Discussion
Questions
June
25: Middle
Earth Book Culture and the Middle Ages: Runes, Books, Libraries Lecture
June
27: Discussion
Questions
June
29: Middle
Earth Calendrics and the Middle Ages Lecture Reading TBA
July
1: Orcs,
ents, trolls, and the monsters of Middle Earth
Lecture Reading TBpA
July
2: Discussion
Questions
July
3-4, Holiday!!
July
6: Poetry
and Prose: Sagas. Readings TBA
July
7: Flieger
chap. 1 and discussion board
July
9: On
Fairy Stories and Discussion
July
10: Flieger
2-3
July
13: Flieger
4-6
July
14: Discussion
July
15: Flieger
7-8
July
16: Presentation
2 Posted
July
17: Flieger
9-10 and Discussoin
July
20: Flieger
11-13
July
21: Discussion
July
22: Flieger
14-16
July
23: Discussion
July
24: Flieger
17-18
July
27: Flieger
19-Afterward
July
28: Discussion
July
30: Shippey
ch. 7, Chance 7
July
31: Shippey
8-end
AUG
1: Paper Due, Take online exam.
