Course Description

J. R. R. Tolkien’s epic fantasy The Lord of Rings has been considered the foundation of modern fantasy literature, the basis for immensely popular film adaptations, and even identified in several international surveys as the single most influential or popular work of the 20th century. Yet, while millions of readers have enjoyed and treasured The Lord of Rings and its precursor The Hobbit, few have gone much beyond thinking about the works beyond the field of fandom. Yet, Tolkien was not only a writer of popular fiction; he also was a mythologist, visual artist, musical composer, philologist, playwright, and medieval studies scholar. In this course, we will survey not only Tolkien’s fiction, but also some of his scholarly works, invented languages, paintings and drawings, and music. Along with investigating some of the historical background and medieval sources of Tolkien’s major and minor works, we will explore how some global myths contributed to the tales he created for Middle-earth. In addition, we will touch on topics seldom discussed in Tolkien literature courses from such fields as astronomy, ecology, natural sciences, linguistics, and cultural studies. Perhaps most important, we will work to understand what Tolkien’s works have to say to people in the 21st century about issues such as gender, warfare, friendship, interactions between cultures, hospitality, loyalty, keeping one’s oaths, and the nature of good and evil.

While hard-working Tolkien newbies are most welcome, all students are STRONGLY advised to read Tolkien’s most well-known literary works The Hobbit and The Lord of Rings in their entirety and in book form (not just watch the films!) before the semester begins.

Texts

Hammond, Wayne G., and Christina Scull. J. R. R. Tolkien: Artist and Illustrator

Snyder, Christopher. The Making of Middle-earth

Tolkien, J. R. R. The Hobbit

Tolkien, J. R. R. The Lord of the Rings

Tolkien, J. R. R. Tales from the Perilous Realms

Tolkien, J. R. R. The Silmarillion

Requirements

LOTS of reading, regular attendance, active class participation, 1 analytic paper, 1 multimedia group project, interdisciplinary scholarship oral presentation, 1 creative project, weekly online discussion, final portfolio.

About the Instructor(s): Leslie Donovan

Leslie Donovan completed the Honors Program and her BA and MA at UNM, before earning her PhD in Medieval English Literature from the University of Washington in Seattle. She teaches courses about the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, creativity, the future, classical and medieval cultures, the Nobel Peace Prize, and nonviolent action. Dr. Donovan has been honored with multiple outstanding teaching awards, including UNM’s Presidential Teaching Award.