FSEM1020-04.FSEM: Language, Myth, Politics.F15.Kellert,Stephen

Stephen Kellert

Document Type

Syllabi

School

CLA

Department

PHIL

Course Subject

FSEM

Course Number

1020

Course Section

04

Course Title

FSEM: Language, Myth, Politics

Academic Term and Year

Fall 2015

Credits

4.00

Hamline Plan Letter

E

Area of Study

EENG, FSEM

Course Description

The success of the recent Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movies raises a number of questions: Why do some people consider Tolkien's work the greatest literary achievement of the Twentieth Century, while others would consider it ridiculous to discuss fantasy novels in a college classroom? How did J. R. R. Tolkien, a professor of Old English language and literature, manage to write some of the most successful and best-loved stories of all time? Why did he say that his purpose was fundamentally linguistic, and that he sought to construct a national mythology for England? What messages does Tolkien’s work carry for those concerned about war, environmental destruction, or race relations? In addition to reading The Lord of the Rings, we will explore a wide variety of critical reactions both positive and negative. You don’t need to know how to read Elvish, or even know who Frodo is, to explore some of the important issues raised by Tolkien’s work. But if you enjoy lively discussions about challenging and controversial subjects, and want to learn about how language, myth, and politics interact, then it is worth taking fantasy seriously. Because this is a writing-intensive FYSem, you do not need to register for English 1110.

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