Reading/Writing Schedule

Week 1-2:

Check-In Task and Introductions on MyHeritage.

Prior to Week 1: Begin Readings. Read as much of The Hobbit and LOTR as possible. Recommend that students also read the letter from Tolkien to his publisher in the "Preface" to The Silmarillion that gives useful background to the world as a whole.

Topics: Answer Questions about Course and Syllabus. Introduction to Course Themes.

Topics for Films: Genre Criticism. Historical/Biographical Criticism. Three "Heroes" in Tolkien (Structuralist/Formalist Approaches). Feminist Approaches. Psychological Approaches.

Week 3:

Continue Readings.

Students Begin Reading Responses to The Hobbit and LOTR.

Week 4:

Topics for Films: Genre Criticism. Historical/Biographical Criticism. Three "Heroes" in Tolkien (Structuralist/Formalist Approaches). Feminist Approaches. Psychological Approaches.

Week 5:

June 28—Paper #1 Due for ALL Students (only paper for 1-credit students!)

Week 6:

Finish LOTR as needed.

Topics in Weeks 3-6: Continue topics from earlier weeks as needed. More Genre Criticism (High Fantasy vs. Modern Fantasy). Sub-Creation. Myth Criticism. Eco-Criticism. The Simarillion as "Source Material" for LOTR. Is Evil Dumb?

Finish "On Fairy Stories" and "Preface," "Ainulindale," "Valaquenta," "Of Beren and Luthien," "Of the Voyage of Earendil and the War of Wrath," and "Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age" in The Silmarillion. Discuss Drafts and/or Research for Paper #2.

The BIG PICTURE

Week 7:

Work on Reading Responses, Paper #2, and Teaching Demonstrations. Option to Present Teaching Demonstration In Person or Online 7/13-14.

Week 8:

July 12-19: Schedule In-Person or Online Teaching Demonstrations as Needed.

July 20: All Reading Response Assignments Due for Online Students

July 20: All Forum Posts on MyHeritage Due.

July 21: Paper #2 Due for All 2 or 3-Credit Students.