| CLASS HOURS: TH: 4:20
- 6:50 pm, JR303, Class #16901
OFFICE: 803 Sierra Tower
TELEPHONE: 677-0901
E-MAIL: scott.kleinman@csun.edu
OFFICE HOURS: W 11:00-12:00, 12:30-3:15 (for the last week of classes)
TEXTS
- J.R.R. Tolkien, The Silmarillion, 2nd edn (2000)
- J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, 2nd edn (2000)
- Class Handouts
TENTATIVE COURSE SCHEDULE
| Week |
Topic |
Reading
Due and Test Dates |
| Week
1 (Feb 3) |
Introduction:
Tolkien’s Life and Times |
|
| Week
2 (Feb 10) |
Tolkien
and Faërie: The Quest for Other Worlds |
•
“The Cottage of Lost Play”
• “Ælfwine of England”
• “On Fairy-Stories”, pp. 1-46 |
| Week
3 (Feb 17) |
The
Ainulindalë to the Hiding of Valinor
The
Coming of Men and The Tale of Beren and Lúthien |
•
The Silmarillion: “Ainulindalë”
and “Quenta Silmarillion”, chs. 1-17
•
“On Fairy-Stories”, pp. 46-84
|
| Week
4 Feb (24) |
Beren,
Turin, and Eärendil
Response
Paper 1 Due |
•
The Silmarillion: “Quenta Silmarillion”,
chs. 18-24
• Kalevala: Tale of Kullervo
• Letters #131, 181, 297 |
| Week
5 (Mar 3) |
Art
and Nature
Essay
1 Due |
•
The Lord of the Rings, Book 1
• Letters #142, 215, 328; 129, 181, 203 |
| Week
6 (Mar 10) |
Class
Cancelled |
| Week
7 (Mar 17) |
Ethnic
Diversity |
•
The Lord of the Rings, Book 2 |
| Mar
22, 24 |
Spring
Break -- No Classes |
| Week
8 (Mar 31) |
Cesar
Chavez Day -- No Classes |
| Week
9 (Apr 7) |
Religion
and Society |
•
The Lord of the Rings, Books 2-3
|
| Week
10 (Apr 14) |
Heroic
Society |
The
Lord of the Rings, Book Three |
| Week
11 (Apr 21) |
Civilisation
and Corruption |
The
Lord of the Rings, Book Four |
| Week
12 (Apr 28) |
Male
Society and Women: Éowyn and Shelob
Response
Paper 2 Due |
The
Lord of the Rings, Book Five |
| Week
13 (May 5) |
Service
and Servitude |
The
Lord of the Rings, Book Six |
| Week
14 (May 12) |
War
and Leadership |
The
Lord of the Rings, Book Six |
| Week
15 (May 19) |
Adapting
The Lord of the Rings: Peter Jackson's Films |
|
| Week
16 (May 26) |
Final
Paper Due |
|
Note: This timetable may change depending on the pace
of the class. If you miss class, it is your responsibility to find
out what the assigned work was.
COURSEWORK
Coursework will consist of two essays (35% for the first, 45% for
the second) and an oral presentation (20%).
GRADING
All essays must be typed in polished standard English
and formatted according to the standard conventions of literary
criticism (see my essay advice
for details). Late submissions and submissions containing distracting
numbers of typos, spelling mistakes, or grammatical errors will
drop as much as one full grade. There is no automatic credit for
participation or attendance; however, I will take these factors
into account at the end of the semester in the case of borderline
grades. I regret that I am unable to handle extra-credit assignments.
Note: To receive a grade other than a U, you must have completed
more than half the coursework (no exceptions). See also my Policy
on Incompletes.
OFFICE CONSULTATIONS AND HOURS
Office hours ensure that there is a time when you
can always find me, but I encourage you to come and see me at any
time. Either make an appointment or just drop by to see if I am
in.
ATTENDANCE AND ACADEMIC HONESTY
Regular attendance is essential for success in this
course. Frequent absences will be noted and may be reflected in
your final grade. It is also extremely important that all aspects
of your work are come by honorably. Efforts to gain an advantage
not given to all students are dishonest and regarded as an extremely
serious matter by the academic community. Consequences range from
probation to expulsion. If you have any questions about plagiarism,
paraphrasing, quoting, or collaboration, please consult me.
ADD/DROP POLICY
Students should make sure that they follow the university's
add/drop deadlines, outlined in the Schedule of Classes or on my
add/drop policy page.
According to university policy, drops are only allowed after the
date therein when "a) there is a serious and compelling reason--specifically
the student’s emotional or physical health or financial condition
is clearly in jeopardy, and b) there is no viable alternative--including
repeating the class". Students will need to provide documentation
on official letterhead--a letter, on official stationery, from a
doctor or an employer--to support their reasons. No adds will be
allowed unless a student can provide documented proof--e.g., a clerical
error--for the reason for the tardiness. Please make sure to meet
the deadline!
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