Syllabus

CLASS HOURS: TTH 9:30-10:45 am, JR244, Class #16076
OFFICE: 803 Sierra Tower
TELEPHONE: 677-0901
E-MAIL: scott.kleinman@csun.edu
OFFICE HOURS: To be determined

COURSE DESCRIPTION
This seminar will examine J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings in conjunction with biographical and autobiographical materials about Tolkien, his sources and influences, and published criticism about the book. We will focus in particular on Tolkien’s medievalism, his use and emulation of medieval literature in producing his own literature. Along the way, we will cover such issues as the critical reception of The Lord of the Rings, the genre of fantasy, the nature of evil, language in The Lord of the Rings, and the heroic quest.

COURSE OBJECTIVES
Students in this course will:

1. Acquire a knowledge of The Lord of the Rings and the medieval literature which informs it.
2. Acquire knowledge of the historical and cultural background which informs The Lord of the Rings, as well as a familiarity with the issues that have been discussed in Tolkien scholarship.
3. Learn to read and discuss The Lord of the Rings for enjoyment and for its insight into the human condition.
4. Demonstrate the skills associated with the professional practices of literary criticism, including writing and formatting conventions, research skills, and methods of analysis.
5. Demonstrate the ability to synthesise their knowledge and skills as part of a culminating experience for the English major.

TEXTS

• J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, 2nd edn (2000).
• Class Handouts. Note: Handouts will be passed out in class or accessed via WebCT. Readings available on the internet are linked from the online syllabus.

TENTATIVE COURSE SCHEDULE
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.

Class Cancellations: Classes are cancelled on 1 March and 10 May, when I will be participating at scholarly conferences. Students should be aware that the faculty union is currently in the midst of a dispute over inadequate pay. If contract negotiations fail, the union may call for a strike, causing further class cancellations or other types of disruption. Updates on this situation will be provided throughout the course.

COURSEWORK

Coursework will consist of two essays (30% for the first, 40% for the second), regular response papers, approximately 1-2 pages (15%), and participation (15%).

Essays: The essays will be approximately 2000-3000 words long (2500-3500 for graduate students). They will be graded substantially on your ability to write and format clear and effective scholarly prose.

Participation: Enrolling in this class requires a commitment to participate in a community of learners in which you agree to contribute to and not to detract from the learning environment. In order to receive full credit for participation, you must do the readings in advance, bring your textbook to each class, be prepared to discuss the materials, and complete all assignments additional to the exams and research papers. You must also arrive to class on time, remember to turn off your cell phones completely (vibrate is not good enough), and remain in the classroom for the duration of the class period. For disruptive behaviour (e.g. cell phones, frequent exits from the classroom), I reserve the right to increase the proportion of your final grade allotted to participation as I feel appropriate. There is no automatic credit for attendance, and frequent absences will be noted and may be reflected in your final grade.

GRADING

All essays, including response papers, 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.

ATTENDANCE AND ACADEMIC HONESTY

It is extremely important that all aspects of your work are come by honourably. 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. University policy stipulates that plagiarism, the submission of another person’s work as your own, is a violation of academic honesty, even if it arises out of ignorance or oversight, rather than deliberate cheating. Enrolling in this class means that you agree to abide by my decision regarding the appropriate action to take in cases of academic dishonesty. If you have any questions about plagiarism, paraphrasing, quoting, or collaboration, please consult me.

POLICIES

Students should make sure that they follow the university’s add/drop deadlines, outlined in the Schedule of Classes. According to university policy, drops are only allowed after the set date 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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