Shakespeare and Tolkien: Literature in the Classroom

(3 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

Central to this course is the study of Shakespeare and Tolkien, both of whom, while separated by over 300 years, nevertheless "stay in the mind." We will examine in-depth Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, King Lear, and Lord of the Rings, aiming to hone your ability to read closely and carefully and to write strong literary analyses. We will also examine these works in the context of contemporary education (where, for example, students complain about reading in part because they lack the skills and patience to read long or difficult texts), aiming to address questions about the purpose of literature and issues of literacy in our schools today.