Tolkien the Writer

(3 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

Celebrated the world over for the unprecedented breadth and depth of his fictional worlds, J.R.R. Tolkien is less frequently praised for the quality of his prose. Decried by many contemporary critics for his anachronistic style, flat characterization, and florid descriptions, it has only really been since the turn of the millennium that Tolkien’s esteem as the ingenious inventor of Middle-earth has begun to be mirrored by an improving reputation as a technically skilled writer. In this course, we will work our way chronologically through Tolkien’s Middle-earth oeuvre—his legendarium—in order of composition, from well-known texts such as The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings to lesser known and posthumously published works ranging from The Silmarillion to the Athrabeth Finrod ah Andreth, paying particular attention to how Tolkien curates his oft-derided yet oft-imitated writerly voice. In studying Tolkien’s writings, we will consider how Tolkien not only became the voice of his generation but continues to speak to audiences today.