The Hobbit: Exploring Middle-Earth with J. R. R. Tolkien & Peter Jackson
We'll hold a semester-long conversation, discussing the various literary and cinematic re-tellings of J. R. R. Tolkien's landmark fantasy, The Hobbit, or There and Back Again (1937). We'll learn more about the origins of The Hobbit (Tolkien originally promised his children "a long story about a small being with furry feet"). We'll also consider the significant challenges that Tolkien later faced in reconciling The Hobbit with his "adult fantasy" trilogy, The Lord of the Rings (1954-1955). In addition, we'll view and discuss a range of adaptations of Tolkien's Middle-earth mythos for cinema and television -- including Rankin/Bass Studio's animated special The Hobbit (1977) and Peter Jackson's newly-released The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (December 2012). Leonard Nimoy's 1968 novelty-tune "The Ballad of Bilbo Baggins" will serve as our course soundtrack.
Note: Please check the schedule of classes for the most up-to-date information about meeting times, locations, and availability.
About the professor
Charles Sligh is an assistant professor in the Department of English. He teaches courses on Victorian Literature and 20th-Century Fantasy.
Email Address: Charles-Sligh@utc.edu