Office:
19
Peabody Hall Telephone:
706-542-5356
E-Mail:
medine@uga.edu Office
Hours:
MW 11:15-12:30 and by appointment
Writing
Intensive GTA: Jane Pearce
Religion and LiteratureÕs goal is to examine the
problematic of religion in the modern world and to explore basic human
questions, such as those of identity, community, ethical action, and
spirituality and how those have been expressed in literature. The language of such an exploration is
sometimes specifically Christian; sometimes it interprets Christian language in
new way, but often, the religious meanings are hybrid, using a number of
traditions in syncretic ways. The first work in the field was on specifically
Christian writers. We will, this semester, revisit that landscape.
This course will examine the works of two of the
group of writers who called themselves The Inklings: J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S.
Lewis. Each was a Christian who
expressed his faith through his art. We want to ask: Why do Christian
writers—not just the Inklings, but also, for example, Walker Percy,
Flannery OÕConnor, Madeline LÕEngle, and others—turn to fiction—in
particular, to what Lewis and Tolkien called Òthe fairy storyÓ—as a
medium of expression of their ideas? What is gained or lost by such a choice?
What is the relationship between art, imagination and belief?
Lewis,
Out of the Silent Planet
Perelandra All
these are Scribner
That
Hideous Strength
And
any material e-mailed to you.
1.
Faithful Attendance and participation in the discussion:
This includes writing and turning in six one-half to one-page
responses
to the discussion questions on the syllabus. They are highlighted
in bold. 20%
***Attendance: You may have three absences
without penalty. The fourth drops your course grade by a half letter grade, the
fifth by a letter grade, etc.
2.
Test on C. S. Lewis 20%
3.
Two short Papers (3 pp. Each) 20%
4.
Final Exam 40%
Test on J. R. R. Tolkien and a comparative
essay on the two writers
1.
You
should come to class—both lecture and discussion—on time. If you enter late, do so quietly and
take a seat. Note: Attendance is part of the grade! More than three absences will affect the final average.
2.
You
should bring whatever we are working on to class. Otherwise, why are you here?
If you do not have your text with you, I will
ask you to leave.
3.
All
work will be done on time. The
information in the course builds on each component, so late work is not
acceptable and will not be accommodated.
4.
QUIET: There are a lot of us, and we can
irritate each other quickly. No
newspapers, crunchy and otherwise noisy food, talking to others, etc. You know how to behave. If you are bothering me, you are bothering
your classmates. In other words,
you should be focused on this class when you are here. If you are not, you will be asked to
leave.
5.
At
times, we will be talking about things that are different and that may seem odd
or weird to you, in tension with your beliefs and ideas. Discomfort is to be handled with
reflection, not with insult, indifference, and/or insolence. In plain language, inappropriate
language—verbal and body—will not be tolerated.
6.
Respect
is the order of the day—for your classmates, for the GTAs, for the
professor, and for the subject matter.
Withdrawal
Policy:
A ÒgradeÓ of W will be given until the final date for withdrawal.
All
academic work must meet the standards contained in the University of Georgia
student handbook, ÒA Culture of Honesty.Ó Each student is responsible to be
informed about those standards before performing any academic work.
Brief
Outline of the Course: Details and changes will be announced in class.
The
course syllabus is a general plan for the course; deviations announced to the
class by the instructor may be necessary.
January
9:
Introduction to the Course
All this is flashy rhetoric about loving you.
I never had a selfless thought since I was born.
I am mercenary and self-seeking through and
through:
I want God, you, all friends, merely to serve my
turn.
Peace, reassurance,pleasure, are the goals I
seek,
I cannot crawl one inch outside my proper skin:
I talk of love—as scholarÕs parrot may
talk Greek—
But, self-imprisoned, always end where I begin.
Only
that now you have taught me (but how late) my lack.
I see the chasm. And everything you are was
making
My heart into a bridge by which I might get back
From exile, and grow man. And now the bridge is
breaking.
For this I bless you as the ruin falls. The
pains
You give me are more precious than all other
gains.
January
12:
Lewis and Tolkien: Biographical information
I.
Lewis and Tolkien biography: What common life experiences link them as friends and
thinkers?
****Themes: subcreator,
mythopoesis, Kolbitars, Inklings, Providence, "myth become
fact"
January 14: Biographical Information/the fairy story: READ:
ÒSometimes Fairy StoriesÓ
January
16:
Writing Intensive, Introduction
January 21:
The Fairy Story, Out of the Silent Planet: 9-59
Characters
and Terms:
Elwin
Ransom Hnau
Harry Hmana
Weston Hnakra
Devine Arbol
Hru
Hross/Hrossa Meldilorn
Hyoi Malacandra
Hndra Glundandra
Sorn/Seroni Perelandra
Oyarsa Thulcandra
Maledil
the Young ÒThe
Silent PlanetÓ
Pfifltriggi
Eldil
Augray
January
23: Out
of the Silent Planet, 9-59; or The Hero Journey, Katherine Daley-Bailey, Guest
Lecturer
II.
The hero journey cycle: you don't have to be able to reproduce the model, but you
need to be able to discuss the various stages of the journey and give an
example.
January
26: Out
of the Silent Planet, 60-84
****Answer one of the following:
a.
At what point(s) can you see RansomÕs Òcall to adventureÓ?
b.
How do point of view and perspective function in RansomÕs
adjustment to and understanding of Malacandra and its inhabitants?
January
28: Out
of the Silent Planet, 85-123; 124-end
January
30: Out
of the Silent Planet, 124-end
February
2:
Perelandra: 1-92
Characters
and Terms:
Ransom The
Un-Man
Old Solar/Hlab/Eribol ef Cordi) Weston
The
Green Lady The
Great Dance
February
4, 6:
Perelandra, 1-92
February
9, 11, 13:
Perelandra, 93-156
****Answer the following: Choose one of the conversations the Un-Man
has with
the Lady. What is he trying to ÒteachÓ
her so that she gets ÒolderÓ and falls?
February
16:
Perelandra, Final things; FIRST PAPER DUE by Wed.
February
18, 20:
That Hideous Strength
Characters
and Terms:
Jane and Mark John
Wither NICE
Belbury Frost Bill
Hingest
The Head Feverstone St.
AnneÕs On the Hill
Alcasan Filostrato Ransom
Macrobes Fairy
Hardcastle Arthur
and Camilla Denniston Strait
The
Dimbles
February
23, 25, 27:
That Hideous Strength
****Answer the Following:
What is the combination of
mythologies that Lewis is bringing together in this novel? Look up one of the
following and write about what it is: St. Anne, The Fisher King, Pendragon,
Merlin, Logres.
February 27: Lewis , final
things
Stairs
of Cirith Ungol Sting Orthanc
Bilbo:
Bag End: Shire Goldberry Arwen:
Undomiel
Frodo Barrow-wight Caradhras
Gollum Bree:
Mr. Underhill, Butterbur Moria
The
Ring Strider/Aragorn Orcs
Gandalf Bill Balrog:
Khazad-Dum
Sauron Nazgul/Black
Riders/Ringwraiths Boromir
and Faramir
Melkor Witch
King of Angmar
Eomer Balin Galadriel
Elbereth!
Gilthoniel! Men
of Westernesse/Dunedain/ Celeborn
Sam
Gamgee Numenor:
Anduril Sauron:
Mordor: Mt. Lembas Palantir Doom
Deagol
and Smeagol Isildur Saruman:
Isengard
Old
Man Willow Glorfindel Grima
Wormtongue
Treebeard
(Fangorn) Huorns Theoden:
Rohan
Merry Glorfindel Shadowfax
Pippin Pillars
of the Kings Athelas
Tom
Bombadil Anduin Nenya
The
Members of the Fellowship: Who are the Nine?
Participants in the Council of Elrond
March
16:
Fellowship, 22-148
****Answer one of the following:
a. How does
Tolkien make his world real? Immerse the reader within it? Describe one of his
techniques.
b.
The Ring: what does the Ring mean? What can and canÕt it do?
March
18, 20:
Fellowship of the Ring: 148-332
March
23-27:
Fellowship, 332-412
March
30, April 1, 3:
Fellowship, Final things; The Two Towers: themes and Key
Events: 413-602
April
6: Two
Towers: Key Themes and Key Events: 413-602
April
8, 10:
The Two Towers: 603-746
April
13, 15,17:
Return of the King: 747-805; 806-857
April
20-24:
Return of the King: 806-857; 872-957 SECOND PAPER DUE