SMC194H1

Medieval Fantasy and Modern War: J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and Ursula K. Le Guin

This first-year foundation course explores the intricate relationship between medieval-themed fantasy literature and modern war. Drawing on the works of several of the most prolific 20th-century fantasy authors, it examines how the experience of global conflicts shaped the creation of secondary worlds informed by the Middle Ages in the works of such authors as J.R.R. Tolkien, Ursula K. LeGuin, and George R.R. Martin. This course provides important scholarly and cultural context for studying these works in relation to warfare and medievalism in fantasy literature. In so doing, it explores the complex relationship between real-life conflict and literature that has continued to shape popular culture to the present day. Restricted to first-year students. Not eligible for CR/NCR option.