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Mythopoëia and the Secret Fire: Inhabiting the Lives of Tolkien’s Middle-Earth
The Honors College, Florida International University
IDH 2003 – Fall 2014
Tuesdays & Thursdays: 9:30 – 10:45 AM
Classrooms and Professor Contacts
Lecture/large-group classes meet on GL 165.
Ruben Garrote
Office hours by apt., DM 246; [email protected]; (305) 348-1620
Adam Gorelick
Office hours: Mon. 12:30-4:30 PM, or by apt., DM 224; [email protected]; (305) 348-4100
Janet McDaniel
Office hours by apt., DM 233; [email protected]; (305) 348-4100
Required Texts
You are responsible for reading the following works by J.R.R. Tolkien:
“On Faërie-Stories” and “Leaf by Niggle”, in The Tolkien Reader (Del Rey, 1986) | ISBN
978-0345345066
“Smith of Wootton Major”, in Smith of Wootton Major and Farmer Giles of Ham (Del Rey,
1986) | ISBN 978-0345336064
The Silmarillion (Del Rey, 1985) | ISBN 978-0345325815
The Hobbit (Del Rey, 2012) | ISBN 978-0345538376
(N.B.— This ISBN is for the four-book boxed edition containing The Lord of the Rings. As you
will need The Lord of the Rings for the spring semester, we recommend that you purchase the
boxed set now.)
Attendance and Classroom Etiquette
Class attendance is an important component of your grade. You will be allowed one unexcused
absence or one unexcused instance of tardiness, no questions asked, with no penalty. Note well:
this is one absence OR one lateness, not one of each (the logical OR function, not the logical AND
function). Any additional absence will incur a 12-point penalty per occurrence. Additional lateness
occurrences are penalized as follows; 0-5 minutes = no penalty, 5-20 minutes = 6 points, >20
minutes = 12 points. If you notify your professor BEFORE class, these penalties may be excused
for emergency situations at the discretion of the professor. If you do not notify the professor before
class, there is no possibility of waiving the penalty. Since professors will only consider waving the
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penalty for extreme emergencies, we suggest that you save your one excused absence until the end
of the semester.
N.B. Although the one unexcused absence will not affect your class participation grade, there will
be no makeups for any missed quizzes. You have to be in class or you will receive a zero for the
quiz.
The use of laptops, cellular phones, or any other device for voice or text communication is prohibited for the duration of the class. YOU MUST TURN OFF AND PUT AWAY ALL ELECTRONIC DEVICES AT THE BEGINNING OF CLASS.
Course Requirements
Please take the time to read through the description of each course requirement. If you have any
questions, talk to us early in the semester.
Literary Analysis Essay (25%)
Essay Due 9-18 (end of day submit through turnitin on Blackboard)
The paper is intended to allow you to integrate the introductory material and to apply it in a
creative way. You will choose a faërie story (not assigned in the course) and write an analysis relying on the categories outlined by Tolkien in “On Faërie-Stories” and “Mythopoëia”.
Your choice need not be limited to traditional stories. There are plenty of examples in contemporary literature and film.
The paper length should be 5-7 double-spaced pages, size 12, Times New Roman font. Remember to cite all works consulted and provide a bibliography if needed.
Visual Analysis Essay (25%(
Essay Due 10-26 (end of day submit through turnitin on Blackboard)
For this assignment you will choose a set of illustrations from a foreign edition of The Hobbit
and compose an essay (min. 1800 max. 2500 words) with appropriate academic sources analyzing the images within their historical and cultural context. Expanded directions and additional resources posted on Blackboard. http://pblancho.free.fr/
Text as City: The Silmarillion (25%)
This assignment has two components:
1. Group Presentation 15% (to be scheduled at the end of the semester)
Based on in-class discussion of "text as city," students will work in groups to present an “artifact” that they create together. The artifact must utilize the text of the published
Silmarillion to render a place, such as a city, described therein. Be creative and analytical in
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your approach to this assignment. The medium you use to create the artifact is open to interpretation: visual art and cartography are good examples, but there are others. You will enlist
Tolkien’s descriptive language and your own critical reasoning skills—as well as, if at all
possible, the realization of imagined wonder. Use the text to expand upon, zoom in on, or go
beyond the borders of the maps of Beleriand provided in the book. Clear your topic with the
instructor.
2. Reflective Essay 10% (due 12/7 end of day submit through Turnitin on Blackboard)
Also, individually you will each compose a brief reflective essay (min. 900, max. 1500
words) describing your choice of medium and how you utilized the text in creating the artifact. Here also you will incorporate theoretical ideas about space and place. Consider the
following: Tolkien’s use of the primary “real” world in creating his fictional secondary
world, the reader’s experience of the fictional place, and finally what you take away from
that experience when you leave the text and walk around again in the places of the primary
world.
Guidelines for Written Work
All written work must consistently adhere to Kate L. Turabian's Manual for Writers of Research
Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, 8th edition. For more information, please visit this source:
Turabian. Students are advised to carefully proofread all papers before submitting them. All students are encouraged to take advantage of the University resources for writing to be found in the
Center for Excellence in Writing, a full-service writing center providing writing assistance and
feedback to university students, from first year students to PhD candidates. Thus Center is particularly helpful to those seeking to polish their writing skills. Center offices are located in GL
120 (MMC), Glen Hubert Library, First Floor (BBC), and EC 2780 at the Engineering Center.
For more information, go to http://writingcenter.fiu.edu/.
Chicago Manual 16th Edition https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/717/01/
Turabian 8th Edition http://www.press.uchicago.edu/books/turabian/turabian_citationguide.html
Format All written work must include your name, Panther ID number, course number and the
name of the professor on the title page.
•
•
•
•
Title Page Name
Panther ID, course number, name of your professor
Double spaced, 1-inch margins (top, bottom, left and right)
12 point font, Times New Roman
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Grading Scale
Grades are based on accumulated points, 100 in total
94 – 100
A
74 – 76
C
90 – 93
A-
70 – 73
C-
87 – 89
B+
67 – 69
D+
84 – 86
B
64 – 66
D
80 – 83
B-
60 – 63
D-
77 – 79
C+
59 & below
F
Honors Citizenship Requirements
All members of the Honors College are expected to be active citizens of the College, the university, and the community at large. To be a committed Honors College student is to take advantage of
enhanced learning opportunities and to assume a leadership role in the world. All College members
are expected to participate in the community-building activities listed below:
1. Attend one Honors Excellence Lecture per academic year and one Honors Colloquium per
semester (fall and spring). (Attendance will be taken).
2. Participate in the Honors College Convocation each fall. (Attendance will be taken).
3. Attend at least three Honors Hour sessions per semester or enrichment events specified by
the Honors College as satisfying this requirement. (Attendance will be taken).
4. Perform at least ten hours of Community Service per semester either through the Honors
College service partnerships (Sweetwater, Overtown Youth Center, etc.) or through other
community service projects and/or events. If you want to apply this service to your graduation portfolio, be sure to document your hours.
Academic Misconduct Policy
Registration in this course implies an acceptance of and compliance with the Honors College policies for students and the FIU Code of Academic Integrity. Please refer to the following documents
for additional information:
FIU Code of Academic Integrity: http://www.fiu.edu/~dwyere/academicintegrity.html
FIU Honors College Student Handbook: http://honors.fiu.edu/handbook0910.html
FIU Honors College Plagiarism Policy: http://honors.fiu.edu/current_policy_plagiarism.html
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Student Portfolios
The Honors College will be using a portfolio method to assess students’ learning outcomes. The
portfolio method allows for maximum flexibility in gauging student learning. You will decide
(with instructor consultation) what “artifacts” or assignments to include for consideration in your
portfolios to demonstrate successful achievement of each of the student learning outcomes.
Portfolios provide a rich context for students to show what they have learned and to explain their
learning process. Because the Honors curriculum is meant to be thought-provoking and reflective,
student self-assessment through portfolios will facilitate learning and provide in-depth assessment.
Each Honors College course includes at least one assignment that could potentially fit portfolio
requirements.
Global Learning Objectives
This course has been certified as meeting the university’s Global Learning requirement. This semester’s major component, Reacting to the Past, satisfies all three of the Honors College Global
Learning Objectives.
Global Awareness: Through your engagement in the “reacting” game and writing the research
paper, you will demonstrate knowledge of the interrelated dynamics (social-cultural, political,
economic, etc.) that shape the diverse thinking of multiple figures in diverse cultural contexts.
Global Perspective: Through your engagement in the “reacting” game and writing the research
paper, you will be able to analyze the multiple causal forces that shape the perspectives of historical individuals — economic, political, sociological, technological, cultural, etc.
Global Engagement: Through your engagement in the “reacting” game, you will demonstrate
a willingness to engage in evidence-based negotiation in order to solve a global issue.
Global Learning Co-curricular Activity: You will perform at least twenty hours of Community
Service per academic year either through the Honors College service partnerships (Sweetwater,
Overtown Youth Center, etc.) or through other community service projects and/or events. If you
want to apply this service to your graduation portfolio, be sure to document your hours.
Religious Observances
Every effort will be made, where feasible and practical, to accommodate students whose religious practices coincide with class requirements or scheduling. Please make sure to notify your
instructor at the beginning of the semester of which dates you will be absent or any anticipated
problems with completing course work.
Physical, Mental and Sensory Challenges
Every effort will be made, where feasible and practical, to accommodate students who are so
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challenged. Should you require accommodations, contact the Disability Resource Center, if you
have not done so already.
Last day to DROP class without a penalty: 9/2.
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CLASS SCHEDULE
FALL
Date
8/26
Day
T
Topic
Class overview and Introduction
8/28
Th
“On Faërie-Stories” and “Mythopoëia”
9/2
T
“On Faërie-Stories” and “Leaf by Niggle”
9/4
Th
“On Faërie-Stories” and “Smith of Wootton Major”
9/9
9/11
T
Th
The Hobbit, Chapter 1
The Hobbit, Chapters 2-3
9/16
9/18
T
Th
The Hobbit, Chapters 4-6
The Hobbit, Chapters 4-6
9/23
9/25
T
Th
The Hobbit, Chapters 7-8
The Hobbit, Chapters 7-8
10/30
10/2
T
Th
The Hobbit, Chapters 9-10
The Hobbit, Chapters 9-10
10/7
10/9
T
Th
The Hobbit, Chapters 11-13
The Hobbit, Chapters 11-13
10/14
10/16
T
Th
The Hobbit, Chapters 14-17
The Hobbit, Chapters 14-17
10/21 T
10/23 Th
The Hobbit, Chapters 18-19
The Hobbit, Chapters 18-19
10/28
10/30
T
Th
The Ages of Middle Earth
“Ainulindalë” and “Valaquenta”
11/4
11/6
T
Th
“Quenta Silmarillion,” Chapters 1-4
“Quenta Silmarillion,” Chapters 5-7
11/11
11/13
T
Th
VETERAN’S DAY HOLIDAY
“Quenta Silmarillion,” Chapters 8-11
11/18
T
“Quenta Silmarillion,” Chapters 12-16
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11/20
Th
“Quenta Silmarillion,” Chapters 17-18
11/25
11/27
T
Th
“Quenta Silmarillion,” Chapter 19 (Beren and Lúthien)
THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY “Quenta Silmarillion,” Chapter 20
12/2
12/4
T
Th
“Quenta Silmarillion,” Chapter 21 (Túrin Turambar)
“Quenta Silmarillion,” Chapters 22-24
12/9
T
“Akallabêth” and “On the Rings of Power and the Third Age”
SPRING
Date
1/13
1/15
Day
T
Th
Topic
The Lord of the Rings, Book I, Prologue and Chapter 1
The Lord of the Rings, Book I, Chapters 2-3
1/20
1/22
T
Th
The Lord of the Rings, Book I, Chapters 4-5
The Lord of the Rings, Book I, Chapters 6-8
1/27
1/29
T
Th
The Lord of the Rings, Book I, Chapters 9-10
The Lord of the Rings, Book I, Chapters 11-12
2/3
2/5
T
Th
The Lord of the Rings, Book II, Chapters 1-2
Reacting to the Past: The Council of Elrond
2/10
2/12
T
Th
The Lord of the Rings, Book II, Chapters 4-5
The Lord of the Rings, Book II, Chapters 6-8
2/17
2/19
T
Th
The Lord of the Rings, Book II, Chapters 9-Book III, Chapter 1
The Lord of the Rings, Book III, Chapters 2-3
2/24
2/26
T
Th
The Lord of the Rings, Book III, Chapter 4
The Lord of the Rings, Book III, Chapters 5-7
3/3
3/5
T
Th
The Lord of the Rings, Book III, Chapter 8
(The Lord of the Rings, Book III, Chapters 9-11)
3/10
3/12
T
Th
SPRING BREAK
SPRING BREAK
3/17
3/19
T
Th
The Lord of the Rings, Book IV, Chapters 1-3
The Lord of the Rings, Book IV, Chapters 4-6
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3/24
3/26
T
Th
The Lord of the Rings, Book IV, Chapters 7-8
The Lord of the Rings, Book IV, Chapters 9-10
3/31
4/2
T
Th
The Lord of the Rings, Book V, Chapters 1-3
The Lord of the Rings, Book V, Chapters 4
4/7
4/9
T
Th
The Lord of the Rings, Book V, Chapters 5-6
The Lord of the Rings, Book V, Chapters 7-8
4/14
4/16
T
Th
The Lord of the Rings, Book V, Chapters 9-10
The Lord of the Rings, Book VI, Chapters 1-3
4/21
4/23
T
Th
The Lord of the Rings, Book VI, Chapters 4-6
The Lord of the Rings, Book VI, Chapters 8-9
4/28
T
The Lord of the Rings, Appendices