Worlds Beyond Oxford: Tolkien, Lewis, Pullman

In the 1950’s two Oxford dons drew on their knowledge of myth, language and literature and rejuvenated fantasy writing in Britain. At the end of the century, another Oxonian reinterpreted Milton and created an ambitious philosophical fantasy for the modern age. This course traces the history of epic fantasy in the twentieth century through the work of JRR Tolkien, CS Lewis and Philip Pullman. We will examine the status of fantasy fiction in literary and critical thought, and discover how these three writers have defended and theorised their use of the fantasy form.

Focusing on Tolkien’s high fantasy, The Lord of the Rings, Lewis’s creation of Narnia, and Pullman’s ‘His Dark Materials’ trilogy, we will discuss myth, morality, religion, desire and the representation of identities. We will also ask what role the city of Oxford plays in these writers’ imaginations, and how closely they are bound to one another through friendship, inspiration and antagonism. The course will include visits to some of the landmarks which find a place in the fiction, including the areas in Birmingham which inspired the Two Towers and the Shire, and some of the colleges and pubs in Oxford relevant to these authors’ work.

Subject areas: English.
Check with your home institution for specific information on fulfilment of major/course requirements.