Course Overview

Unit-Specific Learning Goals

Comments for Teachers

Preliminary Quiz (not applicable to Unit One)

Key Terms

Handouts

Discussion Topics

Suggested Activities

Bibliography (with Web links)

Course Outline

a collection of curriculum resources for secondary school educators who want to help students explore the literary phenomenon that is J.R.R. Tolkien.These resources are grouped into nine thematic units focused on Tolkien's two most famous works: The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings . Each unit was designed to last one week, but we have included additional materials for teachers who wish to explore certain themes in depth.With a slight change in emphasis, these resources can be adapted to existing courses in fantasy literature, British literature, mythology, and European history.The Lord of the Rings is arguably the greatest work of imaginative literature ever created by a single author. In formulating the following behavioral objectives, we tried to keep Tolkien's artistic achievement always in mind.As the course progresses, the student should be able to: Comprehend The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings at the level of plot, character, setting, and idea. Appreciate the astonishingly complex world in which Tolkien's novels unfold. Think critically and write clearly about Tolkien's themes, with special emphasis on their contemporary relevance. Understand how Tolkien's fiction is informed by many literary and linguistic traditions, as well as by philosophical, psychological, sociological, and political issues that reverberate through the entire secondary school curriculum.To help you and your students meet these objectives, we have furnished each unit with eight elements:The heart of any given unit resides in the discussion topics and the suggested activities. In each case, the first several topics and projects connect most directly to the learning goals. The remaining ideas partake more of enrichment, but feel free to mix and match these materials to fit your specific curriculum needs.Beyond the preliminary quizzes, the primary evaluation tool is the student's own writing. Each class member should keep a daily journal, either in a notebook or on-line, to record questions about the readings, reactions to the discussions, and responses to the activities.Content Focus: The Oral TraditionThematic Focus: Creating Meaning Through MythContent Focus: The Hobbit, Chapters IVIIThematic Focus: The Magic of LanguageContent Focus: The Hobbit, Chapters VIIIXIXThematic Focus: The Quest in Life and LiteratureContent Focus: The Lord of the Rings, Book OneThematic Focus: Power, Corruption, and ResponsibilityContent Focus: The Lord of the Rings, Book TwoThematic Focus: Free Will and FellowshipContent Focus: The Lord of the Rings, Book ThreeThematic Focus: The Price of ProgressContent Focus: The Lord of the Rings, Book FourThematic Focus: The Nature of Good and EvilContent Focus: The Lord of the Rings, Book FiveThematic Focus: An Enemy Called DespairContent Focus: The Lord of the Rings, Book SixThematic Focus: What Makes a Hero?