Faerie and Fantasy

During the Spring 2011 semester, Professor Olsen recorded this undergraduate class session-by-session at Washington College.

In his landmark essay, “On Fairy-Stories,” Tolkien discussed the importance of the literature of Faerie, laying down the theoretical foundation for the modern fantasy genre. In this class, students drew from Tolkien’s invitation and explored the medieval Faerie-story tradition and examined the modern fairy-tale and fantasy genres that grew from it.

In addition, you will find here the complete reading schedule for the class, so that you can read along as you listen to the lecture series.

Make sure to look at the complete listing of the required readings for the class, complete with links to the texts that were used (available both in print and online).

You will also find some very special bonus audio material: unabridged readings of the Middle English poetry — the perfect beginning to the course.

Happy reading and listening!

Introduction to Middle English

Download Handout

Week 1

  1. Introduction (January 24, 2011)
  2. Sir Orfeo, Lines 1-194 (January 26, 2011)
  3. Sir Orfeo, Lines 195-408 (January 28, 2011)

Week 2

  1. Sir Orfeo, Lines 409-604 (January 31, 2011)
  2. Sir Launfal, Lines 1-348 (February 2, 2011)
  3. Sir Launfal, Lines 349-708 (February 4, 2011)

Week 3

  1. Sir Launfal, Lines 709-1044 (February 7, 2011)
  2. The Wedding of Sir Gawain and Dame Ragnelle, Lines 1-443 (February 9, 2011)
  3. The Wedding of Sir Gawain and Dame Ragnelle, Lines 444-852 (February 11, 2011)

Week 4

  1. Chaucer, “The Wife of Bath’s Tale”, Lines 857-1072 (February 14, 2011)
  2. Chaucer, “The Wife of Bath’s Tale”, Lines 1073-1264 (February 16, 2011)
  3. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Fitt I (February 18, 2011)

Week 5

  1. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Fitt II (February 21, 2011)
  2. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Fitt III (February 23, 2011)
  3. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Fitt IV (February 25, 2011)

Week 6

  1. Andrew Lang, Blue Fairy Book,
    “Sleeping Beauty,” “Cinderella,” “Aladdin” (February 28, 2011)
  2. Andrew Lang, Blue Fairy Book,
    “Rumpelstiltzkin,”“Beauty & the Beast,”“Hansel and Grettel” (March 2, 2011)
  3. Andrew Lang, Blue Fairy Book,
    “Snow-White and Rose-Red,” “Jack Giant-Killer,” “Black Bull of Norroway” (March 4, 2011)

Week 7

  1. Andrew Lang, Red Fairy Book,
    “Jack and the Beanstalk,”“Three Dwarfs,”“12 Brothers” (March 7, 2011)
  2. Andrew Lang, Red Fairy Book,
    Green Fairy Book“Rapunzel,”“Snowdrop,”“The Enchanted Ring” (March 9, 2011)
  3. Baron Edward John Moreton Drax Plunkett Lord Dunsany, The Book of Wonder,
    Pages 1-26 (March 11, 2011)

Week 8

  1. Baron Edward John Moreton Drax Plunkett Lord Dunsany, The Book of Wonder,
    Pages 27-58 (March 21, 2011)
  2. George MacDonald, The Princess and the Goblin, Chapters 1-10 (1-81) (March 23, 2011)
  3. George MacDonald, The Princess and the Goblin, Chapters 11-20 (82-156) (March 25, 2011)

Week 9

  1. George MacDonald, The Princess and the Goblin, Chapters 21-32 (157-241) (March 28, 2011)
  2. J.R.R. Tolkien, “Smith of Wootton Major”, Pages 9-34 (March 30, 2011)
  3. J.R.R. Tolkien, “Smith of Wootton Major”, Pages 35-59 (April 1, 2011)

Week 10

  1. C.S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch, and The Wardrobe, Chapters 1-6 (1-68) (April 4, 2011)
  2. C.S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch, and The Wardrobe, Chapters 7-11 (69-133) (April 8, 2011)

Week 11

  1. C.S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch, and The Wardrobe, Chapters 12-17 (135-206) (April 11, 2011)
  2. Peter Beagle, The Last Unicorn, Chapters 1-4 (1-72) (April 13, 2011)
  3. Peter Beagle, The Last Unicorn, Chapters 5-8 (73-153) (April 15, 2011)

Week 12

  1. Peter Beagle, The Last Unicorn, Chapters 9-11 (154-224) (April 18, 2011)
  2. Peter Beagle, The Last Unicorn, Chapters 12-14 (225-294) (April 20, 2011)
  3. Garth Nix, Sabriel, Prologue – Chapter 5 (1-55) (April 22, 2011)

Week 13

  1. Garth Nix, Sabriel, Chapters 6-11 (56-116) (April 25, 2011)
  2. Garth Nix, Sabriel, Chapters 12-17 (117-183) (April 27, 2011)
  3. Garth Nix, Sabriel, Chapters 18-23 (184-248) (April 29, 2011)

Week 14

  1. Garth Nix, Sabriel, Chapters 24-Epilogue (249-311) (May 2, 2011)
  2. Conclusion (May 4, 2011)