http://www.tolkienprofessor.com College-level lectures on the works of J.R.R. Tolkien Corey Olsen The Tolkien Professor podcast is a series of lectures on the works of J.R.R. Tolkien by Corey Olsen, Assistant Professor of English at Washington College in Maryland. In my lectures, I am working through The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings in detail, doing close readings of the stories (and the songs) in order to explore the fascinating details of Tolkien's world while also tracking some of the large, important themes in Tolkien's fiction. I am currently in the middle of my eight-part series on The Hobbit; read along with me! After you listen, swing by my website, www.tolkienprofessor.com, to take part in my discussion board or to check out my online Tolkien bookstore. Corey Olsen olsen@tolkienprofessor.com en-us by hand Copyright 2009 Corey Olsen http://www.tolkienprofessor.com/lectures/intro.html Corey Olsen olsen@tolkienprofessor.com (Corey Olsen) The Intro Lecture, in which I discuss Tolkien's understanding of the nature and importance of storytelling. Primary Text: Tolkien's essay "On Fairy-Stories" Mon, 15 Jun 2009 21:39:00 EST 28:25 Tolkien, Olsen, Lord of the Rings, Hobbit, lectures, mythology, subcreation http://www.tolkienprofessor.com/lectures/hobbit_series/hobbit_1.html olsen@tolkienprofessor.com (Corey Olsen) Corey Olsen The Hobbit Series Lecture 1, in which I examine how Tolkien introduces his fantasy world through his flustered little protagonist. Text: Chapter 1, "An Unexpected Party" Mon, 15 Jun 2009 21:40:00 EST 37:10 Tolkien, Olsen, Lord of the Rings, Hobbit, lectures, unexpected party, dwarves http://www.tolkienprofessor.com/lectures/hobbit_series/hobbit_2.html olsen@tolkienprofessor.com (Corey Olsen) Corey Olsen The Hobbit Series Lecture 2, in which I look at the beginning of Bilbo's burlarious career and examine the natures of trolls and elves. Text: Chapters 2 and 3, "Roast Mutton" and "A Short Rest" Mon, 15 Jun 2009 21:41:00 EST 32:48 Tolkien, Olsen, Lord of the Rings, Hobbit, lectures, elves, trolls http://www.tolkienprofessor.com/lectures/hobbit_series/hobbit_3.html olsen@tolkienprofessor.com (Corey Olsen) Corey Olsen The Hobbit Series Lecture 3, in which we come to the turning point of Bilbo's career. Containing a discussion of orcs and a careful reading of the Gollum encounter, riddle by riddle. Text: Chapters 4 and 5, "Over Hill and Under Hill" and "Riddles in the Dark" Mon, 15 Jun 2009 21:42:00 EST 49:52 Tolkien, Olsen, Lord of the Rings, Hobbit, lectures, Gollum, orcs, Ring http://www.tolkienprofessor.com/lectures/podcasts/podcast1.html olsen@tolkienprofessor.com (Corey Olsen) Corey Olsen An informal podcast Q&A, in which the Tolkien Professor discusses his views on the winglessness of Balrogs and the identity of Tom Bombadil Wed, 08 Jul 2009 14:21:00 EST 22:39 http://www.tolkienprofessor.com/lectures/podcasts/podcast1.html olsen@tolkienprofessor.com (Corey Olsen) Corey Olsen TP Bonus Content: A live recording of a joint lecture I gave in October 2008 with a former student, Shannon Holste, Washington College '07 Mon, 13 Jul 2009 01:40:00 EST 01:04:29 Tolkien, Olsen, Environment, Lord of the Rings, Environmentalism http://www.tolkienprofessor.com/lectures/podcasts/podcast1.html olsen@tolkienprofessor.com (Corey Olsen) Corey Olsen A second informal podcast Q&A, in which the Tolkien Professor discusses Smaug's family history and the social life of orcs Mon, 20 Jul 2009 00:30:00 EST 21:37 http://www.tolkienprofessor.com/lectures/podcasts/podcast1.html olsen@tolkienprofessor.com (Corey Olsen) Corey Olsen A third informal podcast, in which the Tolkien Professor doesn't exactly answer anybody's questions, but talks about some of the issues involved in doing so Mon, 27 Jul 2009 01:03:00 EST 17:57 http://www.tolkienprofessor.com/lectures/hobbit_series/hobbit_4.html olsen@tolkienprofessor.com (Corey Olsen) Corey Olsen The Hobbit Series Lecture 4, Part 1, in which we look at the changes in Bilbo and his relationship with Gandalf and the dwarves. Text: Chapters 6 and 7, "Out of the Frying-Pan into the Fire" and "Queer Lodgings" Fri, 31 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EST 13:07 Tolkien, Olsen, Lord of the Rings, Hobbit, lectures, Bilbo, ring, Gandalf http://www.tolkienprofessor.com/lectures/hobbit_series/hobbit_4.html olsen@tolkienprofessor.com (Corey Olsen) Corey Olsen The Hobbit Series Lecture 4, Part 2, in which we take a close look at the goblins, the wargs, and the eagles. Text: Chapters 6 and 7, "Out of the Frying-Pan into the Fire" and "Queer Lodgings" Mon, 3 Aug 2009 00:00:00 EST 14:39 Tolkien, Olsen, Lord of the Rings, Hobbit, lectures, wargs, goblins, eagles http://www.tolkienprofessor.com/lectures/hobbit_series/hobbit_4.html olsen@tolkienprofessor.com (Corey Olsen) Corey Olsen The Hobbit Series Lecture 4, Part 3, in which we examine Beorn, then step back and draw some conclusions about the Wild, followed by a brief discussion of fate and a close reading of the dwarves' song, "The Wind Was on the Withered Heath." Text: Chapters 6 and 7, "Out of the Frying-Pan into the Fire" and "Queer Lodgings" Sun, 6 Sep 2009 15:15:00 EST 29:22 Tolkien, Olsen, Lord of the Rings, Hobbit, lectures, Beorn, wild, wind, fate http://www.tolkienprofessor.com/lectures/podcasts/podcast1.html olsen@tolkienprofessor.com (Corey Olsen) Corey Olsen A chat with Ben Kozlowski, Washington College Class of '08, about the knowledge of evil in Tolkien's world. Sun, 13 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EST 42:58 Tolkien, Olsen, Ben Kozlowski, knowledge, evil, suffering http://www.tolkienprofessor.com/lectures/podcasts/podcast1.html olsen@tolkienprofessor.com (Corey Olsen) Corey Olsen A chat with Tara Holste, Washington College Class of '07, about class relations in Tolkien's fiction, with a primary focus on the relationship between masters and servants. Thu, 1 Oct 2009 23:30:00 EST 44:38 Tolkien, Olsen, Tara Holste, Shannon Holste, class, masters, servants http://www.tolkienprofessor.com/index.html olsen@tolkienprofessor.com (Corey Olsen) Corey Olsen Announcements of imminent events and upcoming new content. Thu, 5 Oct 2009 01:00:00 EST 7:10 Tolkien, Olsen, History, Clash of the Gods, Radio City, Lord of the Rings http://www.tolkienprofessor.com/index.html olsen@tolkienprofessor.com (Corey Olsen) Corey Olsen The Tolkien Professor takes calls by Skype from listeners. Topics covered include the Eye of Sauron, the death of the Witchking, and Gandalf's death. Sat, 9 Jan 2010 08:25:00 EST 25:00 Tolkien, Olsen, Lord of the Rings, Gandalf, Sauron, Skype http://www.tolkienprofessor.com/lectures/hobbit_series/hobbit_home.html olsen@tolkienprofessor.com (Corey Olsen) Corey Olsen The Hobbit Series Lecture 5, Part 1, in which we consider the forest of Mirkwood and its denizens. Text: Chapters 8, 9, and 10: "Flies and Spiders," "Barrels Out of Bond," and "A Warm Welcome." Sun, 17 Jan 2010 01:35:00 EST 22:31 Tolkien, Olsen, Lord of the Rings, Hobbit, lectures, Elves, spiders, Mirkwood http://www.tolkienprofessor.com/lectures/wc_class.html olsen@tolkienprofessor.com (Corey Olsen) Corey Olsen Introductory material from the first session of my Tolkien course at Washington College. Recorded 1/18/10. Tue, 19 Jan 2010 01:45:00 EST 24:23 Tolkien, Olsen, Lord of the Rings, Hobbit, course, introduction, modernism http://www.tolkienprofessor.com/lectures/wc_class.html olsen@tolkienprofessor.com (Corey Olsen) Corey Olsen "On Fairy-Stories," Part 1. Recorded 1/20/10. Thu, 21 Jan 2010 02:00:00 EST 42:40 Tolkien, Olsen, Lord of the Rings, Hobbit, course, fairy, faerie, fiction, fantasy http://www.tolkienprofessor.com/lectures/wc_class.html olsen@tolkienprofessor.com (Corey Olsen) Corey Olsen "On Fairy-Stories," Part 2. Makeup recording following a lamentable software crash in the midst of the live recording (on 1/22/10). Mon, 25 Jan 2010 02:00:00 EST 30:10 Tolkien, Olsen, Lord of the Rings, Hobbit, course, fiction, fantasy, recovery, escape http://www.tolkienprofessor.com/lectures/wc_class.html olsen@tolkienprofessor.com (Corey Olsen) Corey Olsen Tolkien's poem "Mythopoeia." Also contains a bonus unabridged recording of the poem. Recorded 1/25/10. Tue, 26 Jan 2010 01:30:00 EST 54:57 Tolkien, Olsen, Lord of the Rings, Hobbit, course, fantasy, consolation, escapism, eucatastrophe, gospel, mythopoeia, mythology http://www.tolkienprofessor.com/lectures/wc_class.html olsen@tolkienprofessor.com (Corey Olsen) Corey Olsen End of "Mythopoeia" and "Leaf by Niggle," Part 1. Recorded 1/27/10. Fri, 29 Jan 2010 10:00:00 EST 45:52 Tolkien, Olsen, Lord of the Rings, Hobbit, course, mythopoeia, mythology, paradise, leaf, niggle, painting, allegory, death, purgatory http://www.tolkienprofessor.com/lectures/wc_class.html olsen@tolkienprofessor.com (Corey Olsen) Corey Olsen "Leaf by Niggle," Part 2. Recorded 1/29/10. Sun, 31 Jan 2010 12:45:00 EST 46:54 Tolkien, Olsen, Lord of the Rings, Hobbit, course, paradise, leaf, niggle, painting, allegory, death, purgatory, art, parish http://www.tolkienprofessor.com/lectures/wc_class.html olsen@tolkienprofessor.com (Corey Olsen) Corey Olsen "Smith of Wootton Major," Part 1. Recorded 2/1/10. Wed, 03 Feb 2010 10:15:00 EST 48:14 Tolkien, Olsen, Lord of the Rings, Hobbit, course, smith, faerie, cake, cook, fairy http://www.tolkienprofessor.com/lectures/wc_class.html olsen@tolkienprofessor.com (Corey Olsen) Corey Olsen "Smith of Wootton Major," Part 2. Recorded 2/3/10. Thu, 04 Feb 2010 01:00:00 EST 42:53 Tolkien, Olsen, Lord of the Rings, Hobbit, course, smith, faerie, cake, cook, fairy http://www.tolkienprofessor.com/lectures/wc_class.html olsen@tolkienprofessor.com (Corey Olsen) Corey Olsen Silmarillion: Ainulindale and Valaquenta. Recorded 2/5/10. Mon, 08 Feb 2010 02:00:00 EST 57:33 Tolkien, Olsen, Lord of the Rings, Hobbit, course, Silmarillion, ainulindale, valaquenta, iluvatar, valar, creation, music, melkor, evil