Three Sundays: December 3, 10, 17 from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. ET Online
Lecture and Discussion. This live class will be recorded and available for later viewing.
A one-act play in verse, a famous essay on heroism, and a strand of the DNA of The Lord of the Rings—all can be traced back to Tolkien’s lifelong study of "The Battle of Maldon", a fragment of Old English poetry chronicling a disastrous English defeat in the summer of 991. This class will trace Tolkien’s responses to the poem, both creative and critical: from his 1930s translation of the original poem; to his 1953 “sequel” play, "The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth"; and finally, to the many ways in which Maldon colors and seasons his famous fantasy fiction. Discussion is encouraged after—and during—each lecture.
Three Sundays: December 3, 10, and 17 from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. ET Online
Required Books:
The Battle of Maldon: together with the Homecoming of Beorhtnoth, by J.R.R. Tolkien (9780063338180)
Recommended Further Reading:
The Lord of the Rings, by J.R.R. Tolkien (9780544273443)
A Sense of Tales Untold: Exploring the Edges of Tolkien’s Literary Canvas, by Peter Grybauskas (9781606354308)
Peter Grybauskas is Senior Lecturer in English at the University of Maryland, where he leads courses on fantasy and food. His work has featured in Tolkien Studies, Mythlore, and collections in English and Italian. He is the editor of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Battle of Maldon, and author of A Sense of Tales Untold: Exploring the Edges of Tolkien’s Literary Canvas, a 2022 Mythopoeic Award finalist.
REFUND POLICY: Please note that we can issue class refunds up until seven (7) days before the first class session.
