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ENG 217:02—FANTASY
Fall 2004 Syllabus: University of Connecticut
CLAS 247, T-TH 12:30-1:45
This course traces major themes and concepts in fantasy from the pulp writers of the 1920s and 1930s to the present day. Students will focus on works by Edgar Rice Burroughs, J. R. R. Tolkien, T. H. White, Marion Zimmer Bradley, Ursula LeGuin, and other writers both well-known and forgotten as well as their impact on the field. The development and impact of particular ideas in fantasy will be traced as well, from the genre's roots in Medieval storytelling through its recent spread into other genres. The state of the fantasy publishing field today will also be examined including the dramatic editorial and demographic shifts of the last 10 years, and important current writers such as Michael Swanwick and Guy Gavriel Kay.
You should expect to spend a great deal of time reading, writing, and talking during this class. Everyone is expected to participate in class discussions, and participation will be a significant part of your grade.
Grades
There will be several writing assignments, including both essays and an in-class final. You will be asked to write short (5-7 page), thoughtful essays reflecting your ability to analyze, compare, and synthesize readings. Each essay should be an attempt on your part to improve on previous writing assignments, both in content and in writing. Grades are not based simply on an average of all your grades, but on the improvement shown in those papers. In other words, your grade is based on what you learn in the course, not on what you know coming into it. (I reserve the right to use a pure average if I feel that's a more accurate reflection of your efforts in the class). Your contribution to the class discussion is an important factor in your grade, but strong class participation will not make up for weak writing.
You are expected to turn in all papers on time. If I agree to accept a late paper, it will be dropped a grade for every day (not every class) it is late. I reserve the right to refuse to accept a late paper and give you a grade of F for that paper. Incompletes will only be granted under extreme circumstances.
Attendance & Participation
Because of the interactive nature of the class, attendance and participation is mandatory. Due to the compressed nature of the class, you cannot afford to miss more than one or two classes and still expect to succeed in the class; if you must miss a class because of sickness or emergency, you should arrange to make up the work. If you miss more than four classes, your grade will be affected, regardless of your performance when you are present.
Reading
You will need the following books. All are in paperback, and are available from the college bookstore or most other bookstores.
Edgar Rice Burroughs, Tarzan of the Apes
T. H. White, The Once and Future King
Marion Zimmer Bradley, The Mists of Avalon
J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring
Ursula LeGuin, A Wizard of Earthsea
Richard Adams, Watership Down
Datlow & Windling, ed., Snow White, Blood Red
William Goldman, The Princess Bride
Michael Swanwick, "The Iron Dragon's Daughter" (handout)
Guy Gavriel Kay, Tigana
In addition to regular class readings, I expect you to follow national and world news events. Current events and their relationship to the genre will figure in class discussions.
The following is a general outline of discussions and readings for each class. This is a broad model, and we may wander from it depending on the needs of the class. Many of the themes mentioned will be worked on throughout the course, but we will spend time particularly emphasizing each one.
8/31 Introduction: What Is Fantasy?
no readings
9/02 Labor Day
no class
9/07 Early Twentieth Century Roots
readings from Weird Tales (www.swordsmith.com/weird.pdf):
"The Fireplace," Henry S. Whitehead
"The Rats In The Walls," H. P. Lovecraft
"The Seed From The Sepulcher," Clark Ashton Smith
"The Accursed Isle," Mary E. Counselman
"The Tower of the Elephant," Robert E. Howard
9/09 The Thin Veneer of Civilization
Edgar Rice Burroughs, Tarzan of the Apes
9/14 The Thin Veneer of Civilization
Edgar Rice Burroughs, Tarzan of the Apes
9/16 The Matter of Britain and The Medieval Storytelling Tradition
T. H. White, The Once and Future King
9/21 The New Arthur
T. H. White, The Once and Future King
essay due
9/23 The New Arthur
T. H. White, The Once and Future King
9/28 different visions: arthur revisited
Marion Zimmer Bradley, The Mists of Avalon
9/30 arthur revisited
Marion Zimmer Bradley, The Mists of Avalon
10/05 arthur revisited
Marion Zimmer Bradley, The Mists of Avalon
10/07 arthur revisited
Marion Zimmer Bradley, The Mists of Avalon
10/12 medieval roots and heroic fantasy
J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring
essay due
10/14 changing heroes
J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring
10/19 changing heroes
J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring
conferences
10/21 reexamining heroic fantasy
Ursula LeGuin, A Wizard of Earthsea
conferences
10/26 reexamining heroic fantasy
Ursula LeGuin, A Wizard of Earthsea
10/28 folklore and fairy tales
Datlow & Windling, Snow White, Blood Red
revised essay due
11/02 folklore and fairy tales
Datlow & Windling, Snow White, Blood Red
11/04 aesop revisited: animal fantasy
Richard Adams, Watership Down
11/09 animal fantasy
Richard Adams, Watership Down
11/11 animal fantasy
Richard Adams, Watership Down
11/16 DIFFERENT TRADITIONS
Michael Swanwick, "The Iron Dragon's Daughter" (www.swordsmith.com/iron.pdf)
11/18 different media
William Goldman, The Princess Bride
essay due
view film
11/23 Thanksgiving Break
no class
11/25 Thanksgiving Break
no class
11/30 different media
William Goldman, The Princess Bride
12/02 new directions
Guy Gavriel Kay, Tigana
12/07 new directions
Guy Gavriel Kay, Tigana
12/09 EPILOGUE: WHAT IS FANTASY?
Guy Gavriel Kay, Tigana
revised essay due
12/? FINAL EXAMINATION
2-hour in-class essay examination