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Teen Book Study: the Fellowship of the Ring, the Lord of the Rings #1
Rebecca Baumgarten, MA
Average rating:5.0Number of reviews:(28)
A 12-week class where we read and discuss the first volume of The Lord of the Rings. Taught by a teacher who wrote her masters thesis on J.R.R. Tolkien.
Class experience
US Grade 9 - 12
It’s hard to overstate the impact of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth writings on the fantasy genre and our cultural imagination. The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings are essential parts of any fantasy bookshelf. More than staples of popular culture, they are great works of literature dealing with themes such as heroism, vice and virtue, friendship, care for the natural world, and war (political and spiritual). I am thrilled to offer this novel study on the first volume of Tolkien’s epic...
In this class, students will learn to: • Write short answers in response to their reading • Understand characterization • Analyze the purpose of poetry in a novel • Define, analyze, and explain the purpose and techniques of metafiction • Define and give examples of eucatastrophe • Analyze themes in a work of literature
I have a bachelors and masters in English and graduate certificate in Digital Humanities from Texas A&M University. My thesis was titled "Endurance and Hope: Christian Heroism in Tolkien's Legendarium." I examined the interplay between Tolkien's fiction, his scholarship, his faith, and the old Germanic stories he loved so much. I have also written on Tolkien's work on mythology, fairytales, and medieval literature. I am currently an adjunct professor of English composition at Collin College in north Texas. I have also worked as a graduate assistant teacher of college English classes and freelance tutor for learners from elementary through college level, and I have many years of volunteer experience working with and teaching children in extracurricular activities.
Homework Offered
We will read 2 chapters per week. The exception is Week 1, where we will read the prologues. Be aware that number of pages will vary. Students should come to class having already read the material listed for that week. The welcome message in the classroom lists all discussion questions by week. Each week, I will again post the upcoming meeting’s question. Students should post their responses (300-500 words) as replies to these weekly posts.1 - 2 hours per week outside of class
Assessments Offered
Assessment is informal, based on responses to discussion questions and participation in class discussions.Grades Offered
Students must have a copy of the book, any edition.
The Lord of the Rings includes: • Magic • PG-13 violence: never glorified or described in graphic detail • Character deaths and lasting grief • Addiction: to the Ring, not to real-world substances • Use of alcohol and tobacco It may occasionally be necessary to touch on Tolkien’s own biography, including his linguistic and literary expertise, experience as a World War I veteran, and Catholic faith. These are not the focus of the class, though.
I have read most of Tolkien's work and a wide variety of scholarship on his writings. These will inform my instruction, but I will rarely talk about them.
Average rating:5.0Number of reviews:(28)
My name is Rebecca Baumgarten. I have a bachelor’s and master’s in English from Texas A&M University, focusing on the fiction and scholarship of J.R.R. Tolkien (hence my headline). I am an adjunct professor of English at Collin College in...
Group Class
$20
weekly or $240 for 12 classes1x per week, 12 weeks
55 min
Live video meetings
Ages: 14-18
1-6 learners per class
