The Fall of Arnor: A Military Explanation of Events in the Lord of The Rings
A one time class about the history of a key war in Tolkien's Middle Earth.
What's included
1 live meeting
35 mins in-class hoursClass Experience
US Grade 9 - 12
In this lecture, we will be going over a pivotal moment in the history of JRR Tolkien's Lord of The Rings; the fall of the Kingdom of Arnor. Itself a tragedy centuries in the making, the fall of Arnor represents a pivotal moment in the history of Middle Earth and remains an often overlooked or ignored period of time. Even the author himself regulated it to the Appendix section of his work! This class aims to help inform the casual reader and dedicated fan alike, with a powerpoint lecture comprised of various maps, images, and pauses for detailed question and answer sessions. It is a self-contained lesson which is perfect for those looking for a casual discussion on the Lord of The Rings without wanting to commit to having to re-read the entirety of the 3 books. We will be looking at the subject from a historiographical point of view, treating this fiction as if it were fact.
Learning Goals
students will enjoy a lighthearted but still academically rigorous analysis of a literary classic, looking at fiction from a historical perspective and blending the two disciplines of English language literature and historiography.
Other Details
Parental Guidance
While entirely fictional, this is still a discussion about war and as such will include discussions on the deaths of (fictional) Kings in war, as well as a very Tolkien-esq approach to morality and good and evil. Given that Tolkien was a devout Catholic and Anti-War veteran of WW1 himself, some religious elements from his work have necessarily leaked in. Nevertheless the class will be as religiously neutral as possible while still respecting those underlying themes of his work.
Language of Instruction
English
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Sources
All of our sources come directly from the Lord of The Rings itself, as this is not a particularly history-intensive lecture. We will be leaning mostly on The Return of The King and the Appendix found therein, and as such an at least passing familiarity with either the books or the movie would be extremely helpful!
Joined May, 2023
Teacher expertise and credentials
This class being a synthesis of both English language literature and history, with an emphasis on military affairs in the classical period, I believe I am positioned to help students learn on this subject given that it is the background I have from my time in Umass Boston. Reviews
Live One-Time Class
$14
per classMeets once
35 min
Live video meetings
Ages: 14-18
3-6 learners per class
