Tolkien's Inspirations and Writings of Middle Earth
Explore 20th century events by following in the footsteps of J.R.R. Tolkien to discover the different landscapes, circumstances and stories that inspired his creation and writings of Middle Earth.
Janie Cline
Average rating:
4.8
Number of reviews:(423)
What's included
4 pre-recorded lessons
4 weeks
of teacher support1 year access
to the contentClass Experience
Students are invited to engage in the study of early twentieth centuries events by following the footsteps of J.R.R. Tolkien to explore the different landscapes, events and stories that inspired The Hobbit, Lord of the Rings, and Middle-earth. PowerPoint slides will guide the lesson through photographs, maps, and other authentic materials as learners look the causes and conditions that shaped the landscape, mythology, and epic adventures of Tolkien's fantasy world. This course is devoted to teaching the historical content of the earliest twentieth using Tolkien's life experiences and inspirations; it is historical and thus expresses no personal viewpoint or opinions. The Industrial Revolution: Tolkien biography from 1892 until 1914 as economic and social conditions shifted in the early 20th-century. World War I Causes of World War I and Tolkien biography from 1914 until 1918 in relation to his experience. The Interwar Years Post-war years' political ideology, revolutions and struggles from the World War I armistice through the Great Depression as related to Tolkien's life from 1918 - 1938. Writing and Revision of Lord of the Rings Tolkien biography from 1937 to 1973 in which the Hobbit was published and the writing of The Lord of the Rings around which World War II occurred; 'applicability' (for which Tolkien compared his writing) is discussed. Detailed descriptions of the sessions are available for review in Learning Goals. Information presented in the topics are "matured" themed and may be sensitive material for some learners. These include but are not limited to shifting cultural and societal norms (e.g., underlying prejudice and overt hate), discriminatory practices (e.g., racism, sexism, homophobia), and human rights violations (e.g., war crimes, genocide). Any pictures used to relate key concepts, vocabulary, timelines, and other information will be non-descriptive and taken from the Britannica (https://www.britannica.com/).
Learning Goals
Topics, biographies and vocabulary terms are aligned with the National Standards for History (https://phi.history.ucla.edu/nchs/world-history-content-standards), National Social Studies Standards (https://www.socialstudies.org) and Common Core English Language Arts Standards (http://www.corestandards.org/ELA-Literacy).
() The Industrial Revolution
Tolkien biography from 1892 until 1914 as economic and social conditions shifted in the early 20th-century: urbanization (changing communities and employment expectations; living conditions); key Ideas and inventions (1790 - 1860s); working conditions (textile mills; coal mines); spread of industrialization and colonialization; British Empire in 1900; environmental Impacts on Industrialization
() World War I
Causes of World War I and Tolkien biography from 1914 until 1918 in relation to his experience: The Myth of Progress (ideas and innovations of the late 19th and early 20th century); causes of the Great War (militarism, nationalism, alliances, and imperialism); battlefield (trench, no-man's-land, weapons); Battle of Somme (combat as see first-hand by Tolkien); Armistice (Hundred Day Defensive, red poppy remembrance)
() The Interwar Years
Post-war years' political ideology, revolutions and struggles from the World War I armistice through the Great Depression as related to Tolkien's life from 1918 - 1938: end of the Great War (Russian revolutions; RMS Lusitania; 'Spanish Flu'; Kiel Mutiny); treaties (peace conditions and implications); post World War I conditions (physical; economically; socially); political Ideology (fascism; communism as interrupted by Lenin and Stalin; liberal democracy); Roaring Twenties and Depression Era in Europe
() The Writing and Revision of Lord of the Rings
Tolkien biography from 1937 to 1973 in which the Hobbit was published and the writing of The Lord of the Rings around which World War II occurred; 'applicability' (for which Tolkien compared his writing) is discussed: pre-war conditions (League of Nations; Hitler's expansion of territory; appeasement v. confrontation; Kristallnacht); applicability not allegorical discussion (definitions; compare and contrast; view of Tolkien's writing in relationship with World War II); literary influences and major themes (medieval texts including Beowulf; ordinary people called to great duties; significant of sacraments and anti-sacraments in text; struggle for good and evil); World War II (including but not limited to: Non-Aggression Pact; the invasion of Poland; Dunkirk; Battle of Britain; D-Day; Battle of the Bulge); progress and publication of The Lord of the Rings (cease of writing for extended periods; Tolkien's personal expectations for the work)
Syllabus
Standards
Aligned with National Curriculum Standards for Social Studies (NCSS)4 Lessons
over 4 WeeksLesson 1:
The Industrial Revolution
Tolkien biography from 1892 until 1914 as economic and social conditions shifted in the early 20th-century. Lesson 2:
World War I
Causes of World War I and Tolkien biography from 1914 until 1918 in relation to his experience. Lesson 3:
The Interwar Years
Post-war years' political ideology, revolutions and struggles from the World War I armistice through the Great Depression as related to Tolkien's life from 1918 - 1938. Lesson 4:
The Writing and Revision of Lord of the Rings
Tolkien biography from 1937 to 1973 in which the Hobbit was published and the writing of The Lord of the Rings around which World War II occurred. Other Details
Parental Guidance
Information presented in the topics are "matured" themed and may be sensitive material for some learners. These include but are not limited to shifting cultural and societal norms (e.g., underlying prejudice and overt hate), discriminatory practices (e.g., racism, sexism, homophobia), and human rights violations (e.g., war crimes, genocide). Any pictures used to relate key concepts, vocabulary, timelines, and other information will be non-descriptive and taken from the Britannica (https://www.britannica.com/).
Any pictures used to relate key concepts, vocabulary, timelines, and other information will be non-descriptive and taken from the Britannica (https://www.britannica.com/).
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Sources
A Hobbit, A Wardrobe and a Great War: How J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis Rediscovered Faith, Friendship, and Heroism in the Cataclysm of 1914-1918 by Joseph Loconte (Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2015)
Bilbo's Journey: Discovering the Hidden Meaning in The Hobbit by Joseph Pearce (Saint Benedict Press, 2012)
Defending Middle-Earth: Tolkien: Myth and Modernity by Patrick Curry. (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2004)
Frodo's Journey: Discover the Hidden Meaning of The Lord of the Rings by Joseph Pearce (Saint Benedict Press, 2015)
Global Age: Europe 1950-2017 by Ian Kershaw (Penguin Publishing Group, 2019)
History of the Hobbit: Mr. Baggins and Return to Bag-End by J.R.R. Tolkien and John D. Rateliff. (HarperCollins. 2007)
J.R.R. Tolkien: A Biography by Humphrey Carpender. (HMH Books, 2011)
Pursuit of Power: Europe 1815-1914 by Richard J. Evans (Penguin Publishing Group, 2016)
Road to Middle-Earth: How J. R. R. Tolkien Created a New Mythology by Tom Shippey (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2003)
Stalin's War: A New History of World War II by Sean McMeekin (Basic Book, 2021)
To Hell and Back: Europe 1914-1949 by Ian Kershaw (Penguin Publishing Group, 2015)
Vanquished: Why the First World War Failed to End by Robert Gerwarth (Tantor, 2016)
Writing of Middle Earth by HL Fourie. (CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2012)
Your Guide to The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings by Charles River Editors (Charles River Editors, 2013)
Joined May, 2020
4.8
423reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
Hello! My name is Janie. I am a graduate of Charleston Southern University with a Bachelors in Elementary Education and History, and was certificated in Elementary, Early Childhood, and Early Childhood Special Education. As a member of Learning for Justice, I am up-to-date on current issues and best teaching practices in order to align my classroom to inform accurate details in a fun learning environment where children and youth feel respected, valued and welcome participants. In my 15-year career, I have worked with children aged one to ten. I believe that children do not care what you know until they know that you care, and that real learning occurs somewhere between laughter, smiles and mess.
The goal in my sessions is to engage students in topics of their interest through discussion, storytelling, and creativity to encourage authentic learning of the material and an appreciation of others. Questions and comments as well as topic-related pictures, items, and other creative means are always welcome. I LOVE to crochet and I have a passion for Science-Fiction/Fantasy, history and all things Warrior Cats.Reviews
Self-Paced Class
$20
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4 weeks of teacher support
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1 year of access to the content
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Ages: 10-18
