ENG 3840
Lewis and Tolkien
Mischa Willett
MWF 9:00–10:20 a.m.
Between them, these two friends—from wildly different backgrounds and faith traditions—defined much of literature in the twentieth century. Christian apologetics as currently practiced is almost unimaginable without Lewis, who brought intellectual heft and personal vulnerability to the page, while also making huge strides in science fiction writing, and revolutionizing fantasy writing for children with The Chronicles of Narnia. Tolkien, among other things, wrote the most widely read book series of the century, and the standard by which all other fantasy literature since has been judged: The Lord of the Rings. Be prepared for a high-view survey of the broad terrain they covered, and for thinking seriously about friendship and literary collaboration.