ENGL108T Tolkien: Book to Film
Winter Term 2020
Prof. S. Tolmie
Class time:
Mon/Wed 11:30-12:50 HH 150
Office hours:
Mon/Wed 1:00-2:00 HH 266
Contact:
stolmie@uwaterloo.ca
Course Description
This is an introductory-level English course on J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy and its cultural impact, including the movies by Peter Jackson. Focus will be on the original texts.
Course Objectives and Learning Outcomes
The purpose of this course is to advance student readers of the series from fandom to critical analysis and to develop a sense of what is gained and lost in translating a popular book to film. We will consider Tolkien’s sources and analogues, the genre of his books and their place in children’s literature, folklore, and pop culture. In so doing students will practice their critical reading, writing and speaking skills.
Textbooks
All three of the Lord of the Rings volumes — The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers and The Return of the King — in any edition. Texts must be complete, unabridged and in English.
Movies will not be screened in class. Students are responsible for watching them on their own time, in any format they prefer. Material from the movies will not be covered in tests and is optional in essay assignments. Knowledge of them will be required for the group presentations. Screenplays for the films are available on IMDB.
Mark Breakdown
3 45-minute content tests, one on each book - 45% (15% each)
1 1500-word essay - 20%
in-class participation - 15%
group oral presentation/debate - 20% (group grade)
Assignments
Tests
Tests will take up 45 minutes of class time. Each one will be on the content of a single book, and contain both short detail-oriented questions and one broader thematic question.
They will exclusively concern the books. They are closed-book tests. Dates are firm and they will not be rescheduled without a doctor’s note.
1500-word essay (approximately 5 pages, double-spaced)
These are short explanatory essays, answering one of the questions provided, or answering individual questions designed by students themselves. The question must be posed at the top of page one, as a single sentence. Then the essay answers it in an orderly fashion, with evidence from the texts. These are not research essays, but all sources consulted in writing them, whether cited or not, should be acknowledged in a bibliography at the end. Bibliography and all formatting must adhere to MLA style. They are marked on coherence of argument, correctness of grammar, and exactness of formatting and presentation.
Participation
This means regular attendance, having all reading done in advance, asking and answering questions, volunteering to read, performing tasks and exercises readily and demonstrating politeness and respect for all members of the class. Discussion is an important component of this course and is reflected by being worth 15% of the grade.
Group presentations/debates
In the last two weeks of class, six student groups (all members of class will be randomized into these groups from the beginning, and each group will have individual discussion space on LEARN) will do 30-minute presentations. These will be conducted as debates about elements that have been changed or omitted in translating the books to film. Topics are set, though students in each group may choose their own sides in the debate. All members must participate. Online preparations will be monitored and members who are not contributing sufficiently will end up with a grade 10% lower than their peers -- and they will get zero if they contribute nothing.
Lateness Policy
Tests cannot be rescheduled without a medical note. Essays submitted late earn a 10% penalty automatically and will not be accepted after 7 days beyond the deadline, earning a zero. Group presentation dates are firm and cannot be rescheduled.
Schedule of classes
Note: specific reading amounts will be designated in class. Reading ahead is always encouraged.
Week 1:
Mon Jan 6 - introduction and goals; reading Fellowship
Wed Jan 8 - Fellowship
Week 2:
Mon Jan 13 - Fellowship
Wed Jan 15 - Fellowship
Week 3:
Mon Jan 20 - Fellowship
Wed Jan 22 - Fellowship
Week 4:
Mon Jan 27 - Fellowship
Wed Jan 29 - 45-minute test on Fellowship
Week 5:
Mon Feb 3 - Two Towers
Wed Feb 6 - Two Towers
Week 6:
Mon Feb 10 - Two Towers
Wed Feb 12 - Two Towers
STUDY WEEK FEB 17-21, NO CLASSES
Week 7:
Mon Feb 24 - Two Towers
Wed Feb 26 - Two Towers
Week 8:
Mon Mar 2 - Two Towers
Wed Mar 4 - 40-minute test on Two Towers
Week 9:
Mon Mar 9 - Return of the King; 1500-word essay due in class or on LEARN
Wed Mar 11 - Return of the King
Week 10:
Mon Mar 16 - Return of the King
Wed Mar 18 - Return of the King
Week 11:
Mon Mar 23 - Return of the King: 45-minute test on Return of the King
Wed Mar 25 - debate: Groups 1, 2
Week 12:
Mon Mar 30 - debate: Groups 3, 4
Wed Apr 1 - debate: Groups 5, 6
University Policies
Academic Integrity: in order to maintain a culture of academic integrity, members of the University of Waterloo community are expected to promote honesty, trust, fairness, respect and responsibility.
Grievance: A student who believes that a decision affecting some aspect of his/her university life has been unfair or unreasonable may have grounds for initiating a grievance. Read Policy 70 - Student Petitions and Grievances, Section 4, http://www.adm.uwaterloo.ca/infosec/Policies/policy70.htm
Discipline: A student is expected to know what constitutes academic integrity, to avoid committing academic offenses, and to take responsibility for his/her actions. A student who is unsure whether an action constitutes an offense, or who needs help in learning how to avoid offenses (e.g., plagiarism, cheating) or about “rules” for group work/collaboration should seek guidance from the course professor, academic advisor, or the Undergraduate Associate Dean. When misconduct has been found to have occurred, disciplinary penalties will be imposed under Policy 71 – Student Discipline. For information on categories of offenses and types of penalties, students should refer to Policy 71 - Student Discipline, http://www.adm.uwaterloo.ca/infosec/Policies/policy71.htm
Appeals: A student may appeal the finding and/or penalty in a decision made under Policy 70 - Student Petitions and Grievances (other than regarding a petition) or Policy 71 - Student Discipline if a ground for an appeal can be established. Read Policy 72 - Student Appeals, http://www.adm.uwaterloo.ca/infosec/Policies/policy72.htm
Accommodations for Persons with Disabilities
The AccessAbility Office (AO), located in Needles Hall, Room 1401, collaborates with all academic departments to arrange appropriate accommodations for students with
disabilities. If you require academic accommodations (such as alternate test and exam arrangements) please register with the AO at the beginning of each academic term and inform the course instructor. Contact them at access@uwaterloo.ca.
The Writing CentreThe Writing Centre works across all faculties to help students clarify their ideas, develop their voices, and write in the style appropriate to their disciplines. Writing Centre staff offer one-on-one support in planning assignments and presentations, using and documenting research, organizing and structuring papers, and revising for clarity and coherence. You can make multiple appointments throughout the term, or drop in at the Library for quick questions or feedback. To book a 50-minute appointment and to see drop-in hours, visit their page. Group appointments for team-based projects, presentations, and papers are also available. Please note that writing specialists guide you to see your work as readers would. They can teach you revising skills and strategies, but will not proof-read or edit for you. Please bring hard copies of your assignment instructions and any notes or drafts to your appointment.