2020-21 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
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RE 235 Symbolic Expressions in Fantastical Literature
Beginning with Tolkien and Lord of the Rings, fantasy novels have captured the heart of millions. Readers loyally join fandoms, reading and rereading these works over and over, debating online, creating artwork, and writing academic studies. Perhaps the only literature reread more than Tolkien, Lewis, Rowling, and now Meyer and Collins, are the Bible, Torah, and Quran. What is it about these fantasy stories that draws us back, and allows these stories to stay with us years after we’ve closed the book?
In this course we will learn to identify these symbolic expressions, and translate them, earning not only a deeper understanding of the text, but also of its effect on us. We’ll begin to understand the artistic choices each author made as they decided to include various layers of symbolism into their writing. Throughout the course, students will work on their own fantastical literature, embedding their story with their own symbolic expressions. We will learn not only what symbols are hidden inside the work, but how each author uniquely and creatively hides their expression, and how we can do the same.
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