030713 KU Law and Literature: Law, Government, and Society in J.R.R. Tolkien’s Works (2023W)
Continuous assessment of course work
Labels
Registration/Deregistration
Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).
- Registration is open from Tu 12.09.2023 00:01 to Tu 26.09.2023 23:59
- Deregistration possible until Su 15.10.2023 23:59
Details
max. 30 participants
Language: English
Lecturers
Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N
- Wednesday 11.10. 11:30 - 12:30 Digital (Kickoff Class)
- Monday 23.10. 09:00 - 12:00 Seminarraum SEM62 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum 6.OG
- Tuesday 24.10. 12:00 - 15:00 Seminarraum SEM62 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum 6.OG
- Wednesday 25.10. 09:00 - 12:00 Seminarraum SEM63 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum 6.OG
- Monday 06.11. 09:00 - 12:00 Seminarraum SEM64 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum 6.OG
- Tuesday 07.11. 12:00 - 15:00 Seminarraum SEM63 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum 6.OG
- Wednesday 08.11. 09:00 - 12:00 Seminarraum SEM64 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum 6.OG
Information
Aims, contents and method of the course
Law and Literature have been fellow travelers for a long time. Since James Boyd White published The Legal Imagination in 1973, a huge amount of research has been done by scholars with many different backgrounds and many different goals. Shakespeare and Cervantes are the leading focus of attention in English- and Spanish-speaking academia, of course. Authors such as Dostoevsky, Balzac, Kafka or Steinbeck, among others, have already received attention. This course will bring the issue to the works of J.R.R. Tolkien. Readings and discussions will be proposed in every session.
Assessment and permitted materials
The assessment is based on three partial performances:
1. Active participation in class
2. Questionnaires in Moodle / Kahoot during sessions
3. Short presentation of a legal analysis of a book
All materials are permitted, as the Seminar will have a practical focus on the use of regulations and case law.Students should have, at least, a proper knowledge of J.R.R. Tolkien’s works and also some notions of 20th century literary corpus. In the final session, every student will be asked to present orally some ideas about an author of their choice according to the methodology employed in the course.
1. Active participation in class
2. Questionnaires in Moodle / Kahoot during sessions
3. Short presentation of a legal analysis of a book
All materials are permitted, as the Seminar will have a practical focus on the use of regulations and case law.Students should have, at least, a proper knowledge of J.R.R. Tolkien’s works and also some notions of 20th century literary corpus. In the final session, every student will be asked to present orally some ideas about an author of their choice according to the methodology employed in the course.
Minimum requirements and assessment criteria
Attendance is compulsory. Students may miss no more than one class (with apologies for important reasons two classes). Attendance in the first lesson is absolutely necessary otherwise the spot will be given to students on the waiting list (exceptions can be made for important reasons with prior excuse).1. Active participation in class (30 %)
2. Questionnaires in Moodle / Kahoot during sessions (20 %)
3. Short presentation of a legal analysis of a book or a short story of the students’ choice on the last day of the course (50 %)For a positive assessment of the course, attendance and the achievement of 50,5 % of the assessment criteria are necessary.
2. Questionnaires in Moodle / Kahoot during sessions (20 %)
3. Short presentation of a legal analysis of a book or a short story of the students’ choice on the last day of the course (50 %)For a positive assessment of the course, attendance and the achievement of 50,5 % of the assessment criteria are necessary.
Examination topics
1. Law and Literature: an introduction
2. Fantasy, Science-fiction and Law
3. J.R.R. Tolkien: author and theorist
4. Law as a “Green Sun”
5. A vision of Government: the man and the books
6. Medieval traits in Tolkien’s societies and paradoxes
7. Law as tool for humour
2. Fantasy, Science-fiction and Law
3. J.R.R. Tolkien: author and theorist
4. Law as a “Green Sun”
5. A vision of Government: the man and the books
6. Medieval traits in Tolkien’s societies and paradoxes
7. Law as tool for humour
Reading list
Basic bibliography:Miranda Boto, JM. 2022. Law, Government and Society in J.R.R. Tolkien’s Works. Zurich-Jena: Walking TreeAdditional bibliographyBreda, J. H. v. 2015. “The Mercy and Justice of the King”. In Lembas Extra, edition 2015. Unexplored aspects of Tolkien and Arda. Soest: Boekscout.nl, 121-166
Cilli, Oronzo. 2019. Tolkien’s Library. An annotated checklist. Edinburgh: Luna Press Publishing
Carpenter, H. 2000. J.R.R. Tolkien. A biography. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company.
Duong, Wendy Nicole. 2005. “Law is Law and Art is Art and Shall the Two Ever Meet? Law and Literature: the Comparative Creative Processes”. Southern California Interdisciplinary Law Journal 15, 1 (2005)
Fimi, Dimitra. 2009. Tolkien, Race and Cultural History. From Fairies to Hobbits. London: Palgrave MacMillan
Ford, Judy Ann. 2005. “The White City: The Lord of the Rings as an Early Medieval Myth of the Restoration of the Roman Empire”. Tolkien Studies 2 (2005): 53-73
Garth, John. 2004. Tolkien and the Great War. London: Harper Collins
Hammond, Wayne G. and Christina Scull. 2014. The Lord of the Rings. A Reader’s Companion. London: Harper Collins
Kane, Douglas C. 2012. “Law and Arda”. Tolkien Studies 9 (2012): 37-57
Nardi, Dominic J. Jr. 2014. “Political Institutions in J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth: Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying About the Lack of Democracy”. Mythlore 33, 1 (2014): 101-123
Shippey, Tom. 2001. J.R.R. Tolkien. Author of the Century. London: Harper Collins
Cilli, Oronzo. 2019. Tolkien’s Library. An annotated checklist. Edinburgh: Luna Press Publishing
Carpenter, H. 2000. J.R.R. Tolkien. A biography. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company.
Duong, Wendy Nicole. 2005. “Law is Law and Art is Art and Shall the Two Ever Meet? Law and Literature: the Comparative Creative Processes”. Southern California Interdisciplinary Law Journal 15, 1 (2005)
Fimi, Dimitra. 2009. Tolkien, Race and Cultural History. From Fairies to Hobbits. London: Palgrave MacMillan
Ford, Judy Ann. 2005. “The White City: The Lord of the Rings as an Early Medieval Myth of the Restoration of the Roman Empire”. Tolkien Studies 2 (2005): 53-73
Garth, John. 2004. Tolkien and the Great War. London: Harper Collins
Hammond, Wayne G. and Christina Scull. 2014. The Lord of the Rings. A Reader’s Companion. London: Harper Collins
Kane, Douglas C. 2012. “Law and Arda”. Tolkien Studies 9 (2012): 37-57
Nardi, Dominic J. Jr. 2014. “Political Institutions in J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth: Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying About the Lack of Democracy”. Mythlore 33, 1 (2014): 101-123
Shippey, Tom. 2001. J.R.R. Tolkien. Author of the Century. London: Harper Collins
Association in the course directory
Last modified: Mo 02.10.2023 10:07