This is our catalog of courses. We will occasionally adjust the course listing to reflect the addition of new courses and the retirement of others.
The Return of the King assures us that the ages-long evil of Satanic force in Sauron, which seems to dominate the world by its tyrannical government, can be defeated by those who love the good. Tolkien wanted the work to re-inspire and reinvigorate an age of world Wars when many have lost immediate contact with their Christian roots.
Total classes: 7
Prerequisite: Ability to read the book and ask questions
Suggested grade level: 9th to 10th grade. However, this is a timeless story to be enjoyed by all ages.
Suggested credit: ½ semester. For a full semester, precede with The Two Towers.
Description
The Return of the King reaches into the realm of Arthurian Romance (which is itself based on the resurrection of the Christ), to offer a vision of Armageddon and world war where defeat means unguessed centuries of darkness, although victory means holding the darkness only at bay while creating a new civilization that will be attacked again someday. Here again, the personal sacrifice and faithfulness of individual creatures is the central necessity for the victory of massive institutions and allegiances. All literature is moral in its center, and great literature reflects great moral truth. It was Tolkien’s genius to express the great truths of Christian civilization in a way, which could re-inspire and reinvigorate an age where many have lost immediate contact with those Christian roots.
Outline
Class 1: Minas Tirith—The Passing of the Grey Company
Class 2: The Muster of Rohan—The Siege of Gondorde of the Rohirrim
Class 3: The Ride of the Rohirrim–The Houses of Healing
Class 4: The Last Debate—The Tower of Cirith Ungol
Class 5: The Land of Shadow—The Field of Cormallen
Class 6: The Steward and the King—Homeward Bound
Class 7: The Scouring of the Shire—The Grey Havens
Materials and Homework
Course materials: The Return of the King by J.R.R.Tolkien. Any unabridged edition will do.
Homework: Expect to read from 40-50 pages and so spend about two hours per week outside of class on reading and homework. There will be weekly automated-graded quizzes available for immediate feedback, as well as two exams, one in the middle and one at the end of the course. Please come to class with thoughts and questions about what you have read.
