The Tolkien Professor

The tenth session of the Silmarillion Seminar, discussing Chapter 9 of the Quenta Silmarillion, "Of the Flight of the Noldor."

The ninth session of the Silmarillion Seminar, discussing Chapter 8 of the Quenta Silmarillion, "Of the Darkening of Valinor."

After a brief message to Stephen Colbert, we move on to the eighth session of the Silmarillion Seminar, discussing Chapter 7 of the Quenta Silmarillion, "Of the Silmarils and the Unrest of the Noldor."

The seventh session of the Silmarillion Seminar, discussing Chapter 6 of the Quenta Silmarillion, "Of Feanor and the Unchaining of Melkor."

Andrew Lang Session 2, in which we discuss "Rumpelstiltzkin," "Hansel and Grettel," and "Beauty and the Beast." Recorded 3/2/11.

Part Two of the show announcing the grand opening of the Mythgard Institute in the Fall 2011 semester. Both parts were originally broadcast on the Middle-Earth Network Radio.

Announcing the Mythgard Institute, offering courses in Tolkien Studies and related fields, beginning Fall 2011. Part one of two shows originally broadcast on the Middle-Earth Network Radio.

The sixth session of the Silmarillion Seminar, discussing Chapter 5 of the Quenta Silmarillion, "Of Eldamar and the Princes of the Eldalie."

Andrew Lang Session 1, in which we discuss "Sleeping Beauty," "Cinderella," and "Aladdin." Recorded 2/28/11.

The fifth session of the Silmarillion Seminar, discussing Chapters 3 and 4 of the Quenta Silmarillion, "Of the Coming of the Elves" and "Of Thingol and Melian."

A recording of the special live broadcast on the Middle-Earth Network Radio station a few weeks back, in which I unveiled my Big News.

An essay exploring the representation of the Celtic Otherworld in Arthurian Literature, with a particular focus on Morgan Le Fay in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Part 4, in which we look at the irregularities of the ending of this great poem. Recorded 2/25/11.

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Part 3, in which we learn how to resist seduction with tact and aplomb. Recorded 2/23/11.

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Part 2, in which we look carefully at our protagonist and his values. Recorded 2/21/11.

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Part 1, in which we discuss happy endings and relatively jolly green giants. Recorded 2/18/11.

Chaucer's Wife of Bath's Tale, Part 2, in which we look at some of the remarkable differences between Chaucer's version of this story and Dame Ragnelle. Recorded 2/16/11.

Chaucer's Wife of Bath's Tale, Part 1, in which we look at some of the remarkable differences between Chaucer's version of this story and Dame Ragnelle. Recorded 2/14/11.

The Wedding of Sir Gawain and Dame Ragnelle, Part 2, in which we discuss Sir Gawain's big choice. Recorded 2/11/11.

The Wedding of Sir Gawain and Dame Ragnelle, Part 1, in which we meet a knight with a funny name and a preternaturally ugly woman. Recorded 2/9/11.

Sir Launfal, Part 3, in which we see our protagonist's strange trial and unexpected deliverance. Recorded 2/7/11.

The fourth session of the new Silmarillion Seminar, discussing Chapter 2 of the Quenta Silmarillion, "Of Aule and Yavanna."

Sir Launfal, Part 2, in which we examine the relationship between our protagonist and his fairy benefactors. Recorded 2/4/11.

Sir Launfal, Part 1, in which we meet our protagonist, his king, and his king's sketchy wife. Recorded 2/2/11.

An unabridged recording of The Wife of Bath's Tale.

An unabridged recording of Dame Ragnelle.

Sir Orfeo, Part 3, in which we enter Faerie and find weird stuff. Recorded 1/31/11.

Sir Orfeo Part 2, in which we discuss Sir Orfeo's time of exile in the forest. Recorded 1/28/11.

A discussion of the first 194 lines of Sir Orfeo, in the WC Faerie and Fantasy class. Recorded 1/26/11.

The third session of the new Silmarillion Seminar, discussing Chapter 1 of the Quenta Silmarillion, "Of the Beginning of Days."

The Introductory Ramble for my new class, Faerie and Fantasy. Recorded 1/24/11.

An unabridged recording of Sir Launfal, in Middle English. This is the second text we will be discussing in my Faerie and Fantasy course.

An unabridged recording of the poem Sir Orfeo, in Middle English. This is the first text we will be discussing in my Faerie and Fantasy course.

In preparation to the Faerie and Fantasy course, I have put together this brief introduction to reading Middle English, since the first few texts we will be discussing in class are in Middle English.

The second session of the new Silmarillion Seminar, discussing the Valaquenta.

A roundtable discussion with John DiBartolo, Ted Nasmith, and Corey Olsen. This is the first of a three-part series.

A conversation with Allison Fischbach, a Washington College alum, about mortality and immortality in Tolkien, with special attention paid to the case of Turin Turambar and his family.

The fourth Tolkien Professor open Skype Session, recorded on October 13, 2010. Topics discussed include the Ring and invisibility, Anglo-Saxon, religion, Sam's dialect, death, and the Children of Hurin.

The inaugural session of the new Silmarillion Seminar, discussing the Ainulindale.

A conversation with Tara Holste, a Washington College alum, about Tolkien's thoughts about and depictions of government.

Discussing the Nazgul's flying mount, the Ring's conferring of invisibility, and the theology of Middle-Earth. Students present: Allison Fischbach, Tessa Fox, and Trevor Williams.

A recording of the two papers on Tolkien I read at the Medieval Congress at Kalamazoo in May 2010: The Poetry of the Hobbit and Tolkien's Typology

Discussing Aragorn's prophecies, Goldberry, and Glorfindel's identity. Students present: Rachel Field, Tessa Fox, and Trevor Williams.

The third Tolkien Professor open Skype Session, recorded on June 3, 2010. Topics discussed include recording my class, goblins and orcs, Bilbo's luck, and Frodo's experiences in Mordor.

A conversation with listeners Scott Holbrook-Foust and Eric Singletary, priamrily on written and oral cultures in Middle-Earth.

The second Tolkien Professor open Skype Session, recorded on May 20, 2010. Topics discussed include Eowyn's career as a healer, the creation of the world in the Ainulindale, Arwen's jewel, Aragorn's early career, the depiction of the Rohirrim in the films, the eagles, and the dead guy in the Paths of the Dead.

Discussing orcs v. goblins, the Watcher in the Water's targeting of Frodo, the lands east of Mordor, the possibility of Gandalf's torturing of Gollum, what happens to Frodo across the Sea, and the absence of religion in Middle-Earth. Students present: Caroline Knuth, Kelly Topita, Rachel Field, Mac Boyle, Will Malkus, and Eve Nealon.

A conversation with KMO, host of the C-Realm Podcast, on the Silmarillion and Tolkien's mythology.

A chat with Professor Michael Drout, editor of Tolkien Studies, about Tolkien's metafiction and the study of philology.

A chat with Liz Bateman, Washington College Class of '09, about the power of tragedy in Tolkien's world.