EN 308/408 (Honors): Fantasy Writing in Oxford
Fulfillments: Honors (optional);
Oxford has inspired countless writers, from J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis to Diana Wynne Jones and Susanna Clarke. In this class, we will learn for ourselves why the university holds such imaginative power for writers of fantasy. Is it the city’s gothic medievalism? Its landscapes? The university’s incomparable resources? This course will emphasize, among other things, the nuances of worldbuilding and imaginative engagement with place. Oxford will serve as a primary inspiration for our fantastic literary creations.
Associate Prof. Jessica Kidd (University of Alabama)
Associate Professor Jessica Kidd is the Associate Director of the First-year Writing Program and a Clinical/Lecture-Track Associate Professor in the Department of English. Her book Bad Jamie was published in fall 2020 by Anhinga Press. Jessica is interested in speculative literature, folklore, and the fantastic.