EN 311: Oxford Fantasy Literature
Fulfillments: English upper level requirements
This course will explore the wonderfully rich history of fantasy literature and art in Oxford. Writers will include J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Philip Pullman, Diana Wynne Jones, and William Morris, among others. In addition to exploring theoretical approaches to the genre and thinking about Oxford’s importance to the development of modern-day fantasy, we will visit several key sites, such as: the tree that inspired the Ents in The Lord of the Rings; the Arthurian murals painted by the Pre-Raphaelites in the Oxford Union; and the dining hall and library that served as sets in the Harry Potter films.
Instructor: Gregory Ariail (University of Alabama)
Gregory Ariail is an instructor at the University of Alabama. He has studied and worked in Oxford. He has a lasting fascination with fantasy literature and published his first book, The Gospel of Rot with Mercer Univ. Press in 2022.