Fantasy Literature

Dec 11 2023 39 ep. 32 mins 349

Fantasy Literature Podcast artwork

Fantasy Literature has emerged as one of the most important genres over the past few decades and now enjoys extraordinary levels of popularity. The impact of Tolkien’s Middle-earth works and the serialisation of George Martin’s ‘Game of Thrones’ books has moved these and their contemporaries into mainstream culture. As the popularity grows so does interest in the roots of fantasy, the main writers and themes, and how to approach these texts. Oxford is a natural home to fantasy literature with those who worked or studied here having written so many famous and influential texts (e.g. Lewis Carroll (C. L. Dodgson), C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, Susan Cooper, Diana Wynne Jones, Alan Garner, and Philip Pullman to name but a few) – leading to the notion of an ‘Oxford School of Fantasy’. These lectures, short talks, and interviews seek to take listeners into these works and these writers and beyond. All material released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/ . [Artwork by Minjie Su.]

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J.R.R. Tolkien: The Making of a Philologist

Dec 11 2023 49 mins

A talk by Professor Simon Horobin on Tolkien's long-standing career and interest in philology as part of the Tolkien 50th Commemoration seminar series. A talk by Professor Simon Horobin on Tolkien's long-standing career and interest in philology. Part of the series to mark the 50th anniversary of Tolkien's death organised and hosted by Exeter College and the Faculty of English.

Tolkien and Beowulf

Dec 11 2023 49 mins

A talk by Dr Laura Varnam on Tolkien's long engagement with the Old English poem 'Beowulf' as part of the Tolkien 50th Commemoration seminar series. A talk by Dr Laura Varnam, University College, Oxford, on Tolkien's long engagement with the Old English poem 'Beowulf'. Part of the series to mark the 50th anniversary of Tolkien's death organised and hosted by Exeter College and the

A Heroic History of the Elves: Tolkien’s “lost” Mythology of England?

Dec 11 2023 54 mins

A talk by PhD candidate Grace Khuri, University of Oxford, on Tolkien's Elvish history and English 'mythology', as part of the Tolkien 50th Commemoration seminar series. A talk by PhD candidate Grace Khuri, University of Oxford, on Tolkien's Elvish history and English 'mythology'.. Part of the series to mark the 50th anniversary of Tolkien's death organised and hosted by Exeter Col

Tolkien and the Classics

Dec 11 2023 50 mins

A talk by Professor Giuseppe Pezzini on the influences of Classical Literature on Tolkien. [Audio only] A talk by Professor Giuseppe Pezzini, Faculty of Classics, Oxford, on the influences of Classical Literature on Tolkien.. Part of the series to mark the 50th anniversary of Tolkien's death organised and hosted by Exeter College and the Faculty of English.

Peak Middle-earth: Why Mount Doom is not the climax of 'The Lord of the Rings'

Dec 08 2023 43 mins

Audio only recording by Dr Michael Ward, Faculty of Theology, University of Oxford, as part of the Tolkien 50th Commemoration seminar series. [Audio only] Consideration of the climax to 'The Lord of the Rings' and in particular events at the Field of Cormallen. Part of the series to mark the 50th anniversary of Tolkien's death organised and hosted by Exeter College and the Faculty

How to write 'The Lord of the Rings'

Dec 08 2023 58 mins

A lecture by Dr S Lee as part of the Tolkien 50th Commemoration seminar series. A look at how Tolkien wrote 'The Lord of the Rings' and what lessons can be learnt from this. Part of the series to mark the 50th anniversary of Tolkien's death organised and hosted by Exeter College and the Faculty of English.

Fantasy Creatures

Sep 29 2021 57 mins

Dr Caroline Batten and Dr Megan Cavell discuss fantastic animals in fantasy text Dr Caroline Batten and Dr Megan Cavell discuss fantastic animals in fantasy texts, from their classical origins to the modern day. Topics include medieval bestiaries, The Last Unicorn, dragons and their mothers, Donkey's romantic arc in Shrek, the queerness of Ursula the Sea Witch, and the monstrosity

A Conversation with Katherine Langrish

Aug 31 2021 52 mins

Dr Caroline Batten chats with author Katherine Langrish about her book 'From Spare Oom to War Drobe' Dr Caroline Batten chats with author Katherine Langrish about her book 'From Spare Oom to War Drobe: Travels in Narnia with My Nine-Year-Old Self'. Topics include Plato, medieval romance, racism in fantasy, the importance of fanfiction, the problem of Susan, and The Pilgrim's Progre

Faith in fantasy literature

Jul 30 2021 12 mins

A short discussion of the role of faith in fantasy literature A short discussion of the role of faith in fantasy literature looking at the novels of James Islington's Licanius Trilogy, and Tasha Sri's 'Realm of Ash'. The talk is given by Katherine Olley, JRF at Oxford.

Brian McClellan

Jul 30 2021 11 mins

A discussion of the writer Brian McClellan. A look at Brian McClellan, author of The Powder Mage trilogy. This talk is presented by Katherine Olley, JRF at Oxford.