Interested in learning about Tolkien and fantasy literature in more depth? We have been asked to spread the word about an online course that spans fantasy from its roots to modern works. Here is the info we were asked to share with all the links after the break:

During the summer semester Cardiff Metropolitan University will run an online course titled Fantasy Literature: Tales Before and After Tolkien, designed and taught by Dr Dimitra Fimi.

The course will examine fantasy literature, from its roots in Victorian fairy tales to modern imaginary worlds. Some of the key texts we will explore include J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, C.S. Lewis’s Narnia books, Ursula Le Guin’s Earthsea series, Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy and J.K. RowlingHarry Potter series. The course is open to students and adult learners all over the world. It is delivered entirely online via Blackboard, Cardiff Met’s Virtual Learning Environment, so it does not matter where students are physically. The course will begin on Wednesday 9th May, and will run for 12 weeks (10 teaching Units plus 1 reading week and 1 essay-writing week), until the end of July. The course carries 20 credits at Year 3 undergraduate level if students choose to do the assessment.

If you are interested in enrolling on this course, please visit the link: http://www.fantasytolkien.co.uk/

For more information on the course contents please see here or here.

If you want a flavour of the themes, topics and texts this course will discuss, you can have a look at Dr Fimi’s personal website, under ‘Media’ (http://www.dimitrafimi.com/media.php), and listen especially to her interviews on BBC Radio Wales of 14th March 2011 (Jamie and Louise show) and of 4th June 2010 (Good Morning Wales).

You can also join our facebook page here or follow us on Twitter here.