In this eight-session course (Wednesdays, 8/13, 8/27, 9/10, 9/24, 10/8, 10/22, 11/5, 11/19) we will try to identify the qualities that make Tolkien’s works emotionally and intellectually engaging while seeking to better understand their significance. In exploring the rich complexity of Middle-earth, the phonesthetic beauty of Tolkien’s languages, the intricacy of the narrative, and the sophistication of the moral vision, we will seek to understand not merely his works’ popularity, cultural influence, and artistic success, but the personal significance they hold for many readers.