ENGL 119

Fall 2024 All Classes

All Classes

Literature of Fantasy

SHOW FINAL EXAM SCHEDULE

Credit: 3 hours.

Introduction to the rich traditions of fantasy writing in world literature. While the commercial category of fantasy post-Tolkien will often be the focal point, individual instructors may choose to focus on alternate definitions of the genre: literatures of the fantastic, the uncanny, and the weird; fantasy before the Enlightenment and the advent of realism; fantasy for young adult or child readers; and so on.

Same as CWL 119.

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ENGL 119 class schedule data for fall 2024
	CRN	Type	Section	Time	Day	Location	Instructor	Section Details
	65040	Lecture	D2	2:00PM -3:15PM	TR	69 English Building	Baron, I	Part of Term: 1 Date Range: 08/26/24-12/11/24 Section Info: FA24 ENGL 119 - Literature of Fantasy - Iryce Baron - Unsung Heroines in Young Adult and Fantasy Literature - From the angry voices of the MeToo# and BLM movements, women and minorities are challenging traditional stereotypes about gender and identity politics in America and Britain. They’re supplanting the white patriarchy with authoritative female leaders. Literature is often viewed as a barometer of social change. Over the last few years, the pendulum has swung from celebrating pieces that are saturated with tributes to the iconic white male savior in series such as The Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Spiderman and Thor to embracing novels and films that explore a gender and identity directive that celebrates the agency of women and minority figures. But just how empowered are women and minorities in this seemingly new Golden Age of gender realignment? In this class, we will examine the rise of women as central heroic figures in Young Adult fantasy and in dystopian literature from the 19th century into the 21st century. We’ll focus on how women transformed from being depicted as delicate little flowers who needed constant male protection to being portrayed as commanding symbols of Girl Power. In addition, we’ll examine how the rise of fantasy lit aligned with the changing social dynamic of minority women in Western culture. And finally, we’ll trace how women from various social and racial backgrounds went from being sexualized objects who existed merely as eye-candy for superhero hetero men to being morally and physically superior entities who can change the world for the better and are not idealized just to maintain the status quo. Novels may include: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, The Wizard of Oz, The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, The Golden Compass, Twilight, The Hunger Games, Divergent and Out of the Blue. Class work will include three papers and an oral presentation along with active participation.