ENGL 119

Spring 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 spring 2024
	CRN	Type	Section	Time	Day	Location	Instructor	Section Details
	47149	Lecture-Discussion	M	9:30AM -10:45AM	TR	61 English Building	Baron, I	Part of Term: 1 Date Range: 01/16/24-05/01/24 Section Info: SP24 - ENGL 119 - Literature of Fantasy - Iryce Baron - Harry Potter and Un/Conscious Bias - The Harry Potter novels have enjoyed a rare literary success. The novels had everything that readers young and old desired: riveting whodunnits, magical boarding schools where portraits came alive, a villainous dark wizard who wants to take over the world, political and social clashes resolved by young people who care and make a difference. At the center of the conflict is a boy hero who suddenly discovers he’s got magical powers and can defend his world from the perils of the psychopathic dark wizard, Lord Voldemort, who killed his parents. But Harry never resorts to revenge and cruelty. Harry is altruistic, kind, self-sacrificing. He’s modest and he constantly fights for underdogs. Nothing corrupts him. He’s like Frodo Baggins on steroids. The novels teach kids to be understanding and accepting of racial, gender and ethnic inclusivity. What could possibly go wrong with the overriding message of the Potterverse and its message of social diversity and political progressivism? Nothing until December of 2019 when Jo Rowling took the side of Maya Forstater whose work contract wasn’t renewed due to her belligerent refusal to stop misgendering her trans clients. In a shocking response, Rowling Tweeted: “Dress however you please. Call yourself whatever you like. Sleep with any consenting adult who’ll have you. Live your best life in peace and security. But force women out of their jobs for stating that sex is real? #IStandWithMaya #ThisIsNotADrill.” In this course we’ll explore the mythos and magic of the Potterverse and how the series utilizes literary world building to advance the work of progressive socialist policies in late 20th century Britain. At the same time, Rowling creates a narrative that too often gravitates toward a fractious conservative bias on major social issues. We’ll read each of the seven Potter novels and examine how they intersect with one another to generate an analogue Britain where the dangers of the Alt-Right come alive through the prejudices of a magical community on the brink of civil war. We’ll explore how despite this epic tale to take down white nationalist groups, Rowling frequently allows her biases (conscious and unconscious) on neurodiversity, class, language, educational parity, race, ethnicity and gender identity to inform her work and to undermine her prevailing messages on social justice. Ultimately, we’ll discuss whether writers whose political views are misguided or disturbing should stay in print and how as a society, we address these issues as readers in the 21st century. Students will be expected to engage actively in in the classroom and to write three papers and give oral reports on the historical and political history of the novels we’re studying. Novels include: Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows. Restriction(s): Restricted to Undergrad - Urbana-Champaign.