Catholic Literature Series: J.R.R. Tolkien's Literary Politics

Mary Keys, associate professor of political science, University of Notre Dame

For this year’s Catholic Literature Series, the Center for Ethics and Culture (CEC) is revisiting J.R.R. Tolkien, an author whose incredible talent and influence merit a second look. At first glance, Tolkien may seem a strange subject for a series that normally focuses on introducing undergraduates to Catholic authors of whom they may be unaware. After all, Tolkien’s works have been and continue to be phenomenally popular around the world. Despite this, the CEC has chosen to feature Tolkien because relatively few undergraduates may be aware of the deep influence Tolkien’s Catholic faith had in shaping his work.

The full schedule of events is as follows:

Tuesday, September 4, 2012, at 8:00 p.m.
Tolkien’s Home: The Inklings, Storytelling, and Romantic Theology
David Fagerberg, University of Notre Dame

Tuesday, September 11, 2012, at 8:00 p.m.
Tolkien and Nostalgia
David O’Connor, University of Notre Dame

Tuesday, September 18, 2012, at 8:00 p.m.
J.R.R. Tolkien’s Literary Politics
Mary Keys, University of Notre Dame

Tuesday, September 25, 2012, at 8:00 p.m.
Is The Lord of the Rings an Explicitly Catholic Work?
Ralph Wood, Baylor University

Sponsored by the Center for Ethics and Culture

Originally published at al.nd.edu.