Fantasy Literature

Fantasy Literature has emerged as one of the most important genres over the past few decades and now enjoys extraordinary levels of popularity. The impact of Tolkien’s Middle-earth works and the serialisation of George Martin’s ‘Game of Thrones’ books has moved these and their contemporaries into mainstream culture. As the popularity grows so does interest in the roots of fantasy, the main writers and themes, and how to approach these texts. Oxford is a natural home to fantasy literature with those who worked or studied here having written so many famous and influential texts (e.g. Lewis Carroll (C. L. Dodgson), C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, Susan Cooper, Diana Wynne Jones, Alan Garner, and Philip Pullman to name but a few) – leading to the notion of an ‘Oxford School of Fantasy’. These lectures, short talks, and interviews seek to take listeners into these works and these writers and beyond. All material released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/ [Artwork by Minjie Su.]

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Episodes

T. H. White

A brief introduction to the writer T. H. White. This short lecture introduces T.H.White, focusing on his Arthurian epic 'The Once and Future King' and its relation to Sir Thomas Malory’s 'Le Morte Darthur'. Gabriel Schenk completed his DPhil at Pembroke College in 2014. His thesis analyses depictions of King Arthur, focusing on a period spanning the mid-nineteenth to mid-twentieth centuries when the figure of Arthur became increasingly protean and multifaceted. He lectures online at Signum Unive...

May 12, 2020•10 min

Diana Wynne Jones

A brief introduction to the writer Diana Wynne Jones. This short lecture outlines Diana Wynne Jones’s early life, her major works, and a core element of her writing: the combination of different images and sources to create new, joyful stories. Gabriel Schenk completed his DPhil at Pembroke College in 2014. His thesis analyses depictions of King Arthur, focusing on a period spanning the mid-nineteenth to mid-twentieth centuries when the figure of Arthur became increasingly protean and multifacet...

May 12, 2020•11 min

Why 'Game of Thrones' Matters

'Game of Thrones' and storytelling. In 'Why Game of Thrones Matters', Carolyne Larrington discusses some reasons for the popularity of the HBO series, explores some of its principal themes and considers ways in which it both is – and isn't – like other epic fantasies. Carolyne Larrington teaches medieval English literature at St John's College, Oxford. She is the author of 'Winter is Coming: the Medieval World of Game of Thrones' (Bloomsbury, 2015) and her new book on the show, 'All Men Must Die...

May 12, 2020•57 min

Re-Enchanted: The Rise of Children’s Fantasy Literature in the Twentieth Century

Dr. Maria Cecire discusses the "Oxford School" of children's fantasy, examining how Tolkien and Lewis, as Oxford medievalists, resisted modern cultural shifts through their fiction and a new English curriculum. The lecture delves into the genre's legacy, particularly the colonialist fantasies of white male heroism, and how 21st-century authors are reclaiming enchantment for broader audiences. It highlights the institutional forces shaping fantasy and its continued relevance in contemporary society.

May 12, 2020•48 min

Interview: Catherine Butler

An Interview with Dr Catherine Butler, author of the book 'Four British Fantasists'. An interview with Dr Catherine Butler (Cardiff University) by Will Brockbank (Oxford). Dr Butler has contributed much to fantasy literature studies, most notably her book 'Four British Fantasists'. The interview looks at the definition of fantasy, the 'Oxford School', the relationship between children's writing and fantasy covering a range of writers - J. R. R. Tolkien, Alan Garner, Susan Cooper, and Philip Pull...

May 12, 2020•34 min

Alan Garner

A brief introduction to the British fantasy writer, Alan Garner. This short lecture offers an overview of the fantasy writer Alan Garner's early fiction, from 'The Weirdstone of Brisingamen' to 'Red Shift', and traces several of Garner's mythological sources and the central themes of his work. Felix Taylor is a DPhil candidate in English at St Hugh's College. His thesis explores the influence of Welsh mythology and folklore in twentieth-century British fiction.

May 12, 2020•9 min

Approaching Fantasy Literature

This episode provides a concise introduction to studying fantasy literature, using The Lord of the Rings as a central example to illustrate key concepts. It delves into the challenges of defining fantasy, distinguishing it from related genres, and explores various subgenres. The discussion also covers the genre's rich chronological history, standard critical approaches, and the intricate art of world-building, including insights from Tolkien's essay "On Fairy-stories." Ultimately, the talk examines fantasy's enduring popularity and its capacity to explore profound real-world issues on an epic scale.

May 12, 2020•30 min

H. P. Lovecraft

This podcast offers a concise introduction to H.P. Lovecraft, examining his personal history, the evolution of his 'weird fiction' genre, and its distinct characteristics within fantasy literature. It discusses his influences, the intricate Cthulhu Mythos he created, and his unconventional path through pulp magazines due to initial academic disregard. The talk also critically evaluates Lovecraft's writing style, including his famed obscurantism, and addresses the problematic themes of racism and class snobbery present in his works.

May 12, 2020•19 min

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