Gina Petrone

Emily Brontë

This recording from August 1st, 2023. Signum MA student Gina Petrone will present her thesis “‘Let Me In!’ Vampirism in Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights” and respond to questions from the audience in an interactive Thesis Theater. The discussion will be facilitated by Gina’s thesis supervisor, Dr. Sara Brown. Abstract In Emily Brontë’s novel Wuthering Heights, scholars have studied the gothic elements of the story, but only in recent years has the idea of vampirism emerged. Cathy, a strong-willed and spirited girl, wants nothing more than to live her life at Wuthering Heights with her soulmate, Heathcliff. However, it is impossible for the two to be together in Victorian society. Cathy is from a respectable family, and Heathcliff is treated as no better than a servant after the death of Cathy’s father. Both monstrous in their own rights, Cathy and Heathcliff undergo transformations in order to become vampiric. I explore the transformation process of both characters and argue the possibility of traditional vampirism. I also argue the vampiric qualities of both characters due to their souls being halved by Cathy’s death. As such, this research connects Brontë’s own criticism of Victorian society to the meaning behind her characters in Wuthering Heights. About the Presenter Gina Petrone (she/her) is an English teacher for both middle and high school students. She has been an educator for the past thirteen years, and this will conclude her second Master’s degree. She recently moved to upstate New York with her fiancé and four cats. About Signum Thesis Theaters Each of our master’s students writes a thesis at the end of their degree program, exploring a topic of their choice. The Thesis Theater is their opportunity to present their research to a general audience, and answer questions. All are welcome to attend! Registration is open for the Fall 2023 semester! Classes begin Monday, August 28th. To view our upcoming courses: https://signumuniversity.org/degree-p.... Learn about Signum University’s mission, leadership and more: https://signumuniversity.org/about/. Want to enjoy Signum’s educational offerings? Start here! https://signumuniversity.org/non-degr....Support Signum Symposia

This recording from August 1st, 2023. Signum MA student Gina Petrone will present her thesis “‘Let Me In!’ Vampirism in Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights” and respond to questions from the audience in an interactive Thesis Theater. The discussion will be facilitated by Gina’s thesis supervisor, Dr. Sara Brown. Abstract In Emily Brontë’s novel Wuthering Heights, scholars have studied the gothic elements of the story, but only in recent years has the idea of vampirism emerged. Cathy, a strong-willed and spirited girl, wants nothing more than to live her life at Wuthering Heights with her soulmate, Heathcliff. However, it is impossible for the two to be together in Victorian society. Cathy is from a respectable family, and Heathcliff is treated as no better than a servant after the death of Cathy’s father. Both monstrous in their own rights, Cathy and Heathcliff undergo transformations in order to become vampiric. I explore the transformation process of both characters and argue the possibility of traditional vampirism. I also argue the vampiric qualities of both characters due to their souls being halved by Cathy’s death. As such, this research connects Brontë’s own criticism of Victorian society to the meaning behind her characters in Wuthering Heights. About the Presenter Gina Petrone (she/her) is an English teacher for both middle and high school students. She has been an educator for the past thirteen years, and this will conclude her second Master’s degree. She recently moved to upstate New York with her fiancé and four cats. About Signum Thesis Theaters Each of our master’s students writes a thesis at the end of their degree program, exploring a topic of their choice. The Thesis Theater is their opportunity to present their research to a general audience, and answer questions. All are welcome to attend! Registration is open for the Fall 2023 semester! Classes begin Monday, August 28th. To view our upcoming courses: <a href="https://signumuniversity.org/degree-p" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://signumuniversity.org/degree-p</a>.... Learn about Signum University’s mission, leadership and more: <a href="https://signumuniversity.org/about/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://signumuniversity.org/about/</a>. Want to enjoy Signum’s educational offerings? Start here! <a href="https://signumuniversity.org/non-degr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://signumuniversity.org/non-degr</a>....<a href="https://signumuniversity.org/fund/donate/" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support Signum Symposia</a>

Thesis Theater: Gina Petrone, "'Let Me In!' Vampirism in Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights"

Christoph Schabert

This recording from July 29, 2023. Signum MA student Christoph Schabert will present his thesis “Mágus saga jarls: A Digital Edition” and respond to questions from the audience in an interactive Thesis Theater. The discussion will be facilitated by Christoph’s thesis supervisor, Dr. Paul Peterson. Abstract An Old Norse-Icelandic genre that has long been relegated to the background of scholarly studies is the genre of riddarasögur. With the largest amount of surviving manuscripts, this genre was very popular among audiences of medieval Norse sagas. With 89 different manuscripts, Mágus saga jarls has the most attested witnesses of all riddarasögur. The saga exists in two recessions: a younger and an older one. The earliest surviving manuscript of the younger and longer recension is the subject of this edition. It is known under the shelfmark AM 567 XVII ß 4to and was written between c. 1390 and 1410. This version of the saga has been rendered into a three-layer transcription – facsimile, diplomatic, normalized – and is fully compliant with version 3 of Medieval Nordic Text Archive (Menota) standards. About the Presenter Christoph Schabert is a development operations engineer currently living and working in Germany. Growing up he loved reading fantasy and was always intrigued with old languages, which only deepened during his studies of Old Norse with Signum. His combination of a deep interest in language and a technical background made him a prime candidate to do a digital edition. About Signum Thesis Theaters Each of our master’s students writes a thesis at the end of their degree program, exploring a topic of their choice. The Thesis Theater is their opportunity to present their research to a general audience, and answer questions. All are welcome to attend! For more information about Signum University and our degree program, please visit: https://signumuniversity.org/ Registration is open for the Fall 2023 semester! Classes begin Monday, August 28th. To view our upcoming courses: https://signumuniversity.org/degree-p.... Learn about Signum University’s mission, leadership and more: https://signumuniversity.org/about/. Want to enjoy Signum’s educational offerings? Start here! https://signumuniversity.org/non-degr....Support Signum Symposia

This recording from July 29, 2023. Signum MA student Christoph Schabert will present his thesis “Mágus saga jarls: A Digital Edition” and respond to questions from the audience in an interactive Thesis Theater. The discussion will be facilitated by Christoph’s thesis supervisor, Dr. Paul Peterson. Abstract An Old Norse-Icelandic genre that has long been relegated to the background of scholarly studies is the genre of riddarasögur. With the largest amount of surviving manuscripts, this genre was very popular among audiences of medieval Norse sagas. With 89 different manuscripts, Mágus saga jarls has the most attested witnesses of all riddarasögur. The saga exists in two recessions: a younger and an older one. The earliest surviving manuscript of the younger and longer recension is the subject of this edition. It is known under the shelfmark AM 567 XVII ß 4to and was written between c. 1390 and 1410. This version of the saga has been rendered into a three-layer transcription – facsimile, diplomatic, normalized – and is fully compliant with version 3 of Medieval Nordic Text Archive (Menota) standards. About the Presenter Christoph Schabert is a development operations engineer currently living and working in Germany. Growing up he loved reading fantasy and was always intrigued with old languages, which only deepened during his studies of Old Norse with Signum. His combination of a deep interest in language and a technical background made him a prime candidate to do a digital edition. About Signum Thesis Theaters Each of our master’s students writes a thesis at the end of their degree program, exploring a topic of their choice. The Thesis Theater is their opportunity to present their research to a general audience, and answer questions. All are welcome to attend! For more information about Signum University and our degree program, please visit: <a href="https://signumuniversity.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://signumuniversity.org/</a> Registration is open for the Fall 2023 semester! Classes begin Monday, August 28th. To view our upcoming courses: <a href="https://signumuniversity.org/degree-p" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://signumuniversity.org/degree-p</a>.... Learn about Signum University’s mission, leadership and more: <a href="https://signumuniversity.org/about/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://signumuniversity.org/about/</a>. Want to enjoy Signum’s educational offerings? Start here! <a href="https://signumuniversity.org/non-degr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://signumuniversity.org/non-degr</a>....<a href="https://signumuniversity.org/fund/donate/" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support Signum Symposia</a>

Thesis Theater: Christoph Schabert, "Magus Saga Jarls: A Digital Edition"

Patrick Lyon

This recording from July 30, 2023. Signum MA student Patrick Lyon will present his thesis “Merry Old Englyn: The Familiar and the Strange in The Old English Rhyming Poem” and respond to questions from the audience in an interactive Thesis Theater. The discussion will be facilitated by Patrick’s thesis supervisor, Dr. Paul Peterson. Abstract The Old English Rhyming Poem is one of the stranger and more overlooked entries in the lexicon of OE poetry, often regarded as interesting but flawed and incoherent due to its intensive pursuit of rhyme. As the poem is both unique and highly allusive, critical analyses have focused on the potential inspirations for (and origins of) the poem, and have attempted to make sense of the work’s convoluted grammar and syntax. This thesis examines three related questions concerning the poem’s origin, translation, and interpretation, and in conversation with critical analyses and previous editions of the poem presents a new argument for the inspiration of the poem coming from Welsh poetry. This thesis also makes the case that treating the poem as a riddle in addition to an elegy can make greater sense of some of the passages that earlier critics have found most vexing in the past. About the Presenter Patrick Lyon is a graduate of the Program of Liberal Studies at the University of Notre Dame and has presented on topics of Tolkien Studies, Homeric epics, and Black Speech at various Mythmoots; he also writes freelance Movie and TV Features for collider.com. In his spare time he enjoys gardening, Beowulf, juggling, Irish music, more Beowulf, playing the violin, a pipe full of Old Toby, a spot of the Old Winyards, and tilting at windmills of various sizes as he whiffles through the tulgy wood of academia. He enjoys all the comforts of a hobbity home with his lovely wife and three rambunctious children.  About Signum Thesis Theaters Each of our master’s students writes a thesis at the end of their degree program, exploring a topic of their choice. The Thesis Theater is their opportunity to present their research to a general audience, and answer questions. All are welcome to attend! Registration is open for the Fall 2023 semester! Classes begin Monday, August 28th. To view our upcoming courses: https://signumuniversity.org/degree-p.... Learn about Signum University’s mission, leadership and more: https://signumuniversity.org/about/. Want to enjoy Signum’s educational offerings? Start here! https://signumuniversity.org/non-degr....Support Signum Symposia

This recording from July 30, 2023. Signum MA student Patrick Lyon will present his thesis “Merry Old Englyn: The Familiar and the Strange in The Old English Rhyming Poem” and respond to questions from the audience in an interactive Thesis Theater. The discussion will be facilitated by Patrick’s thesis supervisor, Dr. Paul Peterson. Abstract The Old English Rhyming Poem is one of the stranger and more overlooked entries in the lexicon of OE poetry, often regarded as interesting but flawed and incoherent due to its intensive pursuit of rhyme. As the poem is both unique and highly allusive, critical analyses have focused on the potential inspirations for (and origins of) the poem, and have attempted to make sense of the work’s convoluted grammar and syntax. This thesis examines three related questions concerning the poem’s origin, translation, and interpretation, and in conversation with critical analyses and previous editions of the poem presents a new argument for the inspiration of the poem coming from Welsh poetry. This thesis also makes the case that treating the poem as a riddle in addition to an elegy can make greater sense of some of the passages that earlier critics have found most vexing in the past. About the Presenter Patrick Lyon is a graduate of the Program of Liberal Studies at the University of Notre Dame and has presented on topics of Tolkien Studies, Homeric epics, and Black Speech at various Mythmoots; he also writes freelance Movie and TV Features for <a href="http://collider.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">collider.com</a>. In his spare time he enjoys gardening, Beowulf, juggling, Irish music, more Beowulf, playing the violin, a pipe full of Old Toby, a spot of the Old Winyards, and tilting at windmills of various sizes as he whiffles through the tulgy wood of academia. He enjoys all the comforts of a hobbity home with his lovely wife and three rambunctious children. About Signum Thesis Theaters Each of our master’s students writes a thesis at the end of their degree program, exploring a topic of their choice. The Thesis Theater is their opportunity to present their research to a general audience, and answer questions. All are welcome to attend! Registration is open for the Fall 2023 semester! Classes begin Monday, August 28th. To view our upcoming courses: <a href="https://signumuniversity.org/degree-p" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://signumuniversity.org/degree-p</a>.... Learn about Signum University’s mission, leadership and more: <a href="https://signumuniversity.org/about/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://signumuniversity.org/about/</a>. Want to enjoy Signum’s educational offerings? Start here! <a href="https://signumuniversity.org/non-degr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://signumuniversity.org/non-degr</a>....<a href="https://signumuniversity.org/fund/donate/" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support Signum Symposia</a>

Thesis Theater: Patrick Lyon, "The Familiar and the Strange in the Old English Rhyming Poem"

Find out about the new courses offered at Signum University this coming Summer Term (May 1 – July 30) and meet the professors who will be teaching them! Representatives from the courses will be on hand to explain how the classes work, what people can expect if they sign up, and answer questions from the live audience. The Summer 2023 Courses: Please note: Unfortunately, following the recording of this Signum Symposia event, we have decided to postpone "Literary Copernicus: The Cosmic Fiction of H.P. Lovecraft" until the Fall 2023 semester. "Tolkien Illustrated," "The Inklings and King Arthur," and "Introduction to Old Norse" are still open for registration. Thank you. Tolkien Illustrated: Picturing the Legendarium – This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the history of Tolkien illustration and its visual, contextual, and critical analyses. Literary Copernicus: The Cosmic Fiction of H.P. Lovecraft – This course explores the work of H.P. Lovecraft and his impact on literature and popular culture. Students will study the foundations of Lovecraft’s writing, the meaning behind his works, along with his cosmic vision and legacy. The Inklings and King Arthur – This course explores how J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and other Inklings authors interpreted the Arthurian legends in their work. Introduction to Old Norse – The first half of this course provides a focus on Old Icelandic grammar, and the second half allows students to begin reading from a selection of Old Icelandic prose and poetic texts. To view our course offerings for Summer 2023, please visit: https://signumuniversity.org/degree-p... To learn more about Signum University: https://signumuniversity.org/about/ For more upcoming news and Signum events: https://signumuniversity.org/news-and... Want to learn more about Signum's educational offerings? Start here: https://signumuniversity.org/non-degr...Support Signum Symposia

Find out about the new courses offered at Signum University this coming Summer Term (May 1 – July 30) and meet the professors who will be teaching them! Representatives from the courses will be on hand to explain how the classes work, what people can expect if they sign up, and answer questions from the live audience. The Summer 2023 Courses: Please note: Unfortunately, following the recording of this Signum Symposia event, we have decided to postpone "Literary Copernicus: The Cosmic Fiction of H.P. Lovecraft" until the Fall 2023 semester. "Tolkien Illustrated," "The Inklings and King Arthur," and "Introduction to Old Norse" are still open for registration. Thank you. Tolkien Illustrated: Picturing the Legendarium – This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the history of Tolkien illustration and its visual, contextual, and critical analyses. Literary Copernicus: The Cosmic Fiction of H.P. Lovecraft – This course explores the work of H.P. Lovecraft and his impact on literature and popular culture. Students will study the foundations of Lovecraft’s writing, the meaning behind his works, along with his cosmic vision and legacy. The Inklings and King Arthur – This course explores how J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and other Inklings authors interpreted the Arthurian legends in their work. Introduction to Old Norse – The first half of this course provides a focus on Old Icelandic grammar, and the second half allows students to begin reading from a selection of Old Icelandic prose and poetic texts. To view our course offerings for Summer 2023, please visit: <a href="https://signumuniversity.org/degree-p" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://signumuniversity.org/degree-p</a>... To learn more about Signum University: <a href="https://signumuniversity.org/about/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://signumuniversity.org/about/</a> For more upcoming news and Signum events: <a href="https://signumuniversity.org/news-and" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://signumuniversity.org/news-and</a>... Want to learn more about Signum's educational offerings? Start here: <a href="https://signumuniversity.org/non-degr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://signumuniversity.org/non-degr</a>...<a href="https://signumuniversity.org/fund/donate/" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support Signum Symposia</a>

Summer Courses 2023

Jennifer Ewing

Thesis Theater: Jennifer Ewing, “The Promises to the Overcomer” This recording from April 3rd, 2023. Signum MA student Jennifer Ewing will present her thesis “The Promises to the Overcomer: The Gifts and Rewards Given to the Fellowship in The Lord of the Rings” and respond to questions from the audience in an interactive Thesis Theater. The discussion will be facilitated by Jennifer’s thesis supervisor, Dr. Michael Corso. Abstract J. R. R. Tolkien’s devout Catholicism and Biblical knowledge, through personal study and professional translation and commentary on medieval works, is well known. This Catholic and biblical ‘leaf-mould’ finds its way into the gifts and rewards which were given to the Fellowship in completion of their quest in The Lord of the Rings (Letters 409). This thesis presents evidence that the gifts or rewards articulated as promises to the overcomer in the book of Revelation seem to correspond in theme and value to a gift or a reward in The Lord of the Rings and include: the tree of life (Rev. 2.7), no second death (Rev. 2.11), manna, a white stone, and a new name (Rev. 2.17), rule of the nations, the morning star (Rev. 2.26, 28), white raiment (Rev. 3.5), to be a secure as a pillar in the temple of My God (Rev. 3.12), and to sit with Jesus on his throne (Rev. 3.21). In addition to the religious symbolism, there is a cursory exploration of the stewardship aspects of the gifts and rewards. Without prudent use of these gifts (or rewards), the War of the Ring would have been lost and quest would have surely failed. About the Presenter Jennifer Ewing read the Bass &amp; Rankin illustrated edition of The Hobbit when she was ten years old. Despite this auspicious start, fourteen years passed before she read The Lord of the Rings. Some say that entering a course of study with an aim in mind brings a certain depth to that subject. Jennifer has known for the past twenty years that she wanted to write a thesis on Tolkien and Revelation 2-3. She attended seminary (where she is the library director), taking courses with that object in mind, and after graduation she waited two whole months before enrolling at Signum. About Signum Thesis Theaters Each of our master’s students writes a thesis at the end of their degree program, exploring a topic of their choice. The Thesis Theater is their opportunity to present their research to a general audience, and answer questions. All are welcome to attend! For more information about Signum University and our degree program, please visit: https://signumuniversity.org/ Registration is open for the Summer 2023 semester! Classes begin Monday, May 1st. To view our upcoming courses: https://signumuniversity.org/degree-p... Learn about Signum University’s mission, leadership and more: https://signumuniversity.org/about/ Want to enjoy Signum’s educational offerings? Start here! https://signumuniversity.org/non-degr...Support Signum Symposia

Thesis Theater: Jennifer Ewing, “The Promises to the Overcomer” This recording from April 3rd, 2023. Signum MA student Jennifer Ewing will present her thesis “The Promises to the Overcomer: The Gifts and Rewards Given to the Fellowship in The Lord of the Rings” and respond to questions from the audience in an interactive Thesis Theater. The discussion will be facilitated by Jennifer’s thesis supervisor, Dr. Michael Corso. Abstract J. R. R. Tolkien’s devout Catholicism and Biblical knowledge, through personal study and professional translation and commentary on medieval works, is well known. This Catholic and biblical ‘leaf-mould’ finds its way into the gifts and rewards which were given to the Fellowship in completion of their quest in The Lord of the Rings (Letters 409). This thesis presents evidence that the gifts or rewards articulated as promises to the overcomer in the book of Revelation seem to correspond in theme and value to a gift or a reward in The Lord of the Rings and include: the tree of life (Rev. 2.7), no second death (Rev. 2.11), manna, a white stone, and a new name (Rev. 2.17), rule of the nations, the morning star (Rev. 2.26, 28), white raiment (Rev. 3.5), to be a secure as a pillar in the temple of My God (Rev. 3.12), and to sit with Jesus on his throne (Rev. 3.21). In addition to the religious symbolism, there is a cursory exploration of the stewardship aspects of the gifts and rewards. Without prudent use of these gifts (or rewards), the War of the Ring would have been lost and quest would have surely failed. About the Presenter Jennifer Ewing read the Bass &amp; Rankin illustrated edition of The Hobbit when she was ten years old. Despite this auspicious start, fourteen years passed before she read The Lord of the Rings. Some say that entering a course of study with an aim in mind brings a certain depth to that subject. Jennifer has known for the past twenty years that she wanted to write a thesis on Tolkien and Revelation 2-3. She attended seminary (where she is the library director), taking courses with that object in mind, and after graduation she waited two whole months before enrolling at Signum. About Signum Thesis Theaters Each of our master’s students writes a thesis at the end of their degree program, exploring a topic of their choice. The Thesis Theater is their opportunity to present their research to a general audience, and answer questions. All are welcome to attend! For more information about Signum University and our degree program, please visit: <a href="https://signumuniversity.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://signumuniversity.org/</a> Registration is open for the Summer 2023 semester! Classes begin Monday, May 1st. To view our upcoming courses: <a href="https://signumuniversity.org/degree-p" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://signumuniversity.org/degree-p</a>... Learn about Signum University’s mission, leadership and more: <a href="https://signumuniversity.org/about/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://signumuniversity.org/about/</a> Want to enjoy Signum’s educational offerings? Start here! <a href="https://signumuniversity.org/non-degr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://signumuniversity.org/non-degr</a>...<a href="https://signumuniversity.org/fund/donate/" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support Signum Symposia</a>

Thesis Theater: Jennifer Ewing, “The Promises to the Overcomer”

This recording from December 1, 2022.  Find out about the new courses offered at Signum University this coming Spring Term (January 9 – April 2) and meet the professors who will be teaching them! Representatives from the courses will be on hand to explain how the classes work, what people can expect if they sign up, and answer questions from the live audience. Your host, Professor Sparrow Alden, will introduce you to some of our amazing Spring Term professors: Sara Brown, Gabriel Schenk, Liam Daley, and Nelson Goering. The Spring 2023 Courses: Race, Gender, and the Other in Tolkien’s Middle-earth – This course explores the issues of race, sexuality, gender, and Othering in the mythological legendarium of J.R.R. Tolkien. The Gothic Tradition – This course will investigate the fascinating and subversive Gothic imagination, identify the historical conditions that have inspired it, and consider how it has developed across time and place and medium. Chaucer I: Visions of Love – This class is the first semester in a two-part survey of Chaucer’s major works, looking at his early dream vision poems and his greatest completed work: Troilus and Criseyde. Introduction to Germanic Philology II – This class provides an introduction to Germanic comparative philology in a broad sense. Students are not expected to have prior familiarity with any language other than modern English. To view our course offerings for Spring 2023, please visit: https://signumuniversity.org/degree-p... Gift the joy of learning. Our Anytime Audit Holiday Special runs from now until December 31st. To view a full list of eligible courses and register for a certificate: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScOqBiJ7akJl37Oo5RPfGKn_rBA_LR0SxtZXoBLNyW_G8fqMA/viewform?vc=0&amp;c=0&amp;w=1&amp;flr=0 To learn more about Signum University: https://signumuniversity.org/about/ For more upcoming news and Signum events: https://signumuniversity.org/news-and...Support Signum Symposia

This recording from December 1, 2022. Find out about the new courses offered at Signum University this coming Spring Term (January 9 – April 2) and meet the professors who will be teaching them! Representatives from the courses will be on hand to explain how the classes work, what people can expect if they sign up, and answer questions from the live audience. Your host, Professor Sparrow Alden, will introduce you to some of our amazing Spring Term professors: Sara Brown, Gabriel Schenk, Liam Daley, and Nelson Goering. The Spring 2023 Courses: Race, Gender, and the Other in Tolkien’s Middle-earth – This course explores the issues of race, sexuality, gender, and Othering in the mythological legendarium of J.R.R. Tolkien. The Gothic Tradition – This course will investigate the fascinating and subversive Gothic imagination, identify the historical conditions that have inspired it, and consider how it has developed across time and place and medium. Chaucer I: Visions of Love – This class is the first semester in a two-part survey of Chaucer’s major works, looking at his early dream vision poems and his greatest completed work: Troilus and Criseyde. Introduction to Germanic Philology II – This class provides an introduction to Germanic comparative philology in a broad sense. Students are not expected to have prior familiarity with any language other than modern English. To view our course offerings for Spring 2023, please visit: <a href="https://signumuniversity.org/degree-p" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://signumuniversity.org/degree-p</a>... Gift the joy of learning. Our Anytime Audit Holiday Special runs from now until December 31st. To view a full list of eligible courses and register for a certificate: <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScOqBiJ7akJl37Oo5RPfGKn_rBA_LR0SxtZXoBLNyW_G8fqMA/viewform?vc=0&amp;c=0&amp;w=1&amp;flr=0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScOqBiJ7akJl37Oo5RPfGKn_rBA_LR0SxtZXoBLNyW_G8fqMA/viewform?vc=0&amp;c=0&amp;w=1&amp;flr=0</a> To learn more about Signum University: <a href="https://signumuniversity.org/about/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://signumuniversity.org/about/</a> For more upcoming news and Signum events: <a href="https://signumuniversity.org/news-and" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://signumuniversity.org/news-and</a>...<a href="https://signumuniversity.org/fund/donate/" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support Signum Symposia</a>

Spring Courses 2023

This is Part 1 of the separate recordings from The 2022 Fall Fundraising Campaign Finale, recorded on November 19, 2022. Our teaching programs Signum Graduate School https://signumuniversity.org/degree-p... Signum Academy Clubs https://signumuniversity.org/non-degr... Mythgard Institute https://mythgard.org/ SPACE Signum Portals for Adult Continuing Education https://signumuniversity.org/non-degr... New programs Signum University Press https://press.signumuniversity.org/ Signum Studios About Signum University https://signumuniversity.org/about/ Signum University https://signumuniversity.org/ Mission https://signumuniversity.org/about/mi... Support Signum University  https://signumuniversity.org/support/Support Signum Symposia

This is Part 1 of the separate recordings from The 2022 Fall Fundraising Campaign Finale, recorded on November 19, 2022. Our teaching programs Signum Graduate School <a href="https://signumuniversity.org/degree-p" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://signumuniversity.org/degree-p</a>... Signum Academy Clubs <a href="https://signumuniversity.org/non-degr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://signumuniversity.org/non-degr</a>... Mythgard Institute <a href="https://mythgard.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://mythgard.org/</a> SPACE Signum Portals for Adult Continuing Education <a href="https://signumuniversity.org/non-degr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://signumuniversity.org/non-degr</a>... New programs Signum University Press <a href="https://press.signumuniversity.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://press.signumuniversity.org/</a> Signum Studios About Signum University <a href="https://signumuniversity.org/about/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://signumuniversity.org/about/</a> Signum University <a href="https://signumuniversity.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://signumuniversity.org/</a> Mission <a href="https://signumuniversity.org/about/mi" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://signumuniversity.org/about/mi</a>... Support Signum University <a href="https://signumuniversity.org/support/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://signumuniversity.org/support/</a><a href="https://signumuniversity.org/fund/donate/" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support Signum Symposia</a>

State of the University Address, Fall 2022

Nadia Schafer

This recording from September 5, 2022. Signum MA student Nadia Schafer will present her thesis “One Strange (s) Elf:  Deep Ecology, Decolonization and the Radical Hope of Legolas Greenleaf ” and respond to questions from the audience in an interactive Thesis Theater. The discussion will be facilitated by Nadia’s thesis supervisor, Dr. Sara Brown. Abstract: While living through a national reckoning, a global pandemic, and a worsening climate change crisis, what The Lord of the Rings can offer to those living on Turtle Island in the 2020s? This thesis argues that the text offers its reader radical hope through the ecocritical voice through the character Legolas Greenleaf. Strongly influenced by the writings of Joanna Macy, Donna Haraway, and Robin Wall Kimmerer, “One Strange (s)Elf” explores the narrative of Legolas’ role in the process of decolonization and restoration in Middle-earth. Using a postcolonial analysis paired with Deep Ecology, this thesis establishes an Indigenous reading of the Silvan Elves. Building of this reading, it further demonstrates the power of making Oddkin as an act of decolonization, explores the elements of the Queer Gothic in the depiction of Fangorn’s Huorns, and acknowledges the power of shared grief. Finally, this work demonstrates how Tolkien suggests to his audience an alternative to despair by offering the choice to stray. About the Presenter: Nadia Schafer (she/her) is a Social Services Worker, Certified Human Resources Professional, and speculative writer living on the Haldimand Tract in Southwestern Ontario. Her career as a jack-of-all-trades has included everything from non-profit consulting to teaching preschool. You can find her promoting her creative work as Nadia Steven Rysing on Twitter @a_tendency (https://twitter.com/a_tendency). About Signum Thesis Theaters: Each of our master’s students writes a thesis at the end of their degree program, exploring a topic of their choice. The Thesis Theater is their opportunity to present their research to a general audience, and answer questions. All are welcome to attend! For more information about Signum University and our degree program, please visit: https://signumuniversity.org/ To view our upcoming courses: https://signumuniversity.org/degree-p... Learn about Signum University’s mission, leadership and more: https://signumuniversity.org/about/Support Signum Symposia

This recording from September 5, 2022. Signum MA student Nadia Schafer will present her thesis “One Strange (s) Elf: Deep Ecology, Decolonization and the Radical Hope of Legolas Greenleaf ” and respond to questions from the audience in an interactive Thesis Theater. The discussion will be facilitated by Nadia’s thesis supervisor, Dr. Sara Brown. Abstract: While living through a national reckoning, a global pandemic, and a worsening climate change crisis, what The Lord of the Rings can offer to those living on Turtle Island in the 2020s? This thesis argues that the text offers its reader radical hope through the ecocritical voice through the character Legolas Greenleaf. Strongly influenced by the writings of Joanna Macy, Donna Haraway, and Robin Wall Kimmerer, “One Strange (s)Elf” explores the narrative of Legolas’ role in the process of decolonization and restoration in Middle-earth. Using a postcolonial analysis paired with Deep Ecology, this thesis establishes an Indigenous reading of the Silvan Elves. Building of this reading, it further demonstrates the power of making Oddkin as an act of decolonization, explores the elements of the Queer Gothic in the depiction of Fangorn’s Huorns, and acknowledges the power of shared grief. Finally, this work demonstrates how Tolkien suggests to his audience an alternative to despair by offering the choice to stray. About the Presenter: Nadia Schafer (she/her) is a Social Services Worker, Certified Human Resources Professional, and speculative writer living on the Haldimand Tract in Southwestern Ontario. Her career as a jack-of-all-trades has included everything from non-profit consulting to teaching preschool. You can find her promoting her creative work as Nadia Steven Rysing on Twitter @a_tendency (<a href="https://twitter.com/a_tendency" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/a_tendency</a>). About Signum Thesis Theaters: Each of our master’s students writes a thesis at the end of their degree program, exploring a topic of their choice. The Thesis Theater is their opportunity to present their research to a general audience, and answer questions. All are welcome to attend! For more information about Signum University and our degree program, please visit: <a href="https://signumuniversity.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://signumuniversity.org/</a> To view our upcoming courses: <a href="https://signumuniversity.org/degree-p" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://signumuniversity.org/degree-p</a>... Learn about Signum University’s mission, leadership and more: <a href="https://signumuniversity.org/about/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://signumuniversity.org/about/</a><a href="https://signumuniversity.org/fund/donate/" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support Signum Symposia</a>

Thesis Theater: Nadia Schafer, "One Strange (s)Elf:...the Radical Hope of Legolas Greenleaf"

This recording from August 25, 2022. Find out about the new courses offered at Signum University this coming Fall Term (August 29 – November 20) and meet the professors who will be teaching them! Representatives from the courses will be on hand to explain how the classes work, what people can expect if they sign up, and answer questions from the live audience. Your host, Dr. Gabriel Schenk, will introduce you to our amazing Fall Term professors: Dr. Amy H. Sturgis, Dr. Faith Acker, Dr. Nelson Goering, Dr. Larry Swain, and Dr. Liam Daley The Spring 2022 Courses: Dark Academia – Dark Academia explores this thriving genre which combines the Gothic, schooldays stories, mystery, and speculative fiction.  Foundations in Critical Reading and Research – This core course introduces students to current practices and conventions of graduate scholarship in Language and Literature, core literary theories, and foundational Humanities skills. Beowulf Through Tolkien – This course examines Tolkien and Beowulf together to provide insight into both the classic Old English epic and Tolkien’s modern fantasy works. Shakespeare and the Middle Ages – The course examines Shakespeare’s Comedies in the context of their medieval literary sources, his Histories in light of Tudor views of the recent medieval past, and his Tragedies in the context of medieval beliefs and cosmologies. Introduction to Germanic Philology I – This class offers a survey of the older Germanic languages (especially Gothic, Old Norse, and Old English), and the literatures written in those languages. To view our course offerings for Fall 2022, please visit: https://signumuniversity.org/degree-p... To learn more about Signum Univesity, visit: https://signumuniversity.org/about/ For more upcoming events and Signum news: https://signumuniversity.org/news-and... Don't forget to check out more videos on this channel for past events and our free, fun, and educational weekly activities.Support Signum Symposia

This recording from August 25, 2022. Find out about the new courses offered at Signum University this coming Fall Term (August 29 – November 20) and meet the professors who will be teaching them! Representatives from the courses will be on hand to explain how the classes work, what people can expect if they sign up, and answer questions from the live audience. Your host, Dr. Gabriel Schenk, will introduce you to our amazing Fall Term professors: Dr. Amy H. Sturgis, Dr. Faith Acker, Dr. Nelson Goering, Dr. Larry Swain, and Dr. Liam Daley The Spring 2022 Courses: Dark Academia – Dark Academia explores this thriving genre which combines the Gothic, schooldays stories, mystery, and speculative fiction. Foundations in Critical Reading and Research – This core course introduces students to current practices and conventions of graduate scholarship in Language and Literature, core literary theories, and foundational Humanities skills. Beowulf Through Tolkien – This course examines Tolkien and Beowulf together to provide insight into both the classic Old English epic and Tolkien’s modern fantasy works. Shakespeare and the Middle Ages – The course examines Shakespeare’s Comedies in the context of their medieval literary sources, his Histories in light of Tudor views of the recent medieval past, and his Tragedies in the context of medieval beliefs and cosmologies. Introduction to Germanic Philology I – This class offers a survey of the older Germanic languages (especially Gothic, Old Norse, and Old English), and the literatures written in those languages. To view our course offerings for Fall 2022, please visit: <a href="https://signumuniversity.org/degree-p" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://signumuniversity.org/degree-p</a>... To learn more about Signum Univesity, visit: <a href="https://signumuniversity.org/about/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://signumuniversity.org/about/</a> For more upcoming events and Signum news: <a href="https://signumuniversity.org/news-and" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://signumuniversity.org/news-and</a>... Don't forget to check out more videos on this channel for past events and our free, fun, and educational weekly activities.<a href="https://signumuniversity.org/fund/donate/" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support Signum Symposia</a>

Fall Courses 2022

Jacob R. Schreiner

Thesis Theater: Jacob R. Schreiner, "Sub-creation Through Speech-Acts in Tolkien’s Legendarium" This recording from June 1, 2022. Signum MA student Jacob R. Schreiner will present his thesis “The Logos of Faith:  Sub-creation Through Speech-Acts in Tolkien’s Legendarium” and respond to questions from the audience in an interactive Thesis Theater. The discussion will be facilitated by Jacob’s thesis supervisor, Dr. Brenton Dickieson. Abstract: J.R.R. Tolkien’s theory of sub-creation has long been studied within his legendarium, and how humanity, being created by God, has the desire to imitate the Creator through sub-creation. However, what is the connection between God’s command for the universe to Be and humanity’s ability to sub-create? This thesis examines logos as “word” and “reason” in creation and its relationship to sub-creation through the investigative lens of speech-act theory. According to J.L. Austin and other speech-act theorists, when one speaks, it is not merely to say words, but by the act of speech, one performs, which produces consequential effects by the speaker. In The Silmarillion, Ilúvatar’s original speech-act brought all of creation into being and allowed the Ainur to sub-create within Arda according to the logical reason and design of the universe and by the word, “Eä!” The same is true in Middle-earth. Frodo and Sam harness the power of the logos in their speech-acts, and in prayer as a speech-act, by having faith, they can sub-create through language and bring about physical changes within their world. About the Presenter: Jacob R. Schreiner holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Sam Houston State University. His first conference presentation was at TexMoot in 2019 where he presented his paper “God of War and the Norse Oral Storyteller,” and later that year presented at Mythmoot VI on “’What a worm’s made for!’: The Cure to Conquering Dragons in C.S. Lewis’ Pilgrim’s Regress and Voyage of the ‘Dawn Treader.’” At Mythmoot VII, Jacob presented his paper, “A Light for Hobbit Feet: Moral Choices that Defy Darkness in Children’s Fantasy.” His research interests include fantasy, especially the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, speech-act theory, and Germanic philology. Jacob currently runs a blog called The Tolkienian where he analyzes the works of Tolkien, fantasy, and science fiction. About Signum Thesis Theaters: Each of our master’s students writes a thesis at the end of their degree program, exploring a topic of their choice. The Thesis Theater is their opportunity to present their research to a general audience, and answer questions. All are welcome to attend! To view Jacob's blog, The Tolkienian: https://thetolkienian.wordpress.com/ For more information about Signum University and our degree program, please visit: https://signumuniversity.org/ To view our upcoming courses: https://signumuniversity.org/classes/... Learn about Signum University’s mission, leadership and more: https://signumuniversity.org/about/ Want to enjoy Signum’s educational offerings? Start here! https://signumuniversity.org/start/Support Signum Symposia

Thesis Theater: Jacob R. Schreiner, "Sub-creation Through Speech-Acts in Tolkien’s Legendarium" This recording from June 1, 2022. Signum MA student Jacob R. Schreiner will present his thesis “The Logos of Faith: Sub-creation Through Speech-Acts in Tolkien’s Legendarium” and respond to questions from the audience in an interactive Thesis Theater. The discussion will be facilitated by Jacob’s thesis supervisor, Dr. Brenton Dickieson. Abstract: J.R.R. Tolkien’s theory of sub-creation has long been studied within his legendarium, and how humanity, being created by God, has the desire to imitate the Creator through sub-creation. However, what is the connection between God’s command for the universe to Be and humanity’s ability to sub-create? This thesis examines logos as “word” and “reason” in creation and its relationship to sub-creation through the investigative lens of speech-act theory. According to J.L. Austin and other speech-act theorists, when one speaks, it is not merely to say words, but by the act of speech, one performs, which produces consequential effects by the speaker. In The Silmarillion, Ilúvatar’s original speech-act brought all of creation into being and allowed the Ainur to sub-create within Arda according to the logical reason and design of the universe and by the word, “Eä!” The same is true in Middle-earth. Frodo and Sam harness the power of the logos in their speech-acts, and in prayer as a speech-act, by having faith, they can sub-create through language and bring about physical changes within their world. About the Presenter: Jacob R. Schreiner holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Sam Houston State University. His first conference presentation was at TexMoot in 2019 where he presented his paper “God of War and the Norse Oral Storyteller,” and later that year presented at Mythmoot VI on “’What a worm’s made for!’: The Cure to Conquering Dragons in C.S. Lewis’ Pilgrim’s Regress and Voyage of the ‘Dawn Treader.’” At Mythmoot VII, Jacob presented his paper, “A Light for Hobbit Feet: Moral Choices that Defy Darkness in Children’s Fantasy.” His research interests include fantasy, especially the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, speech-act theory, and Germanic philology. Jacob currently runs a blog called The Tolkienian where he analyzes the works of Tolkien, fantasy, and science fiction. About Signum Thesis Theaters: Each of our master’s students writes a thesis at the end of their degree program, exploring a topic of their choice. The Thesis Theater is their opportunity to present their research to a general audience, and answer questions. All are welcome to attend! To view Jacob's blog, The Tolkienian: <a href="https://thetolkienian.wordpress.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://thetolkienian.wordpress.com/</a> For more information about Signum University and our degree program, please visit: <a href="https://signumuniversity.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://signumuniversity.org/</a> To view our upcoming courses: <a href="https://signumuniversity.org/classes/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://signumuniversity.org/classes/</a>... Learn about Signum University’s mission, leadership and more: <a href="https://signumuniversity.org/about/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://signumuniversity.org/about/</a> Want to enjoy Signum’s educational offerings? Start here! <a href="https://signumuniversity.org/start/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://signumuniversity.org/start/</a><a href="https://signumuniversity.org/fund/donate/" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support Signum Symposia</a>

Thesis Theater: Jacob R. Schreiner, "Sub-creation Through Speech-Acts in Tolkien’s Legendarium"

Signum Symposia comprise a collection of conversations across a wide range of topics appealing to both fans and scholars of literature. Episodes include chats with members of Signum's world class faculty, presentations by students in our Masters program and interviews with some of the leading lights in academic and popular circles. With a rich variety of topics and speakers, there is bound to be something here for everyone.

Signum Symposia

Amy H. Sturgis

Thomas Edison

 This free online lecture is part of the Mythgard Academy Guest Lecture Series.        [caption id="attachment_1225" align="alignleft" width="180"] Dr. Amy H. Sturgis[/caption]        What images come to mind when you think of Star Wars? Luke Skywalker watching the twin suns set on Tatooine? Princess Leia with a blaster in her hand and buns on her head? The glow of a lightsaber in the darkness? These visuals convey volumes, and they spring in part from a common origin.        One of the keys to the worldwide success of Star Wars is that the saga draws from a variety of global sources, both classical and contemporary. Join Dr. Amy H. Sturgis as she discusses one particular tradition that has left its indelible imprint on the Star Wars franchise. How did pulp science fiction evolve? What is the relationship between this genre and the Western? And how can tracing the pulp ancestry of Star Wars give us new insights on key moments and messages across the Star Wars canon — and quite possibly shed light on the forthcoming film The Force Awakens? Star Wars fans and newbies alike are welcome!Recordings from Saturday, Aug. 15, 2015 Watch: Video        Listen: Audio        Suggested Reading: Star Wars movies (episodes I – VI)        The Force of Star Wars        Be sure to check out Dr. Sturgis' fall class for the Mythgard Institute, The Force of Star Wars: Examining the Epic. This 12-week class will look at the traditions out of which George Lucas built his epic story, while also examining the cultural impact of Star Wars through today.        Biography Amy H. Sturgis earned her Ph.D. in Intellectual History from Vanderbilt University and specializes in Science Fiction/Fantasy and Native American Studies. She is the author of four books and the editor of six others, and she has published over forty scholarly and mainstream essays. Some of her honors include the Imperishable Flame Award for Tolkien/Inklings Scholarship, the Scholar Guest of Honor distinction at Mythcon XXXVII, and the L.A. Press Club's Best Magazine Review/Criticism/Column Award. Since 2008, Sturgis has contributed regular "Looking Back at Genre History" segments and dramatic readings to StarShipSofa, which in 2010 became the first podcast in history to win the Hugo Award. With over 200 presentations to her credit, Sturgis is a regular speaker at universities and genre conventions across North America and Europe. A faculty member at Signum University's Mythgard Institute since 2012, she also teaches Liberal Studies at Lenoir-Rhyne University. Sturgis lives with her husband and their Boston terrier in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina. Her official website is amyhsturgis.com.Support Signum Symposia

<code> This free online lecture is part of the <a href="http://mythgard.org/academy/guest-lecture-series/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mythgard Academy Guest Lecture Series</a>. [caption id="attachment_1225" align="alignleft" width="180"]<a href="http://mythgard.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2011/07/MI_AmySturgis.jpg" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a> Dr. Amy H. Sturgis[/caption] What images come to mind when you think of Star Wars? Luke Skywalker watching the twin suns set on Tatooine? Princess Leia with a blaster in her hand and buns on her head? The glow of a lightsaber in the darkness? These visuals convey volumes, and they spring in part from a common origin. One of the keys to the worldwide success of Star Wars is that the saga draws from a variety of global sources, both classical and contemporary. Join Dr. Amy H. Sturgis as she discusses one particular tradition that has left its indelible imprint on the Star Wars franchise. How did pulp science fiction evolve? What is the relationship between this genre and the Western? And how can tracing the pulp ancestry of Star Wars give us new insights on key moments and messages across the Star Wars canon — and quite possibly shed light on the forthcoming film The Force Awakens? Star Wars fans and newbies alike are welcome! Recordings from Saturday, Aug. 15, 2015 Watch: <a href="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.mythgardacademy/GuestLectureSeries/2015-08-15_TheJeditheCowboyandThomasEdisonPulpScienceFictionandStarWars.mp4" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Video </a>Listen: <a href="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.mythgardacademy/GuestLectureSeries/2015-08-15_TheJeditheCowboyandThomasEdisonPulpScienceFictionandStarWars.mp3" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Audio </a>Suggested Reading: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003ZSJ212/ref=as_li_tl?tag=mythgainstit-20" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Star Wars movies</a> (episodes I – VI) <h2><a href="http://mythgard.org/academics/fall-2015-courses/the-force-of-star-wars-examining-the-epic/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a>The Force of Star Wars</h2> Be sure to check out Dr. Sturgis' fall class for the Mythgard Institute, <a href="http://mythgard.org/academics/fall-2015-courses/the-force-of-star-wars-examining-the-epic/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Force of Star Wars: Examining the Epic</a>. This 12-week class will look at the traditions out of which George Lucas built his epic story, while also examining the cultural impact of Star Wars through today. <h2>Biography</h2> <a href="http://www.amyhsturgis.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Amy H. Sturgis</a> earned her Ph.D. in Intellectual History from Vanderbilt University and specializes in Science Fiction/Fantasy and Native American Studies. She is the author of four books and the editor of six others, and she has published over forty scholarly and mainstream essays. Some of her honors include the Imperishable Flame Award for Tolkien/Inklings Scholarship, the Scholar Guest of Honor distinction at Mythcon XXXVII, and the L.A. Press Club's Best Magazine Review/Criticism/Column Award. Since 2008, Sturgis has contributed regular "Looking Back at Genre History" segments and dramatic readings to StarShipSofa, which in 2010 became the first podcast in history to win the Hugo Award. With over 200 presentations to her credit, Sturgis is a regular speaker at universities and genre conventions across North America and Europe. A faculty member at Signum University's Mythgard Institute since 2012, she also teaches Liberal Studies at Lenoir-Rhyne University. Sturgis lives with her husband and their Boston terrier in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina. Her official website is <a href="http://amyhsturgis.com/" rel="noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">amyhsturgis.com</a>. </code><a href="https://signumuniversity.org/fund/donate/" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support Signum Symposia</a>

Guest Lecture Series Amy H. Sturgis – The Jedi, the Cowboy, and Thomas Edison? Pulp Science Fiction and Star Wars

Arthur Roundtable

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The Inklings and King Arthur Roundtable

Tom Shippey

JRR Tolkien's Beowulf with Dr. Tom Shippey, Part 1

Malcolm Guite

 This free online lecture is part of the Mythgard Academy Guest Lecture Series. Synopsis: John Keats spoke of "The truth of Imagination"; this lecture will explore the ways in which the rich, intuitive, and image-laden myth-making of Lewis and Tolkien allows the imagination to become a truth-bearing faculty.        Recordings from Monday, Oct. 26, 2015 Watch: Video Listen: Audio Suggested Reading  Tree and Leaf by Tolkien, especially the poem "Mythopoeia" The introduction to Faith, Hope and Poetry: Theology and the Poetic Imagination by Malcolm Guite Biography Malcolm Guite is a priest, poet, professor, writer, and rock-n-roller. He is Bye-Fellow, Chaplain, and Supervisor in English and Theology at Girton College, Cambridge University. He researches and writes about the interface between theology and the arts, particularly Theology and Literature, and has special interests in Coleridge and C.S. Lewis. He has published a book entitled Faith, Hope and Poetry: Theology and the Poetic Imagination, as well as poetry and theological writing. He is also one of the Clergy at St. Edward King and Martyr, in the Centre of Cambridge. He has a rock band called Mystery Train and is part of a jazz-poetry performance collective called riprap.Support Signum Symposia

<code> This free online lecture is part of the <a href="http://mythgard.org/academy/guest-lecture-series/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mythgard Academy Guest Lecture Series</a>. Synopsis: John Keats spoke of "The truth of Imagination"; this lecture will explore the ways in which the rich, intuitive, and image-laden myth-making of Lewis and Tolkien allows the imagination to become a truth-bearing faculty. <h3>Recordings from Monday, Oct. 26, 2015</h3> Watch: <a href="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.mythgardacademy/GuestLectureSeries/2015-09-10_TomShippeyMythInModernFantasy.mp4" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Video</a> Listen: <a href="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.mythgardacademy/GuestLectureSeries/2015-10-26_MalcolmGuiteTruthOfImaginationLewisTolkien.mp3" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Audio</a> <h2>Suggested Reading</h2> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008GOBPT2/ref=as_li_tl?&amp;tag=mythgainstit-20" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tree and Leaf</a> by Tolkien, especially the poem "Mythopoeia"</li> <li>The introduction to <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Faith-Hope-Poetry-Theology-Imagination/dp/140944936X?tag=mythgainstit-20" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Faith, Hope and Poetry: Theology and the Poetic Imagination</a> by Malcolm Guite</li> </ul><h2>Biography</h2> <a href="http://www.malcolmguite.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Malcolm Guite</a> is a priest, poet, professor, writer, and rock-n-roller. He is Bye-Fellow, Chaplain, and Supervisor in English and Theology at <a href="http://www.girton.cam.ac.uk/guite-revd-malcolm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Girton College</a>, Cambridge University. He researches and writes about the interface between theology and the arts, particularly Theology and Literature, and has special interests in Coleridge and C.S. Lewis. He has published a book entitled <a href="http://smile.amazon.com/Faith-Hope-Poetry-Theology-Imagination/dp/140944936X/ref=la_B0034Q9LNE_1_2?tag=mythgainstit-20" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Faith, Hope and Poetry: Theology and the Poetic Imagination</a>, as well as poetry and theological writing. He is also one of the Clergy at St. Edward King and Martyr, in the Centre of Cambridge. He has a rock band called Mystery Train and is part of a jazz-poetry performance collective called riprap. </code><a href="https://signumuniversity.org/fund/donate/" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support Signum Symposia</a>

Guest Lecture Series Malcolm Guite – The Truth of Imagination in the Writings of Lewis and Tolkien

Emily Denny

Lola Lindle

Thesis Theatre with Emily Denny and Lola Lindle

 This free online lecture is part of the Mythgard Academy Guest Lecture Series.                Both mythical studies and the study of fairy-tales took on new importance during the early nineteenth century, along with the entirely new development of comparative philology. Jacob Grimm was in all three cases the pivotal figure. The relationship between them continued to fascinate both scholars and creative writers, including Andrew Lang, C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, and their successors. This lecture will show how scholarly research acted as a direct stimulus for many creative writers. Recordings from Thursday, Sept. 10 Watch: Video Listen: Audio Suggested Reading  C.S. Lewis, That Hideous Strength (1954) C.S. Lewis, Till We Have Faces (1976) J.R.R. Tolkien, "On Fairy Stories," in The Tolkien Reader (1966)  Background Reading  Bruno Bettelheim, The Uses of Enchantment (1976, pick a chapter or two from Part Two, which deals with individual fairy-tales) Derek Brewer, "The Interpretation of Fairy Tales", in A Companion to the Fairy Tale, ed. Hilda Ellis Davidson and Anna Chaudhuri, 15-37 Sir James Frazer, The Golden Bough (many editions from 1890: just skip-read the first 3 chapters) Allan G. Hunter, Princes, Frogs and Ugly Sisters (2010, just pick one or two chapters out, as with Bettelheim above) Robert A. Segal, Myth: A Very Short Introduction (2004) Tom Shippey, "Rewriting the Core," in A Companion to the Fairy Tale, above, 253-74  Biography Tom Shippey holds a PhD from Cambridge University and served for many years as the Chair of Humanities at Saint Louis University’s College of Arts and Sciences. He is a scholar of medieval literature, Anglo-Saxon language and literature, medievalism, modern fantasy, and science fiction. He is one of the world’s leading scholars on the works of Tolkien. His publications include The Road to Middle-earth, J.R.R. Tolkien: Author of the Century, and The Oxford Book of Science Fiction Stories. He has published many articles on Beowulf and Anglo-Saxon literature. He was born in Calcutta, India, and as a child played with a friend’s full-grown pet Bengal tiger.Support Signum Symposia

<code> This free online lecture is part of the <a href="http://mythgard.org/academy/guest-lecture-series/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mythgard Academy Guest Lecture Series</a>. Both mythical studies and the study of fairy-tales took on new importance during the early nineteenth century, along with the entirely new development of comparative philology. Jacob Grimm was in all three cases the pivotal figure. The relationship between them continued to fascinate both scholars and creative writers, including Andrew Lang, C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, and their successors. This lecture will show how scholarly research acted as a direct stimulus for many creative writers. <h2></h2> <h3>Recordings from Thursday, Sept. 10</h3> Watch: <a href="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.mythgardacademy/GuestLectureSeries/2015-09-10_TomShippeyMythInModernFantasy.mp4" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Video</a> Listen: <a href="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.mythgardacademy/GuestLectureSeries/2015-09-10_TomShippeyMythInModernFantasy.mp3" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Audio</a> <h2>Suggested Reading</h2> <ul> <li>C.S. Lewis, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0743234928/ref=as_li_tl?&amp;tag=mythgaintit-20" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">That Hideous Strength</a> (1954)</li> <li>C.S. Lewis, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Till-We-Have-Faces-Retold/dp/0156904365/ref=sr_1_1?tag=mythgainstit-20" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Till We Have Faces</a> (1976)</li> <li>J.R.R. Tolkien, "On Fairy Stories," in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tolkien-Reader-J-R-R/dp/0345345061/ref=sr_1_1?tag=mythgainstit-20" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Tolkien Reader</a> (1966)</li> </ul> <h2>Background Reading</h2> <ul> <li>Bruno Bettelheim, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Uses-Enchantment-Meaning-Importance-Fairy/dp/0307739635/ref=sr_1_1?tag=mythgainstit-20" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Uses of Enchantment</a> (1976, pick a chapter or two from Part Two, which deals with individual fairy-tales)</li> <li>Derek Brewer, "The Interpretation of Fairy Tales", in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Companion-Fairy-Hilda-Ellis-Davidson/dp/1843840812/ref=sr_1_1?tag=mythgainstit-20" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">A Companion to the Fairy Tale</a>, ed. Hilda Ellis Davidson and Anna Chaudhuri, 15-37</li> <li>Sir James Frazer, <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/files/3623/3623-h/3623-h.htm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Golden Bough</a> (many editions from 1890: just skip-read the first 3 chapters)</li> <li>Allan G. Hunter, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Princes-Frogs-Ugly-Sisters-Brothers/dp/1844091848/ref=sr_1_1?tag=mythgainstit-20" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Princes, Frogs and Ugly Sisters</a> (2010, just pick one or two chapters out, as with Bettelheim above)</li> <li>Robert A. Segal, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Myth-Short-Introduction-Robert-Segal/dp/0192803476/ref=sr_1_1?tag=mythgainstit-20" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Myth: A Very Short Introduction</a> (2004)</li> <li>Tom Shippey, "Rewriting the Core," in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Companion-Fairy-Hilda-Ellis-Davidson/dp/1843840812/ref=sr_1_1?tag=mythgainstit-20" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">A Companion to the Fairy Tale</a>, above, 253-74</li> </ul> <h2>Biography</h2> <a href="http://www.mythgard.org/about/our-faculty/dr-tom-shippey/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tom Shippey </a>holds a PhD from Cambridge University and served for many years as the Chair of Humanities at Saint Louis University’s College of Arts and Sciences. He is a scholar of medieval literature, Anglo-Saxon language and literature, medievalism, modern fantasy, and science fiction. He is one of the world’s leading scholars on the works of Tolkien. <a href="http://smile.amazon.com/Road-Middle-earth-Tolkien-created-mythology-ebook/dp/B00I7JFC5Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1423358483&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=tom+shippey" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">His publications include The Road to Middle-earth</a>, <a href="http://smile.amazon.com/J-R-R-Tolkien-Century-Tom-Shippey/dp/0618257594/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1423358483&amp;sr=8-2&amp;keywords=tom+shippey" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">J.R.R. Tolkien: Author of the Century</a>, and <a href="http://smile.amazon.com/Oxford-Book-Science-Fiction-Stories/dp/0192803816/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1423358483&amp;sr=8-3&amp;keywords=tom+shippey" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Oxford Book of Science Fiction Stories</a>. He has published many articles on Beowulf and Anglo-Saxon literature. He was born in Calcutta, India, and as a child played with a friend’s full-grown pet Bengal tiger. </code><a href="https://signumuniversity.org/fund/donate/" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support Signum Symposia</a>

Guest Lecture Series Tom Shippey – Myth in Modern Fantasy

How to Present at Conferences

Tom Shippey's "Laughing Shall I Die"

Richard Rohlin

Thesis Theatre with Richard Rohlin

Front

The Bitter Watches of the Night: From Anne Elliot to Éowyn of Rohan—Crossing Frontiers from the Home front to the Battlefront Jennifer Ewing J. R. R. Tolkien is often accused of either not having enough female characters, or that those present are not as fully realized as his male characters. However, Tolkien’s keen understanding of the emotional challenges women face is revealed when we consider the surprising parallelism between the life of Éowyn of Rohan in The Lord of the Rings and Anne Elliot of Jane Austen’s Persuasion. Anne’s conversation with Captain Harville about which sex is more constant in loving the other seems an odd passage to compare with the discussion that Aragorn, Éomer, and Gandalf have at Éowyn’s bedside in the Houses of Healing, but it is exactly this comparison that demonstrates how Tolkien crossed the boundary from high fantasy into topics important in women’s literature. Anne claims that women do not forget as quickly as men do because women remain at home, subject to their emotions, while men go out into the world to work, and that distraction aids forgetting. Likewise, Gandalf observes that Éomer had his horses and fields, while his sister, because she was a woman, stayed home caring for her infirm uncle, enduring emotional suffering and feelings of uselessness. Anne’s explanation that “We live at home, quiet, confined, and our feelings prey upon us” is eerily echoed by Gandalf: “Who knows what she spoke to the darkness, alone, in the bitter watches of the night, when all her life seemed shrinking, and the walls of her bower closing in about her?” This presentation will discuss the nearly twenty commonalities found between the two women as they cross the frontier from the home front to the battlefront, including their paternal and sibling relationships, familial duties, appearances, choices of husbands, motifs of loneliness and death, and decisions about their futures. Even though they reside in two very different genres, by the end of their respective novels, these women become independent and resilient, knowing their own minds.Support Signum Symposia

<code>The Bitter Watches of the Night: From Anne Elliot to Éowyn of Rohan—Crossing Frontiers from </code> the Home front to the Battlefront Jennifer Ewing J. R. R. Tolkien is often accused of either not having enough female characters, or that those present are not as fully realized as his male characters. However, Tolkien’s keen understanding of the emotional challenges women face is revealed when we consider the surprising parallelism between the life of Éowyn of Rohan in The Lord of the Rings and Anne Elliot of Jane Austen’s Persuasion. Anne’s conversation with Captain Harville about which sex is more constant in loving the other seems an odd passage to compare with the discussion that Aragorn, Éomer, and Gandalf have at Éowyn’s bedside in the Houses of Healing, but it is exactly this comparison that demonstrates how Tolkien crossed the boundary from high fantasy into topics important in women’s literature. Anne claims that women do not forget as quickly as men do because women remain at home, subject to their emotions, while men go out into the world to work, and that distraction aids forgetting. Likewise, Gandalf observes that Éomer had his horses and fields, while his sister, because she was a woman, stayed home caring for her infirm uncle, enduring emotional suffering and feelings of uselessness. Anne’s explanation that “We live at home, quiet, confined, and our feelings prey upon us” is eerily echoed by Gandalf: “Who knows what she spoke to the darkness, alone, in the bitter watches of the night, when all her life seemed shrinking, and the walls of her bower closing in about her?” This presentation will discuss the nearly twenty commonalities found between the two women as they cross the frontier from the home front to the battlefront, including their paternal and sibling relationships, familial duties, appearances, choices of husbands, motifs of loneliness and death, and decisions about their futures. Even though they reside in two very different genres, by the end of their respective novels, these women become independent and resilient, knowing their own minds.<a href="https://signumuniversity.org/fund/donate/" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support Signum Symposia</a>

Mythmoot V: 07 - Crossing Frontiers from the Home front to the Battlefront

Corey Olsen

As part of the Signum University Annual Fund Campaign in the fall of 2015, in this Mythgard Academy mini-class, Signum University President Dr. Corey Olsen discussed the story and themes of the episode "Blink" from Series 3 of Doctor Who. Later in the segment, he was joined by Signum students Katherine Sas and Curtis Weyant – of the Kat &amp; Curt's TV Re-View podcast – to discuss how the episode fits more generally into the overall show. Mythgard Academy, the Simarillion Film Project, and other free events and series that we offer free to the public are funded by tax-deductible donations. Please consider donating by going to http://www.signumuniversity.org and clicking on the "Donate" link at the top of the fast links box.Support Signum Symposia

As part of the Signum University Annual Fund Campaign in the fall of 2015, in this Mythgard Academy mini-class, Signum University President Dr. Corey Olsen discussed the story and themes of the episode "Blink" from Series 3 of Doctor Who. Later in the segment, he was joined by Signum students Katherine Sas and Curtis Weyant – of the Kat &amp; Curt's TV Re-View podcast – to discuss how the episode fits more generally into the overall show. Mythgard Academy, the Simarillion Film Project, and other free events and series that we offer free to the public are funded by tax-deductible donations. Please consider donating by going to <a href="http://www.signumuniversity.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.signumuniversity.org</a> and clicking on the "Donate" link at the top of the fast links box.<a href="https://signumuniversity.org/fund/donate/" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support Signum Symposia</a>

Dr. Corey Olsen Blinks with His Take on Doctor Who

JRR Tolkien's Beowulf with Dr. Tom Shippey, Part 2

One Fantastic Rogue Beast

C.S. Lewis, Gender, and The Four Loves

Jenn Raimundo

Thesis Theatre with Jenn Raimundo

Transhumanism in Literature Roundtable

Rob Gosselin

Thesis Theatre with Rob Gosselin

Christmas Faculty Roundtable, 2016

Matthew Dickerson

 Matthew Dickerson Tolkien as Early Environmentalist Matthew Dickerson is a Professor at Middlebury College in Vermont, associated with the Department of Computer Science, the Program of Environmental Studies, and the New England Young Writers’ Conference at Bread Loaf (which he directs). He has written or co-written several important books on Tolkien and other fantasy literature, including Ents, Elves, and Eriador: The Environmental Vision of J.R.R. Tolkien; From Homer to Harry Potter: A Handbook on Myth and Fantasy; Following Gandalf: Epic Battles and Moral Victory in The Lord of the Rings; Narnia and the Fields of Arbol: The Environmental Vision of C. S. Lewis; and A Hobbit Journey: Discovering the Enchantment of J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth. He also writes novels, including a novelization of the "Finn and Hengest" story. In addition to his teaching and writing, he is a musicians, songwriter, and avid fly-fisherman. He lives on a 62-acre wooded hillside parcel of land, where he taps trees, makes his own maple syrup, raises honeybees, keeps a garden without pesticides, and heats his house using wood from his own property.        Matthew Dickerson's guest lecture for the Mythgard Academy is titled "Tolkien as Early Environmentalist."        Recordings from June 17, 2015: Watch: Guest Lecture Video Listen: Guest Lecture Audio Support Signum Symposia

<code> <h3>Matthew Dickerson</h3> <h4>Tolkien as Early Environmentalist</h4> <a href="http://mythgard.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2015/08/shapeimage_4.png" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a><a href="http://matthewdickerson.net/Welcome.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Matthew Dickerson</a> is a Professor at Middlebury College in Vermont, associated with the Department of Computer Science, the Program of Environmental Studies, and the <a href="http://blogs.middlebury.edu/neywc/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">New England Young Writers’ Conference at Bread Loaf</a> (which he directs). He has written or co-written several important books on Tolkien and other fantasy literature, including Ents, Elves, and Eriador: The Environmental Vision of J.R.R. Tolkien; <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B8563F2/?tag=mythgainstit-20" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">From Homer to Harry Potter: A Handbook on Myth and Fantasy</a>; <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1587430851/ref=as_li_tl?tag=mythgainstit-20" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Following Gandalf: Epic Battles and Moral Victory in The Lord of the Rings</a>; <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0813125227/ref=as_li_tl?tag=mythgainstit-20" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Narnia and the Fields of Arbol: The Environmental Vision of C. S. Lewis</a>; and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1587433001/ref=as_li_tl?tag=mythgainstit-20" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">A Hobbit Journey: Discovering the Enchantment of J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth</a>. He also writes novels, including a novelization of the "Finn and Hengest" story. In addition to his teaching and writing, he is a musicians, songwriter, and avid fly-fisherman. He lives on a 62-acre wooded hillside parcel of land, where he taps trees, makes his own maple syrup, raises honeybees, keeps a garden without pesticides, and heats his house using wood from his own property. Matthew Dickerson's guest lecture for the Mythgard Academy is titled "Tolkien as Early Environmentalist." Recordings from June 17, 2015: Watch: <a href="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.mythgardacademy/GuestLectureSeries/2015-06-17_MatthewDickersononTolkienasEarlyEnvironmentalist.mp4" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Guest Lecture Video</a> Listen: <a href="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.mythgardacademy/GuestLectureSeries/2015-06-17_MatthewDickersononTolkienasEarlyEnvironmentalist.mp3" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Guest Lecture Audio</a> </code><a href="https://signumuniversity.org/fund/donate/" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support Signum Symposia</a>

Guest Lecture Series Matthew Dickerson – Tolkien as Early Environmentalist

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