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History of English/American Literature; lecture): Worldbuilding and Epic Fantasy: J.R.R. Tolkien & G.R.R. Martin
It is the aim of this lecture series to explore the epic fantasy texts of J.R.R. Tolkien and George R.R. Martin, respectively, and to explore their shared themes, their similarities, and also their differences. Martin has been influenced by Tolkien, as he readily admits himself, yet this does not mean that he imitates Tolkien or even shares his approach to central questions. On the contrary, Martin often ‘tweaks things’ and subverts the clichés and tropes of the genre, thus consciously exploding the reader’s expectations. Furthermore, exploring Martin’s treatment of common motifs and themes often has the effect of further improving our understanding of Tolkien’s approach – a windfall-effect I want to share with my audience. |
