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The Tolkien Professor

The Tolkien Professor podcast is a series of lectures, discussions, and seminars on the works of J.R.R. Tolkien by Corey Olsen, Assistant Professor of English at Washington College in Maryland. Find me on Facebook at “The Tolkien Professor,” on Twitter at @tolkienprof, or at my website at www.tolkienprofessor.com. I have also begun a grand new venture: the Mythgard Institute, offering courses on Tolkien studies for credit at the MA level, or just for fun! Join us at www.mythgard.org.

Latest Episodes:

Episode 203: Riddles in the Dark 24: The Long-Expected Podcast Mar 15, 2013

Show notes

At long last, the much anticipated, recording-breaking 3-hour RITD Christmas Special! The trio fully debriefs The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and the results of our RITD game. Featuring bizarre background noises, sometimes terrible audio quality, and a special guest (in spirit, at least). Merry Christmas...three months late!

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Episode 202: Riddles in the Dark Digest 2.01: Flogging a Dead Beorn Mar 14, 2013

Show notes

Trish Lambert and Laura Berkholtz review reader's comments and analyst opinions on Riddle 2.01 dealing with Beorn's relationship to the goblins.

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Episode 201: Riddles in the Dark 2.04: Attercop and Tomnoddy Mar 09, 2013

Show notes

Prof Cory Olsen, Dave Kale, and Trish Lambert tap into their spidey senses to consider Mirkwood's arachnids in The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaugh.

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Episode 200: Riddles in the Dark 2.03: Into the Woods Feb 08, 2013

Show notes

Prof Cory Olsen, Dave Kale, and Trish Lambert stroke imaginary beards over how Mirkwood will be portrayed in The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug, and how the Elves will relate to the forest.

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Episode 199: Silmarillion Seminar 31: Akallabeth, Part 1 Feb 04, 2013

Show notes

The thirty-first session of the Silmarillion Seminar, covering the Allkalabeth, Part 1

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Episode 198: Silmarillion Seminar 30: Quenta Chapter 24 Feb 01, 2013

Show notes

The thirtieth session of the Silmarillion Seminar, covering Chapter 24 of the Quenta Silmarillion, "Of the Voyage of Earendil and the War of Wrath, Part 2"

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Episode 197: Riddles in the Dark 2.02: Where's Poppa? Jan 30, 2013

Show notes

Prof Cory Olsen, Dave Kale, and Trish Lambert wonder what happened to Thrain and what we will learn about him in Peter Jackson's The Hobbit: Desoloation of Smaug.

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Episode 196: Riddles in the Dark 2.01: Ursa Major or Ursa Minor Jan 17, 2013

Show notes

Prof Cory Olsen, Dave Kale, and Trish Lambert consider Beorn, his place in J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit, and his possilbe role in Peter Jackson's The Hobbit: Desoloation of Smaug.

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Episode 195: Tolkien Chat 12: Adaptation and The Hobbit Movies Jan 05, 2013

Show notes

Prof Cory Olsen offers his thoughts on Peter Jackson's first Hobbit film and its adaptation from J.R.R. Tolkien's book. Major themes and minor questions are all considered, and offer the listener an opportunity to understand Jackson's work at a deeper level.

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Episode 194: Riddles in the Dark 23: Riddle Me Not Dec 09, 2012

Show notes

Prof Cory Olsen, Dave Kale, and Trish Lambert review a year's worth of riddles for Movie 1.

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