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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 173: Riddles in the Dark Digest 7: Controversy! Aug 29, 2012

Show notes

Welcome to The Riddles in the Dark Digest Controversy episode! Dave and Trish relook at RITD Episode 13 (about Comic-Con), respond to critical commenters, and finally get around to considering the Nazgul, adding in a bonus at the end of the digest...Dave's Nazgul conversation with Fr. Roderick from the Secrets of The Hobbit podcast.

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Episode 172: Riddles in the Dark Digest 6: All Gollum All the Time Aug 23, 2012

Show notes

Dave Kale and Trish Lambert talk Gollum, first talking about the now-answered-by-Andy-Serkis riddle presented in Riddles in the Dark episode 11, then sharing analyst, listener, and their own opinions about the actual riddle game discussed in Riddles in the Dark episode 12.

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Episode 171: Riddles in the Dark Digest 5: Beginning and Bilbo Aug 22, 2012

Show notes

In the fifth episode of Riddles in the Dark Digest, co-hosts Dave Kale and Trish Lambert share analyst and listener comments about Riddles in the Dark episodes 9 & 10. True to RITD tradition, our verbose co-hosts wander among other topics as well, including the possibility of Bilbo hallucinating during the Unexpected Party.

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Episode 170: WC Faerie Course, Session 33 Aug 22, 2012

Show notes

Peter S. Beagle, "The Last Unicorn", Chapters 9-11, Recorded 04/18/11.

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Episode 169: Riddles in the Dark 15: Wargs and Eagles and Bears, Oh My! Aug 21, 2012

Show notes

Prof. Olsen and Dave discuss talking animals. After all, that's what the Hobbit is all about, right? The films will probably be rife with them! They also speculate about how much screen time the eagles will receive.

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Episode 168: Silmarillion Seminar 25: Quenta Chapter 21 Aug 20, 2012

Show notes

The twenty-fifth session of the Silmarillion Seminar, covering the second part of Chapter 21 of the Quenta Silmarillion, "Of Turin Turambar"

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Episode 167: Riddles in the Dark 14: Escape and ahem, Trilogy Announcement Aug 20, 2012

Show notes

Prof. Olsen and Dave discuss more character development stuff, Bilbo and the Company's escape from the goblin tunnels of the Misty Mountains, and the possibilities for developing Bilbo's character by changing the story. OK, fine. Maybe they also talk about the trilogy.

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Episode 166: Tolkien Chat 11: The Princess and The Hobbit Aug 20, 2012

Show notes

Did you know that J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit and Walt Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs were both released in 1937? Coincidence? Or not? Join Professor Olsen and Trish Lambert in a conversation about these two works and the men who made them in a new Tolkien Chat format called "Pipeweed on the Porch."

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Episode 165: Mythgard Swoops in on Return of the Ring Aug 19, 2012

Show notes

Mythgard students and faculty attending the Tolkien Society's Return of the Ring conference with Tolkien Professor Corey Olsen come together to talk about their impressions and insights so far

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Episode 164: Silmarillion Seminar 24: Quenta Chapter 21 Jul 30, 2012

Show notes

The twenty-forth session of the Silmarillion Seminar, covering the first part of Chapter 21 of the Quenta Silmarillion, "Of Turin Turambar"

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