Meet the writers and intellectuals that formed the core of the Oxford writers group known as the Inklings. Discover how the many different members came together, and how this brotherhood--built on imagination and curiosity--impacted literature and academia in early 20th-century England.
As men and as academics, the Inklings had a shared culture and affinity for learning and creating. But they were also very different in many ways, too. Here, you'll explore differences between them, from their varied upbringings and family dynamics to their disparate perspectives on faith, creativity, and relationships.
Here, consider the importance of myths and legends to the Inklings, both in storytelling and in life. While all the Inklings subscribed to some form of Christianity, they also found deep and abiding meaning in pagan stories and mythology, a meaning that they could then apply to their work as well as to their own lives and experiences.
While C. S. "Jack" Lewis may have achieved greater fame, his brother Warren, or "Warnie," was also a pivotal member of the Inklings, and the brothers' relationship helped sustain them throughout their lives. See how a difficult early life and an enduring sense of longing shaped their faith, their relationships, and their work.
Trace Tolkien's life, relationships, and work from his troubled childhood to his early married life and career. Here, you'll explore the experiences and ideas that informed Tolkien's deep love for languages, his enduring respect for the natural world, and his passion for creating timeless stories that harken back to a more heroic, mythical past.
In this second lecture on Tolkien, you'll pick up with his later life and career to see where his studies in legends and languages ultimately led: the creation of Middle-earth. Discover how his masterpieces of imaginative fiction came to be and what they can tell us not only about Tolkien himself, but also about the power of stories in dark times.
Before the Inklings solidified as a group, Owen Barfield and C. S. Lewis took yearly walking tours across miles of countryside that allowed for leisure, exercise, and, most importantly, conversation. Consider how these long walks helped form the fellowship that became the Inklings and how their conversations fueled both their friendship and their ideas.
Get acquainted with the "First and Last Inkling," Owen Barfield, and discover how his philosophy of the mind and the imagination influenced the rest of the group in profound ways. Trace his long life--spanning nearly 100 years--and his career as both a lawyer and a prolific writer who expressed his ideas in different forms over the course of his time with the Inklings and beyond.
Now, turn to the Thursday evening gatherings that were the Inklings' most "official" form, and get to know the other core members. There were three phases to these fellowships, divided by World War II, with differing participants and shifts of group character over the years. You'll see what each member brought to the group and how their differences often brought out the best in each other.
Meet the inscrutable Charles Williams. As a later addition to the Inklings, see how Williams injected new life into the group when it was needed most. Dive into his complex ideas and consider some of his more unorthodox philosophies and practices that may have complicated his relationships with the other Inklings.
Broaden your view to uncover a wider network of connections extending from the Inklings. Here, consider the literary history and traditions that influenced the group, including Gothic fiction, adventure stories, and even the work of some of their modernist contemporaries. Also meet some of the most significant women in their lives.
Conclude the course with a look at the legacy of the Inklings. As you examine everything from blockbuster film adaptations to extensive literary scholarship--and some legitimate criticisms--Dr. Higgins will help you discover the many ways readers have responded to the work created by Tolkien, Lewis, and other Inklings from the mid-20th century to today.