Teaching Tolkien

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

I wasn't sure where to put this... but for lack of a better place...

It's finally happened. I opened my mouth (manditorily) one to many times, and now I need help. To explain:

My school has a Trilogy Class. We read and examine the Lord of the Rings chapter by chapter, do individual projects and whatnot. The only thing the class seems to NOT do is read The Appendices, so I'm just about the only one who knows anything in them. My teachers (regular and student-teacher) have decided that, because of my "extensive knowledge", I apparently need to teach an Appendix Mini-lesson each class. So I decided to come straight to the experts for advice.

I'm only 16!!! I have very little knowledge in teaching... well, more than most of my peers, but this class, while consisting of Tolkienites, is NOT interested in the Appendices. I need lesson ideas, and ways to make some of this stuff interesting to them. For all that I don't think I'll have a problem teaching the story of Aragorn and Arwen, I don't think they'll like some of the language and timeline stuff. So my question for y'all is this: Will you help me plan lessons and give ideas to teach a group of 13 (plus two teachers) between the ages of 14 and 18 what's in the Appendices of RotK? I'd be very much in your debt...

Fea

[Firefoot]

I would relate it to things they know already. For example, if you are talking about the Fall of Númenor, capitalize on the parts that Elendil and Isildur play because these are both characters that they are familiar with. If you start talking about a whole bunch of characters that they have never heard of it won't be very interesting and they could have a hard time understanding it.

Also try to stick to things that would be interesting to people who have no further interest in persuing more of Tolkien's works and would generally help with the understanding of LotR. Thorongil, Aragorn and Arwen, Helm, and the part about the WK of Angmar and Glorfindel's prophesy are all good points that might be considered interesting. Too many names of kings and cheiftains of the Dunédain etc probably wouldn't be very interesting. Appendices A and F would probably be the easiest to teach; Appendix F you could probably do in a week.

I hope this helps!

[Fingolfin II]

Also focus on what happens to the characters after LoTR. As Firefoot said, don't mention too many names. I also think you should talk about the Arwen and Aragorn tale- it's a nice wrap up and also the girls will love it; one of those little semi-tragic romances that is coming to an end. If you want, you can also talk about what happened before LoTR and a bit about Morgoth, though I wouldn't go into great detail about that. Don't put too much faith in me, because I'm only 15 .

[dancing spawn of ungoliant]

I have given some lessons (most of some composers) but I'm not an expert.
After reading the book they should have quite good grasp of the peoples of 3rd age so you don't have to worry about appendix F so much. The different calendar systems of M-E can be really confusing so I would pay less attention to that.

I myself am very interested in the different languages and tengwar writing system but I think that your class may not share the same passion for appendix E as I

I think you should focus on Arwen&Aragorn and the history of Gondor and Rohan. You could also draw a timeline of the early 3rd age and it's most important events. Then you could explain them a bit (some pictures could be helpful too).

From my point of view Firefoot's and Fingolfin's advice were good. All the best with your appendix lesson!

[The Perky Ent]

Well, from my opinion, don't make it sound like the textbook. Keep it all fluient and tie it in as many ways as possible to LOTR. One way you could do it is like a "In the Beginning" kinda thing. Do it chronologically. Unless you are assigned to do only one part in which case do it strait foward!

[Bêthberry]

If I may be so bold, I suggest you begin by asking them questions.

Questions about things, events and characters in LOTR. Get them talking about it so they revisit their interest and enthusiasm. And then ask them questions about the characters which cannot be answered by their knowledge of just the three books themselves. Get them curious about where things lead or how things got to where they did in LOTR.

Once they are curious to know more, you can explain how they can find more in the Appendices.