Tolkien taught in school

[Morsul the Dark]

Well Inkling, You're Welcome. Secondly I will not debate that it takes a long time to read, because it does. I do however think that most of Shakespeare's works boil down to a moral:

Macbeth: Died because of greed(greed is bad)
Romeo and Juliet: Died for love(loyalty)
Merchant of Venuse: Tolerance

I will agree that in a play it is easier to get students to read.

I myself have never been blessed with LOTR or any of Tolkien's works as required reading. I do forget why I originally picked up the Hobbit that one day in the book store, so many years ago but it wasn't for school. But I think if it were taught in schools perhaps thered be more jolly honnit lovers in the world.

[InklingElf]

Hobbit lovers? You probably mean the younger generation. From what I know Tolkien was a bit of a cult master esp. during the 60s. And still IS. I'm talking before Jackson my dear.

[Morsul the Dark]

As am I, Oh sure Jackson helped rekindle a fire inside me(seeing how I had forgotten about the hobbit until the trilogy came out)

But I ask you why must we read "Classics" they're written in old English that unless you take the time as I did. You won't understand.

Tolkien only used two words I did not know the meaning of erfe which I found out means before. and league, which I still don't know how long a league is.

But what I'm saying is many teenagers are turned off by literatre because it is hard to understand. Tolkien is easy(unless you're a BDer we tend to complicate things ) I think Tolkien would be wonderful. Also in most literature books they only take passages of the tales, well why not just take passages from LOTR on Mount Doom when Sam carries Frodo up the mountain, the bridge of Khazadum...all those wonderous moments that mean something, those that show true courage, friendship, loyalty, and devotion.

[InklingElf]

Originally Posted by Morsul the Dark

As am I, Oh sure Jackson helped rekindle a fire inside me(seeing how I had forgotten about the hobbit until the trilogy came out)

But I ask you why must we read "Classics" they're written in old English that unless you take the time as I did. You won't understand.

Tolkien only used two words I did not know the meaning of erfe which I found out means before. and league, which I still don't know how long a league is.

But what I'm saying is many teenagers are turned off by literatre because it is hard to understand. Tolkien is easy(unless you're a BDer we tend to complicate things ) I think Tolkien would be wonderful. Also in most literature books they only take passages of the tales, well why not just take passages from LOTR on Mount Doom when Sam carries Frodo up the mountain, the bridge of Khazadum...all those wonderous moments that mean something, those that show true courage, friendship, loyalty, and devotion.

Firstly, I agree that Peter Jackson DID indeed help re-kindle old flames and simultaneously kick-start new ones. I wouldn't replace him for another director.

Second,
What's wrong with Old English Morsul? Trust me there is a whole glossary of archaic words that are constantly used in Tolkien's writing.

I think the challenge in reading classic lit. IS trying to gain understanding. If we didn't have to read it we might as well kill the whole purpose of reading Tolkien. Maybe the reason why Tolkien's themes are easier and more conventional to pick up is because he chooses to use sterotypical characters and themes.

Don't get me wrong -- I'm on your side, but your sounding like you want to eliminate classic lit. and replacing it with ONLY Tolkien.

[Morsul the Dark]

That is not my intention, I love old tales they are great. I believe they are good an should be taught but I believe that we should also learn Tolkien alongside them.

EDIT:

May I also add, classics are not bad and should be taught but there is a certain overexposure in my opinion you have suffered this as well

though I have suffered through Macbeth at least 6 times in different grades -- repeatedly!

More modern tales are less stale. Perhaps I'm just bored with the old classics and crave somethingmore, I do not say throw away alll the literature just give it a break now and then. We always learn the same ones. This year for example we read Beowulf and the Cantebury Tales, I loved it because it was such a turn from the normal Shakespeare drilling.

[Imladris]

Of course we should. Tolkien is also a key cornerstone is the writing legacy. He wrote, along with Lewis, modern mythology. Alas I cannot elaborate because I don't know how as of yet it is modern mythology... but I'm taking a course on it this year....

[Encaitare]

Several years back, we had a summer reading assignment (I think it was when I was going into seventh grade), and we had the option of choosing any of the three books of the trilogy. Too bad I wasn't into LotR at the time... plus, I think -- just my opinion -- that they're a little heavy-duty for a twelve-year-old's summer assignment.

At my boyfriend's school, they actually have a fantasy lit class... I am so jealous. What I wouldn't give.

Personally, I love Shakespeare; I think he was an incredibly brilliant writer. But he didn't use Old English, as my teachers have banged into my head for the past two years. He used Modern English with some crazy words thrown in. All I can say is... hooray for iambic pentameter!

Dickens is pretty tedious, although I did enjoy A Tale of Two Cities. His stories are good, but his publisher really should have learned that paying a writer by the word is asking to be robbed. Jane Austen... argh.

It would take too long, though, to read the whole trilogy and really understand it. I think it's the kind of thing you need to read at least twice. Surely it could be completed in one school year, but teachers are into multitasking and all that crepe, and they just love jamming an impossible number of assignments into a tiny frame of time. Unless the teacher was really a Tolkien fan, the book would probably lose some of its magic.

And there would, of course, be the idiot kids who snickered at Frodo and Sam...