21L 705 Major Authors Rewriting Genesis Paradise Lost And Twentieth Century Fantasy Spring 2009

Why do the ancient themes of creation, temptation, and rebellion continue to dominate our modern imagination? By understanding how authors rewrite foundational myths, you unlock a deeper appreciation for the structure and meaning of both classic and contemporary literature. This text-based course guides you through the profound themes of Genesis, epic poetry, and twentieth-century fantasy. You will transition from a casual reader to an insightful literary analyst capable of identifying mythic patterns, narrative adaptations, and complex character motivations. What you'll learn: - Understand foundational concepts of mythic adaptation and the literary history of the Genesis narrative. - Analyze themes of authority, rebellion, and the origin of evil in classic epic poetry. - Trace how twentieth-century fantasy authors adapt, subvert, and rewrite traditional creation stories. - Examine gender roles, power dynamics, and moral ambiguity in classic and modern texts. - Apply modern literary analysis techniques to decode complex worldbuilding and character archetypes. We begin with key terminology and the core themes of the Genesis narrative. From there, you will read through structured textual breakdowns of classic epic poetry and follow the evolution of these concepts into modern fantasy literature. This course is designed for beginners, literature enthusiasts, and aspiring writers, requiring no prior background in classical studies or literary theory. Start reading today to uncover the mythological roots of modern fantasy storytelling.