Osher Lifelong Learning Institute

Courses

Literature

Courses & Events

J.R.R. Tolkien's Bookshelf

J.R.R. Tolkien, the greatest fantasy writer of the 20th century, drew profound inspiration from medieval northwestern European literature for his works, "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy. This course explores the ancient literary influences on Tolkien, such as "Beowulf," the Icelandic "Njal's Saga," the legend of King Arthur and Merlin, the Irish epic "The Táin," and "The Romance of Tristan and Iseult." We'll also delve into Tolkien's life, his fascination with languages, his WWI experiences, and themes like riddles, runes, vows, curses, valkyries, and quests. Familiarity with "The Hobbit" or "The Lord of the Rings" is helpful but not required, as we'll use audio excerpts and videos to understand the legends that inspired Tolkien's work.


Instructor Bio: Vic Peterson is the author of "The Berserkers" (Hawkwood 2022/Recital 2023), set in a fictional Nordic country. He worked as a business executive and now divides his time between Lawrence, Kansas, and Northport, Michigan.


April 21, 2025 to May 5, 2025, Northland Innovation Center In-Person

J.R.R. Tolkien's Bookshelf Clay County Residents

J.R.R. Tolkien, the greatest fantasy writer of the 20th century, drew profound inspiration from medieval northwestern European literature for his works, "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy. This course explores the ancient literary influences on Tolkien, such as "Beowulf," the Icelandic "Njal's Saga," the legend of King Arthur and Merlin, the Irish epic "The Táin," and "The Romance of Tristan and Iseult." We'll also delve into Tolkien's life, his fascination with languages, his WWI experiences, and themes like riddles, runes, vows, curses, valkyries, and quests. Familiarity with "The Hobbit" or "The Lord of the Rings" is helpful but not required, as we'll use audio excerpts and videos to understand the legends that inspired Tolkien's work.


Instructor Bio: Vic Peterson is the author of "The Berserkers" (Hawkwood 2022/Recital 2023), set in a fictional Nordic country. He worked as a business executive and now divides his time between Lawrence, Kansas, and Northport, Michigan.


April 21, 2025 to May 5, 2025, Northland Innovation Center In-Person

Robert Burns in 37 Poems

The national poet of Scotland is most famous, perhaps, for "Auld Lang Syne" and "To a Mouse," with its "best laid schemes o' mice an' men." "Auld Lang Syne" (Old Long Since), was written to be set to one of the over 200 Scottish tunes Burns collected. "To a Mouse" was a favorite of Abraham Lincoln, who recited it from memory at a State dinner two weeks before his assassination. In all, Burns (1759-1796) wrote thousands of poems, satires, tales, love ballads, celebrations, political protests, and histories. Join Tom Averill for readings, recitations and discussions of a sampling of 37 Burns poems, with background from Scottish history and Burns'life. 

Instructor Bio: Thomas Fox Averill is professor emeritus at Washburn University where he taught Kansas literature, folklore and film for more than 40 years. He is the author of three story collections and five novels, almost all of them set in Kansas. His most recent novel is "Found Documents from the Life of Nell Johnson Doerr: A Novel". 


Course Accessibility
Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend University of Kansas sponsored events. If you require a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in an event, please email lpe@ku.edu or call 913-897-8530 at least three weeks before the first day of the event. 

February 26, 2025 to March 12, 2025, KU Edwards Campus, 163 Regnier Hall, In Person and Online

We Were No Monsters

Furies, Harpies, Gorgons, whores, and witches are among the monsters of mythology as well as Hecate, Kali, Tiamat, and Cailleah. Today we know them as women or deities intent on doing some sort of harm that in some cases includes seduction. However, this was not originally so. This course explores how these versions of the Divine Feminine were demonized over time once patriarchal cultures invaded the areas in which they were worshipped.

Instructor Bio: An educator for over 30 years, Shari Tarbet holds an MA/ PhD in Mythological Studies and Depth Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute, and a BSE English/History Education, and BSJ Broadcast Journalism from Kansas University. Her writings and lectures cover a wide variety of topics on myth, dreamwork, the Bill of Rights, and the Sacred Feminine.

February 27, 2025 to March 13, 2025, Zoom Facilitated Sessions