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Heroes and Legends: The Most Influential Characters of Literature
Odysseus. Robinson Crusoe. Harry Potter. What do these memorable characters have in common? Why do we turn to certain stories again and again? And what impact have they made on world history? These 24 eye-opening lectures give fresh insight into some of the greatest heroes in world literature, from warriors such as Beowulf and Odysseus to unexpected heroes such as Uncle Tom and Sancho Panza.
Professor Shippey gives you an inside glimpse into the writer's process. Learn how authors "write into the gap" to flesh out-or, in some cases, reimagine altogether-old stories, making them new for new readerships with different values. By examining what makes these heroes such compelling characters, you'll see how they provide a window to better understand ourselves.
From the beginnings of world literature through today's bestsellers, look at what makes characters successful-and how they reflect our changing cultural mores. For instance, after the horrors of global war in the 20th century, the world was waiting for a hero like Frodo Baggins, J.R.R. Tolkien's meek hobbit hero, someone called to duty rather than born strong and fearless.
You'll also examine ways that great heroes have changed the course of history, defining nations and redefining our sense of self and our relationships. From the mythical journey of Aeneas to Jane Austen's country dances, you'll survey a wealth of memorable stories and consider why such heroes were necessary-and how they continue to influence our lives today.
Professor Shippey gives you an inside glimpse into the writer's process. Learn how authors "write into the gap" to flesh out-or, in some cases, reimagine altogether-old stories, making them new for new readerships with different values. By examining what makes these heroes such compelling characters, you'll see how they provide a window to better understand ourselves.
From the beginnings of world literature through today's bestsellers, look at what makes characters successful-and how they reflect our changing cultural mores. For instance, after the horrors of global war in the 20th century, the world was waiting for a hero like Frodo Baggins, J.R.R. Tolkien's meek hobbit hero, someone called to duty rather than born strong and fearless.
You'll also examine ways that great heroes have changed the course of history, defining nations and redefining our sense of self and our relationships. From the mythical journey of Aeneas to Jane Austen's country dances, you'll survey a wealth of memorable stories and consider why such heroes were necessary-and how they continue to influence our lives today.
24 pages, Audio CD
First published January 1, 2014
17 people are currently reading
714 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
February 28, 2015
One of the things I like about The Great Courses series is the lectures are all 30 minutes or so, which makes them easily digestible. I have several of the courses (or others like them) in my library and they're great for picking up bits of knowledge between listening to full books. My latest scholarly endeavor then is Heroes and Legends: The Most Influential Characters of Literature as presented by Professor Thomas A. Shippey.
Over the course of 24 lectures, he takes his pupils from the beginning of literature, with the Odyssey and Beowulf, right up to the present with Lisbeth Salandar and Harry Potter. Shippey is a knowledgable English Don and fills his lectures with interesting anecdotes mixed in with his scholarly research. With these lectures he's looking, principally, at the evolution of the literary hero (the term being non-gendered, as he mentions several female heroes, including Guinevere, Cressida, and the Wife of Bath among others) from Perfect Specimen to everyday joe. He even includes Winston Smith, the protagonist of Orwell's 1984, as a hero (and his reasoning is quite sound).
Fascinating as well is the connections he draws, marking a linear path down through literature. During the lectures, Shippey gives you a synopsis of the particular book whose hero he'll be analyzing, so you're never left out of the loop. Sure, most of the names should be familiar, but you may not recall specifics or know of any but the most famous appearances of the character (For Natty Bumpo, Shippey gives brief recounts of all the Leatherstocking Tales and with Bond and Sherlock Holmes, we hear about as many of their appearances as we need to in order to fully grasp the character's importance.
The one hiccough, not counting that he starts with Bilbo and Frodo Baggins - he is a Tolkien scholar after all - is he puts The Color Purple into his list where it's set chronologically, rather than when it was written. This is easily forgiven, though, as Alice Walker's book works more as a historical piece, rather than a modern reflection of a past time.
All that said, a lecture is only as good as the lecturer and Shippey is good. He's not a dry academic, understanding pop culture influences and fully aware of what's going on in other media. He's perfectly at home working in references to Hunger Games and Twilight as he is talking about the Aeneid and the Norse Eddas. He'll mention graphic novels and comic books in the same breath as ancient scrolls and oral traditions. The only downside is Shippey's pronunciation is atrocious and his inflections leave you wondering if he needs to work on is breath control. While he's constantly making mistakes with general words, adding emphasis to words which don't need it or not having it when commonly it would be there, the biggest issue (and he's well aware of it) is his insistence on calling Cervantes' Knight Errant Don "quiksette" rather than Quixote. He claims this is how he learned it in school, which makes sense considering the long animosity (think Austin Powers) of the English for pronouncing foreign words with any consideration of the original, but come on! Quixote is such a common name you'd think he'd have gotten over his early prejudice by now.
All in all, a great way to spend 12 hours. You'll gain a new appreciation for old characters and add to your reading list with the one new to you.
Over the course of 24 lectures, he takes his pupils from the beginning of literature, with the Odyssey and Beowulf, right up to the present with Lisbeth Salandar and Harry Potter. Shippey is a knowledgable English Don and fills his lectures with interesting anecdotes mixed in with his scholarly research. With these lectures he's looking, principally, at the evolution of the literary hero (the term being non-gendered, as he mentions several female heroes, including Guinevere, Cressida, and the Wife of Bath among others) from Perfect Specimen to everyday joe. He even includes Winston Smith, the protagonist of Orwell's 1984, as a hero (and his reasoning is quite sound).
Fascinating as well is the connections he draws, marking a linear path down through literature. During the lectures, Shippey gives you a synopsis of the particular book whose hero he'll be analyzing, so you're never left out of the loop. Sure, most of the names should be familiar, but you may not recall specifics or know of any but the most famous appearances of the character (For Natty Bumpo, Shippey gives brief recounts of all the Leatherstocking Tales and with Bond and Sherlock Holmes, we hear about as many of their appearances as we need to in order to fully grasp the character's importance.
The one hiccough, not counting that he starts with Bilbo and Frodo Baggins - he is a Tolkien scholar after all - is he puts The Color Purple into his list where it's set chronologically, rather than when it was written. This is easily forgiven, though, as Alice Walker's book works more as a historical piece, rather than a modern reflection of a past time.
All that said, a lecture is only as good as the lecturer and Shippey is good. He's not a dry academic, understanding pop culture influences and fully aware of what's going on in other media. He's perfectly at home working in references to Hunger Games and Twilight as he is talking about the Aeneid and the Norse Eddas. He'll mention graphic novels and comic books in the same breath as ancient scrolls and oral traditions. The only downside is Shippey's pronunciation is atrocious and his inflections leave you wondering if he needs to work on is breath control. While he's constantly making mistakes with general words, adding emphasis to words which don't need it or not having it when commonly it would be there, the biggest issue (and he's well aware of it) is his insistence on calling Cervantes' Knight Errant Don "quiksette" rather than Quixote. He claims this is how he learned it in school, which makes sense considering the long animosity (think Austin Powers) of the English for pronouncing foreign words with any consideration of the original, but come on! Quixote is such a common name you'd think he'd have gotten over his early prejudice by now.
All in all, a great way to spend 12 hours. You'll gain a new appreciation for old characters and add to your reading list with the one new to you.
October 22, 2019
Relistening. Just such a great series and I love Thomas Shippey's delivery.
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I am thoroughly enjoying this series by the famous Thomas A. Shippey. It is 24 half-hour lectures about heroes who remain influential in our own day. Odysseus, Beowulf, and Robin Hood mingle with less traditional heroes like the Wife of Bath, Cressida, Celie (The Color Purple), and James Bond.
It is like taking a history course viewing cultures through their famous heroes. And, of course, seeing which bits our culture appreciates or has dropped turns that lens upon us. Shippey is wonderful at evoking images to help along the way such as George Jones' songs, comic books, and movies.
FINAL
Overall a very good and interesting course. I do not agree with all of Shippey's conclusions (or inclusions, such as Winston Smith or Dracula). Hence the 4-stars. However, those are small points and I definitely recommend this.
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I am thoroughly enjoying this series by the famous Thomas A. Shippey. It is 24 half-hour lectures about heroes who remain influential in our own day. Odysseus, Beowulf, and Robin Hood mingle with less traditional heroes like the Wife of Bath, Cressida, Celie (The Color Purple), and James Bond.
It is like taking a history course viewing cultures through their famous heroes. And, of course, seeing which bits our culture appreciates or has dropped turns that lens upon us. Shippey is wonderful at evoking images to help along the way such as George Jones' songs, comic books, and movies.
FINAL
Overall a very good and interesting course. I do not agree with all of Shippey's conclusions (or inclusions, such as Winston Smith or Dracula). Hence the 4-stars. However, those are small points and I definitely recommend this.
March 13, 2021
Super fun lecture series. Each insightful lecture is around 30 minutes and delves into well-known characters such as Frodo Baggins, Elizabeth Bennett or Harry Potter as well as lesser-known characters such as the Wife of Bath or Beowolf. Shippey has a delightful delivery that's engaging and informational. He brings in all kinds of references from modern day cinema to reiterations of classic literature. He provides a great summary of each story which was helpful for those I was less familiar with. I really enjoyed how he pointed out patterns and potential reasons for the influence of these characters. This was a fun listen and change up from the usual material. I'd love to rotate courses like these through the reading list more often.
March 11, 2016
What I really like with the Great Courses is how each lecture is a length that allows for ample time to give a detailed lesson without overkill. This one was really good and the list of heroes was so much more than I expected. Such a variety of literary figures, writing styles, and time periods .
April 3, 2019
This was a fun lecture series. It provided insight into books and characters that I haven't read and it opened me up to new perspectives on some that I had. Each lecture is 30 minutes and highlights a hero in literature. He spans a vast range from Odysseus to Harry Potter. He included Elizabeth Bennett and I feel like I understand Pride and Prejudice now so I don't ever have to read it. Uncle Tom, Huck Finn, Sherlock Holmes, Dracula, Frodo Baggins and many others. It was a nice change of pace for me. I loved the professor, his accent is wonderful and his insights are enjoyable.
December 27, 2021
Thoroughly enjoyed this but with one HUGE caveat that this is focused only on the western literary tradition and doesn't really discuss that in an introduction or anything.
February 12, 2021
Some chapters are much better than others. Some feel like a real stretch and the lecture seems like filler, while other potential influential heroes are skipped entirely or just mentioned very briefly as spin-offs. Or the chapter on Guinevere ends up being mostly about Lancelot – being an example that I think (especially given the title of the book), he should have just talked about the Arthurian legend as a whole, rather than picking one character.
Also, and I know this is partially because the lecturer is British, some of his pronunciations are painful and distracting. Celie from The Color Purple has her own chapter and he can't pronounce Celie or Shug (he says Shug so badly [kind of like "shrug your shoulders"] I literally didn't know who he was talking about at first). Katniss Everdeen should be an easy one, but nope. And, the winner of the horrifying pronunciation is Don Quixote; he tells us he's giving us the "British pronunciation" but that doesn't forgive how awful it is, particularly since he knows how to say it correctly and does the first time or two before reverting to "Quik-Set" – and he refers back to him many times in subsequent lectures, reminding us how distracting it is.
I'd give some chapters a 4, others a 2 or 3. I did learn quite a bit about some characters I was less familiar with (Don Quixote being one – if his name had been said correctly that would have been one of my favorite chapters – I had no idea Sancho was basically the first straight-man sidekick character).
Also, and I know this is partially because the lecturer is British, some of his pronunciations are painful and distracting. Celie from The Color Purple has her own chapter and he can't pronounce Celie or Shug (he says Shug so badly [kind of like "shrug your shoulders"] I literally didn't know who he was talking about at first). Katniss Everdeen should be an easy one, but nope. And, the winner of the horrifying pronunciation is Don Quixote; he tells us he's giving us the "British pronunciation" but that doesn't forgive how awful it is, particularly since he knows how to say it correctly and does the first time or two before reverting to "Quik-Set" – and he refers back to him many times in subsequent lectures, reminding us how distracting it is.
I'd give some chapters a 4, others a 2 or 3. I did learn quite a bit about some characters I was less familiar with (Don Quixote being one – if his name had been said correctly that would have been one of my favorite chapters – I had no idea Sancho was basically the first straight-man sidekick character).
January 11, 2022
This is very very very very white and Western-centric. He claims that British people say, "Don Kwicks-ote" for Quixote, which I find absolutely impossible to believe. It's fine that this is basically just a survey of his favorite characters, that's great. He's a Tolkien expert, which is appreciated. But perhaps he should have kept the entire lecture that way, instead of straying into things he didn't understand. Some of his comments about THE COLOR PURPLE and LAST OF THE MOHICANS (actually most of the American books, tbh), are racist and extremely old-fashioned. He couldn't even be bothered to find out how to pronounce "Celie" and "Shug," for god's sake. I didn't really enjoy most of this.
May 30, 2024
A great listen. I really enjoyed how vast and broad he goes from the ancient heroes to modern day heroes, completely worth your time.
January 10, 2017
This lecture series is much like listening to any other top 10, or in this case top 24, list. The majority of the material focuses on justification and synopsis. That is, why Shippey chose 'x' character to discuss and what the character did. In an of itself, this can be quite entertaining. Top 10 lists are, after all, madly popular for a reason.
Shippey also makes a point of explaining how heroes have evolved and why. What we find heroic is in some ways quite different than what the ancient Greeks and Romans found heroic. And in some ways it's exactly the same. I'm pleased that Shippey didn't waste time on the modern blockbuster or Arnold Schwarzenegger in these lectures, but really—the major differences between Predator and some of the shtuff the ancients found heroic are all in weapons and the pedigree of the monster. Mercifully Shippey sticks to literature (his bailiwick) or at least primarily to the printed page. He pulls in a few comicbook references here and there when making comparisons, and also some popular retellings of classic stories. In fact, part of the entertainment value of these lectures is the parallels he draws from current fandom favorites to mythology and the classics.
Shippey's final purpose in these lectures is an attempt to pin down what makes a hero memorable—what about these characters has given them so much potential to capture the public imagination—to last and even to grow. I don't think he manages to entirely nail that down. He gives it a go, but the answer to is just too much a moving target.
So, are these lectures worth wasting time and money on? Yes, I believe so, but the listener should be forewarned that Shippey's speaking style is a little odd. He tends to pause at points that aren't intuitive to the text. He emphasizes words for what seems no reason at all. He's a little bit doddering, and not-so long-winded. He also makes unusual pronunciation choices. And all of that was fine with me. I'm of the opinion that communication is about understanding. I understood him. Moreover, I've certainly listened to others who were brilliant public speakers, and what they managed to impart was a complete load of horse poop. This wasn't. I will advise anyone who is interested to wait to pick this up on sale. There just isn't enough new information to make this worth the list price.
Shippey also makes a point of explaining how heroes have evolved and why. What we find heroic is in some ways quite different than what the ancient Greeks and Romans found heroic. And in some ways it's exactly the same. I'm pleased that Shippey didn't waste time on the modern blockbuster or Arnold Schwarzenegger in these lectures, but really—the major differences between Predator and some of the shtuff the ancients found heroic are all in weapons and the pedigree of the monster. Mercifully Shippey sticks to literature (his bailiwick) or at least primarily to the printed page. He pulls in a few comicbook references here and there when making comparisons, and also some popular retellings of classic stories. In fact, part of the entertainment value of these lectures is the parallels he draws from current fandom favorites to mythology and the classics.
Shippey's final purpose in these lectures is an attempt to pin down what makes a hero memorable—what about these characters has given them so much potential to capture the public imagination—to last and even to grow. I don't think he manages to entirely nail that down. He gives it a go, but the answer to is just too much a moving target.
So, are these lectures worth wasting time and money on? Yes, I believe so, but the listener should be forewarned that Shippey's speaking style is a little odd. He tends to pause at points that aren't intuitive to the text. He emphasizes words for what seems no reason at all. He's a little bit doddering, and not-so long-winded. He also makes unusual pronunciation choices. And all of that was fine with me. I'm of the opinion that communication is about understanding. I understood him. Moreover, I've certainly listened to others who were brilliant public speakers, and what they managed to impart was a complete load of horse poop. This wasn't. I will advise anyone who is interested to wait to pick this up on sale. There just isn't enough new information to make this worth the list price.
May 21, 2018
I've listened to these lectures several times and always enjoyed them. There are a couple I don't care for, but most of them are at least thought provoking. He has an interesting theory on why some books become so popular and last so long, I only wish he'd followed up with it in every lecture. Still, I like the fact that he sees heroes as multi-faceted. And he's an interesting speaker. I haven't rea da few of the books he covers but he gives enough details for me to be able to follow his talks perfectly well.
August 17, 2020
A power outage gave us time to finish off this excellent lecture series...Jim and I both enjoyed listening to the range of literature from Bilbo Baggins, to the Iliad, to Celie from the Color Purple to James Bond and Harry Potter. We started in the car on the drive to OR., listening these CDs.
You don't need to have read the books because he does an excellent job of summarizing the highlights. And there's a written book, too, if you miss something. Great courses from the library
You don't need to have read the books because he does an excellent job of summarizing the highlights. And there's a written book, too, if you miss something. Great courses from the library
April 7, 2023
I loved listening to Shippey’s lectures on famous literary heroes and their enduring legacies. His vast knowledge and expertise in literature are on full display as he expertly covers a wide variety of works and time periods in a logical manner, all while keeping the audience entertained with his wit and humor.
Shippey introduces each hero within their original historical and social context, which I think is a very important aspect that can be lost on modern readers, particularly when analyzing heroes through a contemporary lens. With his introduction is usually a good summary of the work(s) in which the hero appears, so if, like me, you aren’t fully read in medieval literature, you can still keep up with his analysis of the Lady of Bath. In addition to the introduction, there is also the essential analysis of what made the hero enduring and memorable, with discussion of their lasting legacy.
The lecture series starts with Frodo from the Lord of the Rings, and Shippey uses this subject to outline his analysis strategy I very briefly summarized above. After Frodo it is more chronologically organized (although not strict here) starting with the Greeks (Odysseus) and ending in modern times with Harry Potter.
This is a captivating journey led by an exceptional guide through the most remarkable characters ever created by humankind.
Shippey introduces each hero within their original historical and social context, which I think is a very important aspect that can be lost on modern readers, particularly when analyzing heroes through a contemporary lens. With his introduction is usually a good summary of the work(s) in which the hero appears, so if, like me, you aren’t fully read in medieval literature, you can still keep up with his analysis of the Lady of Bath. In addition to the introduction, there is also the essential analysis of what made the hero enduring and memorable, with discussion of their lasting legacy.
The lecture series starts with Frodo from the Lord of the Rings, and Shippey uses this subject to outline his analysis strategy I very briefly summarized above. After Frodo it is more chronologically organized (although not strict here) starting with the Greeks (Odysseus) and ending in modern times with Harry Potter.
This is a captivating journey led by an exceptional guide through the most remarkable characters ever created by humankind.
February 12, 2021
A wonderful collection of lectures for literature lovers. I do not know how it will resonate as a learning tool a la cliff notes, but I would define it as a very engaging course of lectures. The only time I was slightly disengaged when I listened to the lecture about Celia because this is the novel I have not read to my shame; thus, I felt slightly disconnected when I listened to this fragment.
Mostly, everything was a familiar well-trodden path, but everyone who likes talking about literature can relate - we like our ideas and thoughts being reiterated, repeated, discussed, refreshed, mentioned again because it means to re-live the experience of reading these books.
Plus, as Thomas Shippey justly mentions - great stories never end as they continue living with us through discussions and recollections, internal monologues and meditations.
All this meta-fiction banter always makes me happy, and in addition , it encouraged me to re-read most of these books again.
Mostly, everything was a familiar well-trodden path, but everyone who likes talking about literature can relate - we like our ideas and thoughts being reiterated, repeated, discussed, refreshed, mentioned again because it means to re-live the experience of reading these books.
Plus, as Thomas Shippey justly mentions - great stories never end as they continue living with us through discussions and recollections, internal monologues and meditations.
All this meta-fiction banter always makes me happy, and in addition , it encouraged me to re-read most of these books again.
January 30, 2024
Loved it! Talking about some of my favorite literary characters (and several I wasn’t familiar with!!) and their importance and impact. Very fun.
March 24, 2025
This series introduced me to many books! I loved the style and explanation.
December 16, 2018
If you've ever heard and enjoyed Thomas Shippey wax poetic about Tolkien and middle-earth, or if you're simply interested in examinations of iconic literary figures, this Great Course is an excellent primer on the similarities and differences between heroes as old as Odysseus to as current as Harry Potter.
Shippey does an excellent job of deconstructing narratives, placing them in their historical contexts, and opining on why each of the heroes mentioned was so influential during their time and continues to be so in ours.
Each period and geographical location from which these stories sprung forth had different anxieties, needs, and desires that required an avatar and cultural narrative to help make sense of the listener's or reader's reality. In short, a hero is someone people have been waiting for, as the stories we tell reveal our anxieties, needs, and desires.
And Shippey does an admirable job of bringing them all to life. Despite mispronouncing a few names (Kate-niss Everdeen, anyone?), and some lectures being more thorough than others (Beowulf and Don Quixote are excellent), this is truly a wonderful lecture series for readers, writers, and just about anyone interested in stories.
Shippey does an excellent job of deconstructing narratives, placing them in their historical contexts, and opining on why each of the heroes mentioned was so influential during their time and continues to be so in ours.
Each period and geographical location from which these stories sprung forth had different anxieties, needs, and desires that required an avatar and cultural narrative to help make sense of the listener's or reader's reality. In short, a hero is someone people have been waiting for, as the stories we tell reveal our anxieties, needs, and desires.
And Shippey does an admirable job of bringing them all to life. Despite mispronouncing a few names (Kate-niss Everdeen, anyone?), and some lectures being more thorough than others (Beowulf and Don Quixote are excellent), this is truly a wonderful lecture series for readers, writers, and just about anyone interested in stories.
February 3, 2023
3.5
A nice survey of some of the most prominent literary characters (western) and what makes them appealing.
A nice survey of some of the most prominent literary characters (western) and what makes them appealing.
July 28, 2014
This series of 24 - 30 minute lectures by Dr. Shippey (audio format) attempts the impossible...define 24 of the most important and influential heroic characters in the entire history of literature (mostly Western). His very first hero? Achilles? Heracles? Moses? Alexander? Buffy the Vampire Slayer?....Nope...Frodo Baggins (and Sam Gamgee, but he still gets second billing)! Maybe the rating should be 3.5.
But Shippey pulls it off...he's an emeritus English professor who has written dozens of books about heroes and crooks....well, maybe not many crooks...so he knows of what he speaks. His lectures are delivered with a proper English-Scottish-Indian accent, ever so clearly, with complete command of his subject...even though you might not agree with his choices. Oh well, it is his course and he can pick is heroes just as well as anyone.
His heroes include some of the usual suspects: Odysseus, Aeneas, Beowulf, Thor, Sherlock Holmes, Robin Hood and Don Quixote (I just loved the way he pronounced his name). All good heroes...maybe a little obscure, but good. Then there are the more subtle folks...Uncle Tom, Elizabeth Bennet, Huck Finn, Natty Bumppo and Woodrow Call, for which he (Shippey) makes a good case as being heroic. Then there are some left-fielders: Celie, Mowgli and Winston Smith. Interesting characters without a doubt, but heroes? Meh.
Now we come to the (anti?) heroes....James Bond, Lisbeth Salander and Dracula...and the body-count rises.
Last chapter? Harry Potter! I really think Shippey thinks that J.K.Rowling is the real hero, but gives it up for Harry.
Good set of lectures...quite entertaining, but low on the historical learning scale. Like all these lectures, it makes you think and it makes you want to read, or perhaps reread some of these classics...well, maybe not Pride & Prejudice (unless it has Zombies).
Recommended when on sale, with a coupon.
But Shippey pulls it off...he's an emeritus English professor who has written dozens of books about heroes and crooks....well, maybe not many crooks...so he knows of what he speaks. His lectures are delivered with a proper English-Scottish-Indian accent, ever so clearly, with complete command of his subject...even though you might not agree with his choices. Oh well, it is his course and he can pick is heroes just as well as anyone.
His heroes include some of the usual suspects: Odysseus, Aeneas, Beowulf, Thor, Sherlock Holmes, Robin Hood and Don Quixote (I just loved the way he pronounced his name). All good heroes...maybe a little obscure, but good. Then there are the more subtle folks...Uncle Tom, Elizabeth Bennet, Huck Finn, Natty Bumppo and Woodrow Call, for which he (Shippey) makes a good case as being heroic. Then there are some left-fielders: Celie, Mowgli and Winston Smith. Interesting characters without a doubt, but heroes? Meh.
Now we come to the (anti?) heroes....James Bond, Lisbeth Salander and Dracula...and the body-count rises.
Last chapter? Harry Potter! I really think Shippey thinks that J.K.Rowling is the real hero, but gives it up for Harry.
Good set of lectures...quite entertaining, but low on the historical learning scale. Like all these lectures, it makes you think and it makes you want to read, or perhaps reread some of these classics...well, maybe not Pride & Prejudice (unless it has Zombies).
Recommended when on sale, with a coupon.
April 13, 2022
As a fan of Professor Shippey in his capacity as a Tolkien scholar, I was keen to check out this lecture series on influential characters of literature. Shippey successfully blends all types of genres (Thor, Huckleberry Finn, The Wife from Bath) and time periods (Harry Potter, Elizabeth Bennett, Odysseus). Despite these stories and characters comprising so many diverse concepts, and presumably attracting a wide variety of readers, the lecture series does not feel disjointed in any way. Shippey is also quite the entertaining lecturer, making stories that I really have no interest in reading (Don Quixote, The Canterbury Tales) sound enticing. An excellent course, and one I would recommend to anyone who enjoys literature of any kind.
October 12, 2016
Favorite Great Course that I have listened to yet! Filled with fantastic academic research, drawing connections across the works of literature, and highlighting unexpected and significant touch points in the development of heroes and legends. I appreciated Shippey's approach to holding each work as a significant contribution to literature while simultaneously offering insightful comparisons. He included both men and women, likely and unlikely as his exemplary heroes, which puts this head and shoulders above the great works of literature lectures. Shippey's accent just made me smile all along the way too! I highly recommend this course.
July 16, 2015
"Don't the great tales never end?" - Samwise Gamgee
This was just perfect. There were moments when I forgot what I was doing in exchange for listening with rapt attention as Shippey lectured on heroes and heroines with equal enthusiasm and fervor, even referencing modern pop culture, and placing everything in context to how they affect the way we perceive our own narratives and those of others. Just fascinating.
This was just perfect. There were moments when I forgot what I was doing in exchange for listening with rapt attention as Shippey lectured on heroes and heroines with equal enthusiasm and fervor, even referencing modern pop culture, and placing everything in context to how they affect the way we perceive our own narratives and those of others. Just fascinating.
November 25, 2014
I'd be lying if I said I didn't skip some characters that I didn't care about. I loved the in depth analyses of my well-loved characters like Elizabeth Bennett, Frodo, Winston Smith, Lisbeth Salander and of course Harry Potter.
April 25, 2017
Immensely enjoyable, taught with extraordinary understanding and depth. Great fun, great education.
November 4, 2021
You know that one uncle who considers himself "pretty-woke" but still says cringeworthy ableist, racist, and/or homophobic things on occasion? This audiobook is like that. The author is trying, but hasn't actually moved beyond the canon or traditional interpretations of it.
November 19, 2014
A great read about the greatest characters of literature. It's comforting to known there is a bit of the greatest hero's in each of us.
July 10, 2016
These 24 lectures, each about 6 tracks each, contain new perspectives on the cannon of literature you read in college, as well as contemporary phenomena like Harry Potter. An enjoyable listen!
July 25, 2018
While interesting, the majority of this course is simply listening to the instructor summarizing the plots of the stories involving each of the characters discussed.
July 31, 2021
Good lecture for doing chores.
December 8, 2024
I listened to the audiobook for this, which was narrated by the author. This man very quickly lost credibility with me. Some odd things could be forgiven or explained, such as his pronunciation of double (dooble), bourbon (bore-bon), and other random words; perhaps that's how they're pronounced where he's from. However, he made consistent and unforgiveable faux pas with the content itself.
First, Shippey insisted on mispronouncing Don Quixote's name. He used the correct pronunciation once (key-ho-tay) and then said that thereafter, he'd use the name he was used to saying while growing up (kwix-it). This man is a professor of the English language, is a Tolkien scholar, and was a consultant for the "Lord of the Rings" movies for the various languages...and yet he intentionally used "Kwix-it" in his lectures. Big red flag. It grated on my nerves every time because of the sound and the arrogance behind it, as if he were purposefully dismissing a whole culture in favor of the ignorant familiar.
Second, and most unforgiveable, is he had the audacity to claim that Elizabeth Bennet in "Pride and Prejudice" was playing hard-to-get the entire time. He claimed that her rejections and quips were all a chosen means to procure a husband, and that she gained a "second chance" with Mr. Darcy when Lydia ran off with Wickham and thus made their paths cross again. The novel literally says:
She is spitting vitriol at him, says she wants nothing whatsoever to do with him, and that, ladies and gentlemen, is apparently playing hard-to-get. As soon as Shippey said it and reinforced that belief repeatedly, all credibility shattered. It really called into question his personal character and how he treats and views women in real life--if he believed that any woman who turned him down was simply flirting with him. He fell into the category of a man who doesn't believe a woman when she says "no." Having that belief is one thing, but using it in a lecture to instruct people on how they perceive something is a different matter entirely. Suddenly, everything he said was taken with multiple grains of salt, and I had to remind myself that there was a reason he's considered an expert in his field (and that his field isn't actually literature).
Finally, toward the end of the lectures, the characters Shippey chose to discuss seemed...obscure. He could have chosen household names, ones that have reshaped our society or explored the notion of what heroism can be (more than weak vs. strong, such as the methods chosen), and there was no reason given to restrict characters to just written literature. He didn't stray into comic books/graphic novels, screenplays, or plays, either, so we didn't get Batman or Han Solo/Luke Skywalker. He also didn't touch on characters who are viewed as heroes when we're children but whose heroism is questioned when we become adults (like Peter Pan). He restricted the characters by region (Western Europe and North America), so we didn't get international characters like Genji (Japanese) or Rama (Indian), though we did get Thor (Norse). If he had included folklore, it would've opened up the nature of American heroes (Paul Bunyan, John Henry) and explored the concept of the trickster hero (Raven/Coyote/Rabbit for North America, the African spider god Anansi, etc.). Instead, we got "The Color Purple" and "Girl with the Dragon Tattoo," which did allow for cultural inclusion, but more obscure--hardly influential, well-known heroes or legends. It felt more like he was trying to fill space by talking about his favorite characters rather than really exploring the scope of what makes a hero/legend or what makes them influential. But again, he's a professor of language, not literature.
First, Shippey insisted on mispronouncing Don Quixote's name. He used the correct pronunciation once (key-ho-tay) and then said that thereafter, he'd use the name he was used to saying while growing up (kwix-it). This man is a professor of the English language, is a Tolkien scholar, and was a consultant for the "Lord of the Rings" movies for the various languages...and yet he intentionally used "Kwix-it" in his lectures. Big red flag. It grated on my nerves every time because of the sound and the arrogance behind it, as if he were purposefully dismissing a whole culture in favor of the ignorant familiar.
Second, and most unforgiveable, is he had the audacity to claim that Elizabeth Bennet in "Pride and Prejudice" was playing hard-to-get the entire time. He claimed that her rejections and quips were all a chosen means to procure a husband, and that she gained a "second chance" with Mr. Darcy when Lydia ran off with Wickham and thus made their paths cross again. The novel literally says:
"In spite of her deeply-rooted dislike, she could not be insensible to the compliment of such a man's affection, and though her intentions did not vary for an instant, she was at first sorry for the pain he was to receive; till, roused to resentment by his subsequent language, she lost all compassion in anger. . . . 'I have never desired your good opinion, and you have certainly bestowed it most unwillingly. . . . Had not my own feelings decided against you, had they been indifferent, or had they even been favourable, do you think that any consideration would tempt me to accept the man, who has been the means of ruining, perhaps for ever, the happiness of a most beloved sister? . . . You could not have made me the offer of your hand in any possible way that would have tempted me to accept it. . . . From the very beginning, from the first moment I may almost say, of my acquaintance with you, your manners, impressing me with the fullest belief of your arrogance, your conceit, and your selfish disdain of the feelings of others, were such as to form that ground-work of disapprobation, on which succeeding events have built so immoveable a dislike; and I had not known you a month before I felt that you were the last man in the world whom I could ever be prevailed on to marry.'"
She is spitting vitriol at him, says she wants nothing whatsoever to do with him, and that, ladies and gentlemen, is apparently playing hard-to-get. As soon as Shippey said it and reinforced that belief repeatedly, all credibility shattered. It really called into question his personal character and how he treats and views women in real life--if he believed that any woman who turned him down was simply flirting with him. He fell into the category of a man who doesn't believe a woman when she says "no." Having that belief is one thing, but using it in a lecture to instruct people on how they perceive something is a different matter entirely. Suddenly, everything he said was taken with multiple grains of salt, and I had to remind myself that there was a reason he's considered an expert in his field (and that his field isn't actually literature).
Finally, toward the end of the lectures, the characters Shippey chose to discuss seemed...obscure. He could have chosen household names, ones that have reshaped our society or explored the notion of what heroism can be (more than weak vs. strong, such as the methods chosen), and there was no reason given to restrict characters to just written literature. He didn't stray into comic books/graphic novels, screenplays, or plays, either, so we didn't get Batman or Han Solo/Luke Skywalker. He also didn't touch on characters who are viewed as heroes when we're children but whose heroism is questioned when we become adults (like Peter Pan). He restricted the characters by region (Western Europe and North America), so we didn't get international characters like Genji (Japanese) or Rama (Indian), though we did get Thor (Norse). If he had included folklore, it would've opened up the nature of American heroes (Paul Bunyan, John Henry) and explored the concept of the trickster hero (Raven/Coyote/Rabbit for North America, the African spider god Anansi, etc.). Instead, we got "The Color Purple" and "Girl with the Dragon Tattoo," which did allow for cultural inclusion, but more obscure--hardly influential, well-known heroes or legends. It felt more like he was trying to fill space by talking about his favorite characters rather than really exploring the scope of what makes a hero/legend or what makes them influential. But again, he's a professor of language, not literature.
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