BYU London Centre Fall

HARRY POTTER'S ROOTS: BRITISH YA FANTASY

Hogwarts, Diagon Alley, Merlin, King Arthur, Gandalf, Griffins, Lions, Witches, and Wardrobes. Your entire life you have been reading about magic, about wizards, about dragons and spells and enchanted swords. YA Fantasy literature is and has always been a cultural touchstone—but what does a coming-of-age fictional narrative have to do with the very real anxieties you experience day in and day out? Why does fantasy literature have such an enduring appeal? How has it evolved over the last century, and what factors led to its expansion? And so we can please put the debate to rest, what real-world spaces inspired talking trees? We will answer these questions (and more) as we explore the actual forests and glens and lakes that inspired Rowling, Tolkien, Lewis, and many others. We will sit on Arthur’s Seat. We will walk in Merlin’s Cave (located beneath an actual castle!) We will watch the sun set over the Glenfinnan Viaduct in Scotland, walk the Giant’s Causeway in Ireland, and hike through the Highland forests that inspired Hagrid’s many magical creatures. You can now move your own wardrobe to the UK for one semester (don’t worry, you won’t be sleeping in the Harry Potter closet) to learn about YA Fantasy Literature and the British myths and legends that led to one of the greatest literary movements of all time.

Click here to apply today!