J.R.R. Tolkien | Optimism

J.R.R. Tolkien | Optimism

Familiar to millions as the author of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, John Ronald Reuel Tolkien believed that myths used stories of heroes to inspire generations of readers. He began his writing career with a children’s book, and when his publisher asked for a sequel, Tolkien had to give it some thought. For much of his life, he had lamented the fact that much of English mythology had been destroyed by invading armies or imported from abroad. (For example, the most famous English myth, that of King Arthur, was a blend of Scottish and French stories.) On putting pen to paper for the first time on his magnum opus, The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien began to craft an alternate mythology for his homeland that would tell heroic tales that, he believed, were lacking in modern Britain.

Join us as we teach you about heroism through the eyes of J.R.R. Tolkien, how he incorporated heroism into stories, and how history influenced his view of heroes in fiction and real life.

Avsnitt(449)

Theodore Roosevelt | A Strenuous Life

Theodore Roosevelt | A Strenuous Life

"You must make your body." An asthmatic boy in wire-rimmed spectacles nods. Decades later, shot in the chest, he'll deliver a 90-minute speech: "It takes more than that to kill a Bull Moose."Theodore ...

26 Jan 21min

Sketches in History | The Panama Canal

Sketches in History | The Panama Canal

The 15-Minute History Podcast team welcomes you back to another Sketches in History. This segment, just for kids, shows that history isn't just a story; it's an adventure. Join Lottie Archer as she di...

22 Jan 11min

"Daring Mighty Things" | A Discussion on the Panama Canal and America's Role in Latin America

"Daring Mighty Things" | A Discussion on the Panama Canal and America's Role in Latin America

In this week's discussion, we cover more detail about the building of the canal and the herculean medical and engineering feats American and Panamanian workers achieved. (Joe even gets to put on his d...

19 Jan 33min

Pop Quiz - Iran, then and now

Pop Quiz - Iran, then and now

With events in Iran moving hour by hour, Joe asked about the Iranian Revolution of 1979, how that regime could hold onto the country for so long, and why we are now seeing a possible change in governm...

15 Jan 7min

"Daring Mighty Things" | The Panama Canal and American Intervention in Latin America

"Daring Mighty Things" | The Panama Canal and American Intervention in Latin America

Over a century ago, the United States blasted its way through a continent in one of the largest engineering projects in world history. The Panama Canal's construction brought with it decades of Americ...

12 Jan 16min

Pop Quiz | Communism vs. Fascism (Repost)

Pop Quiz | Communism vs. Fascism (Repost)

During the holiday break, Jon and Joe wanted to reshare some of their favorite episodes. This episode originally aired on December 14, 2023. New episodes starting this Monday, January 12. __Have an id...

8 Jan 11min

Arrows vs. Knights | How England Defied the Odds at Agincourt (Repost)

Arrows vs. Knights | How England Defied the Odds at Agincourt (Repost)

During the holiday break, Jon and Joe wanted to reshare some of their favorite episodes. This episode originally aired on January 27, 2025. New episodes starting next week!___The Battle of Agincourt, ...

5 Jan 15min

Pop Quiz | Answering an Audience Question & The Overton Window (Repost)

Pop Quiz | Answering an Audience Question & The Overton Window (Repost)

During the holiday break, Jon and Joe wanted to reshare some of their favorite episodes. This episode originally aired on June 5, 2025.___In this double pop quiz, Jon answers a question from an audien...

1 Jan 9min

Populärt inom Historia

massmordarpodden
p3-historia
motiv
olosta-mord
historiepodden-se
rss-massmordarpodden
rss-seriemordarpodden
historianu-med-urban-lindstedt
krigshistoriepodden
konspirationsteorier
rss-brottsligt
podme-bio-4
historiska-brott
militarhistoriepodden
nu-blir-det-historia
harrisons-dramatiska-historia
palmemordet
vetenskapsradion-historia
rss-historiens-mysterier
bedragare