Welcome to SPACE, our adult continuing education program which offers interactive monthly courses for personal enrichment! Learn more here.
Dr. Gabriel Schenk
Signum MA Faculty
•
SPACE Preceptor
Gabriel teaches literature at Signum University, specializing in cultural histories, Arthuriana, and the works of the Inklings. He also teaches at Signum Path.
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Current and Upcoming Modules
December 2025
Highlighted Modules
Non-Sequential Series
All Modules
His Dark Materials in Context Non-Sequential Series
Mixed Lecture/Discussion • Medium intensity
Sir Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy is widely regarded as a modern classic, has been described by The New Statesman as “the most ambitious work since The Lord of the Rings,” and has been adapted onto stage, radio, and screen. The series is also deep and complex, drawing from a rich array of literary, philosophical, and theological ideas.
In this three-module series we will read, successively, the three novels in Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy, juxtaposing each with selected materials that will allow us to read Pullman’s work both on its own and in conversation with other works.
Note: Students can join one, two, or all three modules. There are no prerequisites.
In this three-module series we will read, successively, the three novels in Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy, juxtaposing each with selected materials that will allow us to read Pullman’s work both on its own and in conversation with other works.
Note: Students can join one, two, or all three modules. There are no prerequisites.
His Dark Materials in Context: The Amber Spyglass
Mixed Lecture/Discussion • Medium intensity
Sir Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy is widely regarded as a modern classic, has been described by The New Statesman as “the most ambitious work since The Lord of the Rings,” and has been adapted onto stage, radio, and screen. The series is also deep and complex, drawing from a rich array of literary, philosophical, and theological ideas.
In this three-module series we will read, successively, the three novels in Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy, juxtaposing each with selected materials that will allow us to read Pullman’s work both on its own and in conversation with other works. Students can join one, two, or all three modules. There are no prerequisites.
• Module 1: His Dark Materials in Context: The Golden Compass (a.k.a. Northern Lights) (October 2023)
• Module 2: His Dark Materials in Context: The Subtle Knife (December 2023)
• Module 3: His Dark Materials in Context: The Amber Spyglass (January 2023)
In this three-module series we will read, successively, the three novels in Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy, juxtaposing each with selected materials that will allow us to read Pullman’s work both on its own and in conversation with other works. Students can join one, two, or all three modules. There are no prerequisites.
• Module 1: His Dark Materials in Context: The Golden Compass (a.k.a. Northern Lights) (October 2023)
• Module 2: His Dark Materials in Context: The Subtle Knife (December 2023)
• Module 3: His Dark Materials in Context: The Amber Spyglass (January 2023)
His Dark Materials in Context: The Golden Compass
Mixed Lecture/Discussion • Medium intensity
Sir Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy is widely regarded as a modern classic, has been described by The New Statesman as “the most ambitious work since The Lord of the Rings,” and has been adapted onto stage, radio, and screen. The series is also deep and complex, drawing from a rich array of literary, philosophical, and theological ideas.
In this three-module series we will read, successively, the three novels in Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy, juxtaposing each with selected materials that will allow us to read Pullman’s work both on its own and in conversation with other works. Students can join one, two, or all three modules. There are no prerequisites.
In this three-module series we will read, successively, the three novels in Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy, juxtaposing each with selected materials that will allow us to read Pullman’s work both on its own and in conversation with other works. Students can join one, two, or all three modules. There are no prerequisites.
His Dark Materials in Context: The Subtle Knife
Mixed Lecture/Discussion • Medium intensity
Sir Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy is widely regarded as a modern classic, has been described by The New Statesman as “the most ambitious work since The Lord of the Rings,” and has been adapted onto stage, radio, and screen. The series is also deep and complex, drawing from a rich array of literary, philosophical, and theological ideas.
In this three-module series we will read, successively, the three novels in Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy, juxtaposing each with selected materials that will allow us to read Pullman’s work both on its own and in conversation with other works. Students can join one, two, or all three modules. There are no prerequisites.
• Module 1: His Dark Materials in Context: The Golden Compass (a.k.a. Northern Lights) (October 2023)
• Module 2: His Dark Materials in Context: The Subtle Knife (December 2023)
• Module 3: His Dark Materials in Context: The Amber Spyglass (January 2023)
In this three-module series we will read, successively, the three novels in Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy, juxtaposing each with selected materials that will allow us to read Pullman’s work both on its own and in conversation with other works. Students can join one, two, or all three modules. There are no prerequisites.
• Module 1: His Dark Materials in Context: The Golden Compass (a.k.a. Northern Lights) (October 2023)
• Module 2: His Dark Materials in Context: The Subtle Knife (December 2023)
• Module 3: His Dark Materials in Context: The Amber Spyglass (January 2023)
The Inklings: Lewis, Tolkien, Barfield, and Williams
Discussion-based • Medium intensity
What did the creators of Middle-earth, Narnia, a philosophy of consciousness, and spiritual shockers have in common? Answer: they were all part of a group called The Inklings who met in Oxford between the 1930s and 60s to discuss their ideas and work.
We will spend a week on each of the four main members of The Inklings, discussing samples of their work and the ways their imaginations and ideas overlapped. By the end of the course, we will understand how this group of writers influenced each other and helped create the genre of fantasy literature.
We will spend a week on each of the four main members of The Inklings, discussing samples of their work and the ways their imaginations and ideas overlapped. By the end of the course, we will understand how this group of writers influenced each other and helped create the genre of fantasy literature.