Matthew Bardowell specializes in medieval literature, specifically Old English Poetry and Old Norse poetry. He also writes about the works of J. R.R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis. Matthew teaches English Composition I and II; World Literary Types; British Literature I and II; History of the English Language; Chaucer, Shakespeare, and Milton; and C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien. In writing courses, he teaches students to employ strategies that help them use their writing for expression and advocacy. In literature classes, Matthew takes an interdisciplinary approach, drawing together philosophy, theology, history to help students understand the cultural commonplaces of the literature they read.

Education

Ph.D. in English, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO (2016)
M.A. in English, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL (2007)
B.A. in English, Florida International University, Miami, FL (2004)

Awards/Recognition

Walter J. Ong, S.J. Award for Exceptional Research and Scholarly Achievement (2014)
Cicardo Award for Most Promising Incoming Ph.D. Candidate (2009)
Howard Pearce Award for Outstanding Thesis (2007)

Select Publications

“G.K. Chesterton,” Handbook of Literary Apologetics: The Imagination’s Journey to God. Ed. Thomas L. Martin, De Gruyter, (Forthcoming).

“The Restorative Vision of Justice in G. K. Chesterton’s Father Brown,” Certainty and Ambiguity: Essays on the Moral Imagination of Mystery Fiction. Eds. John J. Han, C. Clark Triplett, and Matthew Bardowell, Bloomsbury Academic, 2024.

“The Aesthetics of Concealment and Revelation in the Skaldic Poetry of Kári Sǫlmundarson,” From Rus’ to Rimur. Eds. Shaun F. D Hughes and Allyn Pearson. Cornell University Library,(Forthcoming).

“Disembodied Heads and Headless Philosophies: C.S. Lewis’s Aesthetic Rejoinder to Dystopian Utility in That Hideous Strength.” Illusory Visions: Dystopian Themes in Contemporary Fiction. Eds. John J. Han, C. Clark Triplett, and Ashley G. Anthony. Jefferson: McFarland, 2018. 178-195.

“The Problem of Emotion: Legal Codes and the Medieval Icelandic Outlaw.” Intégrité: A Faith and Learning Journal16.1 (2017): 42-51.

Noetzel, Justin T. and Matthew R. Bardowell. “The Inklings Remembered: A Conversation with Colin Havard.” Mythlore 31.1/2 (2012): 29-46.

“J.R.R. Tolkien’s Ethos of Creation and Its Finnish Analogues.” Journal of the Fantastic in the Arts 20.1 (2009): 91-108.

“Signor Beneventano and Man Inspirited: A Symbolist Reading of Melville’s ‘Cock-A-Doodle-Doo!’” Renascence: Essays on Value in Literature 61.4 (2009): 156-69.