M. G. McDonough
The Classic English Literature PodcastEpisodes
Episodes of The Classic English Literature Podcast
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Send us a Text Message.It's Independence Day here in America, so today's show takes the opportunity to look at some of writing of early English colonists in New England and how their ideas contributed to the national ethos that would emerge in
Send us a Text Message.We'll finish our look at Ben Jonson's comedies today with perhaps his most well-regarded efforts: Volpone, or The Fox and The Alchemist.Additional music: "In Town Tonight" by Eric Coates, perf. Reginald Dixon. From the I
Send us a Text Message.Today, I look askance at two plays by Ben Jonson, whom many see (not me, though) as the greatest English playwright bar Shakespeare: Every Man In His Humour and Every Man Out of His Humour. These have become the paradigm
Send us a Text Message.Today, we take a historical survey of the Bible in English, from early partial translations and paraphrases in the 7th century through the magnificence of King James I's Authorized Version of 1611.What It's Like To Be...W
Send us a Text Message.Today we look at Aemelia Lanyer's pioneering and influential work, "Eve's Apology in Defense of Women" from 1611's Salve Deus Rex Judaeorum.What It's Like To Be...What's it like to be a Cattle Rancher? FBI Special Agent?
Send us a Text Message.For our final episode focusing on Shakespeare, we look at his sonnets, arguably the most famous collection of lyric poems in the language.What It's Like To Be...What's it like to be a Cattle Rancher? FBI Special Agent? Pr
Send us a Text Message.For our (probably) final episode on Shakespeare's plays, we sail through The Tempest, a late romance which has attracted historical and psychoanalytical interpretations, but stands out for many readers as perhaps a play i
Send us a Text Message.To mark the Easter holiday, we return to George Herbert, Jacobean poet and priest, and his most famous work, the pattern poem "Easter Wings."Here's a link to an image of the poem: https://clinicalpsychreading.blogspot.com
Send us a Text Message.While most people know Shakespeare as a playwright, he saw himself as a poet in the quite traditional sense. Today, we'll look at his two major narrative poems: Venus and Adonis and The Rape of Lucrece.clip from "Mrs. Ro
Send us a Text Message.The Tragedy of King Lear, while considered by many as Shakespeare's greatest play, is also his most devastating. In this episode, we consider what Lear has to say about the meaning of human suffering.What It's Like To Be
Send us a Text Message.In this episode, we look at how our current concerns with identity politics intersects with those of Shakespeare's plays which portray sexist, racist, or anti-Semitic material. Fair warning: this episode will deal with l
Send us a Text Message.Is Shakespeare's darkest tragedy a cautionary tale about ambition? a bit of Jacobean mythmaking? Or is it the portrait of a deeply committed marriage gone catastrophically wrong?With apologies for all the appalling accen
Send us a Text Message.Shakespeare's Hamlet has not been out of production for over four centuries and its profound examination of the human condition continues to capture the hearts and minds of people the world over. Join me in Elsinore as w
Send us a Text Message.Happy Christmas and a Merry New Year! Here's a little subcast episode on poet Nahum Tate's "While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks," the first Christmas carol sanctioned by the Anglican Church around the turn of the 18th c
Send us a Text Message.Is political violence ever justified? Who decides? And what ethical systems can evaluate the justice of such acts? Today, we look at the ethics driving the characters of Shakespeare's The Tragedy of Julius Caesar.What
Send us a Text Message.Welcome to the Subcast! On today's bonus episode, I give a little poddie-training on perhaps the most significant publishing event in English literature: the presentation of the First Folio of Shakespeare's plays.What It
Send us a Text Message.In this episode, we'll look at two women who are generally regarded as among the greatest female characters ever written: Rosalind from Shakespeare's As You Like It and Beatrice from his Much Ado About Nothing. Their wis
Send us a Text Message.17th-century poet and priest George Herbert offers a playful poem reminding us to strive for gratefulness. I am, myself, very grateful for all the support you all have offered me. Thank you so much!Additional sound: "Ma
Send us a Text Message.In today's discussion, we take a look at the character of Henry, Prince of Wales, who will become King Henry V in the group of plays including Henry IV, parts 1 and 2, and Henry V, sometimes called "The Henriad."What It's
Send us a Text Message.Trick or treat! Here's a bone-us episode on Robert Herrick's "The Hag," about a witch's night ride with the Devil!Support the Show.Please like, subscribe, and rate the podcast on Apple, Spotify, Google, or wherever you l
Send us a Text Message.Here's a good one for the Halloweeny season: Christopher Marlowe's most famous play. A scholar sells his soul to the Devil for ultimate knowledge and power!Correction: In this episode, I misidentify the author of "The De
Send us a Text Message.Does Romeo and Juliet even need an introduction? Well, this time on the poddie, we'll look at the play's tragic lovers through the lens of the Renaissance sonnet, how that poem style's postures shapes the action, making
Send us a Text Message.Shssshh! Drift off into Shakespeare's most rhymy and least rational play! Today, it's The Dream!What It's Like To Be...What's it like to be a Cattle Rancher? FBI Special Agent? Professional Santa? Find out!Listen on: App
Send us a Text Message.We're here! Finally, our first Shakespeare play episode. Today, we'll look at The Tragical History of King Richard III. What It's Like To Be...What's it like to be a Cattle Rancher? FBI Special Agent? Professional Sant
Send us a Text Message.You may be surprised at how the rivalry between these early Elizabethan theatrical superstars played out! Betrayal, torture, assassination; this is tabloid-worthy stuff!Support the Show.Please like, subscribe, and rate t
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