Critical Readings
CriticalReadings.com
Critical Readings examines key literary texts using close reading and critical analysis, and explains these approaches in discussion. Listeners will learn about the texts themselves and about how to approach a text for critical analysis.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Sep 21, 2020 • 1h 9min
CR Episode 53: Masefield’s Midsummer Night
The panel examines the biography of John Masefield before reading and examining excerpts from his Arthurian cycle, Midsummer Night, with special attention on the unique aspects of Masefield's recasting of traditional Arthurian mythological elements.Continue reading
Sep 14, 2020 • 54min
CR Episode 52: The Faerie Queene, Mutabilitie Cantos
The panel reviews the epilogue-like Mutabilitie Cantos of the Faerie Queene, reviewing scholarly opinion about their place in the whole poem, and considering the interrelations of the Greco-Roman pantheon to Nature, Time, and the Judeo-Christian God.Continue reading
Sep 7, 2020 • 1h 10min
CR Episode 51: The Faerie Queene, Book VI, Cantos 7-12
The panel reviews the second half of Spenser's book of courtesy, with attention given to the scholarly view of C. S. Lewis, Northrop Frye, and others, that Courtesy represents the central portion of the poem and that it is the essential Spenserian virtue.,Continue reading
Aug 31, 2020 • 54min
CR Episode 50: The Faerie Queene, Book VI, Cantos 1-6
The panel examines the first half of Spenser's book of courtesy, reading its depictions in the light of the historical development of chevalrie/chivalry and courtoise/courtesy, and comparing its depiction of characters to those found in other Arthuriana.Continue reading
Aug 17, 2020 • 1h 12min
CR Episode 49: The Faerie Queene, Book V, Cantos 7-12
The panel examines historical criticism of Book V, with particular attention to the mid-twentieth-century development of a moral-allegorical reading in contrast to the earlier historical reading, and considers how the two might best be combined.Continue reading
Aug 10, 2020 • 1h 4min
CR Episode 48: The Faerie Queene, Book V, Cantos 1-6
The full panel convenes to discuss Spenser's approach to justice in Book V, with attention given to the challenges Artegall's Solomon-like judgement faces--a dispute between knights, a giant of revolution, and ultimately the Amazon queen Radigund herself.Continue reading
Aug 3, 2020 • 54min
CR Episode 47: The Faerie Queene, Book IV, Cantos 7-12
The panel concludes the book of friendship with an examination of the character of Sclaunder, and an account of Spenser's planned poetic cartography--Epithalmion Thamesis--intended to give all the rivers of Britain 'their right names and right passage'.Continue reading
Jul 20, 2020 • 1h 10min
CR Episode 46: The Faerie Queene, Book IV, Cantos 1-6
The panel turns its attention to the Book of Friendship, sometimes described as the 'least interesting' of the sections, and discusses whether it has been unfairly maligned or whether Spenser's intentions can explain the book's perceived deficiencies.Continue reading
Jul 13, 2020 • 1h 11min
CR Episode 45: The Faerie Queene, Book III, Cantos 7-12
The panel addresses a reader question before turning to Book III's unwholesome delights and the means by which the virtuous refuse them and the sinful fall prey to them, with special attention to the conduct of Hellenore, Malbecco, and the satyrs.Continue reading
Jul 6, 2020 • 51min
CR Episode 44: The Faerie Queene, Book III, Cantos 1-6
The panel adds a new member, and begins a discussion of the first half of The Faerie Queene, Book III, by focusing on the character of Britomart, her historical and mythological characterisation, potential allegorical connexions, and chivalric impact.Continue reading
