The Literary Life Podcast

Join Jason Baxter, an author and Dante specialist, as he dives into the complexities of teaching literature and translating timeless texts. He shares his insights on the beauty of poetry, the emotional connections in language, and the teaching journey, balancing depth and accessibility. The conversation features humorous takes on literary hot takes, the evolution of poetic forms, and the exciting landscape of literature education today. Baxter also reflects on his new translation of Dante’s Purgatorio, revealing the artistic challenges and joys of making classics engaging for modern readers.

This week on The Literary Life, Angelina and Thomas wrap up our encore series on J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter: Book 1. Angelina and Thomas begin the episode with some thoughts on their Aristotelian approach to literature as seen in this series of episodes. After sharing their commonplace quotes, they dive into their discussion of the last few chapters of the book. Some of the ideas they consider are how the entire plot is a series of symbols, alchemy and the allegory of the soul, and the figure of the “wildman” in the literary tradition. They also go over the characters of the centaurs, the significance of the unicorn, more references to Greek mythology, how Harry exemplifies the “chest” of the well-ordered man, and the great importance of the philosopher’s stone as a Christ symbol.  Visit HouseofHumaneLetters.com for classes with Angelina, Thomas, and other members of their teaching team. To view the full show notes for this episode, including commonplace quotes, book links, and today's poem, please visit https://theliterary.life/282.

Welcome back to The Literary Life podcast and our series on J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter: Book 1. After sharing some thoughts on detective fiction as it relates to Rowling, our hosts Angelina Stanford and Thomas Banks discuss chapters 8-12. Some of the ideas they share are the following: Homeric echos and classical allusions in this book, the identity quest, the significance of characters’ names, the four houses and the bestiary, the three parts of the soul, the Christian influence on Rowling’s stories. Angelina also seeks to teach something about symbolism and structure of literature and art as seen through the Harry Potter books.  Visit HouseofHumaneLetters.com for updates on classes with Angelina, Thomas, and other members of their teaching team. To view the full show notes for this episode including book links, quotes and today's poem, please visit https://theliterary.life/281. 

This week we are back with the second part of our remix of Angelina and Thomas’ podcast series on Harry Potter: Book 1 by J. K. Rowling. This week we are covering chapters 3-7. Angelina opens the book discussion with an overview of the literary motifs used by Rowling in the Harry Potter books to help modern readers better understand these kinds of stories. One of the motifs she highlights is the identity quest and how we see Harry on a journey of the soul. She also shares some thoughts on the fairy tale “magic” of these stories in contrast to actual witchcraft as well as the symbolism used to show us that this is a fairy world. Thomas and Angelina talk about the characters we meet in these chapters, including the symbolism of some of their names. Other ideas discussed in this episode include the importance of alchemy, the Gothic literary tradition, the layers of the quest, the rise of the fantasy genre, and so much more! Visit HouseofHumaneLetters.com for updates on classes with Angelina, Thomas, and other members of their teaching team. To view the full show notes for this episode, please visit https://theliterary.life/280. 

On today’s episode on The Literary Life podcast, we bring you a special re-mix of our popular series on Harry Potter: Book 1 by J. K. Rowling, with hosts Angelina Stanford and Thomas Banks. After sharing a little on their own backgrounds as teachers and their commonplace quotations for the week, Angelina and Thomas open the book discussion with some introductory information on this book and series. They address the controversy surrounding these books in Christian circles. For our previous episode on magic, listen to our Best of Series Episode 168: Wizards, Witches and Magic, Oh My! Angelina sets up this series with some background on children’s publishing in the 1990s, the why there are differences in the British and American editions, the basis for this book in the classic literary tradition, the form and structure of stories. They also share some thoughts on these first couple of chapters. Join us again next week for chapters 3-7!  Visit HouseofHumaneLetters.com for updates on classes with Angelina, Thomas, and other members of their teaching team.  To view the full show notes for this episode, including links to books mentioned, today's commonplace quotes, and poem, please visit https://theliterary.life/279. 

Natalia Testa, a rising homeschool junior passionate about classical languages and detective novels, shares her fascinating literary journey. She recounts her childhood reading experiences that ignited her love for ancient history and literature. Natalia's encounter with Dorothy Sayers propelled her into the world of detective fiction. The conversation touches on overcoming reading slumps and the joys of exploring obscure manuscripts. With insights from her studies at the House of Humane Letters, she exemplifies how engaging with complex texts can shape one’s literary identity.

The hosts dive deep into Flannery O’Connor's 'A Good Man is Hard to Find,' discussing the story's themes of morality, redemption, and the complexity of human nature. They explore character dynamics, particularly the grandmother's manipulative nature, and the societal critiques embedded in the narrative. The conversation touches on nostalgia versus reality in O’Connor's portrayal of the Old South, and examines the philosophical dance between faith and nihilism. Listeners are invited to reflect on violence as a means of grace and the profound questions about identity and existence raised in the story.

Delve into the world of Flannery O’Connor, the enigmatic Southern Gothic author. Discover her early influences and how her Catholic faith shaped her storytelling. The hosts discuss common misconceptions about her work and the cultural dynamics between her and other literary figures. They explore themes of violence and grace in her narratives, revealing the profound depth behind her characters. With a touch of humor, the conversation emphasizes the importance of understanding O’Connor’s legacy in today’s literary landscape.

The conversation delves into Angelina Stanford's literary journey, starting with her childhood love of books and a pivotal moment with 'A Wrinkle in Time.' She recalls her disdain for literary analysis in high school and the influence of mentors like Flannery O'Connor and Burton Raffel. The discussion also covers her decision to leave academia for homeschooling, fostering a passion for learning in her own children. Throughout, there's an exploration of the joys of teaching literature and the significance of community in literary education.

Dr. Anne Phillips, a passionate teacher of Latin and Greek with a PhD in classical studies, discusses her enriching homeschool experience and love for Greek myths. She emphasizes the necessity of quality literature in nurturing discernment among readers. The conversation dives into the challenges of academia today and the vivid interplay between literature and family life. Dr. Phillips also shares insights on her Substack writing and the importance of engaging students with classical texts, making a compelling case for reviving classical education.