Critical Readings

by 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

CR Episode 193: Hamlet, Act I

1h 12m · Published 18 Sep 16:00

The panel reads the first act of William Shakespeare's Hamlet, providing an overview of the action and the textual history, with selected readings from within the five scenes paying particular attention to puns, irony, and the mirroring of characters.Continue reading

CR Episode 192: Frankenstein, Part III

1h 21m · Published 11 Sep 16:00

The panel discusses the concluding volume of Frankenstein, beginning with Victor's narration of his series of personal tragedies and ending with Captain Walton's letter describing the death of Victor and the monster's final, vengeful resolve.Continue reading

CR Episode 191: Frankenstein, Part II

1h 2m · Published 04 Sep 16:00

Madeline Potter joins the panel to begin a three-week reading of Mary Shelley's gothic novel, Frankenstein, with this week's discussion attending to the multiple frames of the narrative and the web of tension between pride, creation, and human endeavour.Continue reading

CR Episode 190: Frankenstein, Part I

1h 53m · Published 28 Aug 16:00

CR Episode 189: Sonnets of Gerard Manley Hopkins

59m · Published 21 Aug 16:00

The panel reads and discusses "God's Grandeur", "Thou art indeed just, Lord, if I contend", and "The Windhover", attending to their Romantic underpinnings, anticipation of modern poetic developments, and formal characteristics including 'sprung rhythm'.Continue reading

CR Episode 188: Moby Dick, Part XIV

1h 33m · Published 14 Aug 16:00

In the final episode on Moby Dick, the panel discusses the fulfilment of Fedallah's prophecy and his death, Starbuck's dilemma and despair, the destruction of the Pequod, the death of Ahab, Ishmael on the margins, and some final genre considerations. Continue reading

CR Episode 187: Moby Dick, Part XIII

1h 30m · Published 07 Aug 16:00

In the penultimate Moby Dick episode, the panel discusses chapters 114–128, focusing on the ship's sails, quadrant, compass, and line; the refashioning of the Pequod into the expression of Ahab's will; and Ahab's final abandonment of his humanity. Continue reading

CR Episode 186: Moby Dick, Part XII

1h 28m · Published 31 Jul 16:00

The panel discusses the Ahab's representation as a wrathful, inhuman avatar of anti-nature, the hellish nature of the Pequod, the sorcerous conniving of the captain and crew, and the abandonment of every comfort and sentiment in search of Moby Dick. Continue reading

CR Episode 185: Moby Dick, Part XI

1h 19m · Published 24 Jul 16:00

The panel discusses chapters 91–101, with attention given to the cross-ship conduct between the Pequod and the Samuel Enderby, and to the psychological effects of sea life (and its attendant disasters) upon Ishmael, Ahab, and the rest of the ship's crew. Continue reading

CR Episode 184: Moby Dick, Part X

1h 16m · Published 17 Jul 16:00

The panel discusses chapters 82–90, with attention given to humour as a potential coping mechanism for Ishmael, before considering again the evidence for his identity, given his familiarity with significant legal works including Bracton and Blackstone. Continue reading

Critical Readings has 223 episodes in total of non- explicit content. Total playtime is 255:20:17. The language of the podcast is English. This podcast has been added on August 4th 2022. It might contain more episodes than the ones shown here. It was last updated on May 25th, 2024 23:40.