Why do great novels, poems and plays move us and excite us? How can they change the way we look at ourselves and the world? What do these authors have to teach us? Why do they matter? There are no better answers to these questions than those provided by the authors themselves. We want to let them speak. Professing Literature is not a broad summary of major works. Instead, it will zero in on one or two key passages, looking at them closely in order to figure out what is at stake. The goal will be to appreciate an author’s brilliance by seeing him or her in action. We will unpack key phrases, images and metaphors and we will consider the techniques the writer uses to make ideas come alive.
David Anderson and Eric Williams
The Professing Literature podcast is a hidden gem for literature enthusiasts, especially those with a penchant for analyzing and discussing classic works of art. As an English Education major at the University of Central Oklahoma, I was thrilled to discover this podcast, which is hosted by David Anderson, an Oklahoma professor. His expertise in literary analysis is evident throughout each episode as he delves into specific scenes or parts of poems and allows them to speak volumes about the entire work. What sets this podcast apart is Anderson's ability to be both concise and enthusiastic, making it a joy to listen to.
The best aspect of The Professing Literature podcast is undoubtedly Anderson's talent for providing depth, passion, detail, and insight into the literature he discusses. His exposition goes beyond mere analysis and instead immerses listeners in the beauty and complexity of each work. The entertainment value that Anderson brings to his episodes should not be underestimated; he manages to make intelligent exposition accessible and engaging without sacrificing its academic rigor. Moreover, his clear passion for literature shines through in every episode, leaving listeners eager to dive into or revisit the classics discussed.
On the other hand, one of the worst aspects of this podcast is its irregular release schedule. Although this may be understandable considering Anderson's likely busy schedule as a professor, it leaves avid listeners craving more insightful discussions on literature. It would be immensely beneficial if new episodes were released more consistently so that listeners can continue enjoying and learning from Anderson's exceptional analyses.
In conclusion, The Professing Literature podcast is an incredible resource for lovers of great literature. It surpasses other literary podcasts due to its depth, passion, detail, and insight into classic works of art. Anderson's ability to make intelligent exposition entertaining while maintaining academic rigor makes this podcast truly exceptional. Though there may be room for improvement in terms of release consistency, overall, The Professing Literature podcast enriches the world by bringing universal themes from classic works to life and encouraging discussion and analysis among literature enthusiasts.
On the day the Nazis invade Poland, beginning the Second World War, a poet nurses a drink in a New York bar. The unwarlike Auden has just immigrated to the United States from England, yet he feels a shadow rising behind him in the east that no one will be able to escape. Auden looks without and within, contemplating the primordial destructive urge that seems to be in control of the nations, the way modern life exacerbates it, and the only possible solution. We love hearing from all of you. Please email us at ProfessingLiterature@protonmail.com.------ Theme Music: "Nobility" by Wicked CinemaOpening Segment Music: "les rues la nuit seul" by Renderings
Flannery O'Connor, The Lame Shall Enter First. Sheppard is a high-minded liberal. Norton is his disappointing young son, who seems indifferent to Sheppard's moral crusades. In the opening paragraphs of this short story Flannery O'Connor presents the two of them at breakfast. Every detail of the depiction alludes to just what is wrong within this little family, highlighting Sheppard's “telescopic philanthropism” which neglects what is right in front of him as he attempts to prove his goodness and fails utterly. We love hearing from all of you. Please email us at ProfessingLiterature@protonmail.com.------ Theme Music: "Nobility" by Wicked CinemaOpening Segment Music: "Steep Climb" by Martin Klem
William Shakespeare, King Lear, Act Four, Scene Five. Lear has lost his kingdom, his family, his security and his sanity. When he encounters his old friend the Earl of Gloucester, who has been savagely blinded, we witness one of the strangest and yet richest conversations in all of literature. Choked with both rage and guilt, Lear intercuts fantasies of revenge with flashes of moral clarity, and fumbles toward a profound articulation of what it means to suffer.We love hearing from all of you. Please email us at ProfessingLiterature@protonmail.com.------ Theme Music: "Nobility" by Wicked Cinema
William Shakespeare, King Lear, Act One, Scene Four. Looking forward to an easy retirement, where he can maintain the honours of kingship with none of the responsibilities, King Lear abdicates, and banishes the wrong daughter. His loyal fool attempts to show him the error of his ways. We love hearing from all of you. Please email us at ProfessingLiterature@protonmail.com.------ Theme Music: "Nobility" by Wicked CinemaOpening Passage Music: "Minuet in D Minor (BWV Anh. 132)" - Traditional
Alfred, Lord Tennyson, Ulysses. Homer tells of how the mighty king of Ithaca arrived home after twenty years of war and wandering. However, in Tennyson's monologue, one of the best-loved poems of the nineteenth century, we hear that he is restless and longs for the companionship and adventure that had come to define him.We love hearing from all of you. Please email us at ProfessingLiterature@protonmail.com.------ Theme Music: "Nobility" by Wicked CinemaOpening Passage Music: "Lord of the Dead" by CJ-0
Charlotte Bronte, Jane Eyre, Chapter 12. Late on a winter afternoon a young woman is walking from the country manor where she works toward the neighbouring village. Jane Eyre has known great sadness. She is poor and friendless but also strong and wise, possessed of high integrity and deep faith. When she shortly encounters a strange man on horseback the meeting will change her, but it will change him even more.We love hearing from all of you. Please email us at ProfessingLiterature@protonmail.com.------ Theme Music: "Nobility" by Wicked CinemaOpening Passage Music: "Thoughts in A Minor" by Ian Kelosky
St. Luke's Gospel 8:40-56. In this episode Professing Literature tackles the New Testament. We discuss two intertwined miracle stories in Luke's Gospel: a healing and a resurrection. Though the stories are short and seemingly simple Luke artfully deploys a handful of key details to help us understand the character of Jesus and the nature of his mission.We love hearing from all of you. Please email us at ProfessingLiterature@protonmail.com.------ Theme Music: "Nobility" by Wicked CinemaOpening Passage Music: "From the North" by Wicked Cinema
David and Eric look back over the first series (episodes 1-10) of Professing Literature and David answers some listener questions. We got a great response from listeners and some great questions about episodes 1-10.David also gives a few clues as to what's coming in the next series of episodes (Eric presses him on when there will be more Macbeth!).As always, if you have any questions, comments, or otherwise, send us an email at ProfessingLiterature@protonmail.com.----------Theme Music: "Nobility" by Wicked CinemaOpening Passage Music: "An Afternoon at the Versailles" by Cercles Nouvelles
A Midsummer Night's Dream, Act Four, Scene One. When four young aristocrats and a weaver spend a night in the forest outside of Athens they cross into the world of the faeries. The next morning they struggle to understand what happened. We'd love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Please reach out with questions, comments, or critiques to ProfessingLiterature@protonmail.com. We enjoy hearing from you!---------Theme Music: "Nobility" by Wicked CinemaOpening Passage Music: "An Afternoon at the Versailles" by Cercles Nouvelles
T. S. Eliot, “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” (Part Two). The conclusion of our discussion of “Prufrock,” Eliot's seminal exploration of modern alienation. Professing Literature is officially back! Thanks for your patience during our hiatus. We've got more episodes coming. Thanks so much for your support!We'd love to hear what you think about this episode or any of the others. Please send questions, comments, or otherwise to ProfessingLiterature@protonmail.com.------------Theme Music: "Nobility" by Wicked CinemaOpening Passage Music: “A Short Story” by Andrea Colella
T. S. Eliot, “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” (Part One). This is the first of two episodes devoted to one of the most famous poems of the twentieth century, wherein Eliot's enigmatic speaker invites us on an evening stroll through his memories, his fears and his inhibitions. We'd love to hear what you think about this episode or any of the others. Please send questions, comments, or otherwise to ProfessingLiterature@protonmail.com.------------Theme Music: "Nobility" by Wicked CinemaOpening Passage Music: “If My Companion” by John Dowland, performed by Jon Sayles
Beowulf. A shining young warrior has crossed the water and saved the Danish people from a dreadful monster and his scarcely less dreadful mother. As the Danes honour Beowulf with feasting, gifts and music their aged king offers him some counsel. Hrothgar has ruled the Danes for fifty years, in times of triumph and adversity, and he wants to make sure his young friend can profit from his own hard-won wisdom. Professing Literature is back! We'd love to hear what you think about this episode or any of the others. Please send questions, comments, or otherwise to ProfessingLiterature@protonmail.com. ------------Theme Music: "Nobility" by Wicked CinemaOpening Passage Music: "The White Birch" by Moorland Songs
A quick message from David about the podcast and new episodes that will be available soon. Thanks for listening everyone! Email us with questions or comments at ProfessingLiterature@protonmail.com.
J. D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye, Chapter 11. Jane Gallagher had been the sort of girl who kept her kings in the back row. Is she still? As sixteen-year-old Holden Caulfield unravels over the course of a few days in Manhattan his thoughts often return to Jane, who haunts his memory and is connected to so many of his most pressing obsessions: sex, vulnerability, change and authenticity. As always, thanks for listening. Please send us your questions, comments, or otherwise to ProfessingLiterature@protonmail.com. We love hearing from listeners!
John Milton, “When I Consider How My Light Is Spent.” In the early 1650s John Milton lost his eyesight. Blindness forced him out of politics, where he had been an important figure in Oliver Cromwell's government, and into retirement where he wrote some of the greatest poetry in all of literary history. In this sonnet, though, he wonders if he has anything left to offer God at all. As always, thanks for listening! We'd love to hear from you, so please send your questions, thoughts, or otherwise to ProfessingLiterature@protonmail.com.
George Orwell, 1984, Chapter One. The opening paragraphs of George Orwell's novel seem innocuous, as a man named Winston Smith returns to his apartment building for lunch. However, from the first sentence onward Orwell estranges us from the world we take for granted and begins hinting at the nature of the totalitarian state which he feared might one day come into being.As always, thanks for listening! We'd love to hear from you. Send us your questions, comments, or otherwise to ProfessingLiterature@protonmail.com.
Seamus Heaney, “Blackberry-Picking.” Today we consider a lyric poem from Death of a Naturalist, Seamus Heaney's first collection (1966). In “Blackberry-Picking” Heaney recounts a memory from his childhood, or perhaps from the beginning of his childhood's end.----------We started recording episodes about a year ago and are just now releasing them. We have a handful more of them to publish before we catch up. We hope you enjoy and thanks for listening!If you have questions for Dr. Anderson, please email us at ProfessingLiterature@protonmail.com. We'd love to hear from you.
Emma, Vol 3, Chapter 7. A bright summer day in Surrey offers a sharp contrast to emotional storms. In this episode we discuss one of Jane Austen's great set pieces, the picnic at Box Hill. Emma gets herself into deep trouble when she embarrasses an old friend, and the man who secretly loves her has to summon up the courage to tell her she was wrong. ----We started recording episodes about a year ago and are just now releasing them. We have a handful more of them to publish before we catch up. We hope you enjoy and thanks for listening!
Macbeth, Act Two, Scene Two. In the inaugural episode of Professing Literature we examine a conversation held in the aftermath of one of literature's most famous murders. Macbeth has just stabbed a king to gain a throne he will never sit upon securely. His tense exchange of words with Lady Macbeth discloses the moral and psychological stakes of the act, and hints at the consequences that will follow.
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