Best English Teacher Matthew Podcasts (2024)

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"Drink to me only with thine eyes": Ben Jonson's Lyrics 28:06

6h ago28:06

28:06

Send us a Text Message. Today, we'll wrap up our Jonsonian mini-series by looking at some his lyrics, including poems from the 1616 Works and songs from his plays. If you'd like to read along, just ask Uncle Google to serve up these titles: "On Something, that Walks Somewhere" "On My First Daughter" "On My First Son" "Song: To Celia" "Still to be N…

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English Comes to America 41:49

18d ago41:49

41:49

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 the coming centuries. Additional music from Internet Archive: "Stars and Stripes Forever." John Philip So…

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"A Pretty Kind of Game": Ben Jonson's Volpone and The Alchemist 34:43

26d ago34:43

34:43

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 Internet Archive. What It's Like To Be... What's it like to be a Cattle Rancher? FBI Special Agent? Profes…

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Humorous Humors: Ben Jonson's Early Comedies 31:23

1M ago31:23

31:23

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 paradigmatic examples of the 17th century "comedy of humours." Thank you to the Internet Archive for providing pub…

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The Bible in English 54:42

2M ago54:42

54:42

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... What's it like to be a Cattle Rancher? FBI Special Agent? Professional Santa? Find out! Listen on: Apple…

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More than the Dark Lady: Aemilia Lanyer's "Eve's Apology in Defense of Women" 33:39

2M ago33:39

33:39

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? Professional Santa? Find out! Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify Support the Show. Please like, subscrib…

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Fair Youths and Dark Ladies: Shakespeare's Sonnets 47:57

3M ago47:57

47:57

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? Professional Santa? Find out! Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify Support the Show. Please like, subscribe,…

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"You taught me language": Shakespeare's The Tempest 40:46

4M ago40:46

40:46

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 in which a version of Shakespeare himself appears as the protagonist. Audio clip from The Tempest ; 2004 N…

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The Felix Culpa: George Herbert's "Easter Wings" 10:58

4M ago10:58

10:58

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/2016/03/easter-wings-george-herbert-15931633.html Support the Show. Please like, subscribe, and rate th…

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Shakespeare: The Narrative Poems 46:10

4M ago46:10

46:10

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. Robinson" by Paul Simon; perf. by Simon and Garfunkel. 1968. Taken from We Got Good at It: A Wrecking Crew …

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Romania presentation 9:08

5M ago9:08

9:08

By 17-21 EuroKids 24 News E+

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Shakespeare's The Tragedy of King Lear and the Absurdity of Suffering 43:56

5M ago43:56

43:56

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... What's it like to be a Cattle Rancher? FBI Special Agent? Professional Santa? Find out! Listen on: Ap…

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6B Ruben - Mary, Leo, Sophie and Isra interviewing Joaquin, our English teacher 16:15

6M ago16:15

16:15

By 17-21 EuroKids 24 News E+

1
Shakespeare's Problematic Plays 47:52

6M ago47:52

47:52

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 language and tropes that some may find uncomfortable What It's Like To Be... What's it like to be a Cattle …

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Shakespeare's The Tragedy of Macbeth: A Love Story 1:02:48

6M ago1:02:48

1:02:48

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 accents . . . . Performance Clip: Macbeth with Orson Welles, Fay Bainter, and the Mercury Acting Co. Mercury T…

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6A Laura - Lucy, Sergi and Jacob describing their families 4:18

6M ago4:18

4:18

By 17-21 EuroKids 24 News E+

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Who is There?: Shakespeare's The Tragedy of Hamlet 1:01:24

7M ago1:01:24

1:01:24

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 we think about what some have called the greatest drama in history -- perhaps even the greatest literary ac…

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The First Anglican Christmas Carol 15:08

7M ago15:08

15:08

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 century. Recording: "While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night" THE B.B.C. CHORUS; Berkeley Mason Write…

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Honor, Ethics, and Assassination: Shakespeare's Julius Caesar 40:50

8M ago40:50

40:50

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 It's Like To Be... What's it like to be a Cattle Rancher? FBI Special Agent? Professional Santa? Find out! …

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Happy 400th! Shakespeare's First Folio 24:09

8M ago24:09

24:09

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's Like To Be... What's it like to be a Cattle Rancher? FBI Special Agent? Professional Santa? Find out! …

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"I am a woman; when I think I must speak": Shakespeare's Rosalind and Beatrice 40:51

8M ago40:51

40:51

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 wisdom, intelligence, and emotional depth challenge Renaissance gender assumptions and inaugurate a line of d…

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Happy Thanksgiving! George Herbert's "Gratefulness" 7:11

8M ago7:11

7:11

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: "Mahna Mahna" from The Muppet Show (1977). Downloaded from Internet Archive. Support the Show. Please like, s…

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Shakespeare's Henriad 37:14

9M ago37:14

37:14

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 Like To Be... What's it like to be a Cattle Rancher? FBI Special Agent? Professional Santa? Find out! L…

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Spanish Class At Scoil Úrsula Blackrock, Ireland, With Mr Montero 11:29

8M ago11:29

11:29

By 17-21 EuroKids 24 News E+

1
Happy Halloween from Herrick's "The Hag"! 10:35

9M ago10:35

10:35

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 listen. Thank you! Email: classicenglishliterature@gmail.com Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Tik Tok, a…

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Despair and Damnation: Marlowe's The Tragical History of Dr. Faustus 38:02

9M ago38:02

38:02

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 Devil and Tom Walker" as Nathaniel Hawthorne. It is, of course, Washington Irving. Extra musical selection …

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Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet: A Tragedy of Sonnet-Lovers 32:09

9M ago32:09

32:09

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 character fate. What It's Like To Be... What's it like to be a Cattle Rancher? FBI Special Agent? Professi…

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Concord of this Discord: Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream 35:28

10M ago35:28

35:28

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: Apple Podcasts Spotify Support the Show. Please like, subscribe, and rate the podcast on Apple, Spotify, G…

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6A Sergi, Amir, Jacob and Louis interviewing themselves again 4:13

10M ago4:13

4:13

By 17-21 EuroKids 24 News E+

1
6A Danny, Luke, Paul, Lucy and Louis interviewing themselfes 3:46

10M ago3:46

3:46

By 17-21 EuroKids 24 News E+

1
6A Lucy, Paul, Luca and Danny interviewing themselves 3:54

10M ago3:54

3:54

By 17-21 EuroKids 24 News E+

1
6A Sergi, Luis, Amir and Jacob interviewing themselves 3:15

10M ago3:15

3:15

By 17-21 EuroKids 24 News E+

1
History, History Plays, and Historiography: Shakespeare's Richard III 39:27

10M ago39:27

39:27

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 Santa? Find out! Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify Support the Show. Please like, subscribe, and rate the podca…

1
6A Matthew, Joseph, Charlie, Angela and Daniella interviewing themselves 3:05

10M ago3:05

3:05

By 17-21 EuroKids 24 News E+

1
6A Mallia, Sophie, Mark and Joymar interviewing themselves in English 4:03

10M ago4:03

4:03

By 17-21 EuroKids 24 News E+

1
Spillin' the Tea on Marlowe and Kyd 14:48

11M ago14:48

14:48

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 the podcast on Apple, Spotify, Google, or wherever you listen. Thank you! Email: classicenglishliterature…

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"Violence Prevails": Thomas Kyd's The Spanish Tragedy 37:45

11M ago37:45

37:45

Send us a Text Message. Oooh, you're in for a bloody one today, dear listener! Perhaps the most popular revenge tragedy in the 16th-century: Kyd's Spanish Tragedy. Wildly infamous, wildly influential, wildly excessive -- just wild! It inaugurates the fashion for revenge tragedy that will dominate theater for the next decades, and paves the way for …

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The Sum of Glory: Christopher Marlowe's Tamburlaine the Great Parts 1 and 2 32:28

11M ago32:28

32:28

Send us a Text Message. Perhaps the first great play of the Elizabethan stage, Marlowe's Tamburlaine the Great is relentless and ruthless. How are we to understand a bloody conqueror and tyrant? What does Marlowe mean by this spectacle of his success? We'll look at those questions today! What It's Like To Be... What's it like to be a Cattle Rancher…

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An Overview of Renaissance Theatre 18:26

12M ago18:26

18:26

Send us a Text Message. A bonus episode on the Subcast looks at the early modern English theatre, the culture and atmosphere of Elizabethan playgoing, as a prologue to our multi-episode discussion of the great English dramatists of the age, and for all time! Support the Show. Please like, subscribe, and rate the podcast on Apple, Spotify, Google, o…

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A Still Queer Voice: Richard Barnfield's "The Affectionate Shepherd" 27:26

12M ago27:26

27:26

Send us a Text Message. This week on the poddie, we discuss a lesser known -- but by no means a lesser quality -- Elizabethan pastoral by Richard Barnfield called "The Affectionate Shepherd." In sophisticated, learned verse, Barnfield highlights the homoerotic elements (not always so) latent in classical and early modern bucolics, which I think a h…

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Live with Me, Be My Love: Pastoral Eclogues 27:47

1y ago27:47

27:47

Send us a Text Message. If you listen to much modern American country music, you notice that many of the songs conjure up an idealized vision of small-town rural America, distinct from (and presumably superior to) life in urban areas. The fact that many of these songs are written in large cities like Nashville points to a kind of constructed nostal…

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Edmund Spenser's The Faerie Queene: The Legend of the Redcrosse Knight 32:56

1y ago32:56

32:56

Send us a Text Message. Today we'll look at the most famous tale from Spenser's epic The Faerie Queene: Book I "The Legend of the Redcrosse Knight." We'll discuss its allegorical and neoplatonic dimensions while doing a quick drive-by of a passage from Mutabilitie Cantos. What It's Like To Be... What's it like to be a Cattle Rancher? FBI Special Ag…

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American Independence: Tudor Roots 11:42

1y ago11:42

11:42

Send us a Text Message. As Americans mark Independence Day, I wanted to out that the shift in Western thinking that eventually produced a document like the Declaration of Independence began with a doctrine of the 16th century Protestant Reformation and its influence on Tudor political thought. Support the Show. Please like, subscribe, and rate the …

1
The Perfect Pattern of a Poet: Edmund Spenser's Lyrics 35:31

1y ago35:31

35:31

Send us a Text Message. Some say he is the first real poet of the English Renaissance. Whatever that may mean, Edmund Spenser certainly looms large in 16th century English literature. In this first of two episodes, we will look at his paradoxically traditional and innovative lyric poetry, especially The Shepheardes Calendar, Amoretti, and "Epithala…

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The Queen's Two Bodies: Elizabeth I's Poetry 16:09

1y ago16:09

16:09

Send us a Text Message. While the political history of Queen Elizabeth I (r. 1558-1603) has been well-rehearsed, fewer listeners may be aware that she was also a devilishly accomplished poet and rhetorician. In this episode of the Subcast, we look at her most important poems -- "When I was fair and young," "On Monsieur's Departure," and "The Doubt …

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Defending Poetry: Sir Philip Sidney 31:43

1y ago31:43

31:43

Send us a Text Message. Though he spent only a brief period as a courtier of Elizabeth I, Sir Philip certainly cut a dashing figure. He also dashed off one of the most influential works of literary theory in English. And he was quite the dab hand at versifying. Today, we look at Sidney's Defence of Poesie, "Ye Goatherd Gods" from Arcadia, and sonne…

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Nowhereland: Sir Thomas More's Utopia 28:32

1y ago28:32

28:32

Send us a Text Message. Sir Thomas More's 1516 book inaugurated a new genre of English literature: the utopian fantasy. But More's own life, combined with the text's irony and narrative layering, make this a more complex prescription than you might think! What It's Like To Be... What's it like to be a Cattle Rancher? FBI Special Agent? Professional…

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On Henry Howard, the Earl of Surrey 15:01

1y ago15:01

15:01

Send us a Text Message. Today we do a quick look at some of the poetry of Henry Howard, the Earl of Surrey, who is credited with the development of the English sonnet and of blank verse. We'll look at "The Night Piece," "Love that Doth Reign," and “Alas, so all things now do hold their peace." Support the Show. Please like, subscribe, and rate the …

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Venus, Venison, and Venom: The Poetry of Sir Thomas Wyatt 27:40

1y ago27:40

27:40

Send us a Text Message. Firmly in the Tudor Renaissance now, literati! Today, we'll look at Sir Thomas Wyatt, the first major poet of Henry VIII's court. He brought back the iambic pentameter line and developed the English sonnet. We'll look particularly at "They Flee from Me" and "Whoso List to Hunt." What It's Like To Be... What's it like to be a…