The Classic English Literature Podcast

About The Classic English Literature Podcast

Where rhyme gets its reason! In a historical survey of English literature, I take a personal and philosophical approach to the major texts of the tradition in order to not only situate the poems, prose, and plays in their own contexts, but also to show their relevance to our own. This show is for the general listener: as a teacher of high school literature and philosophy, I am less than a scholar but more than a buff. I hope to edify and entertain!

Publisher

M. G. McDonough

Category

arts · education · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

25 Jul 2022

Latest episode

22 Apr 2026

Latest episodes

3 of 111 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   22 Apr 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Mighty Contests, Trivial Things: Alexander Pope's Satires

   Host Jack Lynch explores Alexander Pope's satirical poems, "The Rape of the Lock" and "The Dunciad," in this interview episode.

2. 

   5 Apr 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Isaac Watt: The Father of English Hymnody

   Send us Fan Mail For this Easter holiday, I thought we'd look at a hymn lyric from a very influential writer who is often overlooked in discussions of literature: Isaac Watt. You can find the full text of the lyric in the transcript. Additional Music: "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross" perf. The Choir of St. Margaret's, Westminster (1931) His Master's Voice (B 3746) https://archive.org/details/78_when-i-survey-the-wondrous-cross_choir-of-st-margarets-westminster-miller-herber_gbia043807...

3. 

   14 Mar 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Imitation and Optimism: The Essays of Alexander Pope

   Send a text Alexander Pope, whom some critics regard as the most important poet of the early 18th century, set out to comprehensively explain the rules that governed art, poetry, and humanity itself. And, it turns out, they're all the same rules. Gretel le Maître Ponders Beauty, with Bede & other guestsGretel le Maître likes to look for the beauty and curiosities in life, one day at a...Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify Support the show Please like, subscribe, and rate the po...

Inside a recent episode

Mighty Contests, Trivial Things: Alexander Pope's Satires

Published 22 Apr 2026 · Transcript excerpt

[…] In a traditional epic, The Olympian gods intervene, guiding or thwarting the heroes, right? Now, Pope replaces these powerful deities with the sylphs. Now, the sylphs are a whimsical and airy breed of spirits whose sole purpose is to protect the honor and, more importantly, the clothes and hairstyles of fashionable young women. […]

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

28,637

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.8 / 5

52 ratings

Spotify

4.8 / 5

146 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 77 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

85

Social presence

0

YouTube

76

Engagement

95

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