Essay / Literature

Hermeneutics with Samuel Johnson

Samuel Johnson gives some excellent advice in his Preface to Shakespeare (1765) that applies to reading in general, and especially well to Bible reading. Johnson advises readers to plow straight through a Shakespeare play, keeping up a good pace even when passages aren’t clear. To

Essay / Literature

Wordsworth in the West

William Wordsworth perfected a certain type of nature poetry, a particularly spiritual sort of nature lyric. He celebrated the movements of the infinite Spirit making itself known to humanity through the forms of nature as contemplated by poet-prophets who were the universe’s appointed spokesmen. Nature

Essay / Podcasts

The Common Room Ep. 8: Virgil’s Aeneid and the Meaning of Fate

Torrey director Dr. Paul Spears discusses “Virgil’s Aeneid and the Meaning of Fate” with Dr. Adam Johnson.  Moderated by Dr. Fred Sanders. For other episodes of The Common Room, click here.  The Common Room is available on iTunes in both video and audio formats.

Essay / Podcasts

The Common Room, Ep. 5: The Faerie Queene

Dr. Matt Jenson moderates a discussion with Dr. Melissa Schubert and Dr. Joe Henderson on Edmund Spenser’s epic poem, The Faerie Queene. For other episodes of The Common Room, click here.  The Common Room is available on iTunes in both video and audio formats.

Essay / Literature

War is Swell: Crispin’s Day

Okay, war is not really swell. But today (October 25) is the anniversary of two battles that live on in our memory because of the martial virtues conspicuously displayed in them. These battles conjured poetry from two of the greatest poets in the history of