@CritReadings

Thoughtful Analysis of Essential Literature.

 Poetry and Prose
CriticalReadings.com
Joined June 2019
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62Media
CR Episode 344: The Murders in the Rue Morgue criticalreadings.com/2026/10…

CR Episode 344: The Murders in the Rue Morgue

The panel discusses Poe’s first C. Auguste Dupin story, and examines it as the first detective novel, with special attention to its literary context and the influence that it has had on later…

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CR Episode 343: The Fall of the House of Usher criticalreadings.com/2026/10…

CR Episode 343: The Fall of the House of Usher

The panel discusses Edgar Allan Poe’s The Fall of the House of Ashes, with special attention given to the floridity of its descriptions and the duplication of language and imagery, and to the…

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CR Episode 342: The Cask of Amontillado criticalreadings.com/2026/10…

CR Episode 342: The Cask of Amontillado

The panel reads The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allan Poe, with attention to its structure of vengeance, its gothic genre features, the presence of literal echoes and narrative recurrence, and par…

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CR Episode 341: Beowulf, Part III criticalreadings.com/2026/09…

CR Episode 341: Beowulf, Part III

The panel discusses the conclusion of Beowulf—including Beowulf’s final battle and his victorious death—with particular attention given to the didactic purpose of the poem, its framing of lea…

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CR Episode 340: Beowulf, Part II criticalreadings.com/2026/09…

CR Episode 340: Beowulf, Part II

The panel discusses the second of Beowulf’s battles—this time, against Grendel’s vengeful mother—with special attention to the nature of his foe and the particularly fantastic setting o…

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CR Episode 339: Beowulf, Part I criticalreadings.com/2026/09…

CR Episode 339: Beowulf, Part I

Dr. Madeline Potter joins the panel just in time for the first-ever Readers’ Choice series: the Old English poem, Beowulf. The panel reads of Beowulf’s battle with Grendel, with special…

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We're taking our annual break to recharge the grey matter, but our weekly podcasts will resume with Beowulf on 14 September. Please look forward to it!
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CR Episode 338: The Once and Future King, Part XIV criticalreadings.com/2026/08…

CR Episode 338: The Once and Future King, Part XIV

The panel discusses the conclusion of The Candle in the Wind, with a look at Mordred’s unreal motivations, Arthur’s ultimate victory or failure, Guenever’s personal agency, and th…

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CR Episode 337: The Once and Future King, Part XIII criticalreadings.com/2026/08…

CR Episode 337: The Once and Future King, Part XIII

The panel discusses chapters 6–10 of the final book in The Once and Future King, with attention to Arthur’s philosophical character, particularly whether his political theories serve as a pri…

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We're delighted to announce a new addition to our regular podcast panel: joining us in Episode 339, @madeline_cct, well known to our Critical Readers for her brilliant insights into Dracula, Frankenstein, and more. Welcome!
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CR Episode 336: The Once and Future King, Part XII criticalreadings.com/2026/08…

CR Episode 336: The Once and Future King, Part XII

The panel discusses the first five chapters of The Candle in the Wind, the last of the four books in the tetralogy, with a look at White’s historical overview of the mediæval period, and a th…

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CR Episode 335: The Once and Future King, Part XI criticalreadings.com/2026/08…

CR Episode 335: The Once and Future King, Part XI

The panel discusses the closing chapters of The Ill-Made Knight, with attention to the circumstances of Guenever’s increasingly frenzied behaviour towards Lancelot, and to his growth as a cha…

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CR Episode 334: The Once and Future King, Part X criticalreadings.com/2026/08…

CR Episode 334: The Once and Future King, Part X

The panel discusses chapters 26–33 of The Ill-Made Knight, examining the violent deaths of Morgause and Lamorak, Arthur’s solution to the problem of ‘games-mania’ in the Round Tab…

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CR Episode 333: The Once and Future King, Part IX criticalreadings.com/2026/07…

CR Episode 333: The Once and Future King, Part IX

The panel addresses reader questions and discusses chapters 19–25 of The Ill-Made Knight, with an examination of Lancelot’s pitiable condition and an investigation into its causes, whether du…

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Critical Readings retweeted
S. P. Cooper 🍋
@Prof_CooperJul 20
If you enjoy the podcast, please do consider becoming a patron via the link at the top of our website! The generosity of our patrons covers our various operating costs and keeps ALL of our episodes online, ad-free, and available to everyone!
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CR Episode 332: The Once and Future King, Part VIII criticalreadings.com/2026/07…

CR Episode 332: The Once and Future King, Part VIII

The panel discusses chapters 9–18 of The Ill-Made Knight, with special attention given to the development of Lancelot’s relationships with the wily Elaine and the imperious Guenever, particul…

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CR Episode 331: The Once and Future King, Part VII criticalreadings.com/2026/07…

CR Episode 331: The Once and Future King, Part VII

The panel discusses chapters 1–8 of The Ill-Made Knight, with special attention given to the characterisation and Freudian psychology of Lancelot, contrasting humility with narcissism, and examinin…

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CR Episode 330: The Once and Future King, Part VI criticalreadings.com/2026/07…

CR Episode 330: The Once and Future King, Part VI

The panel reads the second half of The Queen of Air and Darkness, giving special consideration to Arthur’s vision of the Round Table and total war, the need for Might to support Right against…

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CR Episode 329: The Once and Future King, Part V criticalreadings.com/2026/06…

CR Episode 329: The Once and Future King, Part V

The panel discusses the first half of The Queen of Air and Darkness (also known as The Witch in the Wood), with particular attention both to the Freudian characterisation of Morgause and her childr…

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CR Episode 328: The Once and Future King, Part IV criticalreadings.com/2026/06…

CR Episode 328: The Once and Future King, Part IV

The panel discusses the concluding chapters (20–24) of The Sword in the Stone, with special attention to Arthur’s martial inclinations (and what they mean for a broader society), Kay’s …

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