Tuesday The more I work with Plato’s and Aristotle’s views of literature (for my book Does Literature Make Us Better People?), the more I realize that Aristotle is directly responding to his old teacher, even though he doesn’t come out and say so directly. Although, as I noted last week, Aristotle is never as specific […]
Monthly Archives: April 2021
Faulkner on Racism’s Deep Roots
Faulkner’s “Intruder in the Dust” shows how deep into the American psyche racism reaches, helping explain the spate of police killings or unarmed Blacks.
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged George Floyd, Intruder in the Dust, police shootings, racism, Sandra Bland, William Faulkner Comments closed
Feeding This Feverish Plot
Mary Oliver’s “Fish” may be her interpretation of the post-Resurrection story of Jesus eating boiled fish.
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged "Fish", "In Blackwater Woods", life and death, Mary Oliver, Resurrection Comments closed
Madoff & a Pyramid Scheme Poem
Here’s a poem about pyramid schemes to mark the death of ponzi scheme artist Bernie Madoff.
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged "Ars Poetica", "World", "Pyramid Scheme", Archibald MacLeish, Bernie Madoff, financial fraud, Henry Vaughan, Hera Lindsay Bird Comments closed
How Tragedy Made Greek Lives Better
Aristotle saw Greek tragedy as teaching citizens the process of deliberation.
Read Jabberwocky for Covid Protocol
“Jabberwocky” can trigger a great discussion about post-covid-vaccination protocol.
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged "Jabberwocky", Alice through the Looking Glass, Covid protocols, Covid vaccine, Lewis Carroll Comments closed
Covid Dreams of Seaside Cliffs
For those feeling stir crazy from Covid quarantining, this Christina Rossetti sonnet is for you.
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged "Later Life", Christina Rossetti, COVID-19, quarantine Comments closed
Wounds, Sacred Place of Mutual Compassion
Like Doubting Thomas, in touching Christ’s wounds we touch our own. So says Father Philip Chircop SJ in his poem “Invitation.”
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged "Invitation", Anne Lemott, doubting Thomas, Philip Chrcop SJ Comments closed
