Evangelization & Culture Podcast The Virtue of Reading Classic Literature w/ Dr. Jennifer Frey
Dr. Jennifer Frey, philosophy professor and former honors college dean known for her work on virtue and classical education, discusses why young readers are returning to Dostoyevsky and other great books. She explores storytelling’s role in shaping moral imagination. She defends liberal education against metric-driven trends and explains why a flexible literary canon and critics matter for forming thoughtful readers.
01:34:13
Moral Imagination Fails Into Algorithmic Vacuums
- Losing a cultivated moral imagination means algorithms and pop culture will fill the vacuum, often with pathological influences.
- Frey warns social media's attention-eating design shapes imaginations toward sensational or shallow content.
Prioritize Reading Communities Over Lone Guidance
- Build community around shared reading rather than relying solely on expert-led instruction.
- Frey required cohorts to read the same 12 credit hours so students living together could discuss Plato or Homer daily.
Rereading Reveals New Meanings With Life Experience
- Rereading is essential: a book read once is likely misunderstood because maturity changes perception.
- Frey and Tod Worner stress that life stages (19 vs 49) reveal new meanings in Hamlet, Anna Karenina, Homer.
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Intro
00:00 • 2min
Teen Readers Rediscover Dostoyevsky
01:53 • 56sec
Why Young People Still Read Deep Books
02:49 • 6min
Story, Moral Imagination, and Formation
08:40 • 4min
Education as Formation, Not Just Credentials
13:10 • 21min
Intellectuals, Incentives, and University Structure
34:27 • 6min
Scientism Versus the Humanities' Truths
40:30 • 7min
Literary Criticism Lost the Love of Books
47:50 • 4min
The Need for Critics and a Reading Culture
52:20 • 5min
Ad break
57:40 • 56sec
Is There Such a Thing as Great Literature?
58:35 • 5min
Canon Criticisms and Historical Context
01:03:53 • 10min
Can Literature Teach Virtue?
01:13:43 • 7min
Recommended Classics to Read
01:20:38 • 6min
Practical Advice for Young Readers
01:26:45 • 3min
Outro
01:29:48 • 4min
#30043
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
Homer's Works
Homer
Homer's epic poems, the Iliad and the Odyssey, are foundational works of Western literature, shaping literary traditions and influencing countless writers and artists.
The Iliad recounts the wrath of Achilles during the Trojan War, exploring themes of heroism, honor, and the consequences of war.
The Odyssey follows Odysseus's long and perilous journey home after the war, focusing on themes of perseverance, cunning, and the importance of family.
Both poems are characterized by their vivid imagery, memorable characters, and profound insights into the human condition.
Their influence on Western literature, art, and culture is immeasurable, making them essential texts for understanding the development of Western civilization.
#4296
• Mentioned in 11 episodes
The Confessions of St. Augustine
Augustine of Hippo
Confessions, by St. Augustine, is a deeply personal and introspective autobiography that traces Augustine's spiritual journey from a life of sin and worldly pursuits to his conversion to Christianity.
The work explores themes of faith, doubt, love, and the search for God. Augustine's honest and vulnerable portrayal of his own struggles makes the book relatable and inspiring.
The Confessions is considered a seminal work of Christian literature, influencing countless theologians and writers.
Its enduring appeal lies in its exploration of universal human experiences and its profound insights into the nature of faith and the human condition.
#95
• Mentioned in 183 episodes
The Brothers Karamazov
Larissa Volokhonsky
Fyodor Dostoevsky
Richard Pevear
Set in 19th-century Russia, 'The Brothers Karamazov' is a novel that delves into the lives of the Karamazov family, focusing on the three brothers—Dmitri, Ivan, and Alyosha—and their complex relationships with their father, Fyodor Pavlovich Karamazov.
The novel is a murder mystery, a courtroom drama, and an exploration of erotic rivalry, faith, doubt, and reason.
It examines the human psyche, moral dilemmas, and the search for meaning in a world fraught with suffering and uncertainty.
The story revolves around the murder of Fyodor Pavlovich and the subsequent trial of Dmitri, accused of the crime, while exploring deeper themes of Russian life, social and spiritual striving, and the clash between faith and reason.
#113
• Mentioned in 162 episodes
Confessions
Augustine
Written in Latin between AD 397 and 400, 'Confessions' is a blend of autobiography, philosophy, theology, and critical exegesis of the Christian Bible.
The first nine books are autobiographical, tracing Augustine's life from his birth to his conversion to Catholicism.
He recounts his sinful youth, his involvement with Manicheism and Neoplatonism, and his eventual conversion in a Milanese garden.
The last four books focus on philosophical and theological issues, including memory, time, eternity, and the interpretation of the Book of Genesis.
The work is structured as a series of prayers to God, reflecting Augustine's journey of redemption and his understanding of God's grace and providence.
#551
• Mentioned in 57 episodes
Notes from Underground
Fyodor Dostoevsky
Fyodor Dostoevsky's "Notes from Underground" is a novella that delves into the mind of an unnamed narrator, a bitter and alienated individual who rails against reason and societal norms.
The work is considered a precursor to existentialist literature, exploring themes of isolation, nihilism, and the human condition.
Dostoevsky's masterful use of first-person narration allows readers to experience the narrator's turbulent thoughts and emotions.
The novella's exploration of free will and the complexities of human psychology continues to resonate with readers today.
Its influence on literature and philosophy is undeniable, shaping the works of later writers and thinkers.
#4185
• Mentioned in 12 episodes
Gorgias
Plató
Gorgias es un diálogo de Platón que explora la naturaleza de la retórica, la justicia y el bien.
El diálogo presenta una discusión entre Sócrates y Gorgias, un sofista conocido por su habilidad retórica.
Platón critica la retórica vacía y argumenta que la verdadera justicia se basa en el conocimiento del bien.
Gorgias es un ejemplo de la crítica de Platón a la sofística y su búsqueda de la verdad.
Su impacto radica en su exploración de la retórica y su relación con la justicia.
#113
• Mentioned in 162 episodes
Confessions
Augustine
Written in Latin between AD 397 and 400, 'Confessions' is a blend of autobiography, philosophy, theology, and critical exegesis of the Christian Bible.
The first nine books are autobiographical, tracing Augustine's life from his birth to his conversion to Catholicism.
He recounts his sinful youth, his involvement with Manicheism and Neoplatonism, and his eventual conversion in a Milanese garden.
The last four books focus on philosophical and theological issues, including memory, time, eternity, and the interpretation of the Book of Genesis.
The work is structured as a series of prayers to God, reflecting Augustine's journey of redemption and his understanding of God's grace and providence.
#32846
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
Protagoras
Benjamin Jowett
Plato
#3716
• Mentioned in 13 episodes
Plato's Symposium
Benjamin 1817-1893 Jowett
Plato
In this dialogue, Plato presents a discussion on the concept of love (eros) among a group of Athenian intellectuals, including Socrates, Phaedrus, Aristophanes, and Alcibiades.
The dialogue delves into various dimensions of love, such as its relationship to beauty, virtue, and wisdom.
It challenges conventional views on love and presents a philosophical exploration of its role in achieving a good and virtuous life.
The work is set at the house of Agathon, a tragic poet, and features a series of praise speeches that reflect different viewpoints on love.
#1848
• Mentioned in 23 episodes
Phaedrus
Plato
#202
• Mentioned in 113 episodes
LEVIATHAN
Thomas Hobbes
Published in 1651, 'Leviathan' by Thomas Hobbes is a comprehensive treatise on political philosophy.
The book is divided into four main parts: 'Of Man,' 'Of Commonwealth,' 'Of a Christian Commonwealth,' and 'Of the Kingdom of Darkness.
' Hobbes argues that the natural state of humans is one of conflict and anarchy, and that the best way to achieve peace and security is through the establishment of a commonwealth governed by an absolute sovereign.
This sovereign, which Hobbes terms the 'Leviathan,' has supreme authority over all aspects of governance, including law, religion, and public offices.
Hobbes' work is a foundational text in social contract theory and continues to influence political thought to this day.
#310
• Mentioned in 86 episodes
The Divine Comedy
Dante Alighieri
The Divine Comedy is an Italian narrative poem begun around 1308 and completed around 1321.
It is divided into three parts: Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso.
The poem discusses the state of the soul after death and presents an image of divine justice, describing Dante's travels through Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven.
It is an allegory representing the soul's journey towards God, drawing on medieval Catholic theology and philosophy, especially Thomistic philosophy.
The work is considered one of the greatest in Italian literature and Western literature, and it helped establish the Tuscan language as the standardized Italian language.
#182
• Mentioned in 122 episodes
Ulysses
James Joyce
Ulysses is a groundbreaking and complex modernist novel that chronicles the experiences of three Dubliners over a single day.
The novel is loosely based on Homer's epic poem 'The Odyssey', with Leopold Bloom paralleling Odysseus, Stephen Dedalus paralleling Telemachus, and Molly Bloom paralleling Penelope.
It explores themes such as antisemitism, human sexuality, British rule in Ireland, Catholicism, and Irish nationalism.
The novel is known for its innovative use of language and narrative techniques, including stream-of-consciousness and multiple literary styles.
It captures the essence of early 20th-century Dublin, providing a detailed snapshot of the city's social, political, and cultural landscape.
#616
• Mentioned in 53 episodes
Madame Bovary
Gustave Flaubert
Published in 1857, 'Madame Bovary' is a seminal work of literary realism that tells the story of Emma Bovary, a beautiful and intelligent young woman who marries Charles Bovary, a dull and unambitious doctor.
Emma's life is marked by boredom, romantic fantasies, and a series of ill-fated love affairs with men like Rodolphe and Léon.
Her inability to distinguish between her romantic ideals and the harsh realities of her life leads to financial ruin, public scandal, and ultimately, her tragic demise.
The novel is renowned for its masterful writing, detailed psychological insights, and its critique of bourgeois provincial life.
#802
• Mentioned in 44 episodes
Bleak House
Charles Dickens
Bleak House, published in 1852-1853, is a novel by Charles Dickens that revolves around the Jarndyce family and their entanglement in the interminable lawsuit of Jarndyce and Jarndyce.
The story highlights the inefficiencies and injustices of the English Court of Chancery, as well as themes of family secrets, blackmail, murder, and social critique.
The novel follows Esther Summerson, who becomes the guardian of two other wards, Richard Carstone and Ada Clare, and their lives as they navigate the complexities of the lawsuit and personal secrets, particularly those surrounding Lady Dedlock and her past.
The novel is known for its vivid portrayal of Victorian England and its critique of various social and legal institutions of the time.
#100
• Mentioned in 170 episodes
Paradise Lost
John Milton
Published in 1667, 'Paradise Lost' is an epic poem in blank verse that follows the biblical story of the Fall of Man. The poem begins in medias res, detailing the descent of Satan and his followers into Hell after their rebellion against God. It explores two main narrative arcs: one focusing on Satan's actions and the other on Adam and Eve's story in the Garden of Eden.
The poem delves into themes such as free will, obedience, revenge, and pride, and it portrays the complex characters of Satan, Adam, and Eve. Milton's work is known for its rich language, classical structure, and profound theological and philosophical insights.
#132
• Mentioned in 147 episodes
Hamlet
William Shakespeare
The play revolves around Prince Hamlet's journey to avenge his father's murder, which was committed by his uncle Claudius.
Hamlet's father's ghost appears and reveals that he was poisoned by Claudius, who then married Hamlet's mother, Gertrude.
Hamlet feigns madness while he investigates and plots his revenge.
The play explores themes of betrayal, mortality, and the human condition, culminating in a tragic finale where nearly all main characters die, including Hamlet, Claudius, Gertrude, and several others.
#5470
• Mentioned in 9 episodes
The Apology
The Defense of Socrates
Plato
In 'The Apology,' Plato presents Socrates' defense against the charges of impiety and corrupting the youth.
Socrates argues that he is innocent and that his actions are divinely inspired, as indicated by the Oracle at Delphi.
He defends his method of questioning and exposing the ignorance of others, which he believes is a service to the state.
Despite his defense, Socrates is found guilty and sentenced to death.
The dialogue is a powerful critique of the Athenian justice system and a testament to Socrates' commitment to his philosophical principles.
#43
• Mentioned in 268 episodes
Moby Dick
Herman Melville
Moby-Dick is a novel that tells the story of Captain Ahab's maniacal quest for revenge against Moby Dick, the giant white sperm whale that bit off his leg.
Narrated by Ishmael, the story follows the crew of the whaling ship Pequod as they embark on a journey that explores themes of obsession, man vs.
nature, and the existential questions of good and evil.
The novel is rich in detailed descriptions of whale hunting and life aboard a culturally diverse crew, and it has become a cornerstone of American and world literature.
#116
• Mentioned in 160 episodes
Anna Karenina
Leo Tolstoy
Published in 1878, 'Anna Karenina' is a novel by Leo Tolstoy that delves into the complexities of Russian society in the late 19th century.
The story centers around the extramarital affair between Anna Karenina, a married socialite, and Count Alexei Kirillovich Vronsky, which scandalizes the social circles of Saint Petersburg.
The novel also follows the parallel story of Konstantin Levin, a wealthy landowner, and his struggles with marriage, faith, and managing his estate.
Tolstoy explores a wide range of themes including love, loyalty, betrayal, hypocrisy, and the differences between rural and urban life.
The novel is known for its detailed character development and its profound commentary on the human condition.
#36
• Mentioned in 286 episodes
Frankenstein
Mary Shelley
Written in epistolary form, the novel tells the story of Victor Frankenstein, a brilliant and ambitious scientist who, driven by Enlightenment-era ideas of progress and science, creates a living being from dead body parts.
However, upon seeing the creature come to life, Frankenstein is horrified and abandons it.
The creature, shunned by society due to its appearance, seeks revenge against its creator, leading to a series of tragic events.
The novel explores themes of guilt, loss, and the emotional and moral consequences of scientific hubris, blending elements of Gothic and Romantic literature.
#65
• Mentioned in 229 episodes
The great Gatsby
F. Scott Fitzgerald
Published in 1925, 'The Great Gatsby' is a tragic love story, a mystery, and a social commentary on American life during the Jazz Age. The novel is narrated by Nick Carraway, who moves to Long Island and becomes entangled in the lives of his wealthy and mysterious neighbor, Jay Gatsby, and Gatsby's obsession to win back his first love, Daisy Buchanan.
The story delves into themes of honesty, the temptations of wealth, and the struggle to escape the past, ultimately reflecting on the disintegration of the American Dream.
#140
• Mentioned in 144 episodes
The Republic
Plato
#74485
Orestia
Aeschylus
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"When you read Shakespeare," Justice Antonin Scalia's high school English teacher thundered, "Shakespeare's not on trial, you are." What are we to do about college students purportedly incapable of reading, much less finishing, great novels? We are to double down and put in front of them what Matthew Arnold called, "the best which has been thought and said." Join Professor Jennifer Frey and me on The Evangelization & Culture Podcast as we discuss the virtue and necessity of reading classic literature and encouraging its meaningful consumption among the young.
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