Episode 266: “Best of” Series – An Experiment in Criticism, Ch. 5-7

The Literary Life Podcast

Angelina Stanford

Education, Selfeducation, Classicaleducation, Reading, Literature, Homeschool, Arts, Books, Charlottemason, Homeeducation, Homeschooling

4.6 • 1.1K Ratings

🗓️ 4 March 2025

⏱️ 98 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Angelina and Cindy open today’s discussion of C. S. Lewis’ An Experiment in Criticism with a recap of the terms that Lewis defines in chapters 5-7, starting with myth. They talk about what it means to have an “extra-literary” experience and how to cultivate the proper attitude of a good reader. Next Cindy and Angelina dig into the definition and benefits of literary fantasy versus the dangers of morbid fantasy. They talk about our deep need for stories of “the other” and have experiences with people and places that are not the same as our own.

Another big topic of conversation is the idea of literature being escapist, particularly fantasy and fairy stories. Angelina and Cindy talk about several things related to this idea: belief and disbelief, fiction versus nonfiction, and the wonder of childhood. Cindy brings up Lewis’ comments on the comic and what relation that has to the current popularity of the graphic novel. Angelina also explains why we shouldn’t be looking to directly relate to a character in a novel in order to get something out of the book.

To view the full show notes for this episode, including quotes, poetry, and book links, please visit https://theliterary.life/266/.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Welcome to the Literary Life Podcast.
0:02.9	We've grown quite significantly since our debut in 2019,
0:07.5	and we've had many requests to highlight older episodes that new listeners may have missed,
0:12.8	as well as revisit listener favorites.
0:15.2	To honor that request, I present to you this episode of the best of the Literary Life podcast.
0:20.9	This is not just the literary life podcast.
0:25.2	This is not just another book chat podcast.
0:30.5	Lifelong reader Cindy Rollins joins teachers Angelina Stanford and Thomas Banks for an ongoing conversation about the skill and art of reading well.
0:36.0	Explore the lost intellectual tradition and discover how to fully enter end to the great works of literature.
0:43.3	Learn what books mean while delighting in the sheer joy of imagination.
0:48.3	Each week we will rescue story from the ivory tower and bring it to your couch, your kitchen, and your commute.
0:56.6	The literary life is for everyone because in the words of Stratford Caldecott, to be enchanted
1:01.9	by story is to be granted a deeper insight into reality.
1:06.7	Join us for an ever unfolding discussion of how stories will save the world.
1:12.6	This is the Literary Life Podcast. Hello and welcome back to the literary life podcast.
1:35.0	This is episode 22 and I am Angelina Stanford and with me is the one and only Cindy, baseball girl.
1:43.0	That was my lame attempt to be a color commentary on the
1:47.8	Oh, yeah, I like that. Yeah, I can put some of my Yogi Bear quotes in here.
1:52.7	You know, since I've gotten married, it has struck me how many baseball metaphors I use in my
1:57.5	in my life. I realize that one of my constant expressions is that's in my wheelhouse
2:02.6	and um and my husband had never heard that before and so I looked it up and and to confirm that it was
2:08.6	in fact a baseball metaphor because that's where I that's the only place I ever heard it was the
	...

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