Lenhardt StevensPhilip Sidney’s “The Defence of Poesy”You’ve probably never heard of Philip Sidney, but he’s the most important literary critic ever. Many will protest that that designation…May 22May 22
Lenhardt StevensWas Andrew Marvell a Republican and “Last Instructions to a Painter”Marvell and Milton both sat pretty during Cromwell's reign during the Protectorate. Milton was appointed as the Secretary for Foreign…Apr 1Apr 1
Lenhardt StevensSensus Divinitatus and the DaoI’m going to explore an issue in epistemology in this entry.Mar 10Mar 10
Lenhardt StevensThe Great Books and the Anxiety of HistoryI used to teach at a classical school. The classical school model is more about the subjects taught (Latin, grammar, whatever) than the…Mar 31Mar 31
Lenhardt StevensThe Innocence of Republicanism in Julius CaesarAristotle said it was possible to have a good despot in his typology of political structures from The Politics. A just king, as it were…Mar 1Mar 1
Lenhardt StevensAristotle’s “Poetics” and Ethical CriticismAlright one more week of theory and then we’ll get back to the texts.Jan 27Jan 27
Lenhardt StevensEthical Criticism, brieflyI want to kick off this blog in 2024 with a question: why are we reading literature?Jan 5Jan 5
Lenhardt StevensHamlet, Metatheater, and Your LifeWhile I teach Hamlet, I think about how difficult it is to appreciate all of the commentary on acting and theater that the play possesses…Dec 31, 2023Dec 31, 2023
Lenhardt Stevens“On the Death of a Fair Infant Dying of a Cough” and WarThe existence of social media entails that our engagement with the war in Gaza is as immediate as the events unfold. Anyone tuned into…Nov 5, 2023Nov 5, 2023