The Wade Deacon English Department Podcast: Recent Episodes
Wade Deacon English Department
A podcast by teachers from the English department of Wade Deacon High School, helping you stay focused on the key events, characters, themes and quotations from across the set texts.
Dickens spent much of his writing career using his talents for characterisation and imagery to showcase the horrifying impact of social injustice in Victorian Britain. In this podcast, Ms O'Malley explores how this theme is depicted in A Christmas Carol, and how some of the novella's best-loved characters function as warning signs of the need for drastic social change.
You may know everything there is to know about Scrooge, Bob Cratchit and Tiny Tim - but what about the lesser known characters of Charles Dickens's famous festive tale? In this podcast, Ms Jacob (an examiner for this text) explores the intricacies of minor characters who may otherwise pass you by!
We are first introduced to Scrooge as a man "as solitary as an oyster" - but he hasn't always been like that. In this podcast, Ms Smith delves into the history of Scrooge's relationship with his family members. Where did it all go wrong - and is there chance for redemption?
In this podcast, Mr Buxton explores the endearing and optimistic Cratchit family. Who are they? What values do they represent? And how do they impact Scrooge's transformation?
From hostile recluse to benevolent philanthropist, Ms Bray explores the astonishing character development of Ebenezer Scrooge.
Ms Carr takes us through all the vital actions of the five staves of Charles Dickens's famous festive tale of greed, guilt and redemption.
In the first of a new series of podcasts in which your teachers record 'off the cuff' conversations about their favourite topics in literature, Ms Noone and Ms O'Malley discuss the theme of kingship in Macbeth.
A ghost? An angel? The concept of socialism? The presence of J. B. Priestley himself? The identity and significance of Inspector Goole has been debated by audiences and critics since the first performance of the play. In this podcast, Ms Archer considers various possible readings of the inspector's role and encourages you to develop your own.
Although not as well known as Shakespeare and Dickens, J. B. Priestley actually published 39 plays and 26 novels as well as numerous collections of essays and criticism. In this podcast, Ms Rouski sheds light on Priestley's impressive bibliography, as well as his specific motivations for writing his most famous work: An Inspector Calls.
Mr Birling sarcastically brands his children "the famous younger generation who know it all." It is clear that age is a divisive and juxtaposing factor in the play, but why does Priestley utilise it in this manner? In this podcast, Ms Carr considers the significance of age and the generational gap between the key characters.
"As if a girl of that sort would ever refuse money!" Mrs Birling insists. What does she mean by 'a girl of that sort' and how does Eva Smith's social standing inevitably contribute to her downfall? Ms Smith considers the role of social class in the text, and examines how J. B. Priestley's socialist views underpin the plot and characterisation.
"We have to share something," Inspector Goole warns the Birling family, "If there's nothing else, we'll have to share our guilt." What does he mean by this and what does it imply about the characters' failings? Ms Noone presents an analysis of the theme of responsibility and the moral message of An Inspector Calls.
Typically, An Inspector Calls is viewed as a play about social class and the juxtaposition of wealth and poverty. However, what about the role of gender? In this podcast, Ms Bray considers the theme of gender in the text and the varying roles of men and women in the context of the 1910s.
Despite not appearing once on stage, Eva Smith is arguably the most important character in the play - around whom nearly every single conversation centres. In this podcast, Ms Barker considers the tragic tale of Eva Smith and the mistreated underclass she represents.
Mockingly referred to as a "wonderful fairy prince" by Sheila, Gerald attempted to help Eva Smith only to later cast her aside when she no longer interested him. But why did he do it? And what impact did it have on her demise? Ms Barker considers Gerald's significance.
From "hysterical child" to arguably the strongest and most resolute character onstage, it cannot be denied that Sheila undergoes quite the transformation under the watchful eye of the inspector. Ms Archer investigates what Sheila represents about the divisions between old and young, man and woman and capitalist and socialist - and how, in the end, she transcends all expectations.
A foolish, drunken "boy" or a sinister character abusing his societal power? Mr Buxton delves into the character of Eric Birling and considers his significance in the text and the impact his thoughtless behaviour has on the people around him.
Despite her allegedly charitable nature, Mrs Birling rejected Eva Smith's plea for help when she needed it most. Why? Ms Jacob considers the role of Mrs Birling and the values she represents within the text.
Patriarch, capitalist and hard-headed man of business, Mr Birling is the antithesis of everything J. B. Priestley stood for. So why did he construct this character and what does he represent? Ms O'Malley investigates.
Two job losses, two affairs, a pregnancy and a secret diary - the plot of An Inspector Calls is intricate and certainly worth knowing in as much detail as possible! In this podcast, Ms Griffiths takes us through the timeline of events and the impact these have on the characters.
"[Thunder and lightning. Enter three witches]" is perhaps one of the most famous opening stage directions in the history of theatre. In this episode of the Macbeth Monologues, Ms Noone investigates why the witches are so significant and influential in the text, and Macbeth's changing relationship to them.
How does a man go from being described as "brave" and "noble" to being known only as a "dead butcher"? In this episode of the Macbeth Monologues, Ms Carr delves into the ever-evolving character of Macbeth.
Witches, ghosts and nightmarish visions - Shakespeare's Macbeth is full of references to the supernatural. But what do these strange happenings signify and how do they influence the plot and characters? Ms Archer examines the ghostly goings on of one of Shakespeare's spookiest texts.
As Macbeth himself says after seeing Banquo's horrifying ghost in Act 3, "blood will have blood". In this episode of the Macbeth Monologues, Ms Barker explores the theme of violence in the text, and its impact on the key characters.
Have you ever had the feeling that something was just meant to be? In this episode of the Macbeth monologues, Ms Smith investigates the concept of fate and the impact this has on the plot and characters of Macbeth.
Macduff is primarily known as the character who finally brings a brutal end to Macbeth's reign of terror - but what else do we know about the man "untimely ripped from his mother's womb"? In this episode of the Macbeth Monologues, Ms O'Malley sheds some light on the key events and quotations linked to Macduff and his unfortunate family.
When we think of the key characters in Macbeth, we think of the "dead butcher" and his "fiend-like queen" and the litany of dead bodies they leave in their wake. But what of the more minor characters, such as the doctor, the porter and Seyton? In this episode of the Macbeth Monologues, Ms Jacob explores the hidden significance of these often forgotten figures.
It's hard to imagine what life was like 400 years ago when Shakespeare was writing Macbeth, but it is important to try because he was so deeply influenced by the details of the world around him. In this episode of the Macbeth Monologues, Ms Barker considers the political, social and religious factors that would have impacted Shakespeare's writing process.
Macbeth is famously based on the real Scottish nobility of days gone by - but, like most writers, Shakespeare used a lot of creative licence to toy with the truth. In this episode of the Macbeth Monologues, Ms Noone explores the key similarities and differences between the plot we see unfold on stage and the real historical accounts that inspired Shakespeare.
John Dalberg-Acton once said, "absolute power corrupts absolutely." What does this mean? And how can we apply this statement to our reading of Macbeth? In this episode of the Macbeth Monologues, Mr Buxton examines the corrupting nature of power and its impact on various key characters.
"I fear thou played’st most foully for't" Banquo says of his closest friend Macbeth in Act 3 Scene 1. In this moment, he reveals his suspicion of his friend's treachery and so, seals his own fate. In this podcast, Ms Griffiths tracks the character development of Banquo from Macbeth's right hand man to the ghostly, blood-soaked vision he later becomes.
Lady Macbeth is one of the most notorious villains in the Shakespearean canon - in part because she is the antithesis to everything women at the time were expected to be! In this podcast, Ms Noone examines our "fiend like queen" and the other vastly varying representations of womanhood in Macbeth.
Ambition is arguably the driving force behind the downfall of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. In this podcast, Ms Rouski explores how "brave Macbeth" becomes known as a butcher and a traitor when he blindly follows his "vaulting ambition."
Shakespeare's most bloodstained text, Macbeth, tells the tale of a barbaric couple overcome by ambition and an endless desire for power. Ms Bray takes you on a tour through this dark and dastardly story, with references to key scenes, characters and quotations.
Ms Smith heads down to the flax dam to uncover the details of Seamus Heaney's autobiographical poem about a young boy who loses his fascination of nature as he grows up.
Can you imagine being told to "walk not run" into a wood full of "nesting machine guns"? This was the brutal reality for the 38th Welsh Division of the British Army during the First Battle of the Somme. In this podcast, Ms Barker discusses the morbid imagery that Owen Sheers uses to bring these soldiers' stories to life.
For us, the precarious homes built in the 'slums' of Mumbai are something we learn about in Geography - but for the hundreds of thousands of people living there, they are reality. In this podcast, Ms Bray considers Imtiaz Dharker's portrayal of life in these conditions: hazardous, yet hopeful.
What is your favourite season? Most people would probably pick summer, with the holidays and hot weather - or maybe winter, a time of celebration and gift giving. In this podcast, Mr Buxton explores why John Keats made the unusual choice of celebrating autumn - and finds out why the poet found such hidden beauty in this season of change.
Mad, bad and dangerous to know - Lord Byron was one of the most notorious and infamous figures of the Romantic era. In this podcast, Ms Carr examines his juxtapositions of dark and light in this celebration of unusual beauty.
Can you imagine spending most of your life in just one room? For poet and social recluse Emily Dickinson, that was her reality - and one she reflected on in much of her poetry. In this podcast, Ms Jacob explores the isolated and melancholy world of the celebrated poet.
When the British army entered the Boer War in 1899, they believed it would be over quickly with a minimal loss of life - however, this was far from reality. In this podcast, Ms Rooney discusses Thomas Hardy's melancholy portrayal of a woman left devastated by the death of her husband in that shocking conflict.
Typically, war poetry focuses on the bravery and suffering of soldiers - but what about those who are left behind? Ms Ashton takes a look at Simon Armitage's fractured portrayal of a relationship ripped apart by the harrowing effects of conflict.
We now know London as our cosmopolitan capital city, but that wasn't always the case. During a period called the industrial revolution in the 1700s, London grew and transformed exponentially. In this podcast, Ms Bray examines William Blake's scathing critique of the city's morality during this pivotal time.
Typically, World War I soldiers were portrayed as brave, resilient men who were willing to sacrifice their lives for their country. But what of the other side of war: the darker, more tragic side? In this podcast, Ms Rouski explores Wilfred Owen's depiction of wartime horror, anguish and regret.
As the leaves fall in ones and twos, Ms Ward takes a look around the bustling playground that Larkin describes in his melancholy poem and considers the way marriage and modern life sweep in like the winds of change as children grow into adults.
The word 'valentine' usually conjures up images of romance and happiness, but all is not as it seems in this dark and mysterious poem by Carol Ann Duffy. Ms O'Malley looks into the murky depths of Duffy's biting analysis of an unconventional relationship.
Have you ever heard a hawk being interviewed by a news journalist? Neither had we, until Mr Buxton pulled some strings and arranged an exclusive interview with the eponymous hawk from Ted Hughes's poem.
Ms Griffiths takes a trip back to Ancient Egypt through Percy Bysshe Shelley's portrayal of the crumbling statue of a formerly feared Pharaoh.
"How do I love thee? Let me count the ways." Ms Barker explores Elizabeth Barrett Browning's expression of her pure and undying love for fellow poet Robert Browning.
Ms Noone delves into Rita Dove's exploration of happiness and contentment, set against the backdrop of the real life 1999 disaster of Hurricane Floyd.
Ms Noone discusses William Wordsworth's autobiographical exploration of childhood and freedom in this extract from his famous poem The Prelude.
Ms Archer explores the language, structure and context of The Soldier by Rupert Brooke in an "interview" with the man himself! Disclaimer: this is not a real interview - remember, Rupert Brooke died in 1915!