Call Me Watkins: Recent Episodes
Joanne Watkins
A podcast about English literature texts for senior high students. I am a teacher of senior English and Literature in Melbourne, Australia but have also taught at schools in New South Wales and in Oxford in the UK. If you're wondering about the title of the podcast, it's a reference to my name, Mrs Watkins and what many regard as the best opening line to a book: "Call me Ishmael" from Herman Melville's "Moby Dick".
This is the fifth episode in the series on 'The Truman Show'. It provides a close viewing of the film from 60 minutes until the end.
This is the fourth episode on 'The Truman Show'. It provides a close viewing of the film from 40 minutes until 60 minutes.
This is the third episode on The Truman Show. It provides a close viewing of the film. This episode focuses on the film from 14 minutes to 40 minutes.
This is a guided close viewing of The Truman Show. This episode focuses on the first 14 minutes of the film.
This is an introduction to The Truman Show. It includes an overview of the film and a close analysis of the opening scenes.
This episode provides a reading and analysis of 'Hymn to God, to my God in my Sickness' by John Donne.
This episode provides a reading and analysis of 'At rounds earth's imagined corners' by John Donne.
This episode provides a reading and analysis of 'A Valediction Forbidding Mourning' by John Donne.
This episode provides a reading and detailed analysis of 'The Sun Rising' by John Donne.
This episode provides a reading and detailed analysis of the aubade 'The Good Morrow' by John Donne.
This episode provides both a reading and detailed analysis of 'To His Mistress Going to Bed'. It also offers an introduction to the features of metaphysical poetry. A copy of the poem is on my Facebook page CallmeWatkins.
"No man is an island"
Do you know who said this? Most people don't. It was the poet John Donne. He was described by C. S. Lewis as the "saddest and most uncomfortable of our poet" in contrast to T. S. Eliot who said “[a] thought to Donne was an experience; it modified his sensibility.”
This series will explore the poetry of John Donne with the aim that you can decide whose view is right.
This episode provides an overview of Donne's life, the context for his poems.
The final chapter in 'Frankenstein or A Modern Prometheus'. Did Victor learn anything? Did Walton benefit from hearing Victor's story What do you feel for the daemon?
The daemon takes his revenge on Victor. His wife is killed as the price for the death of it's mate. Is this justice?
Frankenstein decides to move forward with marrying Elizabeth despite the threat from the daemon to be with him on his "wedding night".
Finally Victor creates the daemon his mate, only to destroy her before his eyes. This dooms everyone.
Victor and Henry travel through England on their tour. Victor is gathering everything he needs to make the second creature.
Will Victor Frankenstein keep his promise to the monster? How will he be able to keep his family discovering his secret?
The creature demands a companion from his creator. What persuades Victor to make another of his species? Who does Shelley want us to feel sympathy for, the creature or the creator?
The monster enraged after being rejected by the De Lacy family, and attacked for saving a drowning child, seeks revenge through murder. Is his violence justified?
The creature learns about the world by reading; Goethe's The Sorrows of Werther, Plutarch's Lives and Milton's Paradise Lost.
The creature learns about how humans organise their society. He judges the values of man as unjust and evil.
William is dead. Justine is dead. The Frankenstein family struggle under the burden of their grief.
Justine is on trial for the murder of William. However it is Victor who is being judged.
Victor recovers from his illness. He hears news from home via Elizabeth.Victor and Henry embark on a two week walking tour.
Victor Frankenstein discovers the secret to creating life. He must make make a creature to reanimate.
Following the death of his mother Frankenstein leaves for College. He is inspired by a professor and commits to finding a new way to create life.
Victor provides an overview of his childhood and introduces the key scientific concepts that will influence his life.
Victor Frankenstein finally begins his story. He focused on his parents and his childhood. This episode provides a summary of this chapter and an analysis.
This episode begins my close analysis of the text, starting with Volume 1, the four letters Walton writes to his sister. These letters often confuse readers as they seem unrelated at first glance to the story of Frankenstein and the daemon. However, they have a purpose. Listen to find out more.
This episode seeks to provide background information on the life of Mary Shelley, until the time she wrote 'Frankenstein or A Modern Prometheus'. It covers biographical information as well as the historical context of the novel.
Frankenstein or A Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley was first released in 1818. This episode provides a brief outline of the plot and the narrative structure, as well as, a detailed analysis of the title page and the epigraph.
Call me Watkins went on tour. This is a podcast based on a revision lecture on ‘Rear Window’ in preparation for the VCCA VCE examination in Australia. There is an accompanying handout available through Facebook (callmewatkins).
Call me Watkins went on tour. This is a podcast based on a revision lecture comparing ‘The Crucible’ and ‘Year of Wonders’ in preparation for the VCCA VCE English examination in Australia. The handout is available on Facebook.
This episode compares the similarities and differences of gender representation in ‘The Crucible’ and ‘Year of Wonders’.
This episode explores in depth the characters; Elizabeth Proctor, Abigail Williams, Tituba, Rebecca Nurse and Mary Warren.
This episode looks the different responses to the plague. Why do some people become monsters and others heroes?
This podcast explores the structure of the novel, the narrative voice and the language used by Brooks.
An analysis of figurative language in the play including irony, metaphors, similes, inversion, and the use of archaic and colloquial language. An analysis of the title.
Act 1 - an overview that concludes at the end of Proctor and Abigail's private conversation about their affair.
Michael feels to burden of his role physically and spiritually. Anna and Elinor become miners.
Maggie Cantwell and Brnad have been forced back to the village by mob violence. Anna has a confrontation with her father.
Fear breeds rage in Eyam. Rage becomes an ugly mob as the villagers turn on the Gowdies.
The role of women in a patriarchal, puritan hierarchical society is revealed. The Plague is named.
Spring 1665. Ring of Roses offers an insight into village life before the plague. Then the terrible beginnings of the Black Death.