Description In this episode of Hot Takes on the Classics, Emily Maeda and Tim McIntosh delve into Shakespeare’s Henry V, a play that captures the remarkable transformation of Prince Hal into England’s greatest warrior king. They discuss the historical backdrop of the Hundred Years’ War, the tension between honor and responsibility, and the timeless power…
Read MoreDescription In this episode of Hot Takes on the Classics, Emily Maeda and Tim McIntosh explore The Song of Roland, a medieval French epic that epitomizes bravery, loyalty, and sacrifice. Set during Charlemagne’s campaigns in Spain, the story recounts Roland’s heroic last stand and the betrayal that led to his demise. Tim and Emily discuss…
Read MoreDescription In this episode of Hot Takes on the Classics, Emily Maeda and Tim McIntosh dive into Beowulf, the Anglo-Saxon epic poem about a legendary hero who battles monsters and confronts a dragon. Tim and Emily discuss the poem’s origins, its tension between pagan heroism and emerging Christian values, and why its rhythmic, alliterative style…
Read MoreDescription In this episode of Hot Takes on the Classics, Tim McIntosh and Emily Maeda explore St. Augustine’s monumental work, City of God. Written in response to the Visigoth sack of Rome in 410 AD, this profound text examines the relationship between the City of Man and the City of God, offering reflections on war,…
Read MoreDescription In this episode of Hot Takes on the Classics, Emily Maeda and Tim McIntosh delve into Plutarch’s Parallel Lives, exploring the contrasting characters of Alcibiades, the charming yet treacherous Athenian, and Coriolanus, the unyielding Roman general. Through their discussion, the hosts unpack Plutarch’s moral philosophy, the timeless appeal of his storytelling, and the lessons…
Read MoreDescription In this episode of Hot Takes on the Classics, Tim McIntosh and Emily Maeda analyze Sun Tzu’s The Art of War, a foundational text in strategic thought. Written during China’s Zhou Dynasty, the book offers timeless insights into warfare, leadership, and human conflict. The hosts discuss Sun Tzu’s emphasis on victory without battle, his…
Read MoreDescription In this episode of Hot Takes on the Classics, Emily Maeda and Tim McIntosh examine Julius Caesar’s Gallic Wars, an essential work of Latin literature that chronicles Caesar’s military campaigns in Gaul. The hosts discuss Caesar’s writing style, the strategic brilliance behind his conquests, and the controversies surrounding his actions, including accusations of genocide….
Read MoreDescription In this episode of Hot Takes on the Classics, Tim McIntosh and Emily Maeda explore Prudentius’ Psychomachia (“The Battle of the Soul”). This groundbreaking Christian allegorical poem reimagines heroism as a spiritual struggle. Written in the late fourth century, the poem depicts virtues and vices as warriors battling within the human soul. Tim and…
Read MoreDescription In this episode of Hot Takes on the Classics, Tim McIntosh and Emily Maeda delve into Virgil’s Aeneid, a cornerstone of Roman literature. They discuss Aeneas as the embodiment of Roman virtue, the conflict between personal desires and duty, and the dual message of the epic as both a tribute to Roman greatness and…
Read MoreDescription In this episode of Hot Takes on the Classics, Tim McIntosh and Emily Maeda dive into Pericles’ Funeral Oration as recorded by Thucydides in The Peloponnesian War. They discuss the speech’s celebration of Athenian democracy, its striking contrast to Spartan culture, and its lessons on leadership and sacrifice. Tim delivers his hot take, claiming…
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