Fire the Canon

We discuss chapters 35-46 of Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen. Things are heating up for Darcy and Elizabeth! Can these two crazy kids ever make it work? It’s a huge mystery. Theo crosses some people off his list, and experiences a failure of empathy. Nestor the Horse Lord returns. Rachel tells an extremely awkward tale from her past - perhaps she’s the Mr. Darcy of the group after all. Jackie...

We discuss chapters 22 through 34 of Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen. Rachel makes her first correction ever. Theo finally learns the main character’s name, and immediately decides he dislikes her. Jackie makes everyone happy. The gang has a big disagreement that they need YOU, listener, to solve. The Mysterious Murder of Count Marigold comes to its shocking conclusion! Theo fancasts his own...

Pride & Prejudice 2: Shrubberies & Snubberies We discuss chapters 9-ish through 21 of Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen.  Mr. Darcy makes some spicy remarks - we’d love to get him on the pod.  A wild proposal appears!  For this book, the gang’s opinions are Rachel’s.  Fans of Jackie’s British accent(s) will have a great time this episode!  Theo makes a fool of himself re: shrubbery.  He...

Love is in the air this Valentine’s Day! And it’s also in the chambers of the sea. Jackie tells the tale of T. S. Eliot. The gang fully commits to a stupid bit. We all learn what the J stands for. Theo gives the correct interpretation. Which is your favorite Ninja Turtle? Topics include: Libra energy, Jalfred the Jbutler, Sir Tom Hiddleston, Yu-Gi-Oh vs. Pokemon again, Theo’s weirdhouse, and Hallo...

We discuss up to chapter 9-ish of Pride & Prejudice, by Jane Austen. Rachel and Jackie immediately have an argument, into which Theo tentatively dips a toe. One of Theo’s nicknames is revealed! Jackie rejoices in someone’s untimely demise yet again. Jackie and Theo consider Rachel a Babel fish, and Theo seriously disses Lydia Bennet. Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy are also prominently...

We finish discussing The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger. Jackie arrives at the end of her rope, listening-wise. Theo tells everyone how to pull a college entrance scam. Rachel does a reading from the work of an emerging writer. The gang displays their New York City knowledge. Topics include: whistling bores, the Bra Patch, Red Lahbstah, Santadict Clausald, the Young Clarinetists Club, Beta U...

We discuss The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. “Ol’ One Ball” Salinger. This is our second attempt at recording this episode, because the first try was depressing! Now it’s depressing AND funny, we promise. The gang intersperses Holden Caulfield’s tale with thrilling tales of their own teenage lives. Theo makes a New York joke about on par with his better Yu-Gi-Oh! joke, and Three-o is finally introdu...

We discuss Beowulf: A New Translation, by Maria Dahvana Headley, with Dr. Brad Robinson from Texas State University, aka Rachel’s former AP English Lit teacher. Come for more intellectual conversation than usual, stay for Brad grading your hosts’ and producer’s kennings. Who will get the coveted A+, and who will be stuck with the dreaded A-? Who will tell the most embarrassing story from the past?...

This episode covers the rest of J.R.R. Tolkien’s translation of Beowulf. We learn what our good friend has been up to for the past fifty years, and whether one can ever be too old for this shit. Theo tells a great Yu-Gi-Oh! joke, and Jackie reveals one of her deepest fears, then humiliates herself. Rachel reveals what would happen if someone told her she was going to have a fate worse than death....

This episode covers the first half-ish of J.R.R. Tolkien’s translation of Beowulf. Jackie shares her murderous daydreams, and Theo tells an okay Yu-Gi-Oh! joke. Beowulf and Grendel share a disarming encounter, about which Grendel’s mother has something to say. Topics include: Beowulf/Breca shipping, good parenting, amateur Frankensteining, and what constitutes a valuable ally. ★ Support this podca...

The last 4 books of The Odyssey, as translated by Emily Wilson. Odysseus finally justifies his heroic status, and our podcast finally justifies its existence! It all comes down to this: the final stand-off between our main man and all the hot young guys who want to get with his wife. But also some other things happen after that, which we still have to talk about. It’s a weird, fun time, we swear....

This episode covers the final three staves of A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens. We look upon the most glorious bro of them all, the Ghost of Christmas Present. Theo loves him. Jackie reveals her favorite post-prandial snack. Scrooge temporarily becomes unbelievably stupid, we play a Victorian party game, and one of us tears up at the end of the book! Topics include: one’s own peculiar flavor,...

This episode covers the first two staves of A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens: bad husband, great writer. The gang blows the perfect segue, everyone reveals a holiday secret from their past, and you get an update on our funeral quilt. Scrooge keeps the same energy, and we admire him for that. Topics include: 15-20 mile walks, comforters, pointed asides to Jeff Bezos, a timely John Kerry joke,...

We're releasing episodes on Charles Dicken's A Christmas Carol on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day! While you wait, here's something to get you in the holiday spirit, a new song by the Fire the Canon House Band! ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Books 14-20 of The Odyssey, as translated by Emily Wilson. Once again, your hosts channel Odysseus. We told you this would be the end, but our boy takes so long going around Ithaca, creating individually crafted lies for his friends and family, that we have one more episode left! We lied to you. Now you know how Odysseus’ friends and family felt. Topics include: divine shriveling, the rule of spoi...

Books 10-13 of The Odyssey, as translated by Emily Wilson. Yet again, Odysseus is “forced” to cheat on his wife. We learn where the gang both does and doesn’t tend to keep coins, and Theo reveals an Odyssey-related secret from his past. Multiple people tell Odysseus to leave some cows alone. Odysseus’ crew finds out if it’s better to ask forgiveness than permission. Topics include: Kevin James’ oe...

Books 5-9 of The Odyssey, as translated by Emily Wilson. Well, well, well. Finally we learn what Telemachus’ deadbeat dad has been up to for the past 20 years! Jackie and Rachel tell tales of their own past on the high seas, and Theo finally becomes interested in the book. Topics include: a terrible seal plan, our best boy Polyphemus, Ancient Greek feminism, Odysseus taking things way too far, and...

This episode covers the first 4 books of Homer’s The Odyssey, as translated by Emily Wilson. Ever wanted to know about Odysseus’ idiot man-baby son Telemachus? Well, you’re about to learn! Other topics of discussion include: bird attacks, frat bro feasts, ancient insults, disguises, and copious amounts of oil. Content warning: The Odyssey contains discussion of violence, sexual assault, animal sac...

Fire the Canon is a podcast that loves literature, but doesn’t take it too seriously. Jackie, Rachel, and Theo will be joking, paraphrasing, and misinterpreting their way through the Western canon. Come hang out with us every Thursday! ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★