Of all Shakespeare’s plays, perhaps none is stranger than “Macbeth”— a parable on power rife with supernatural elements. But according to texts from the 11th century, this tragedy has its roots in reality. What’s more, other accounts...

This week, Mike is teaching you about the most mythic of mythological creatures: Dragons. Cultures across the world (and across Westeros) tell stories of dragons, and their power to destroy, their power to prop up kings, and their power...

This week on Crash Course Literature, John Green is continuing to talk about Shakespeare's dark, bloody, Scottish play, Macbeth. This time around, we're looking at the play's characters operate, how the play deals with gender, and the...

The Sound! The Fury! Today, we're talking about Shakespeare's Scottish play, Macbeth. So, was Macbeth really predestined to do all the murdering and bad kinging and other terrible stuff? That's the big question in Macbeth, and it's one...

In the German town of Nördlingen in 1593, innkeeper Maria Höll found herself accused of witchcraft. She was arrested for questioning, and denied the charges. She insisted she wasn't a witch through 62 rounds of torture before her...

During our last several episodes, Europe and the European-controlled world have been in crisis. Wars, disease, climate changes, and shifts in religious and political power threw the European world into turmoil. People were looking for a...

There's a play so powerful that an old superstition says its name should never be uttered in a theater. A play that begins with witchcraft and ends with a bloody, severed head. A play filled with riddles, prophecies, nightmare visions,...

New ReviewHow the lazy camel angered a Genie and got its hump.

New ReviewKipling's story about how the bad tempered Rhino got its skin that looks far too big for it.

New ReviewOrpheus travels to the underworld to save his love Eurydice from the depths of Hades.

New ReviewOdysseus, cast adrift at sea, lands on the island of the Enchantress Circe. With help from Hermes, he wins Circe over and continues his long journey home.

New ReviewOdysseus is captured by the cyclops Polyphemus. He outwits the terrifying giant but suffers the wrath of Poseidon. Please note this episode contains mild gory and frightening moments.

New ReviewHeracles faces the terrifying Lernean Hydra and learns the importance of asking for help when it is needed. Please note this episode contains mild gory and frightening moments.

Step back in time to the year 1692 and discover the story of the Salem witch trials, one of the most dramatic events in colonial American history. In this video, you'll learn how fear, superstition, and religious beliefs led to a series...

Hansel and Gretel is one of the most famous fairy tales of the Western world, and contains one of the most notorious witches. In this episode you’ll learn about witch trials in Germany, the role famine and poverty play in creating...

In this captivating retelling, the tragic tale of Macbeth unfolds with vivid detail. We witness the fateful encounter with the three weird sisters, whose prophecies set in motion a chain of events that lead to Macbeth's downfall. As he...

This video examines the significance of witches in Shakespeare's Macbeth, highlighting how King James I's fascination with witchcraft influenced the inclusion of witches in the play. It explores the historical context of witch hunts in...

This video analyzes Act 5, Scene 3 of Shakespeare's "Macbeth," where the protagonist, Macbeth, confronts the looming threat of the English army and Malcolm's forces, while grappling with the prophecies that assure his invincibility....

This video delves into Macbeth's intense meeting with the witches in Act 4, Scene 1, where he seeks knowledge of the future despite the potential consequences. The scene explores themes of power, fate, and the supernatural as Macbeth...

This video captures a dramatic segment from Act 4, Scene 1 of Shakespeare's "Macbeth," where Macbeth implores the witches to reveal his fate, regardless of the chaos his request might unleash upon the world. It underscores his...

In this video, viewers are treated to an interview with Hecate, the goddess of the moon and witches, shedding light on her role in Macbeth's fate. Through discussion on magic, destiny, and the power of illusions, learners gain insight...

This video explores the cultural beliefs surrounding witches in Shakespearean times, highlighting their association with evil spirits. It also delves into the concept of "murdering ministers" as invisible beings who can only be seen when...

This video features a creative interpretation of a scene from Shakespeare's "Macbeth," specifically after Macbeth and Banquo encounter the three witches. The video captures their initial reactions, highlighting Banquo's advice to Macbeth...

This video features a dramatic performance from Act 1, Scene 3 of Shakespeare's "Macbeth," where the witches discuss their vengeful activities. As they reveal their malevolent deeds, including tormenting a sailor whose wife refused to...