A Literary Cornucopia

Epsidoe 143: Hans Christian Anderson: "The Little Match Girl"

02 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

She carried a quantity of matches in an old apron, and she held a bundle of them in her hand. Nobody had bought anything of her the whole livelong day...

Episode 142: James Baldwin: "Why He Carried the Turkey"

18 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

James Baldwins' story "Why He Carried The Turkey" is taken from Fifty Famous People - A Book of Short Stories, 1912."Well, that is ...

Episode 141: Luisa Morales: "The Wine Bottle: A Quest"

04 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

She descended into the basement, hunting for the wine her uncle had hidden there. A vintage from 1847. November, no less. Her birthday month. A coinci...

Episode 140: Luisa Morales: "The Lonely Trail: In Search of Angela"

21 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

"It was not too long ago that he felt free as a bird. He always had the choice of doing whatever he wanted to do or wherever he wanted to go. No one c...

Episode 139: Shirley Jackson: "The Witch"

07 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

“A big old ugly witch and I told her to go away and she went away,” the little boy went on, in a quiet narrative to himself, “she came and said,...

Episode 138: O. Henry: "Hearts and Hands"

23 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

"It's Miss Fairchild," he said, with a smile. "I'll ask you to excuse the other hand; "it's otherwise engaged just at present."He slightly raised his ...

Episode 137: Katharine Brush: "Birthday Party"

09 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

"It became obvious that this was special occasion and that she had planned a surprise." "Birthday party" is a brief, observational story about a marri...

Episode 136: Anton Chekov: "A Nincompoop"

26 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

"I asked her pardon for the cruel lesson and, to her great surprise, gave her eighty rubles. She murmured her little "merci" several times and went ou...

Episode 135: Gwendolyn Brooks: "Home"

12 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Gwendolyn Brooks (1917–2000) was an influential 20th-century poet and the first African American to win the Pulitzer Prize in 1950. Her short story ...

Episode 134: Shirley Jackson: "Charles"

29 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

With the third week of kindergarten Charles was an institution in our family; the baby was being a Charles when she cried all afternoon; Laurie did a ...

Episode 133: James Thurber: "The Princess and the Tin Box"

15 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Once upon a time, in a far country, there lived a King whose daughter was the prettiest princess in the world. Her eyes were like the cornflower, her ...

Episode 132: Liam O'Flaherty: "The Sniper"

01 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

His face was the face of a student, thin and ascetic, but his eyes had the cold gleam of the fanatic. "The Sniper" is a powerful and concise short sto...

Episode 131: Mona Gardner: "The Dinner Party"

17 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A spirited discussion springs up between a young girl who insists that women have outgrown the jumping-on-a-chair-at-the-sight-of-a-mouse era and a co...

Episode 130: Leonard Q Ross: "The Path Through the Cemetery"

03 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Leo Rosten (April 11, 1908- Feb. 19, 1997) was a Polish-born American author and social scientist best known for his popular books on Yiddish and for ...

Episode 129: John Collier: "The Chaser"

20 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

"Oh dear, no," said the old man. "It would be no good charging that sort of price for a love potion, for example. Young people who need...

Episode 128: Bertrand Russell: "How to Grow Old"

06 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Bertrand Russell was a British philosopher, logician, and social reformer, known as a founder of analytic philosophy and a Nobel Prize winner.His earl...

Episode 127: Quentin Reynolds: "A Secret for Two"

21 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

"No ... no .. ." Jacques said softly. "None of us knew. Only one knew--a friend of his named Joseph ... It was a secret, I think, just between those t...

Episode 126: Eva-Lis Wuorio: "You Can't Take It With You"

07 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Uncle Basil had heard all the words they called him because he wasn't as deaf as he made out. He knew he was a mangy, stingy, penny-pinching screw...

Episode 125: Isaac Asimov: "The Fun They Had"

25 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Isaac Asimov was a prolific writer, contributing significantly to science fiction and popular science literature. He wrote or edited about 500 books, ...

Episode 124: Edgar Allan Poe and "The Oval Portrait"

10 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

He was wild and lost to the world as he painted, his only thought was to complete a perfect likeness of his beautiful young wife to be captured for et...

Episode 123: Ernest Hemingway: "The Old Man at the Bridge"

25 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Ernest Hemingway was an influential American novelist and short-story writer, born on July 21, 1899, in Cicero, Illinois, and died on July 2, 1961, in...

Episode 122: Toni Morrison: "Sweetness"

11 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Toni Morrison was a celebrated American writer known for her exploration of the Black experience, particularly the Black female experience. She became...

Episode 121: Oscar Wilde- "The Selfish Giant"

28 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Oscar Wilde's' plays were mostly directed at adult audiences. They displayed his wit. However, this controversial Irish writer also wrote cha...

Episode 120: William Faulkner - "A Rose for Emily"

14 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

William Faulkner’s works, many set in a fictional county, reflect the complexities and contradictions of the South. His influence extends to countle...

Episode 119: O. Henry and "The Gift of the Magi"

24 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

"Of all who give gifts, these two were the most wise. Of all who give and receive gifts, such as they are the most wise. Everywhere they are the wise ...

Episode 118: Thomas Hardy: "The Thieves Who Couldn't Help Sneezing"

09 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

“The name Thomas Hardy has meant surefire gloom and doom for a century. No one has ever gone to Thomas Hardy for light reading. What a surprise then...

Episode 117: Leo Tolstoy: Greed - "How Much Land Does a Man Need?"

26 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Leo Tolstoy was a Russian author, a master of realistic fiction and one of the world’s greatest novelists. Most readers will agree with the assessme...

Episode 116: Amy Tan and "Two Kinds"

13 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

“Two Kinds” was published in 1989 as part of Amy Tan’s book The Joy Luck Club.  The story is narrated by a Chinese-American woman, named Jing-m...

Episode 115: Maya Angelou and "Mrs. Flowers"

04 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

American poet, memoirist, and actress Maya Angelou wrote several volumes of autobiography that explore the themes of economic, racial, and sexual oppr...

Episode 114: Langston Hughes: "Thank You, Ma'am"

28 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Langston Hughes was a central figure in the Harlem Renaissance, a cultural movement that celebrated African American cultural expressions. His work sp...

Episode 113: Ray Bradbury: A Master of Science Fiction and Fantasy

17 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Although often labeled a science fiction writer, Ray Bradbury himself noted that much of his work was fantasy, horror, or mystery, with "Fahrenheit 45...

Episode 112: F. Scott Fitzgerald: The Great Gatsby and The Jazz Age

01 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The term "Jazz Age" was made popular by F. Scott Fitzgerald himself. It refers to the 1920s, a period marked by significant cultural and social change...

Episode 111: Richard Connell and his "Most Dangerous Game"

16 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Richard Connell began his career as a journalist at a young age, contributing to his father's newspaper, the Poughkeepsie News-Press. His story “...

Episode 110: H.H. Munro (Saki) and "The Open Window"

02 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

H. H. Munro, British author and humorist, was a writer of the Edwardian era, a time of great social and economic change. Rapid industrialization, urba...

Episode 109: Charlotte Brontë's World Through the Eyes of Jane Eyre

26 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre is semi autobiographical. What does it tell us as readers of this author’s complex world? The orphan Jane Eyre exp...

Episode 108: Lewis Carroll - A Mad Tea Party

19 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A Math and logic professor by day and an author by night. Who would have guessed that Charles Lutwidge Dodgson and Lewis Carroll were one and the same...

Episode 107: J.R.R Tolkien: The Man Behind the Myth

05 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

J.R.R. Tolkien, the English writer and scholar achieved fame with his creative epic stories: The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. He created detailed...

Episode 106: C.S. Lewis: Influential Writer/Intellectual Giant

23 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

C. S. Lewis was one of the intellectual giants of the twentieth century and without a doubt one of the most influential writers of his day. He might b...

Episode 105: Neil Gaiman: The Master of Modern Fantasy

09 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

For those into fantasy, horror, science fiction, and graphic novels, Neil Gaiman is the writer of choice. Influenced in part by C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tol...

Episode 104: P.D. James: Crime Novelist

25 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

P.D. James made a significant contribution to the detective fiction genre. She began writing crime novels when she worked as senior administrator in t...

Episode 103: Agatha Christie: Mystery Writer Extraordinaire

08 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Dame Agatha Christie was a prolific mystery writer. Novels, short stories and plays all involved plots with many twists and turns. Even her own life h...

Episode 102: Christina Rossetti: A Woman of her Time

28 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Much has been said about this poet. I can only add that after re-reading her poetry, I realize how unique she was not only as a poet but as a woman of...

Episode 101: April-National Poetry Month

01 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In keeping with April as National Poetry month, I revisited Episode 3 to listen to my poem inspired by Edgar Allan Poe's poem "A Dream Within...

Episode 100: The Twins' Night Out

17 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Celebrating the 100th episode with flash fiction, a very short and sweet story. Loosely based on a true event from a long time ago. Care to share your...

Episode 99: The Sub

03 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

If you had your choice, would you rather deal with 5-year old kids or teenagers? Pick your poison because of the two groups, it might not be easy. Thi...

Episode 98: Love and Hate on the Playground

13 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The month of February brings back childhood memories. Can a child have romantic feelings towards another? The answer may not be so simple. How can a c...

Episode 97: Adriana and Mia: Heavenly Thoughts

10 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This episode includes the conversation between Adriana and Mia and their observations during the first days back in the English class. The group start...

Episode 96: Another New Year (Resolutions)

08 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Resolutions: How good are you at keeping them? Only time will tell. Will 2024 be different?

Episode 95: The Ghosts of New Year's Eve

31 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

I'm ending the year 2023 and Season #4 with a mystery story. Coming up with a plot for a mystery is a challenge but the process can be fun. I hope...

Episode 94: Revisiting We Have Always Lived in the Castle

27 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Sometimes when we read a novel for the second (or maybe a third) time, we see things in a different light. Events looked at through a different lens b...

Episode 93: Classroom Chronicles Advanced on Gothic Literature

11 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A Literary Cornucopia podcast shares from the Classroom Chronicles Advanced podcast part one of the unit on Gothic literature. The CCA is a podcast pr...

Episode 92: "The Judge's House" Radio Drama: Reactions

30 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Three students from the 11th grade English class react to the ghost story after they listened to it. Judging by what they said, the story left a mark....

Episode 91: Bram Stoker's "The Judge's House" - A Radio Drama

28 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

If you want to sleep well at night, this ghost story must be read during the daytime. Bram Stoker has a way of drawing the reader or listener into a w...

Episode 90: Scary Toys (Students' Experiences)

26 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Ever have a toy you weren’t fond of? Maybe it was a doll that you didn’t want to cuddle. As children we sometimes react to toys that mystify our p...

Episode 89: A Taste of Gothic

25 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Gothic Literature is a genre to be enjoyed, especially at this time of year. Check out this brief summary of one of my favorite genres. ~~LMM

Episode 88: Pride and Prejudice: Jane Austen’s Universal Truths

29 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

I’ve read this novel several times at different stages of my life. I always learn something about human psychology.

Episode 87: "The Giver" by Lois Lowry - Reviewing a Dystopian Novel

10 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Can you imagine not having memories? No emotions, no colors, everything is the same. A dreary existence, right? If you're a fan of dystopian novels, y...

(Bonus) Episode 86: Students' Endings to "An Old-Fashioned Knight and a Damsel in Distress" (12-Nil)

03 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

These students listened to Episode 72 and had to come up with their own unique ending to this tale. I enjoyed listening and was impressed with their c...

Episode 85: Percy Jackson and The Lightning Thief: A Review

27 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Mythology in the modern world, three youngsters out to save the world, what's not to like? With its twists and turns, it's a roller coaster of...

Episode 84: The Chronicles of Narnia: A Review

13 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The first installment was a delight to read; a very straightforward tale. Adults and children alike will enjoy the journey into the land of Narnia. I&...

Episode 83: The Scent of Orange

10 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Memories of food can pop up anytime you're hungry. It's human nature. Oftentimes a scent can trigger the memory of a favorite meal or dessert....

Episode 82: Upon Closing the School Year 2022-2023

24 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

How can one close what has been such a difficult school year? This past year came with a set of circumstances that almost knocked me over! The two son...

Episode 81: Tuesdays with Morrie: On the topic of money

10 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

So many topics were discussed in this novel. One of the most interesting conversations Mitch Albom had with Morrie was on this very universal topic of...

Episode 80: The Empty Chair

10 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

I had nightmares for many weeks after the event. Slowly they began to subside but every time graduation time rolls around I think back and still wonde...

Episode 79: The Twins

17 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Tales about twins abound in literature. Usually they entail an element of mystery. Why do you suppose that is? Probably just humans being human. When ...

Episode 78: The People in Our Lives (a reflective essay)

29 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Why are some people in our lives? There is always some reason but more often than not we just cannot understand their presence until later in life or ...

Episode 77: The Time Keeper Game Show (Group 3)

28 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

As a requirement for the 12th-grade English course, students were required to select a certain portion of Mitch Albom's The Time Keeper to present to ...

Episode 76: The Twelfth Hour

04 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A new year brings a new set of challenges.  For the young couple in the story, it will be doubly challenging. 

Episode 75: Upon Closing Season 3

27 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Season 3 was an eventful one. I shared a number of stories with the students which I thoroughly enjoyed producing. I'm looking forward to creating and...

Episode 74: A Matter of Time

26 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Time: How do we place a value on it? It depends on the society we live in. Some make the best use of it; others woefully waste it. How do we know in w...

Episode 54: Living 'la vida' with Tech (essay)

26 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

I thought it fitting that I end season 2 and the year 2021 with a topic that has impacted our lives in so many ways: technology. Ricky Martin's song "...

Episode 73: Ghosts in the Attic

03 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Can a ghost give off a scent? If you believe, maybe it could. Some memories can simultaneously evoke pain and warm feelings. In this episode, a young ...

Episode 72: An Old-Fashioned Knight and a Damsel in Distress

26 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Medieval legends abound in literature. All a person needs is a bit of imagination and some time on his hands to weave one.  Could this turn into ...

Episode 71: The Sands of Time in Mitch Albom's The Timekeeper

06 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Who doesn't want to stop the hands of time? Even if it's just for a little bit. If you stop them too often, you may miss out on other moments. Life ha...

Episode 70: Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice: Views on Jews

19 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Shakespeare has always covered a wide variety of themes. This play introduces a new one. It's a theme that makes a person wonder about the playwr...

Episode 69: Shirley Jackson's We Have Always Lived in the Castle: A Review

12 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery" and her novel We Have Always Lived in the Castle have several elements in common. The hostility men can show towards o...

Episode 68: What should a Viking Warrior be able to do?

01 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

I did an impromptu survey to find out what some family members and students thought about a Viking warrior.  https://anchor.fm/luisa-molina/messa...

Episode 67: Upon Writing a Viking Tale

20 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Writing a tale of adventure is no easy task. When it involves something historical, even more so. I looked up names to use in my tale, such as Ar...

Episode 66: Wrapping Up Another School Year with Speeches

01 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How do you wrap up an unusual school year? With speeches, of course.  Not your cup of tea? Well, for many, it usually isn't. Delivering a speech ...

Episode 65: Mitch Albom's The Five People You Meet in Heaven - The Fifth Person

26 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Both our time and place on this planet are chosen. What we do with each is on our shoulders.

Episode 64: Mitch Albom's The Five People You Meet in Heaven - The Fourth Person

26 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Love has many shapes and forms. What is love for one person may be something else for another. Some people may not be able to recognize it and let it ...

Episode 63: Mitch Albom's The Five People You Meet in Heaven - The Third person

26 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We say and do so many things out of anger. We let it consume us because we don't want to let it go. As human beings it's difficult. A strong person ma...

Episode 62: Mitch Albom's The Five People You Meet in Heaven - The Second Person

26 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We can sacrifice so many things...time, money, precious heirlooms. The value of each varies from person to person.  

Episode 61: Mitch Albom's The Five People You Meet in Heaven - The First Person

26 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

As children we are totally unaware of what we do that might affect another person. Later on in life we might realize that our acts can be a life-chang...

Episode 60: Treasured Times

13 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Remembering those people who were a significant part of your past is a bittersweet moment. You would like to go back and talk to them but know that it...

Episode 59: I'm only dreaming

07 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Dreaming has long fascinated the human mind or at least that's what I've read. There must have been a time when Man must have questioned how our minds...

Episode 58: Reflections on the Topic of Resolutions Part Two

19 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Another group of students who reflected on resolutions for the new year. Is there hope for this generation? Let's listen to find out. 

Episode 57: Reflections on the Topic of Resolutions Part One

19 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

There was a diversity of thoughts on resolutions for the new year 2022. Listen in on what these students had to say on the topic. 

Episode 56: Resolutions: A Fruitless Effort? (opinion)

08 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Well, it's that time of the year again. A time when we can make a fresh start. Who doesn't want that? To be able to do something different for a new y...

Episode 55: Broken English (memoir)

01 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Sometimes you look back and have to readjust your view of the significant people in your life. Amy Tan's essay on "Mother Tongue" did just that for me...

Episode 53: Lovebirds in the Rain (memoir)

24 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Ah, love! The heart flutters when affected by a sensation that's difficult to describe. Can a person dodge Cupid's arrow? How does one know when love ...

Episode 52: Bram Stoker: Discussions on "The Judge's House"

15 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Students of the Eleventh Grade Advanced Level English Course got into small groups to discuss the oral narratives of Bram Stoker’s ghost story “Th...

Episode 51: The Watching Game (narrative)

30 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Ever wonder what it might be like to be thought of as an object? People pass by you maybe stopping to look but don't see you. As humans we need to int...

Episode 50: The Cottage - A Ghost Story

03 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What do ghost stories have in common? There's always a mystery, of course! Sometimes we find out in the end what happened but we might find it pu...

Episode 49: " Secrets" Part Five: The Recipe

01 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

If you've listened carefully, you'll realize that this story may have a sequel. Could it be a happily ever-after one? Depends on what a person may con...

Episode 48: " Secrets" Part Four: Michael

25 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

When writing a mini-series you get emotionally involved with the characters. You wonder what to do with them because you want your readers (or listene...

Episode 47: " Secrets" Part Three: The Pact

17 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Have I done a decent job of keeping my listeners guessing?  I hope so. I've tried to provide details (hints) as to what might happen in the story...

Episode 46: "Secrets" Part Two: The Book

10 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We discover a bit more in this episode. The mother's name and how she came to find the book of spells. 

Episode 45: Speculations on an Absent Father (Re: "Secrets" Part One)

09 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The theories in response to what happened to the father in "Secrets" (Part One) have been varied and very unusual.  The father has either been ki...

Episode 44: Secrets (Part One)

02 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

My students will have read at least Act One of Arthur Miller's well-known play The Crucible so I decided to make up a narrative about witchcraft. I st...