Accessibility links

Skip to content
Accessibility Help

Home
News
Sport
Weather
iPlayer
Sounds
Bitesize
CBeebies
CBBC
Food

Home
News
Sport
Business
Innovation
Culture
Travel
Earth
Video
Live

Home
News
Sport
Weather
iPlayer
Sounds
Bitesize
CBeebies
CBBC
Food

Home
News
Sport
Business
Innovation
Culture
Travel
Earth
Video
Live

.sc-c-sounds-nav { position: relative; } .sc-c-sounds-nav__menu-button { display: none; } .sc-c-sounds-nav__items { max-height: 500px; visibility: visible; position: static; } .sc-c-sounds-nav__overlay { display: none; } @media screen and (max-width: 659px) { .sc-c-sounds-nav__wrapper { padding-bottom: 0px; } .sc-c-sounds-nav__wordmark-link { padding-bottom: 18px; } }

Sounds home page

Home
Music
Podcasts
My Sounds

The Why Factor - Poetry - BBC Sounds

The Why Factor - Poetry - BBC Sounds

PoetryPoetry

Released On: 15 Nov 2014

Available for over a year

Why do we read, or write poetry, as opposed to prose?

Programme Website

Coming Up Next

now playing
The Why Factor
Poetry
Why do we read, or write poetry, as opposed to prose?
17 mins
The Why Factor
Letters
The disappearing art of the hand-written letter and three stories of love
17 mins
The Why Factor
Cookery
Why do we cook food rather than just eat it raw?
17 mins
The Why Factor
Nudity
Why does the naked human form provoke such strong reactions?
17 mins
The Why Factor
Sharing
Why do we share? And, what happens inside our brains when we do?
17 mins
The Why Factor
Perfume
Why do we use perfume and what does it say about us?
17 mins
The Why Factor
Honour
People have fought for it and died for it. Why is this notion so powerful?
17 mins
The Why Factor
The Moon
Why has the moon fascinated humans from every culture and for all time?
17 mins
The Why Factor
Portrait Photography
Why do we want to capture human faces?
17 mins
The Why Factor
Loyalty
Mike Williams asks why are we loyal, and who are we really loyal to?
17 mins
The Why Factor
Why Do We Fly Flags?
From identity symbols to signalling tools, why human societies are fascinated by flags
17 mins
The Why Factor
Sad Music
Sad music has become more popular according to a recent study. Why do people listen to it?
17 mins
The Why Factor
Why are watches enduring status symbols?
Watches have been an indicator of status since their invention. Mike Williams asks why
17 mins
The Why Factor
Rejecting Riches
Why do some people give the vast majority of their money away?
17 mins
The Why Factor
Chasing Riches
Why do the rich want to get richer? What drives the wealthy to want more?
17 mins
The Why Factor
Skyscrapers
Mike Williams asks why we build tall buildings
17 mins
The Why Factor
Crime Fiction
Why do we love stories about criminals and the people who bring them to justice?
17 mins
The Why Factor
Forgetting
Why do we lose our memories, and why are there are some things we can not forget?
17 mins
The Why Factor
Death Penalty
Why more than 50 countries around the world still execute certain criminals
17 mins
The Why Factor
The Refugee Journey
At the mercy of people smugglers, how do refugees make their often perilous journeys?
17 mins
The Why Factor
Suicide
Every year, across the world, around a million people take their own lives. But why?
17 mins
The Why Factor
Daydreaming
Does everyone’s mind wander? And why do we do it?
17 mins
The Why Factor
The Circus
How did modern circuses develop? And why do they appeal to adults and children worldwide?
17 mins
The Why Factor
Animals Are Us?
Why do people try and project human qualities onto animals?
17 mins
The Why Factor
Jargon
Why do we use jargon?
17 mins
The Why Factor
Collecting
What does collecting of inanimate objects bring to our lives?
17 mins
The Why Factor
Television
Why does television have such a powerful influence on our lives?
17 mins
The Why Factor
The Y Chromosome
How the Y chromosome transforms a female embryo to a male one
17 mins
The Why Factor
Blue Jeans
Why do blue jeans have such global appeal?
17 mins
The Why Factor
The Evolution of Beards
How did beards evolve and what is their purpose?
17 mins
The Why Factor
Why do we Draw?
What makes us draw, how do we get good at it and what do we reveal through our drawings?
17 mins

Cymraeg
Gaeilge
Gàidhlig

BBC Sounds Help
Contacts, Privacy and Information
Help with Signing In
Newsletter

Explore the BBC

Home
News
Sport
Weather
iPlayer
Sounds
Bitesize
CBeebies
CBBC
Food

Home
News
Sport
Business
Innovation
Culture
Travel
Earth
Video
Live

Terms of Use
About the BBC
Privacy Policy
Privacy Policy
Cookies
Cookies
Accessibility Help
Parental Guidance
Contact the BBC
Make an editorial complaint
BBC emails for you
Advertise with us

Copyright © 2025 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.