Explore how authors from Mark Twain to Jonathan Swift have used humor and satire as powerful tools for social critique. Learn the difference between a simple joke and a jester’s gambit in our deep dive into the serious business of literary comedy.
Explore how authors from Mark Twain to Jonathan Swift have used humor and satire as powerful tools for social critique. Learn the difference between a simple joke and a jester’s gambit in our deep dive into the serious business of literary comedy.
Dive into the rich literary history of the human-animal bond. From ancient fables to modern novels, discover how animals in literature reflect, challenge, and deepen our understanding of humanity.
Learn the secrets of suspense & tension in storytelling! Explore techniques writers & filmmakers use (like dramatic irony & pacing) to create edge-of-your-seat moments.
Explore the profound impact of censorship on literature and freedom of expression. Learn about its different forms, consequences, and the enduring spirit of writers.
Explore the transformative power of literature in challenging societal norms. Discover engaging articles, quizzes, listening and vocabulary sections, and interactive word games that deepen your understanding and spark critical reflection.
Explore the portrayal of mental health in literature, from classic works to modern stories, and discover how literature mirrors society’s evolving understanding of mental well-being.
Discover the beauty of lyrical poetry, where language becomes art and emotion takes center stage. Explore how lyrical poems connect with readers on a deep emotional level, creating timeless echoes in literature.
Discover how literature has historically influenced social movements and inspired activism, from classic novels to modern writings that challenge injustice and inspire change.
Explore the timeless pattern of the Hero’s Journey in literature, from its origins to its relevance in contemporary storytelling. Understand the significance of this narrative structure, debunk myths, and test your knowledge with a quiz.
As 2025 comes to a close, we look at the transition from holiday magic to ordinary reality. Through stories set in a nursing home in Buenos Aires, a dark river in the Amazon, and a drought-stricken well in Turkana, we ask: How do we keep the music playing when the orchestra stops?
And finally, we look to the day after. The bells have stopped ringing, the guests have gone, and the wax has hardened on the table. We often treat the holiday spirit like a decoration—something to be packed away in a box until next year. But what if the kindness, the open doors, and the shared bread were not a seasonal performance, but a blueprint for how to live? In this final reflection, we ask what it means to carry the light of the feast into the famine of the ordinary days ahead.
Why does the holiday “high” fade so fast? Discover the science of the Hedonic Treadmill and learn how to build a structural foundation of gratitude that lasts beyond New Year’s.
Why do we fear the dark? Explore the spiritual and psychological meaning of the Winter Solstice. Learn why “dormancy” is necessary for growth and how to find peace in the longest night of the year.
In the drought-stricken lands of Turkana County, the sun is a hammer and water is more precious than gold. Zola, a young woman from the Turkana tribe, walks miles to the only working well, knowing it sits on the dangerous borderlands of the enemy Pokot tribe. When she arrives, she is not alone. A woman from the opposing tribe is already there. With no men and no guns—just two women and a rusted, heavy pump handle—they face a choice: hold onto the history of war, or work together to survive the day.
Why limit kindness to December? Discover the psychology of the “Holiday Container” and learn practical strategies to carry the spirit of generosity, patience, and gathering into the rest of the year.