Lit Fest 2025

Animals? Don’t they usually belong in children’s fiction or young adult classics? Talking animals? Now we’re in the realm of fantasy. But animals can add depth and character engagement in literary fiction, as well—as embodiments of the natural forces we generally consign to “setting,” or as mirrors to our humanity, or as companionship when a character is otherwise alone and inert in terms of action. In this seminar, we'll explore how to incorporate the animal world—with varying degrees of consciousness—into our stories by examining great literature and discussing our own relations with the rest of the kingdom.