In literature and storytelling, various literary devices add depth and complexity to narratives. I incorporate them into my articles from time to time. Now, it’s time to learn about two more. Two such devices are “ eucatastrophe ” and “ deus ex machina ”. You’ve probably come across at least one of these two hard-to-read terms before. Both are used to influence the course of a story, providing pivotal moments that can dramatically affect the characters and the plot . Let’s e

Fantasy novels are like a magical doorway to otherworldly realms . They transport readers into fantastical universes filled with mythical creatures, epic adventures, and extraordinary magic. But what exactly defines these novels, what fuels their allure, and why do people love them so much? At their core, fantasy novels are stories set in imaginary worlds or universes . These worlds can be vastly different from our own, featuring magic, mythical creatures, and unexplored lan

For sale: baby shoes, never worn. This popular six-word story, although the term wasn’t in use during his time, is often cited as an early example of “ flash fiction” by Ernest Hemingway. For a each short story type, I want to provide some information about their required length before I begin the article. Flash fiction , also called minimalist fiction , is a fictional work of extreme brevity that still offers character and plot development. Identified varieties, many of th

Since the title is a bit attention-grabbing, it is always open to debates. And since this is another article you encounter on the internet, there’s no need to take it too seriously if it does not align with your understanding . It is simply a brief approach and my critique. So, contrary thoughts are welcomed as long as they are respectful. Culture is the sum of traditional or modern communal thoughts, behaviors, and creations that are accepted and applied in a society, or at

Particularly in Western culture, October is more commonly associated with spookiness and the Halloween season. The reasons for this association are rooted in historical, cultural, and traditional practices. But why is October considered spooky, rather than other months? Halloween, celebrated on October 31st , is the primary reason for the spookiness associated with this month. This holiday is known for its ghostly and supernatural themes, costumes, haunted houses , and the

Due to my shy and introverted nature, I have never had an opportunity to act or express myself in front of many people. In fact, I have always had a hard time speaking with people when meeting them. However, with time, you get used to the feeling a little bit . Not entirely, but just a bit. Sometimes, even that bit is enough to make a move towards strangers. When I was younger, I tried to push myself to talk to random people who were in the same place as me. This encouraged m

The most published book of all time is, of course, the Bible , made more accessible by Gutenberg’s new approach to book publishing with the printing press. But have you ever wondered what the best-selling books of all time are? Before we go any further, here’s a fun fact: the term “ bestseller ” was first recorded by a local newspaper, “ The Kansas Times & Star ”, in Kansas in 1889, many decades before “ The New York Times ” began using it in 1931. Now, let’s focus on the cur

In 2018, I was at the peak of my reading habit. In the midst of this determination, I decided to try something I’d always wanted to do: create a reading challenge for myself that would last until I got tired of it. My original plan was to read as many books as I could throughout the year, but after a while I realised that adding a challenge might make things more interesting. So I decided to make it official in my own way. I called it “5 Books in 5 Days” and posted on Insta

Mathematics is the language of the universe and we can apply it in various fields. Statistics , as one of its branches, is instrumental in understanding the concepts through collected data. When these data show certain results, they can take the form of a formula or a law. In linguistics, one such law is called “Zipf’s Law”, also known as “the Zipfian Distribution” or “the principle of least effort”. It is a statistical principle often observed in various fields, includin

Children’s stories are special. In fact, they can be harder to work with than any other stories. They can capture the hearts of young and old alike with their simple yet powerful messages. Two great examples are “The Little Prince” by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry and “My Sweet Orange Tree” by José Mauro de Vasconcelos . I’d like to use them as examples because these stories are loved by both children and adults. I used to enjoy them and I still do. These stories can be enjoyed

Imagine you’re watching your favourite film, playing a video game or exploring a piece of software when you suddenly stumble upon an unexpected clue, a hint, a hidden message or even a playful inside joke . These are called “Easter eggs” , and hidden treasures await those who seek them out. Though often associated with the digital world, Easter eggs are more than just pixelated secrets — they are delightful surprises that transcend various forms of media and creativity. East

Everyone in the world has their own personal problems, illnesses and complications . Whether they seem serious or not, these challenges affect our lives in different ways. Consequently, these problems need solutions. Traditional treatments are not always effective. That’s alright; sometimes a new approach is needed . That’s why I want to stress the importance of reading and writing. This may sound unusual to you. “How can they be a solution to my problems?” Well, while they

As human beings, we love reading or hearing stories. This behavior will never change, as it is a part of our curiosity. No matter how exciting, frightening, shocking or even boring they may be, we tend to listen to stories, at least in part. However, due to reading, these stories become a part of life and create their own culture. Reading and writing novels have always been a trend, no matter which period of history we are talking about. Therefore, we encounter some of these

Even though many of them were boring to read when we were children, there are timeless world classics and we appreciate them. However, it was always a struggle to read and understand these world classics when our teachers assigned them as homework. But they were necessary. There must be a reason why they are timeless novels. Well, there is a reason, and it can only be understood by reading them. Now I would like to talk about their meaning and the lessons behind them. 1. “War

In a world with over 7,000 spoken languages , communication can be both a bridge and a barrier. As human beings, we are naturally drawn to understanding each other, and sometimes we create new tools, called languages and dialects, to facilitate that understanding. Among these, Esperanto , a constructed language, stands out as a beacon of linguistic innovation. Constructed languages, or conlangs, are languages that are deliberately created rather than evolving naturally over

Reading is a fundamental skill that opens doors to a world of knowledge, imagination and self improvement . But reading isn’t just about skimming through pages; it’s about understanding, retaining and engaging with the material. If you find that what you read often slips from your memory, do not worry. It’s all right, because things can be complicated or we just can’t remember everything we read. Photo by Matias North on Unsplash However, I can give you some of my various ef

In the dimly lit halls of American literature, one name stands out as a harbinger of chilling tales — Howard Phillips Lovecraft , affectionately known as H.P. Lovecraft . As we celebrate the centenary of some of his most iconic works, let’s talk about his gift to the literary world. Born on 20 August 1890 , Lovecraft led a relatively reclusive life, often plagued by health problems and financial difficulties. His early years were marked by a deep love of classic literature, p

As we bid farewell to the vibrant days of summer and welcome the darkened hues of autumn, many of us experience a subtle shift in our moods. This seasonal transformation, while celebrated by some for its cozy ambiance and pumpkin-spiced everything, can be challenging for others. Here is the period of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) , where the changing seasons might leave a temporary mark on our emotional well-being. Throughout the year, our bodies and minds are attuned to

In a culture, language is the most important and powerful tool for emphasising its values. It evolves over time through the experiences of the community, just as we evolve in our own lives. In fact, we observe this evolution by adding newly coined words to our personal vocabularies each year. Some of these words may seem strange, annoying, useful or of limited use, but they all leave their mark on many minds during that year. In 2022, for example, the Oxford Dictionary chose

In a time long past, in a world only he could conceive, there lived a man whose imagination knew no bounds. After 50 years of passing away on September 2nd, we are commemorating him. His name, dear readers, was John Ronald Reuel Tolkien , and his existence was a testament to the magic of storytelling. Photo by Lance Chang on Unsplash He was a philologist , a master of languages, and a scholar of ancient tongues. But his brilliance extended far beyond the dusty pages of acade