Osher Lifelong Learning Institute

Courses

Literature

Courses & Events

Laura Ingalls Wilder: From the Prairie to the Page

Load up the wagon - we're headed back in time to delve into the life and times of beloved children's author Laura Ingalls Wilder. From her birth in the Big Woods of Wisconsin to her brief time on the Kansas prairie and her family's travels in the West, Wilder's books have delighted children for generations and spawned televisions shows, musicals, merchandise and scholarly conferences. We'll unpack the complicated legacy of Wilder's works and how they can still help us have conversations about our nation's past.


Instructor Bio: Michelle M. Martin is a Michigander by birth and a Kansas and Oklahoman by choice. Martin earned her doctorate in history at the University of New Mexico. Her research probes interracial marriage, gender, race and power in the Mvskoke Nation in Indian Territory from 1870 - 1897.


March 14-28, 2026, Online

Poetry, Art and Philosophy: New Approaches to Abraham and Isaac

The story of Abraham's near-sacrifice of his son Isaac is one of the most well-known in the Bible. In this interactive online discussion class, we'll first read and discuss the text and then look at a number of paintings of the scene by different artists. Then we'll delve into the Christian philosopher Soren Kierkegaard's "Fear and Trembling," his book devoted exclusively to this story. Next, we'll explore the ways modern poets have used the imagery of this story in their work. Finally, we'll focus on Sarah, using both ancient and modern Jewish commentary. What did she know about her husband almost killing their son, when did she know it and how did this incident affect her? Advance reading is not required; all source materials will be provided during class.


Instructor Bio: Sarah Rosenson holds a bachelor's degree from Georgetown University, a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a master's degree in Jewish Studies from the Spertus Institute. She practiced law, and then taught classes on ethics, philosophy and world religions at a private high school. She currently teaches adults both in-person and on various online platforms, including several Osher classes.


January 15-29, 2026, Online

Shakespeare's "Hamlet"

Shakespeare wrote plays to entertain the contemporaries of his time - audiences who shared a common set of cultural values and knowledge, which are embedded in the text of his plays. To see his plays, one had to go to the theatre, watch, listen and participate in the drama before them. Four hundred years later, we live in a radically different culture. To enjoy and be "entertained" by Shakespeare's plays, a few of those Elizabethan norms are integral to understand. Key cultural elements of plays will be presented in brief lectures, which will allow shared cultural concepts to be "seen" more easily within the plays. This, in turn, should allow the plays to be more engaging, as they were to Shakespeare's original audience. As time and energy allow, most of the class discussion will be based upon a close reading of, talking about and enjoying "Hamlet." Prepare to be entertained and enlivened by Shakespeare's art and insights into his world as well as our own.


Instructor Bio: Michael E. Cooley is a retired professor. He taught courses on Shakespeare for 20 years, various writing genres (creative, analytical/argumentative, advanced essay) for 33 years, as well as interdisciplinary honors courses. Michael taught at the University of Georgia, University of Louisville, Emporia State University and Berry College. He works to involve class members in active engagement with course content, to enjoy and celebrate the many pleasures of learning and to discuss the ways literature and art enliven the experience of life.


March 3-24, 2026, St Andrews Classroom

The Many Sides of Sam Clemens and Mark Twain

Samuel Clemens had several pen names before he settled on the name by which he is best known: Mark Twain. In a sense, Clemens and Twain were two personalities embodied in one life. Twain grew up in Missouri, traveled the world and settled in Connecticut. Over the course of his life, he wrote short humorous stories, historical novels, fantasies and essays on social, religious, philosophical, literary and political issues. He worked in mines and on steamboats. Twain was one of the most popular public performers of his era. He was both a man of the people and friend of the elite. His work has at various times been censored for different reasons by different factions of American culture. Yet his works continue to be read; biographers continue to write about him. He suffered personal tragedies and received public acclaim. Join us to investigate the many sides of the man sometimes acclaimed as the "Father of American Literature." If you only know Twain from humorous quotations and "Huckleberry Finn," you'll be amazed by the scope and complexity of his life and thoughts. He was a man who contained multitudes. Think of this course not as a literary critique or complete academic biography but, rather, a chance to get to know and be entertained by one of America's first "standup comics" and great literary figures.


Instructor Bio: James Gaither, Th.D., holds a master's degree in philosophy from the University of Kansas and a doctorate from Holos University Graduate Seminary. For over 25 years he has taught courses on the history of Western thought, world religions, metaphysics and ethics and is currently "semi-retired."


February 10-24, 2026, Tallgrass Creek Retirement Community In Person
March 24, 2026 to April 7, 2026, KU Edwards Campus, Regnier Hall & Online
April 21, 2026 to May 5, 2026, Beacon Mental Health (Clay County)

Understanding George Orwell: His Life and Legacy


This two-session course explores the life and works of George Orwell, a pivotal 20th-century writer known for his sharp critiques of totalitarianism, class inequality and political corruption. First, we'll delve into Orwell's life, from his upbringing in British India to his formative experiences in Burma, the Spanish Civil War and World War II. We'll connect these moments, which shaped his political views and literary voice, to his early works, such as "Down and Out in Paris and London" and "The Road to Wigan Pier."


The second session shifts focus to Orwell's most iconic works, "Animal Farm" and "1984." We'll explore their themes of power, propaganda and societal control, discussing their relevance to modern political and digital landscapes. The session also examines Orwell's influential essays, including "Politics and the English Language," and his enduring legacy as a writer and thinker. Through discussions and reflections, you'll gain a deeper understanding of Orwell's contributions to literature and his resonance in contemporary times.


Instructor bio: Vic Peterson is the author of "The Berserkers" (Hawkwood 2022/Recital 2023), set in a fictional Nordic country. He worked as a business executive and now divides his time between Lawrence, Kansas, and Northport, Michigan.


January 15-29, 2026, KU Edwards Campus, Regnier Hall & Online