The document provides an overview of short stories, including their history and structure. It notes that short stories are shorter fictional narratives that are shorter than novels, usually dealing with a few characters and concentrating on mood over plot. The modern short story emerged in the 19th century with authors like Poe, Hawthorne, and Twain. Famous examples given include works by Fitzgerald, Hemingway, and Poe. The structure of short stories is also outlined as being similar to novels but more concise, often focusing on a single event or problem.
2. What is a Short Story?
―An invented prose narrative shorter than a novel
usually dealing with a few characters and dealing
with unity of effect and often concentrating on the
creation of mood rather than plot‖
– Merriam-Webster Dictionary
Same plot structure as a novel, but much, much
shorter
3. History of Short Stories
First verbal stories
Aesop‘s Fables
The Arabian Nights
Modern Short story arrived in the 19th Century
Edgar Allan Poe, Nathaniel Hawthorn, Mark Twain
Term ―Short Story‖ coined in 1887
Famed Short Story Authors
Fitzgerald, Hemmingway, Kipling
4. Famous Short Stories
Edgar Allan Poe
―The Masque of Red Death‖
―And now was acknowledged the presence of the
Red Death. He had come like a thief in the night.
And one by one dropped the revellers in the
blood-bedewed halls of their revel, and died each
in the despairing posture of his fall. And the life of
the ebony clock went out with that of the last of
the gay. And the flames of the tripods expired.
And Darkness and Decay and the Red Death held
illimitable dominion over all.‖
5. Famous Short Stories
Ernest Hemmingway
Hemmingway Challenge
―For sale: baby shoes – never used‖
―Hills like White Elephants‖
―‘It‘s really an awfully simple operation, Jig.‘ the
man said. ‗It‘s not really an operation at all‘
The girl looked at the ground the table legs rested
on.
‗I know you wouldn‘t mind it, Jig. It‘s really not
anything. It‘s just to let the air in.‘
The girl did not say anything.‖
6. Famous Short Stories
F. Scott Fitzgerald
―Tales of the Jazz Age‖
Book of short stories
1920‘s – related
11 stories total
7. Structure of the Short Story
Difference from novel
Length
Shorter than novels
Longest tend to be around 20,000 words
Depth
Often less detailed than novels
Focus on a single event
Can be non-fiction
8. Structure of the Short Story
Introduction
Brings in main character(s)
Gives setting
Introduces main problem
How it differs from a novel
Fewer characters
Less elaborate setting
Only one main problem
9. Structure of a Short Story
Rising Action
Leads from problem to climax
Builds on the problem that was already introduced
How it differs from novel
More direct
Can take place in a very short span of time
10. Structure of a Short Story
Climax
Turning point of the story
Culmination of problem
How it differs from a novel
Often happens very quickly
Can occur in a few words or a single sentence
11. Structure of a Short Story
Falling Action
After effects of climax
Leads to resolution of problem
How it differs from a novel
Point which least differs from novel
Both can occur in a short span of time
Like rising action, can happen quickly
12. Structure of a Short Story
Resolution
Draws story to a close
Resolves problem presented in introduction
How it differs from a novel
Easier to identify
More concise – no ―epilogue‖ formatting
13. A Dying Art Form?
Number of short stories said to be decreasing
Replaced by movies, television
―People are always announcing the demise of
literature, and yet literature somehow keeps on
going, and the support systems for producing it—
writing workshops, M.F.A. programs, etc.—keep
expanding.‖ – Deborah
Treisman, ―The New Yorker‖
14. Short Stories Today
―The Jungle Book‖
Rudyard Kipling
Published in 1894
Series of stories about jungle boy Mogli
Made into different films and inspired TV shows
15. Short Stories Today
―The Curious Case of Benjamin Button‖
F. Scott Fitzgerald
Featured in ―Tales of the Jazz Age‖
Film released in 2008
