Reading Short Stories

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Reading Short Stories

• A short story is a fictional story short enough
  to be read in one sitting, which concentrates on
  only a few characters and one important event.

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History of the Short Story
Hare and the Tortoise
Oral Tradition

• Fables, myths, and legends

Canterbury Tales

• Bible Stories-Parables

Short Stories

• 1800s

• Length for magazines

• Edgar Allen Poe
• First American Short Story Writer

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TWENTY GREAT AMERICAN SHORT STORIES YOUNG
GOODMAN BROWN -BY - NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE
BARTLEBY THE SCRIVNER - BY - HERMAN MELVILLE AN
OCCURANCE AT OWL CREEK BRIDGE - BY - AMBROSE
BIERCE THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW - BY
WASHINGTON IRVING THE CASK OF ALMONTILLADO - BY
- EDGAR ALLAN POE THE PRIVATE HISTORY OF A
CAMPAIGN THAT FAILED - BY - MARK TWAIN MY
KINSMAN, MAJOR MOLINEUX - BY NATHANIEL HAWTHORN
SCARLET STOCKINGS - BY - LOUISA MAY ALCOTT TO
BUILD A FIRE - BY- JACK LONDON THE PURLOINED
LETTER - BY - EDGAR ALLAN POEREGRET - BY - KATE
CHOPINTHE ECLIPSE - BY - JAMES FENIMORE COOPER A
DARK BROWDOG - BY - STEPHAN CRANE THE IMP OF THE
PERVERSE - BY - EDGAR ALLAN POEON THE GULLS' ROAD
- BY - WILLA CATHER THE LOTTERY - BY - SHIRLEY
JACKSON THE MINISTER'S BLACK VEIL - BY -
NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE THE TELL TALE HEART - BY -
EDGAR ALLAN POE THE MONKEY'S PAW - BY - W. W.
JACOBS SPLIT CHERRY TREE - BY - JESSE STUART
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ELEMENTS OF A SHORT STORY

• Plot
• Character
• Setting
• Point of View
• Theme
• Tone

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Person or animal who takes part in the action
Characters
The action/events centered around a conflict
Plot
Setting
The time/place action occurs
Point of view
Through whose eyes we see the events
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THEME
The writers...
...message...
...presented through characters and plot.
Writers point about life or people.
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PLOT
Introduction
Rising Action
Climax
Falling Action
Resolution
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Elements of Plot

• Exposition introduces character, setting,
  important background, and conflict (initial
  incident)

• Rising action conflict builds as main character
  struggles with the conflict

• Climax turning point when the main character
  makes a decision that will decide the outcome of
  the conflict

• Falling Action shows effects of the climax

• Resolution how the struggle ends for
  character-how it affects character

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How does plot hook your curiosity?
Suspense
External Conflict
Internal Conflict
Conflict
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How to Read a Short Story?

• Read in one sitting
• Experience the single effect humor/mystery/horror
  
• Become familiar with characters feelings and
  motives
• Think about the struggle--- problem and its
  solution