Short
Stories
Characteristics:
·
Read in 1 sitting;
effect achieved by reading w/o stopping
·
Cover different
time spans:
Hours (“Salvation”); Years (“Sleeping Beauty”)
· Involve a conflict/struggle: “Salvation”? “Samuel”?
1. man against man (individual or society)
2. man against nature
3. man against self
·
Have a specific
message regarding the human condition that applies to everyone, not just the
characters: THEME
THEME: A specific
message about a phenomenon with which we are all familiar (i.e. loneliness; guilt). The message applies to everyone, not just the
characters in the story.
Example:
Phenomenon: Peer Pressure (NOT a message yet)
Theme: Succumbing to peer
pressure brings about loss.
*Everything
in the story contributes to the theme
*Shows
message (never stated; illustrated)
(not told: stand up
to pressure; think before we act)
All short stories
share basic elements. Exploring these
will heighten understanding of the stories so you can analyze them:
·
Plot (with
conflict, foreshadowing & irony)
·
Characterization
(w/ protagonist/antagonist & tragic flaw)
·
Setting
·
Symbolism
·
Point of View
·
Theme=Phenomenon +
Specific Message