Short Stories

Short Stories What is a short story? How is it different from a novel? What are the essential features of a short story?

Hand out and discuss the grid Literary Terms Grid Hand out and discuss the grid

First Impressions When you form impressions or opinions about people you first meet, what kinds of things do you consider: their looks, clothing, where they are, what they are doing, etc? What do you think people consider about you when they first meet you and form an impression? How would you answer the question ‘Who are you?’. Is there a symbol: sign, picture, article of clothing, etc that you believe represents your identity? Would people know or recognise that symbol as identifying you?

America What is meant by the term inner city? Could you describe the poorer areas you have seen in inner cities in American movies? Who tends to live in the poorer areas? What activities can some young people tend to become involved in if they are poor and / or not well educated? Why do you think some young people turn to crime and or join gangs? What happens to some young people as a result of this?

On the Sidewalk Bleeding Predict what you think this short story might be about.

1st sentence… “The Boy lay on the sidewalk bleeding in the rain 1st sentence… “The Boy lay on the sidewalk bleeding in the rain.” Predictions?

Evan Hunter (1926 -2005) (Né Salvatore Lombino. Also writes as Ed McBain, Hunt Collins, Richard Marsten, Curt Cannon, Ezra Hannon; John Abbott) Best known among crime fiction fans as the creator of the ground-breaking 87th Precinct police procedural series, but also managed to contribute to the P.I genre with Matthew Hope, Ben Smoke, Curt Cannon, Dudley Sledge and others. But his writings go far beyond just the crime genre. Under a slew of pseudonyms, he's written horror, science fiction, melodrama, westerns and children's books. He's written short stories, novels, television shows, films and even a couple of plays, and seen much of his work adapted to both TV and film. In fact, his first large-scale success was the film version of his novel The Blackboard Jungle.

Read the story The first reading is to gain an overall impression of the story only. Underline or highlight unknown words Listen to the story as it is read aloud to gain a first impression and listen for pronunciation, intonation, stress and other vocal features.

Complete the questions on the worksheet Basic Comprehension Complete the questions on the worksheet

Character Investigation When you are asked one of the questions below please reply as though you are that person in the short story. Andy Why did you join the Royals? What kind of a future did you hope to have with Laura? How did you feel when you realised that you were dying? Why did you try so hard to take off your Royals’ jacket?

Character Investigation Freddie – Why didn’t you get help for Andy? Angela – Why wouldn’t you let Freddie help Andy? Old Lady – Why didn’t you help Andy Laura – How did you show that you cared about Andy? The Drunk – Why didn’t you do more to help Andy? The Cop – How did you react when you saw Andy? Do you think you were being fair?

Reading for meaning A story can be read at three different levels Look at the picture attached What can you see? How does the person or people in the picture feel? Who or what could be responsible on a wider level for the situation?

Insert a picture

Andy’s character changes in the story. Write a paragraph showing how and why he changes. How did Andy feel about the Royals when he first joined the gang? How did Andy feel, at first, about the “rumble” which was to lead to his death? How do his feelings towards the gang change near the end of the story? Remember the importance of the jacket as a symbol of the gang.

The writer’s craft The author’s skill helps us to see Andy’s death as an individual tragedy, instead of just another gang killing. Write a paragraph showing how the author has used his skill to gain sympathy for Andy as an individual.

How does Evan Hunter gain our sympathy for Andy? Think about the boy’s age, the senselessness of the stabbing and the boy’s hopes and dreams which, we know, can never come true. Think about the people who could have helped Andy, but didn’t for a variety of reasons. Think about how hard Andy tries to be an individual again at the end of the short story and our sadness when he fails. Don’t forget to include the feelings of Laura and the policeman.

Personal Response ‘On The Sidewalk Bleeding’ by Evan Hunter is an interesting and thought provoking short story. Write a paragraph detailing how you feel about the story. What did you find interesting and why?

Do you think this story was appropriate for your age group? Why? What aspects of the short story kept you wanting to read on? (characters, plot, setting) Did you feel that the author wanted to teach us something about gangs or to give us a message? If so what was his point? Did you feel yourself agreeing with the author’s point of view? Did this short story make you think?

Serious topic Relevant to our lives Realistic characters Humourous drunk Sympathised with Andy Appropriate setting in a dingy alley Policeman’s attitude Sadness Desire to be individual

Conflict Conflict is an important part of any short story. The short story, “On the Sidewalk Bleeding,” contains three major conflicts: man vs. man, man vs. nature, and man vs. himself. The most obvious and simplest struggle in “On the Sidewalk Bleeding” is man vs. man. “He [Andy] had been stabbed ten minutes ago. The knife had entered just below his rib cage and had been drawn across his body violently, tearing a wide gap in his flesh.” This line describes the physical conflicts in “On the Sidewalk Bleeding.” Andy’s struggle with the Guardians involves several fights and rumbles in the past…

Conflict is commonly used in writing Conflict is commonly used in writing. It is a very valuable tool when trying to bring tension, or suspense to a story. It helps make a story more interesting, and can suck a reader in. Evan Hunter portrays three of the different conflicts in the story ‘On The Sidewalk Bleeding’. These three ways are man against man, man against society, and man against self. In this story man against man would probably be the part when Andy was attacked by one of the Guardians, which was a rival gang. Andy was a Royal, and was despised by any Guardian. The Guardian had attacked Andy when he left a dance to go buy cigarettes. “ The knife had entered just below his rib cage and had been drawn across his body violently, tearing a wide gap in his flesh.” Human against society is represented when the people found Andy and they did not help him. First a drunken man found Andy. The drunken man asked Andy why he was laying on the ground, but Andy didn’t answer. The man thought that Andy was drunk too, and thought that he might call a cop.

Handout sheets and discuss Talking Points Handout sheets and discuss

Critical Essay Choose a short story which you found interesting because a character changed his/her ideas and/or opinions towards the end of the story. A brief account of the story An explanation of how and why your chosen character changed An examination of how the author used his/her skills to present the character, and his/her story, in an interesting way Your personal opinions about the story