1. Short Story
Notes & Examples

2. Fiction: escape & interpretation
Escape – written purely for entertainment; takes the reader away from reality
Interpretive – written to broaden, deepen and sharpen our awareness of life
Takes us deeper into the real world
May increase pleasure or understanding
The difference between these two types of literature does not lie in:
Presence/absence of “facts”
Presence/absence of romance
Presence/absence of fantasy

3. Fiction: escape & interpretation Notes, (Cont’d)
Common features of escapist literature:
Sympathetic hero – reader identifies, shares triumphs
Exciting, suspenseful, plot always underway
Happy or “good” outcome
Theme that confirms reader’s world view
Is it bad to like escapist literature or movies?
No! I for one, ONLY like escapist movies. I like to teach interpretive literature, but I generally hate being moved to tears or feeling depressed after watching a film.
Also, I hate it when animals die.

4. Fiction: escape & interpretation (Cont’d)
A story is interpretive to the extent that it truly illuminates some aspect of human life or behavior.
It provides an insight – large or small – into the nature and condition of our existence.
Success is less common than failure
Resonates truth and leads to contemplation
Indeterminate ending … no conclusion reached
Artistic Unity
Nothing irrelevant; everything contributes to total meaning

5. Short Story Literary elements
Plot – sequence of events presented in significant order
Less experienced readers read chiefly for plot
Experienced readers read for revelations of character or life
Conflict – clash of actions, ideas, desires or wills
Man vs. man
Man vs. external force (society, nature, fate)
Man vs. self
Protagonist – central character
Antagonist – force(s) against protagonist
Person, thing, convention, his/her own traits

6. Theme Theme – a controlling idea, central insight
** Not all stories have a theme!**
Theme exists only:
When an author has seriously attempted to record life accurately or to reveal some truth about it
When an author has deliberately introduced as a unifying element some concept or theory or life that the story illuminates
Whatever central generalization about life arises from the specifics of the story constitutes theme. Theme is what gives a story its unity. Theme is often implied. THEME ≠ MORAL
Themes of interpretative stories do NOT often correspond to pretty sentiments found in greeting cards.