1. 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.

2. 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

3. 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

4. ELEMENTS OF A SHORT STORY
Plot
Character
Setting
Point of View
Theme
Tone

5. 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

6. THEME The writer’s... ...message...
...presented through characters and plot. Writer’s point about life or people.

7. PLOT
Introduction
Rising Action
Climax
Falling Action
Resolution

8. 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

9. How does plot hook your curiosity?
Suspense
External
Conflict
Internal
Conflict
Conflict

10. 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