1. MODERN SHORT STORIES: Let’s explore this genre…

2. What is a modern short story, and how is it different than a novel?  Short stories are a newer literary genre; the modern short story dates from the early nineteenth century.  A short story is fictional prose or narrative usually depicting a single incident, which is unlike most novels where multiple incidents occur in the plot development.  Because short stories develop single incidents, they are shorter in length than a novel. They can be the response to the age-old question, “Tell me a story.”

3. Why do we study modern short stories?  We study short stories because they provide the perfect reading experience for learning how to analyze and evaluate literature – short stories economize, using less time and words than a novel.  Short stories include all the literary elements essential to quality literature; we can utilize this genre to develop reading comprehension and literary analysis skills we will use when we read novels.  We can hold all the parts easily in our mind, like a hand of playing cards, while unwrapping the single message or moral of the story.

4. How are we going to study short stories? By setting our goals/purpose for reading, which is: 1. To read actively, finding real world connections 2. To enjoy the experience of a well-told story In order to read actively, you need to be asking yourself the following as you read: 1. Which literary elements am I able to identify independently, and which ones do I need help finding? 2. Does this text help me understand my world, neighbors, and self better? Why/why not?

5. What are our expectations as readers of short stories?  To discover literary elements; they will help us analyze and evaluate the story  To make real world connections – short stories give us a “slice of life”  To find the author’s message  To enjoy the pleasure of reading a well- told story

6. Are you ready to get started?  What are some helpful first steps in the process of reading short stories?  Ask yourself, “What do I already know about the story?” “Does the title give me a clue?”  Research background information about the author and the time period in which the story was written. This provides context for the reading experience.  Look up unfamiliar words – “words to know” - in order to increase your vocabulary and your understanding of the story.

7. What do you know?  Analyze the title  Think about the title of the short story, and, knowing the background information (context, Zeitgeist, about the author) try to guess what the story is about…