THE SHORT STORY

What is a short story?

A short story is a fictional narrative brief enough to be completed during a single hearing or reading.

Short stories date back to oral story-telling traditions which produced ancient epics, fables, and folk tales.

The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer is a 14th century collection of short stories which combine to tell a larger story.

Grimm’s Fairy Tales (1824-1826) paved the way for the development of short stories as a genre.

In the late 19th century, the growth of print magazines and journals created a strong demand for fiction between 3,000 and 15,000 words.

Around the same time, the first literary theories about the short story appeared.

Edgar Allan Poe developed one of the first of these theories, The Philosophy of Composition, ( 1846 ) which is considered by many to be one of the most influential.

Edgar Allan Poe and the “Prose Tale”

Edgar Allan Poe, 1809-1849

Poet, short story writer, editor and critic (Editor, Southern Literary Messenger, 1835-1837)

Supporter of magazine literature

Poe was a pioneer in short fiction. He was one of the first American writers to write short stories.

Poe is credited with inventing the modern detective story.

One of Poe’s most important contributions to American Literature was his support of the short story as a serious genre.

He insisted that short fiction was equally as important to literature as the novel or poetry. His support of short fiction led to its rise to prominence in later years.

Was a champion of “art for art’s sake” and criticized writers whose work was intentionally moralistic.

Known as the father of detective fiction; influenced early science fiction writers; inspired creator of Sherlock Holmes.

What makes a short story a short story?

According to Poe’s essay, there are some specific elements in a short story.

LENGTH

Poe believed that literary works should be short enough to be read in one sitting.

Most scholars define the length of a short story as no shorter than 1000 words, and no longer than 20,000.

METHOD

Poe believed that a work of fiction should be written only when the writer knows how it will end.

“UNITY OF EFFECT”

Poe also believed that a writer should not write an work of fiction until he was sure what emotional response he wants to create for the reader.

ACTION

According to Poe, a story in which nothing happens “is an absolute impossibility.” In other words, action --- the plot --- is vital in a short story.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

Short stories usually do not have more than TWO or THREE characters.

SETTING

The setting of a short story generally does not change. Setting is used to enhance the story.

“In medias res…”

Short stories begin “in the middle of the action. Something has already happened to bring a character to the point where he is when we meet him.

CHARACTERIZATION

The writer “shows” character development (INDIRECT CHARACTERIZATION) through the character’s words and actions… rather than tells about it (DIRECT CHARACTERIZATION)

SURPRISE ENDINGS

Sometimes an ending is ironic (unexpected), or surprising. O. Henry was a master of this! More on him later.

NO WASTE!

Every character, word, and action is essential to the plot.

Not even time is wasted --- the action takes place in the shortest possible time.

“… AND THEY LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER.”

Well, not always. But if the writer follows Poe’s theory, and knows where he is going before he gets there… the ending is usually satisfying.