Holes & Goals:A Short Study of the Short Story

By Stefanie Wells

Why Short Stories?

• Past emphasis on novels

• Short stories prevalent in curriculum

• Exposure to a wide variety– Writing styles– Genres– Multicultural literature

Essential Questions• What defines the genre of the short story and

what are its origins?

• What makes a short story “great”?

• What are some common themes among short stories that are often taught?

• Why teach short stories?

Enduring Understandings

• Short stories are extremely varied, but are typically characterized by a sense of artistic whole.

• Commonly taught short stories often have widely applicable themes and incite more questions than they answer.

• Short stories can be used to teach a variety of literary concepts and to expose students to a wide assortment of authors and writing styles.

What stories did I read?• “The Tell-Tale Heart,” by Edgar

Allan Poe• “The Cask of Amontillado,” by

Edgar Allan Poe• “Hills Like White Elephants,” by

Ernest Hemingway• “The Lottery,” by Shirley

Jackson• “Harrison Bergeron,” by Kurt

Vonnegut, Jr.• “The Gift of the Magi,” by O.

Henry• “Where Are You Going, Where

Have You Been?” by Joyce Carol Oates

• “The Necklace,” by Guy de Maupassant

• “The Open Window,” by Saki• “Thank You, Ma’am,” by

Langston Hughes• “The Looking Glass,” by

Anton Chekhov• “Just Lather, That’s All,” by

Hernando Téllez• “The South,” by Jorge Luis

Borges• “The Ones Who Walk Away

from Omelas,” by Ursula K. LeGuin

Favorite Resource• “Just Lather, That’s All,” by Hernando Téllez

• Intensity of a moment

• Inner conflict

• Question of morality

• Applicable beyond story

• Ending prompts reconsideration

Overview of Products

• Short Story Theme Journal

• Pecha Kucha about Short Stories

• Original Short Story

• Poe Mobile

What I’ve learned/been reminded about English/Language Arts

• Exposure to a variety of new (for me) authors and texts

• Greatness in writing can be achieved in many different ways

• Sometimes what is left unsaid is more powerful than what is said

• Stories help us to put the world in perspective, to see through the eyes of others, and to reflect on ourselves

Myself as a Learner

• Active learning– Short stories vs. sources on the short story– Creating my own story

• Social learning– Discussion as a processing aid

• Mulling it over– Rereading, reflecting

Making Short Stories Accessible to Students

• Include a diverse selection of stories

• Connect story themes to student lives

• Have students write stories

• Discussion!!!

Continuing my study…• Read more short stories!– Melville, Tolstoy, Asimov, Mansfield, O’Connor

• What are good ways to introduce short stories when teaching?

• How do teachers decide what to emphasize when teaching a specific short story?– Time limitations

• What are strategies to help students write their own short stories?