Short Story

First Definition of the short story

Edgar Allen Poe

single sitting, ca 10.000 words, one plot location, unity of effect

The iceberg principle

visible surface, hidden meaning, reader’s interpretation

Theory of Omnission

by Ernest Hemingway

leaving out details, implied meaning, active reader

Structure of a short story

Exposition, Rising action, Climax, Falling action, Resolution

Origin

middle 19th century USA

growth of print magazines and journals (space for short stories)

Edgar Allen Poe 1809-1849

Characteristics Elements

one sitting, concentration on one c, situation bla,

not fully developed, single aspect undergoes change

Types of short stories

Slice of Life: one aspect of everyday life

Coming-of-age: process of growing → adolescent stuff

The narrative

focuses on one main event, elementary human experience, foreshadowing

Narrated Time

Time covered by the story, compressed

Setting

= time and place, no great detail, name indicates, no change in location

Characters

limited number of major once, no deep background, express themselves → characterization, change after realization