What Makes a Short Story Short
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- Category: English: Novels
- Date Submitted: 04/26/2016 02:47 AM
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What Makes a Short Story Short?
ABSTRACT
Emerging from earlier oral story-telling traditions in the 17th century, the short
story grew into a formal literary form in the 19th century. As a new literary genre,
short story is by no means a condensed novel, and it is quite distinct from novel. With
the very brief form, it attracts the readers deeply. But what makes a short story short?
To answer this question, this paper will analyze the elements that makes a short story
short, from the following three aspects: its concise language, narrow content and the
writers’ unique designs.
Key words: Short Story; Shortness; Concise Language; Narrow Content; Writers’
Designs
Chapter One Introduction
Emerging from earlier oral story-telling traditions in the 17th century, the short
story grew into a formal literary form in the 19th century. Elizabeth Bowen once
claimed, "The short story is young, just as a child in this century". As a new literary
genre, short story is by no means a condensed novel, and it is quite distinct from novel.
The short story is a genre that allows us to see big things through small ones. And due
to the limited space, the author cannot narrate the whole life of someone or the
transition of the society as Tolstoy did in War and Peace. However, the short story is
still largely favored, so definitely we can say that the short story has its own glamour.
Just as Allan Poe said, one short story should be finished in one sitting. A short story
can only reveal one piece of the reality and one moment of life, but by which we are
able to obtain an impression of the whole. That is the charm of short story. With the
very brief form, it attracts the readers deeply. But what makes a short story short? To
answer this question, this paper will analyze the elements that makes a short story
short, from the following three aspects: its concise language, narrow content and the
writers’ unique design.
Chapter Two Concise Language
The...
ABSTRACT
Emerging from earlier oral story-telling traditions in the 17th century, the short
story grew into a formal literary form in the 19th century. As a new literary genre,
short story is by no means a condensed novel, and it is quite distinct from novel. With
the very brief form, it attracts the readers deeply. But what makes a short story short?
To answer this question, this paper will analyze the elements that makes a short story
short, from the following three aspects: its concise language, narrow content and the
writers’ unique designs.
Key words: Short Story; Shortness; Concise Language; Narrow Content; Writers’
Designs
Chapter One Introduction
Emerging from earlier oral story-telling traditions in the 17th century, the short
story grew into a formal literary form in the 19th century. Elizabeth Bowen once
claimed, "The short story is young, just as a child in this century". As a new literary
genre, short story is by no means a condensed novel, and it is quite distinct from novel.
The short story is a genre that allows us to see big things through small ones. And due
to the limited space, the author cannot narrate the whole life of someone or the
transition of the society as Tolstoy did in War and Peace. However, the short story is
still largely favored, so definitely we can say that the short story has its own glamour.
Just as Allan Poe said, one short story should be finished in one sitting. A short story
can only reveal one piece of the reality and one moment of life, but by which we are
able to obtain an impression of the whole. That is the charm of short story. With the
very brief form, it attracts the readers deeply. But what makes a short story short? To
answer this question, this paper will analyze the elements that makes a short story
short, from the following three aspects: its concise language, narrow content and the
writers’ unique design.
Chapter Two Concise Language
The...