Short stories are a form of fictional prose that typically focuses on a single character or a small group of characters. They are known for their brevity and ability to convey a powerful message in a short amount of time. Short stories often explore complex themes ...Read More
Brief Description of Short Story
Short stories are a form of fictional prose that typically focuses on a single character or a small group of characters. They are known for their brevity and ability to convey a powerful message in a short amount of time. Short stories often explore complex themes and emotions, making them a valuable literary form for both writers and readers.
Importance of Writing Essays on This Topic
Writing essays about short stories allows students and writers to closely analyze the elements of storytelling, character development, and thematic exploration. It helps to develop critical thinking and analytical skills, as well as the ability to express ideas and interpretations effectively. Additionally, exploring short stories through essays can deepen one's understanding of human experiences and societal issues.
Tips on Choosing a Good Topic
- Consider the themes: Choose a topic that explores a specific theme or idea presented in the short story.
- Character analysis: Focus on the analysis of a particular character's development, motives, or conflicts within the short story.
- Narrative techniques: Explore the narrative structure, point of view, or symbolism used in the short story to craft an engaging topic.
Essay Topics
1. Argumentative
Essay Topics
- The impact of symbolism in "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson.
- Exploring moral dilemmas in "The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar Allan Poe.
2. Reflective
Essay Topics
- How "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman portrays mental illness.
- The use of irony and satire in "A Good Man is Hard to Find" by Flannery O'Connor.
3. Comparative
Essay Topics
- Contrasting the themes of love and loss in "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry and "The Necklace" by Guy de Maupassant.
- Comparing the use of setting and atmosphere in "Hills Like White Elephants" by Ernest Hemingway and "The Storm" by Kate Chopin.
Concluding Thought
Exploring short stories through essay writing offers a unique opportunity to delve into the complexities of human experiences, societal issues, and the art of storytelling. By choosing engaging topics and critically analyzing the elements of short stories, writers and students can gain a deeper appreciation for the power of this literary form.
The following essay will be based on the short story ‘Let's go to Golgotha’ by Gary Kilworth (1979). The story is about a family from the future that travels back in time to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Before the family went on a trip,...
In William Faulkner’s short story, “Barn Burning,” a possible theme that could be interpreted is how strong loyalty to one’s family can be, no matter the details of the dynamics, but also the moral dilemma of how stressing that loyalty is to uphold. The short...
The two shorts stories, “Everything that rises must converge” by Flannery O’Connor and “Babylon revisited’ by F. Scott Fitzgerald both integrate the element of fiction and history to portray the various themes and messages in the story. Fiction means things that are not factual or...
Walker Brothers Cowboy, a short story written by Alice Munro, presents the pivotal (and perhaps formative) experience of a young, unnamed, female narrator. Munroe filters the girl’s visual and olfactory-enriched memories through the present tense thoughts of a markedly matured voice, creating a nostalgic effect...
It is Joyce’s use of voyeurism that most characterizes the erotic in “The Dead,” “The Boarding House,” “Two Gallants,” and “Araby.” Eroticism is strongly driven by mystery and suspense. By creating a passive individual experiencing sexuality without actual contact, Joyce can use every aspect of...
In the short story “The Blossoming of Bongbong,” the main character, Bongbong, moves to America with big hopes to reshape his life and achieve success. This vague notion of the American dream leads to Bongbong’s desire for the quintessential, yet seemingly paradoxical American life: a...
Introduction In Katherine Mansfield’s “The Garden-Party,” the socioeconomically-derived false consciousness discussed by Michael Bell in “The Metaphysics of Modernism” initially blinds the protagonist Laura from viewing the world in any context outside of her household. While the story’s pivotal actions do not change Laura’s physical...
“Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process, he does not become a monster, and if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.” These immortal words spoken by Nineteenth-Century philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche sum up the...
In his short tale “The Overcoat,” Nikolai Gogol has unfolded tragedies as well as satirical jokes by imagining a wide range of roles an overcoat can fulfill within an oppressive, bureaucratic, and heavily materialistic society. Without loss of humor, he has shown his reader different...
Death can have different meanings to a person. Sometimes people get joy from it and most of the times they do not. Most widows would respond in a sorrowful way towards their husband’s death, but Louise responded in a untroubled mannered. The main character gets...
In literature, authors set the main characters up for different challenges that they will have to overcome throughout the story. Many of these stories have similar conflicts that can be compared and contrasted to one another. Made-to-order essay as fast as you need it Each...
In life, one must realize that it is impossible to be perfect, and so there are always going to be things that one will regret. Modernist author, F. Scott Fitzgerald, in his short story, “Babylon Revisited”, tells the story of a man who has made...
As readers, we have this assumption that a story has to end a certain way in order for us to truly understand what happens. However, this shouldn’t be the case. The reason is that while we read we are focused on what’s going on in...
In James Baldwin’s “Sonny’s Blues,” the narrative unfolds against the backdrop of Harlem during the early years of the civil rights movement. The story intricately weaves together the lives of two brothers, each grappling with their own struggles within the confines of the urban landscape....
Written by Herman Melville, Bartleby, The Scrivener, is a short story that tells the tale of a fortunate lawyer on Wall Street who hires a scrivener named Bartleby to serve for his law firm. In the beginning, he is an excellent copyist but as the...
In the story “On the Fear of Death,” I believe the author’s main purpose was to describe how death has evolved over time. I have seen the way things have changed throughout time and the differences between how people use to do things versus now....
Lydia Davis’ short story, “Head, Heart,” explores the complex and often conflicting emotions that can arise in relationships. In this story, Davis portrays the protagonist’s struggle with managing their head and heart – their rational and emotional parts – as they navigate the aftermath of...
Made-to-order essay as fast as you need it Each essay is customized to cater to your unique preferences + experts online Get my essay The Story of Zaabalawi In Naguib Mahfouz’s short story “Zaabalawi,” the main character sets off on a journey to find this...
Lusus Naturae, written by Margaret Atwood, is a short story that delves into the theme of isolation. The story follows the life of a young girl who is ostracized by her family and society due to her physical deformities. Throughout the narrative, the protagonist experiences...
The Sexualization of the African-American in “Going to Meet the Man” James Baldwin’s short story “Going to Meet the Man” explores the interweaving of racism with the sexual violence against the African-American in 1965 southern America. Baldwin portrays this by investigating the violent sexual compulsions...
Love, perhaps one of the most profound and enigmatic emotions humans experience, has been a perennial subject of exploration in literature, philosophy, and art. In Raymond Carver’s short story collection, “What We Talk About When We Talk About Love,” the author delves into the intricate...
Introduction Mary Lavin’s short story “Bridgid” dives into the tangled web of family ties and the clash between old traditions and new ways in rural Ireland. Through Bridgid, Lavin shows us a young woman stuck between what her family expects of her and her own...
Roald Dahl’s short story “The Landlady” is a chilling tale that explores the themes of deception and manipulation. In this essay, we will compare and contrast the two main characters, the landlady and Billy Weaver, as well as analyze the setting and the overall tone...
Introduction Short stories have long served as a medium for exploring complex human emotions and societal issues within a concise narrative framework. One such story, “The Third Floor Bedroom,” delves into the intricate dynamics of memory, trauma, and self-discovery. The story revolves around the protagonist,...
Within Nathaniel Hawthorne’s short stories “My Kinsman, Major Molineux” and “Young Goodman Brown,” the presence of laughter is used repeatedly across both narratives, often for dramatic effect, showcasing the act’s many facets and qualities. Most typically, laughter is associated with cheer or general happiness. It...
Langston Hughes’ short story “Thank You Ma’am” explores the themes of empathy, redemption, and the power of kindness through the chance encounter between a young boy named Roger and a strong, compassionate woman named Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones. This story serves as a powerful...
In Toni Morrison’s poignant short story “Sweetness,” the complexities of race, identity, and motherhood are skillfully woven together to create a powerful narrative that challenges societal norms and perceptions. Set in the backdrop of 1950s America, the story follows the internal struggles of a mother...
In the short story “The Seventh Man” by Haruki Murakami we are transported into a world of guilt, trauma, and the power of nature. The story follows the protagonist as he grapples with the haunting memory of his childhood friend’s death during a tsunami. As...
My Favorite Chaperone is a captivating and heartwarming short story written by Jean Davies Okimoto. Set in the bustling city of Seattle, it explores the experiences of a young Japanese-American girl named Katie Nakamura, who takes her eccentric grandfather, Ojiichan, as her chaperone for the...
The only thing worse than being blind is to have sight but no vision. To truly see something isn’t done alone with just the gift of sight it is done within your own mental capacity on how you view the world. You can have the...
