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.
Colonialism has left profound imprints on societies across the globe, reshaping cultural beliefs, traditions, and social structures. In this "Dead Men's Path" theme essay, we delve into the complexities of colonial encounters as depicted in Chinua Achebe's renowned short story. "A Dead Man’s Path" vividly...
The story of The Sneetches by Dr. Seuss gives valuable lesson of racism and anti-Semitism through vivid metaphor. The main theme of this story is that the race and ethnicity should not be a borderline in the society. Empathy is used very suddenly only at...
Short Story
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This essay looks at how the interlinked concepts of time, memory and history feature in the short story “Let’s Go to Golgotha!”. The definition of the three concepts and the direct interlink is stated using refences from the novel itself. At the end its shown...
William Faulkner’s story “Barn Burning” presents us with this story showing ideas that follow the same pattern as those in Marxism. The idea Karl Marx presented is that what social class you are born into is the one in which you are influenced to become...
For years, society carried expectations for tasks that were appropriate for different sexes. The perception of male and female genders as different in terms of abilities led to the idea that women would fit working in the home while men went out in search of...
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...
Short Story
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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...
Nadine Gordimer – ‘Short story essayists see by the light of the glimmer; theirs is the specialty of the main thing we can make sure of – the present minute. ‘ This is a statement from short story author Nadine Gordimer; alluding to how the...
Practical learning can be explained as the ideal avenue towards learning real-world experiences and providing ideas on how one can cope or change the current or future way of life. In the short story ‘The Lesson’ by Toni Cade Bambara, Miss Moore allows the selected...
Living in the 21th century, with unprecedented material abundance, we post-modern people, on the one hand, feel lucky to be blessed with the glories of this productive industrial era; on the other hand, however, we are frequently confronted with the problem of relocating ourselves in...
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...
In Naguib Mahfouz’s short story “Zaabalawi,” the main character sets off on a journey to find this guy named Zaabalawi. Why? Well, it’s because folks say he can cure the strange illness our protagonist’s got. The story’s all set in Cairo, and it dives deep...
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...
When we dive into the world of literature, we often find ourselves wrestling with various themes that resonate through the pages. One such story that captivates its readers is “The Dinner Party” by Mona Gardner. This short yet impactful piece revolves around a seemingly simple...
Anton Chekhov’s “The Bet” is a thought-provoking short story that dives deep into themes of human nature, the value of life, and the consequences of our choices. The narrative revolves around a bet made between a wealthy banker and a young lawyer regarding the morality...
The Outcasts of Poker Flat is a fascinating short story written by Bret Harte that dives deep into themes of morality, redemption, and social exclusion. Set against the backdrop of the California Gold Rush in the mid-19th century, this narrative centers around a group of...
Toni Cade Bambara’s short story “The Lesson” is a profound exploration of social class, education, and the awakening of consciousness. The narrative revolves around a group of children from a working-class neighborhood who are taken on an eye-opening trip to a fancy toy store by...
The world of literature often reveals the complex interplay between seemingly opposing forces. In Neil Gaiman’s short story “Click Clack the Rattlebag,” we witness a haunting exploration of two such forces: innocence and fear. Through his masterful storytelling, Gaiman invites readers to delve into the...
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...
