Literature Online--English 112

Understanding Fiction:The Short Story

Defining the Conventions

of Short Stories

LITONLINE HOME | Course Info |Genres| Syllabi
For Previous Page Use Browser BACK Button

Now that you have read a short story and recorded your first impressions, you are ready to move from personal response to analysis.

Assignment:
Return to the story and list some of the characteristics of a short story in the box below. Answering the question, why is this piece of literature called a short story, may help you to think about some of those characteristics.

Reminder: To save the this writing, resize your browser's window to reduce it to a section of your screen, open your word processor, and copy and paste the writing into the word processor BEFORE turning the page. Browsers, such as Netscape, clear typing areas as soon as you click to turn the page. Other browsers, such as Internet Explorer, do not clear typing areas until you leave the whole lesson. Be sure you include your name, college and campus, and date in the top left corner of the box.

Next click on the buttons below to read Edgar Allan Poe's and William Faulkner's definitions of a short story.

Edgar Allan Poe's definition William Faulkner's definition

Assignment:
Take the next few minutes to develop your own definition of a short story in the space below, copy your definition to your word processor, and send to your instructor by email. Be sure to follow the submission format directions.

Next Page