HOW TO READ

A SHORT STORY
By Group 11
 OUR TEAM

Novilia Rodiah Agustina Dyah Nur Lailyatun

Hapsari Naimah
 KEEP IT SHORT BUT
SWEET
A novel allows for a wide range of characters and plotlines,
while short stories have a limited number of words. Novellas are
longer and shorter, with a word count of over 20,000 and less
than 50,000. Short stories must be well-developed and concise,
with fewer than 20,000 words but more than 500 words.
Authors must efficiently use their words to keep the story
focused and engaging. Short stories are ideal for those who
enjoy the nitty-gritty and skilled writing, as they require a quick
understanding of the story.
 NO TIME TO WASTE
The short story usually begins very close to or even on the verge of
the climax. Everything is kept to a minimum, such as details of the
setting and other descriptions, and the complications are kept to a
happy minimum. The central incident is selected to reveal as much
as possible of the protagonist's life and character, and the details are
devised to carry maximum significance. The short story is sharper
and clearer than longer prose fiction because it is written so
economically. This kind of writing is meant to be spare, neat, and
clean.
 UP- FRONT FOCUS
When you begin reading a
short story, one of the things
you should pay attention to
is the very first paragraph. A
well-written piece of short
fiction not only gives you a
great deal of information in
the opening paragraph due
to the compressed style of
writing, it also grabs your
attention so that you're
eager to read on.
In his 1919 story titled
Hands, in the very first
paragraph Sherwood
Anderson tells us :
 A DIFFERENT KIND OF STRUCTURE
The structure of a short story is similar to that of the novel and novella.
There is a theme, a plot line, characters, and a climax. However, the short
story does not follow the same structural format as longer prose fiction.

The basic elements of the short story are as follows:

• Setting. Time and place
• Conflict. Usually between the protagonist and antagonist
• Main character. Protagonist
• Theme. The point that evokes both an emotional and intellectual response
A DIFFERENT KIND OF STRUCTURE
One of the main differences between the structure of the novel and
that of the short story has to do with what is known as the "arc" of the
story, meaning the way the story comes full circle. It opens with a
setting, a character, and a mood, and the conflict is evident from early
on. The story builds to its climax and resolves and concludes rather
quickly. The arc of the story is the skeleton of the overall structure.
 SETTING THE
SCENE
Short stories are usually set in the present day, but the places can vary
from the rural to the urban and even to outer space. A short story also
focuses on one main character, the protagonist, who faces some sort of
transition within the story. The conflict in the story (leading to the
transition) is usually between the protagonist and another character, the
antagonist. On the other hand, the protagonist may struggle with an
internal conflict—maybe a spiritual or psychological dilemma.
 SUBJECT AND THEME
The subject serves as the foundation or roots from which the theme develops.
Modern subjects are related to feminist, race or gender issues, class problems, as
well as drug abuse, poverty, and relationships.

The theme, on the other hand, is described as the heart of the story, emphasized
by the subject matter. Modern themes encompass loneliness, isolation, and
alienation; personal trauma; love and hate; emotional and physical relationships;
family issues, including generational conflicts; transitioning from innocence to
self-realization etc.
 EXPERIMENTING WITH STUCTURE
Although short stories generally follow a standard structure with a
beginning, middle, and end, many writers experiment with writing
styles that use different techniques. An example from Anton
Chekhov with his story entitled "The Lady with the Pet Dog"
describes the life of a relationship between a man and a woman
who met by chance on the beach of Yalta.
 THE STORY BECOMES
POPULAR
Short stories have been around since the beginning of human
civilization, starting with fairy tales and storytelling—some of
which have survived into modern times. The first written short
story is believed to come from the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle in
755 AD, compiled by King Alfred the Great.
 EDGAR ALLAN POE (1809-
1849)
Edgar Allan Poe has been called the founder of the short story as a
specific genre. He believed that a story (or tale) should be able to be
read in one half to two hours. Born in the United States but raised
mostly in England, Poe is credited with elevating the short story
from mere anecdote to an art form. He is the originator of the short
fiction form of the psychological thriller and detective story.
EDGAR ALLAN POE (1809-
1849)
 EDGAR ALLAN POE (1809-
1849)
Poe was also able to laugh at the human condition in stories like The Devil in the Belfry:

EVERYBODY knows, in a general way, that the finest place in the world is—or, alas, was—the
Dutch borough of Vondervotteimittiss. Yet as it lies some distance from any of the main roads,
being in a somewhat out-of-the-way situation, there are perhaps very few of my readers who have
ever paid it a visit. For the benefit of those who have not, therefore, it will be only proper that I
should enter into some account of it. And this is indeed the more necessary, as with the hope of
enlisting public sympathy in behalf of the inhabitants, I design here to give a history of the
calamitous events which have so lately occurred within its limits. No one who knows me will
doubt that the duty thus self-imposed will be exe-cuted to the best of my ability, with all that rigid
impartiality, all that cautiousexamination into facts, and diligent collation of authorities, which
should ever distinguish him who aspires to the title of historian.
 FOLKTALES OR FOLK'S TALES?

In his book of short stories titled Winesburg, Ohio, writer Sherwood Anderson
(1876-1941) brings the folktale back to life. Anderson is essentially an oral
storyteller. His art is a very special type of writing that blends the two traditions
of oral and writtten storytelling. Within the oral tradition, Anderson had his own
picture of what a story should be. He was not interested in telling conventional
folktales—those in which events are more important than emotions—but rather
his stories written in his voice—a traditional American Midwestern-style drawl.
 TWAIN, CONDENSED
In this section, the importance of using dialect in short stories is explained. Mark Twain, the writer referenced in
this passage, used dialect to convey the story as if he were telling it orally rather than writing it down. This
restores the essence of the oral tradition of storytelling, before the advent of writing and printing.
Overall, the use of dialect in short stories serves to enhance the reader's experience, giving them a glimpse of oral
traditions and showcasing the power of language to create captivating narratives.

An important aspect of Twain's writing was his ability to capture dialect with realism and humor. He recreates the
dialects of various regions and social classes so thoroughly that reading them aloud can truly bring the words to
life. Twain's attention to dialect added to the authenticity of his writing and was an important component of his
overall writing technique.
 WHERE TO FIND SHORT
STORIES?
This section provides guidance on where to find short stories to read. It suggests several different sources
that offer a variety of options for finding good short stories.
One option mentioned is magazines, specifically The New Yorker and Harper's.
Another option mentioned is exploring online literary journals. These journals often publish the work of
up-and-coming authors, providing an opportunity to discover fresh and innovative stories.

Overall, this section emphasizes that although finding short stories may require more effort than finding
books, there are many options available. Magazines, online literary journals, anthologies, and collections
all offer opportunities to discover the variety of short stories out there, both from established authors and
emerging figures.
 THE HEART OF THE STORY
Reading a short story is like unpacking a time capsule. Condensed into a small
space are intriguing objects—things that make you think and wonder. In
totality, they present a bigger meaning, an experience, a moment. Through
careful thought and planning, the author has put these things together to hold
you in place and set you on a path that leads to someplace you've never been
before. A short story should strike you in the same way a poem does—quickly
and suddenly.
 THE LEAST YOU NEED TO
KNOW
• A short story has fewer than 20,000 words.
• Short stories are centered on a single theme.
• Edgar Allan Poe is credited as the founder of the short story.
• Short stories are rooted in the oral folktale tradition.
• Short stories can be found in magazines, literary journals, and anthologies.
THANK YOU