The History of the American Short Story

1. The History of the American Short Story A Radical New Genre

2. Things You Need to Know • The short story, or short fiction, is a relatively “new” genre. It did not come into prevalence until the 19th century (mid–1800s). • Originally, they were considered kind of silly and trashy—the first short stories in America were moral tales, and were light on conventions like plot, climax, and character development. • In places like the UK, Charles Dickens became famous serializing his novels. There was no outlet for this in the U.S.

3. Early Elements of the Short Story • The short story, originally often called a tale or sketch, was simply invented out of necessity. • Washington Irving (“The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”) was largely considered the first writer to blend the moral tale with characteristics of the essay form. (1819–1820.) • Nathaniel Hawthorne expanded on this form in the 1830s, when he published stories that employed techniques such as suspense, sentimentality, and focused on a primary conflict.

4. Elements of the Short Story You Need to Know • Fiction • Characterization • Plot • Exposition, Rising Action, Climax, Denouement • Suspense • Dialogue • Mood • Tone

5. Nathaniel Hawthorne

6. Nathaniel Hawthorne • Born in Salem, Massachusetts in 1804. • His great grandfather was John Hathorne, a famous judge in the Salem Witch Trials (1692–1693), who never repented of his decisions. • Nathaniel added the “w” to the spelling of his last name. • Moved back to Salem after college, began publishing stories in 1828.

7. Nathaniel Hawthorne

8. Nathaniel Hawthorne Hawthorne Hotel, Salem, Mass. Est. 1925.

9. Nathaniel Hawthorne Examination of a Witch, Thompkins H. Matteson, 1853

10. Nathaniel Hawthorne • Moved to the experimental community Brook Farm in 1841. • Left after a year: “It is my opinion that a man’s soul may be buried under a dung heap or in a furrow of the field just as well as under a pile of money.” • Married Sophia Peabody in 1842, they moved to Concord, Mass., and rented a house from prominent transcendentalist Ralph Waldo Emerson.

11. Nathaniel Hawthorne • The Hawthornes moved back to Salem in 1845 because his mother was dying. • He discovered an old, faded fabric letter “A” in the attic, which inspired him to write his novel, The Scarlet Letter, published in 1850. • The Scarlet Letter is about an adulteress, Hester Prynne, and her lover, Arthur Dimmesdale. • It is totally beautiful and you should read it.

12. Nathaniel Hawthorne • Began a close friendship with Herman Melville around 1846. • Melville wrote glowing reviews of Hawthorne’s work. • Melville dedicated his masterpiece, Moby Dick, to Hawthorne. • Their friendship ended mysteriously between 1852–1856.

13. Works Cited • The Portable Hawthorne.Edited by Malcolm Cowley. Publisher TK: 1969. • “Salem Witch Trials Documentary Archive and Transcription Project.” The University of Virginia. Salem.lib.virginia.edu/generic.html. 22 Jun 2014. • “The Short Story.” The Cambridge History of English and American Literature in 18 Volumes:Volume XVI. Bartleby.com/226/2104.html. 22 Jun 2014. • “The Hawthorne Hotel of Salem, Massachusetts.” Darkdestinations.blogspot.com/2009/07/hawthorne-hotel-of-salem-massachusetts.html. 22 Jun 2014. • “Nathaniel Hawthorne – Biography.” The European Graduate School. Egs.edu/library/nathaniel-hawthorne/biography/. 22 Jun 2014.