Review Short Stories

1. Review Short Stories

2. Edgar Allen Poe (1809-1849) • American writer during the time of Romanticism • Writer of American Gothic literature • Creator of the short story as a genre • Author of short stories, poems, and novels

3. The short story is short because of the following things: • Very short exposition • No details about the setting, only the essentials, the most necessary information • The story starts shortly before the climax • Small number of characters • No development of the characters • Covers a short period of time • Often an ppenending

4. Analysis: How do you know this is a short story? On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which presented more singular features than that which was associated with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. The events in question occurred in the early days of my association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors in Baker Street.

5. It is possible that I might have placed them upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the death of Dr. GrimesbyRoylott which tend to make the matter even more terrible than the truth.

6. It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits.

7. This is a short story because… • No introduction • Limited amount of characters • In medias res

8. Structure of a Plot

9. Structure of a 3-Act Story

10. Analysis • How are the plot structure of a regular plot and a three-act plot different?

11. Plot and Subplot • In your own words, explain what plot and subplot stand for. • Plot: The main events in a story • Subplot: a story embedded in a story. Example: The bachelor’s story in “The Story-Teller”

12. What does this fish stand for? • What does the eye stand for in “The Tell-Tale Heart”

13. Stylistic Device: Symbols • A person, place, or thing that has other levels of meaning in addition to its literal meaning. • Examples: • A dove is a symbol of peace • A red rose is a symbol of love • Fish is a symbol of Christianity • The color black is often a symbol of death and grief

14. Characterization Direct Characterization • how an author tells his or her reader about a character. • Direct characterization occurs when the author specifically reveals traits about the character in a direct, straightforward manner. Indirect Characterization • the process by which the writer shows the character's personality through his/her speech, actions and appearance.

15. Drawing Inferences • a conclusion reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning. Let’s Practice: • Which inferences can we draw about the narrator in “The Tell-tale Heart”? • Which inferences can we draw about the aunt in “The Story-Teller”? • Which inferences can we draw about the Sioux grandfather in “The Medicine Bag”?