How To Read Short Stories
We like to read short stories because we like to know
people.We like to watch them in action.We want to know
what they do and say to each other,how life treats
them,and how they try to turn events to their own
purposes. Of course,the people in stories are not
"real" in the ordinary sense of the word;a story is
not,like a biography, a factual record of an actual
person's life. Yet fiction can seem more realistic and
believeable than fact, oftentimes,and a good writer
can tell us many truths about life.Moreover,a piece of
fiction can call upon the free play of the author's
imagination,and hold our interest with suspense or
humor.The writer's hand is always behind the
story,arrangeing events,causing things to happen,
beckoning the reader on to the end.A skillful reader
soon learns to recognize the clever ways in which a
story is created.
Every story must have action; otherwise it becomes an
essay or a character sketch. Near the beginning of the
story something happens that starts the action
rolling. Two characters are in disagreement,serious or
otherwise,over some matter;or within the mind of
single character there is some indecision,some doubt
troubling him.There is,in other words,some kind of
conflict or problem.You learn about the problem at the
start of the story,and then you are curious to see how
it well be worked out.
After the action is once started,the events fall into
place."The plot thickens,"we often say,meaning that
the characters get more and more involved in a
particular situation.Since the plot is based on
struggle,it must have suspense.You will be uncertain
of the outcome and eager to reach it.If you can guess
the end too easily or if you feel little interest in
the characters,there will be little suspense in the
story for you.But usually you will find yourself
engrossed in the turn of events.Because we all tend to
identify ourselves with a character in a short
story,we tend to "choose sides" in the problem or
conflict presented.We wand the character to win our in
his struggle against nature (a storm,for example) or
against another person;or if the struggle is in his
own mind,we want him to choose wisely and make the
right decision.
The breaking point in a story—— the point where
something is bound to happen one way or another to end
the conflict or solve the problem —— is called the
climax.In a short story the climax usually comes and
goes quickly.There is not much room for a long and
complicated plot; because the story is brief,so is the
action.After the climax,the tensenss is relieved.You
know the best or the worst; the outcome is
certain.There are two major questions that you are
likely to ask yourself —— often unconsciously——
after having read a story.First,was I surprised by the
ending?Not all stories have a "surprise ending,"but
you will feel a certain pleasant tingle when you run
across one.Of course, the ending is never completely a
surprise.A good writer gives you hints as to the
outcome,and a good reader recognizes these,so that the
he half expects the ending before it is reached.
The second question you may well ask yourself is: did
the ending satisfy me? Now,if you are the kind of
person who always wants a happy ending,you will be
disappointed in a large part of modern literature.
Life is not made up of happy endings,by any means,and
fiction is a reflection of life.Instead of looking for
happy endings,look for an ending that is true to the
characters and events in the story.If the characters
were bound to come to a tragic end because of some
weakness they displayed or because they were
overwhelmed by stonger forces,then don't look for some
quick reversal of events to make the story end
happily.The things that happen to people are pretty
much like the people themselves—— there isn't much
luck in life,or in fiction either.
A brief word needs to be said about characters in
fiction.You know from reading plays and novels and
short stories that the best way to obtain a rounded
picture of a character is to watch three things:what
the character says,what he does,and what is said about
him by others.This information you gather easily if
you read attentively but you will want to go a step
further and try to understand the feelings and
thoughts of a character.Rarely do you meet a character
in fiction exactly like yourself.If you are young,the
character may be old;if you are poor,he may be rich;if
you are farm-bred,he may be from a city;and so
forth.Thus,you will find it necessary to step outside
of your own narrow circle of experience and place
yourself in another frame of mind.Try to imagine what
life must be like in a different place,under different
circumstances.If you are successful ,you will enjoy
stories all the more for having understood the
characters in them.
And this is,finally,the great reward that short
stories will offer you —— taking you into different
places,,introducing you to new and different kinds of
people,facing you with different but "real" problems
that you have never encountered before.Short stories
can be like windows on the world,if you will but sit
by them and give your attention entirely to what they
show.
(only it is the short extract when there are some free
time.)
We like to read short stories because we like to know
people.We like to watch them in action.We want to know
what they do and say to each other,how life treats
them,and how they try to turn events to their own
purposes. Of course,the people in stories are not
"real" in the ordinary sense of the word;a story is
not,like a biography, a factual record of an actual
person's life. Yet fiction can seem more realistic and
believeable than fact, oftentimes,and a good writer
can tell us many truths about life.Moreover,a piece of
fiction can call upon the free play of the author's
imagination,and hold our interest with suspense or
humor.The writer's hand is always behind the
story,arrangeing events,causing things to happen,
beckoning the reader on to the end.A skillful reader
soon learns to recognize the clever ways in which a
story is created.
Every story must have action; otherwise it becomes an
essay or a character sketch. Near the beginning of the
story something happens that starts the action
rolling. Two characters are in disagreement,serious or
otherwise,over some matter;or within the mind of
single character there is some indecision,some doubt
troubling him.There is,in other words,some kind of
conflict or problem.You learn about the problem at the
start of the story,and then you are curious to see how
it well be worked out.
After the action is once started,the events fall into
place."The plot thickens,"we often say,meaning that
the characters get more and more involved in a
particular situation.Since the plot is based on
struggle,it must have suspense.You will be uncertain
of the outcome and eager to reach it.If you can guess
the end too easily or if you feel little interest in
the characters,there will be little suspense in the
story for you.But usually you will find yourself
engrossed in the turn of events.Because we all tend to
identify ourselves with a character in a short
story,we tend to "choose sides" in the problem or
conflict presented.We wand the character to win our in
his struggle against nature (a storm,for example) or
against another person;or if the struggle is in his
own mind,we want him to choose wisely and make the
right decision.
The breaking point in a story—— the point where
something is bound to happen one way or another to end
the conflict or solve the problem —— is called the
climax.In a short story the climax usually comes and
goes quickly.There is not much room for a long and
complicated plot; because the story is brief,so is the
action.After the climax,the tensenss is relieved.You
know the best or the worst; the outcome is
certain.There are two major questions that you are
likely to ask yourself —— often unconsciously——
after having read a story.First,was I surprised by the
ending?Not all stories have a "surprise ending,"but
you will feel a certain pleasant tingle when you run
across one.Of course, the ending is never completely a
surprise.A good writer gives you hints as to the
outcome,and a good reader recognizes these,so that the
he half expects the ending before it is reached.
The second question you may well ask yourself is: did
the ending satisfy me? Now,if you are the kind of
person who always wants a happy ending,you will be
disappointed in a large part of modern literature.
Life is not made up of happy endings,by any means,and
fiction is a reflection of life.Instead of looking for
happy endings,look for an ending that is true to the
characters and events in the story.If the characters
were bound to come to a tragic end because of some
weakness they displayed or because they were
overwhelmed by stonger forces,then don't look for some
quick reversal of events to make the story end
happily.The things that happen to people are pretty
much like the people themselves—— there isn't much
luck in life,or in fiction either.
A brief word needs to be said about characters in
fiction.You know from reading plays and novels and
short stories that the best way to obtain a rounded
picture of a character is to watch three things:what
the character says,what he does,and what is said about
him by others.This information you gather easily if
you read attentively but you will want to go a step
further and try to understand the feelings and
thoughts of a character.Rarely do you meet a character
in fiction exactly like yourself.If you are young,the
character may be old;if you are poor,he may be rich;if
you are farm-bred,he may be from a city;and so
forth.Thus,you will find it necessary to step outside
of your own narrow circle of experience and place
yourself in another frame of mind.Try to imagine what
life must be like in a different place,under different
circumstances.If you are successful ,you will enjoy
stories all the more for having understood the
characters in them.
And this is,finally,the great reward that short
stories will offer you —— taking you into different
places,,introducing you to new and different kinds of
people,facing you with different but "real" problems
that you have never encountered before.Short stories
can be like windows on the world,if you will but sit
by them and give your attention entirely to what they
show.
(only it is the short extract when there are some free
time.)
