overview about the short story

Annotations:

• fictitious narrative prose, longer than an anecdote, shorter than a novel arabian nights, bible, homer product of the 19th century main purpose:to entertain, to treat serious themes flourished as a result of competition of authors in newspapers largely influenced by EdgarAllan Poe

1. language
   1. colloquial styla
      1. easy to understand
         1. like a recorded conversation
            1. economic use of rhetorical devices
               1. repetition and symbols
2. structure
   1. unique or single effect,every word written is to be aimed at achieving this wffect
      1. confined to a single setting, simple plot(single action), limited set of characters
         1. traditional sequence:exposition, rising action, climax, turning point, sad/happy/open ending, abrupt opening-media res beginning, surprise ending
            1. the reader only gets to know bits n pieces and this creates suspense
               1. more realistic story --suspense
                  1. a short period of time
                     1. point of view
                        1. first person narrator
                        2. third person narrator
                           1. independent narrator with omniscient point of view. outside the story , knowledge not available to the characters , for example future events, ,can analyze characters thoughts, pass judgements and add comments--unlimited point of view
                              1. independent narrator with selective omniscient, outsight the story, reveals thoughts and feelings of some characters, often confining himself to the consciousness of the main character
                                 1. independent narrator with neutral point of view, restricts himself to describing/reporting, does not offer any insight into the characters life
3. messages
   1. presentation of a universal human problem
      1. for the reader: challenge of an own judgement, emotional involvement of the reader, entertainment
4. content
   1. ordinary every day people
      1. experiences are often every-day situations
         1. that becomes a turning point in their life(descisive moment
            1. focused on the essential contents
               1. presented an obvious situation
                  1. mostly flat characters
5. unity of effect or impression(the reader is at the writers control